by Camy Tang
A bored-looking yuppie-type gave her a limp hand to shake. His massive gold pinky ring cut into her finger. “I’m in finance. What do you do?”
“I work for a website company.”
Robert rolled his eyes behind designer-frame glasses. “The dot-coms are bombing.”
“I like my job.”
“Good, because you won’t have it in another year.”
To add to the List: Someone who isn’t snide, nasty, and snobbish at first impression. His peevishness made her head throb.
Clark looked like a goldfish — he had buggy eyes, a pale yellow shirt straining its buttons over his round stomach, and a five-second memory.
“So what do you do, Clark?”
“I sell products door to door. I like it.”
“What do you sell?”
“I sell products door to door. I like it.”
“What kind of products?”
“Door to door. I like it.”
To add to the List: Able to hold a normal conversation.
“Hi, I’m Jaspar.” The tall, thin boy with thick red hair sprouting toward the ceiling had pale, almost translucent skin. He wouldn’t meet her eyes, just stared at the floor.
“What do you do, Jaspar?”
“I sell products door to door.” He aimed his mumble at her shoes.
To add to the List: No door-to-door products salesmen.
“That’s interesting.”
He sighed, as if his soul were falling into abject despair. “I suppose.” He was having a lovely conversation with her sandals.
To add to the List: Someone who will speak to my face and not my footwear.
“So do you have any hobbies?”
“Yeah.” His eyes rose to her shoulders. “I like going to movies.”
“What movies?”
His bright green gaze popped up and locked with hers. In a flash, his demeanor had gone from sad to spiffy. “Star Wars changed my life.”
“Uh . . . the movies?”
“I used to be really into Star Wars. Their light sabers are really cool.” He erupted into a few wild moves, swinging an imaginary sword — no, light saber. Then abruptly, he deflated back to his original, shoe-speaking self. “Now I’m into Jesus.” He ended with a depressed sigh.
Real Jesus freak, aren’t you? Her headache stomped with a vengeance.
The girls she met all showed their teeth when they smiled. Lex got the impression of bristling dogs guarding a bone — Ike, possibly?
Were there any normal people in the bunch?
Lindsay twined her bangled wrist in Ike’s arm as Lex approached.
That’s real subtle there, sister. “Where are we going for lunch?”
“Let me go ask some people.” Ike left her to the mercy of Lindsay.
The pretty woman stared at her like a piece of gum on her stilettos.
May as well clear the air. “So, are you or any of the other girls dating Ike?”
Lindsay’s eyes reminded Lex of a cobra she’d seen once on TV.
“He just broke up with a girl. He’s still getting over her. He and I are good friends.
”
Translation: Keep your grimy hands off my man, I have first dibs.
This had to be the worst Sunday ser vice she’d ever had.
THIRTY
Aiden couldn’t be more bored. The Scripture reading took forever.
Did they have to read the entire chapter from Psalms?
The worship music wasn’t much better. Repetitive, slow. He should have sat with Spenser in the front row rather than hiding here in the back.
Then he saw Lex. She had a quietness he’d never seen on her face. Peace, relief.
He became uncomfortably aware that while he mocked the music, it seemed to help unburden her. When was the last time he’d unburdened himself? He never unloaded, not to anyone. He never felt any kind of release or relief.
He was thirsty.
Aiden left the sanctuary — most people didn’t even notice him leaving. The water fountain stood next to the men’s restroom.
He took a drink. Took another one. He wasn’t going back in there just yet. He wasn’t. He took another drink. His stomach protested the excess water, but he slurped it up anyway.
The music stopped and the pastor started his sermon. Aiden dragged himself back into the sanctuary.
Boring, boring, boring.
He made a mistake when ser vice got out. He should have left first.
Instead, he ducked down in his seat as Lex and her escort shuffled down the aisle to the back of the sanctuary. When he got up after them, he realized they’d gathered at the entrance to the Social Hall — which looked right out into the lobby. Lex would see him if he tried to waltz out of church.
