by Ingrid Diaz
“What’s been going on with me?” I asked incredulously. “Aaron, how can you ask that when you know perfectly well I’ve been doing nothing but trying to get your stupid ass out of the mess you got yourself into.”
“Geez, chill out, sis.”
I was this close to strangling him. “Do you have any idea what I have gone through the past few weeks?” I nearly yelled. “Worrying about what they were doing to you, about what they would do to you if I didn’t get the money in time. I’ve barely slept in ages, Aaron, and all because you had the brilliant idea of stealing a hell of a lot of money which seems to have disappeared off the face of the planet! And now you want to scamper off to South America to do God-knows-what, which will probably get you either killed or thrown in jail. And the part that infuriates me, is the fact that none of this seems to have affected you at all!”
Aaron gazed at me curiously for a moment as if trying to analyze my outburst. He took a swig of his beer, calmly, as if nothing I had said had penetrated the lump on his neck he liked to call a head. “PMS?” he guessed.
“Ugh!!” I yelled, frustrated beyond words. “I’m going to bed before I kill you myself.” I stomped to my room and slammed the door shut. Loki lifted her head from her spot on the bed. “Sorry,” I apologized to the dog. “He just gets me so mad, you know?” She blinked in understanding, and I walked to the closet to get changed. One boot flew in one the direction, banging noisily against the wall. I glanced quickly at Loki. “Hey, don’t look at me like that.” The other boot followed suit. “Okay. Okay. I admit this has more to do with Alix that it does with his moronic attitude.”
I replaced my blue jeans with a pair of black pajama pants and headed toward the bed. Joining the puppy, who, truth be told, looked quite bored with my attempt at a conversation, I settled on top of the comforter and stared thoughtfully at the wall. “I can’t believe this is over,” I muttered to no one in particular. “And now Jessica knows. That’s if she chooses to believe me. I wouldn’t be surprised if the FBI blew down my door and had me arrested for harassing the Queen.”
Almost on cue, I heard the distant sound of a knock. I frowned, glancing at the time. It was nearly one in the morning. “Who the hell . . . ?” I wondered out loud, rolling out of bed.
I got the door to my room open in time to hear Aaron say, “Damn, you’re hot! Tell me you’re here for me.”
Rolling my eyes, I was about to step out into the hall, when I heard Alix’s voice respond with, “Ah, sorry. Is Valerie home?”
Alix. I glanced questioningly at Loki and she looked back at me as if to let me know she had nothing to do with it.
“She’s sleeping,” Aaron answered. “Can I be of service in any way?”
I’m going to kill him. Totally kill him. I stepped out of the room, trying desperately to calm my heart. What is she doing here? I kept wondering. When my eyes focused on her, I very nearly tripped right over my tongue. Instead of her baggy attire, she was clad in a velvet green evening gown that clung quite tightly to her every curve. Oh, my gentle Jesus . . . I swallowed hard.
Unsurprisingly, it was Aaron who broke the silence. “Wow, talk about sexual tension,” he said. “I’m out of here. Don’t wait up.” He chuckled and exited the apartment, closing the door behind him.
Alix reached down and took off her high heels, then threw them aside. “I nearly killed myself on the stairs,” she joked.
Clearing my throat, I attempted to speak, but failed.
“Jessica had a . . . thing . . . at her mansion tonight,” she said. “And I had to go. Well, I didn’t have to go. It’s not like my life depended on it or anything. I probably would’ve chosen to die, had that been the case. But she convinced me and then I was thrown into this . . . thing . . . and well . . .” She shifted uncomfortably. “Please stop looking at me like that . . .”
“I’m sorry,” I said, finding my voice somehow. “You look great,” I added, thinking that was a horrible understatement. My God she’s gorgeous. “So. . . umm . . . ?” That’s right, Val, stick to monosyllables. “Do you want to sit down?”
She nodded as she moved toward the couch. “My feet are killing me.” She glanced at the door then back at me. “Why is it that every time I come here, someone different answers the door?”
Her tone was teasing, and I was surprised. “I’m sorry about him,” I apologized, taking a seat on the table in front of the couch. “He was dropped on his head as a baby.”
Recognition flashed in her eyes. “Was that your brother?”
“In the flesh,” I responded, not really wanting to get into the subject.
She seemed to sense this. “I’m glad he’s okay.” She looked down for a moment before continuing. “I came to thank you.”
My brows furrowed in confusion. “For what?”
“For telling Jessica the truth,” she answered. “I know I said I believed your promise, but truth be told, I half expected you to skip town.”
This admission sent a pang of sadness through my heart. She doesn’t trust you. Then the more logical part of my brain responded. Can you blame her? “I keep my promises. Especially to you.”
“Are you really leaving?”
I stared into her face, feeling my heart break in two all over again. “I’m not sure I have reason to stay,” I responded, hoping she would give me a reason.
“Well, I just thought since you told Jessica and everything . . . that you’d . . . stay and try to work things out with her.”
Her words tore through me like a knife through my heart. Jessica. “Look, I promised you that I would tell her. So I told her. You were right, if nothing else, she was owed an explanation. But I have no intention of spending any more time in her company.”
“But you can’t just drop a bombshell like that on her lap and disappear from her life,” Alix argued.
I stood, feeling frustrated. “What is it you want from me?”
“I don’t know,” Alix said, equally frustrated. “Jessica hasn’t had family in so long . . . she doesn’t say anything, but I know it hurts her. And then you come along with so many answers and . . . she needs you, Valerie . . .”
Tears stung my eyes, and I fought them back. “You’re asking too much, Alix.”
“Why? She’s your sister . . . you should—”
“The answer is no,” I responded firmly.
“But why?”
“Because I’m in love with you!” I blurted out. “And you’re still in love with her. And I couldn’t bear to be constantly reminded of that fact.”
She stared up at me, stunned.
Good job, Val. That was a hell of a performance. Way to be dramatic. I mentally sighed. But damn if it isn’t the truth. “Alix—”
“No. It’s okay,” she said, standing. “You don’t have to say another word.” She made a grab for her shoes and walked to the door. At the doorway, she turned around. “Thanks for telling her,” she said again. Then walked out.
I stared at the closed door, wondering what the hell had just happened. Resigned, I walked back into my bedroom and carefully shut the door. Loki once again stared at me. “I really hope you’re straight,” I told the puppy. “’Cause women are just . . . insane.”
Loki agreed.
Ò
The next morning I stepped into the kitchen to find Aaron at the table, sipping a cup of coffee and scanning the Miami Herald. I walked over to pour myself a cup as well. “When did you get in? I didn’t hear you.”
“Late,” he responded. “Or early, depending on your point of view.” He winked at me and focused his attention back on the paper.
It’s simply mind boggling. “You do realize that you were headed toward being fish food not twenty-four hours ago?”
He lowered the paper. “Which is why I’ve decided to live life to its fullest.” He rose to put his empty coffee mug in the sink and turned to kiss my cheek, before reclaiming his seat. “Speaking of which, where’s that hot little number you had in here last night? Still
sleeping?”
I sat down across from him. “I wouldn’t know.”
Confusion branded his features as he gazed at me. “You mean she’s gone already? Damn, sis, I didn’t think you kicked them out of your bed that fast.”
Patience was not something I’d awakened with that morning. However, I willed myself to breathe in and out and keep away from any homicidal thoughts. “I didn’t kick her out. She was never in my bed.”