He hung back, wondering if the sanctuary had another exit.
Suddenly, Lex appeared in the lobby area with another girl. Aiden ducked down to pretend to tie his shoe. Which had no laces.
“Hi, Ike — oh!” A sultry voice sounded above his head. “I’m so sorry. I mistook you for Ike.”
Aiden straightened, and a twenty-first-century Lolita invaded his personal space with a flirty tilt to her blonde head. Lex had disappeared. “I’m Salome.”
“Aiden.”
“Nice to meet you.” Flutter, flutter went her eyelashes.
“Er . . . nice to meet you too.”
“So . . . are you here alone?”
“Uh . . . yeah.” Why did he feel like a gazelle stalked by a hungry lioness?
“Why, how nice. Let me introduce you to our Singles Group.”
“No! Uh . . . thanks.”
“Oh, we’re a nice bunch. There’s a new girl today too.” Her slightly brittle smile indicated she wasn’t as thrilled about that as her words implied.
“Sorry, I’m committed to lunch with someone.”
“Oh, who?” She glanced around.
Oh, great. “Um . . .” He pointed toward the right. “There.”
She looked.
He ducked left.
He darted down the first hallway he found, dotted with closed doors. He opened one and slipped inside.
Darkness surrounded him. He listened at the closed door. He heard light footsteps that approached, then receded.
“Let me guess. Salome?” The gentle male voice shot a bolt of adrenaline into Aiden’s heart. He spun around.
The pastor sat at his desk in the darkened office, surrounded by books.
“I’m sorry, the door was open, and it was dark — ”
He smiled and waved a careless hand. “I was just sitting here. You have the look of the hunted, and only Salome causes that in young men.” He gestured toward the wall. “Turn on the light.”
Aiden did. The office brightened. Books surrounded him, some old, some new, all crammed onto the shelves. But on the wall across from the desk, where the pastor would look up and immediately see it, was a painting.
It stretched from ceiling to floor. A crucified Christ — bloody, gruesome, painful. His agony etched on his face, evident in the curl of his body. He lay pinned to the Roman cross, naked, legs pulled up sharply. It was worse than the Passion movie.
“That’s a true crucifixion.” The pastor shifted in his chair, causing the leather to creak. “Not the sanitized version from movies.”
Aiden couldn’t look away. A trembling took over his hands, his legs, his chest. The picture made him ache. It made him want to crash to his knees, howling and weeping. It shocked and stripped him, all at once.
Aiden didn’t know how long he stood there staring.
The pastor never spoke. Finally he got up from behind his desk and moved around the cramped space to reach the door. “Feel free to stay.” He exited his office, closing the door behind him.
Aiden couldn’t have moved if he’d wanted to.
THIRTY-ONE
Lex was drowning in bills.
Medical bills, to be exact. She’d been paid a little during her medical leave, but the sheer size of he
r MRI bill made her want to cry. She’d go back to work in about a week — and hopefully be able to pay this when she got her paycheck. She was thankful for her insurance; otherwise, her bills would be much larger.
Her cell phone rang. “Hello?”
“It’s Chester.”
“Hey, coz, what’s up?”
“I know you’re on medical leave, so I thought I should tell you —they announced sitewide paycuts today here at SPZ.”
“What? ”
“They’re trying to make up for a bad quarter with a 10 percent paycut for everybody rather than laying anybody off.”
Well, she supposed she should be glad they hadn’t let her go. But 10 percent? “Chester, I’ve got surgery bills.”
“Don’t whine to me. I’ve got a mortgage.”
Lex sighed. “Thanks for letting me know.”
“No prob.” He hung up.
Her phone rang again immediately. “Hello?”
“Hi Lex, it’s Ike. I was free tonight and wondered if I could come over with ice cream.”
Whoa. Talk about coming on strong and fast. Still, despite his touchy-feely tendencies, he was charming, nice to look at, and a good conversationalist. “Sure.” She gave him directions.
He arrived with four different pints of Ben and Jerry’s. “Didn’t know what you liked, so I bought a bunch.”
“Aw, that’s so great of you. Usually my brother and my dad get whatever they want without asking me.” She closed the door behind him.
Ike turned mid-stride on his way to her kitchenette. He looked deep into her eyes. “Yeah, well, I’m not your brother.”
Dark blue eyes. Rugged face. What’s not to like?
She snatched the Chunky Monkey, he picked up Cookie Dough. The rest they crammed into her teeny freezer.
They ate leaning against the counter and talking.
He liked weekend warrior-type sports — the occasional pickup basketball game, football with friends, softball with the church. He kept in shape primarily through the gym. “I just felt like we never got to talk on Sunday, and I wanted to get to know you better.”
Lindsay’s feline face hovered in her mind’s eye, but Lex gave a mental snarl and it dissipated.
Ike loved classical music and jazz, but he didn’t play it when with friends unless they liked it too. He didn’t have a favorite restaurant — he was happy with whatever someone else preferred. He liked going for long drives. “And I like hanging out with friends.”
Lex licked her spoon. “Thanks, Ike. This ice cream hits the spot.”Better than worrying over her bills. What a great time getting to know him. He was so easygoing, so down-to-earth.
Ike reached around her to throw his spoon in the sink, and came face-to-face with her.
He was incredibly male. His blue eyes seemed very close. He wore a spicy cologne — not too strong, but hecka sexy. His gaze fell to her lips.
She’d read a lot of romance novels, so she knew her pulse should start racing right about now, and her breathing should come in little gasps. She felt tense — did that count?
He was going to kiss her, and she was ready for him. Her first kiss ever. Well, second kiss if she counted that peck Aiden gave her to deceive Ben —
Don’t think about Aiden. Ike is about to kiss you.
He took his sweet time. He stared at her mouth for so long, she wondered if she should move in and plant one on him. But even though she moved through most of her life aggressively, something about this made her feel shy and scared.
No, you’re not scared. You’re anticipating. It’s different.
“You have ice cream on your lip.” Ike’s low, husky voice sent a chill — no, a thrill, that was a thrill she felt — down her spine. His finger came up and touched the corner of her mouth.
Her jaw flinched and banged against his knuckle.
“Sorry.”
He chuckled low in his chest. She guessed her nervousness encouraged him.
His head came down.
At the touch of his mouth, her heart slammed painfully against her chest. Ants crawled all over her skin, biting her collarbone, her neck. She hunched her shoulders, gasped against his mouth, twisted away.
He’d barely touched her and she freaked. She couldn’t imagine what he thought of her. The kindness in his eyes made her want to cry.
“I’m sorry, Lex, I jumped the gun.”
“No, I’m sorry.” She didn’t deserve his understanding. “You’re — ” She checked herself. What had Richard told her once? She shouldn’t tell a guy he’s nice because he wouldn’t want the “nice guy” syndrome. “I’d like to get to know you better.”
“I would too.” He dipped in and brushed a soft kiss against her cheek. She moved her head at the same time so he wouldn’t notice her automatic flinch. She had to stop doing that or she’d chase every guy away.
“I’ll see you at the gym.”
“Yeah.”
“No, don’t move. I’ll let myself out.” And he did.
She stared at the closed door. She was so stupid! What was wrong with her? It had been perfect! Perfect! Why couldn’t she just kiss a guy?
I’ d like to kiss Aiden —
Stop it, stop it, stop it! She flung her spoon in the sink.
She’d like to kiss Aiden . . .
“Hi, Dad — whoa! Spiffy!” Lex stared at her father, standing at the open door to Uncle Howard’s apartment. “Going out to dinner?”
Dad flushed. “No, no. I’m doing laundry.”
“Oh. Well, can I come in?”
“Uh . . . sure.” He stepped aside so she could walk in, carrying paper shopping bags.
He shifted his weight from one leg to the other. “Uncle Howard’s out bowling tonight.”
“Yeah, I know.” She dropped the bags to the floor and bent to rub her knee. Man, it ached.
“You doing okay?”
“I got my brace off a couple weeks ago, but stairs are still killing me. Especially when I’m carrying something.” She opened one of the bags. “I found some of Mom’s stuff in my boxes. I wanted to know — ”
The doorbell rang. Lex moved to the door.
“No, wait, Lexie — ”
“Mary?” In a pretty pink dress, Mary stood on the doorstep. It was weird not to see her in gym clothes. “What are you doing here?” At Dad’s place. With Dad home, but not Uncle Howard.
Then it dawned on Lex.
Mary realized it at the same time. Her gaze shifted to the living room behind Lex. “You didn’t tell her?” Her irate voice shot over Lex’s shoulder like a bullet.
“Mary . . .” Her father’s voice sounded softer than Lex had heard it in a long time. But also more frightened than she’d heard it in a long time.
“Baka! I can’t believe you didn’t tell her.” Mary pushed her way into the apartment and stood toe to toe with Dad.
The late evening sun glinted into the living room, illuminating her father looking a little shriveled next to Mary’s strong, highly annoyed frame.
A smile tugged at Lex’s mouth.
Her dad cleared his throat. “Mary — ”
“Martin, you give her no respect. She’s your daughter. You know better than that.”
An unexpected tightness clenched behind Lex’s eyes. How strange.
She sounded too much like Mom, but in a voice so different.
“Now, M — ”
“The girls are always the last to know! Like she’s an afterthought.”
Wait a minute. “Dad!” Lex stabbed a finger at him. “You told Richard and you didn’t tell me?”
“Well — ”
“Dad, I can’t believe you!”
Mary waved a finger in his face. “She’s the one who took care of you for years, but you bothered to tell her brother and not her? Shame on you.”
“I was going to — ”
“I came over last week and you never said a word about dating anybody!” Lex’s voice roared in the little room.
“Lexie, I was goi
ng to tell you. Mary, this is Lex — ”
“We’ve met!” they both snapped at the same time.
Suddenly, Lex wanted both to laugh and cry.
Mary turned and approached Lex. “I’m sorry. When we met at the gym, I thought you already knew.”
Lex thought back to their first conversation. “No, Aiden had been talking about how faithful you were in coming to the gym every week, so I thought you were talking about him.”
“Aiden? Oh, he’s such a sweetheart. Unlike some men I know.” Her voice hardened. “Did you and your dad want some time — ?”
“No, go out to dinner.” Lex opened the door. “I need to be alone.”
“Lex . . .” Her dad’s eyes peered at her with worry. Concern. Sorrow. Regret.
“I’m fine. Really. I just need some time. I’ll talk to you about it later.” She shut the door behind them.
“No, you’re going too fast.” Aiden snagged another exercise ball and joined her on the mat. He lay on his back and placed his feet on top of the ball. “Copy me.”
He lifted his body up off the floor in a bridging exercise, keeping his shoulders to the ground. She followed him. He lowered excruciatingly slowly. Her hamstrings burned.
“Good.” He set the pace for her entire first set of fifteen. She gulped for air when they finished, but he hadn’t even broken a sweat.
Too soon, he got into position again. “Ready?”
She got into position and nodded.
“One.”
“Hey.” Lex noticed Aiden had lifted one foot from the ball and extended it out, performing the exercise single-legged. He’d also moved the ball out farther.
“If I have to set your pace for you, I may as well get a little workout in.”
She ignored the jibe. “I want to try that.” She extended her good leg and tried a rep. Lex couldn’t even get her butt off the ground.
“Oomph! My bad leg isn’t strong enough.” She switched legs.
Oh, man! Lex barely got three inches of air before her back struck the mat again. She rubbed her aching hamstring.
Aiden did another rep single-legged. “It’s more advanced.”
Advanced? It was Superman-level.
“Come on, both feet on the ball. Keep up with me.”
She kept up with him — sort of. She had a tendency to drop back down faster than he did. He glared sideways at her. “Slower. Don’t cheat.”
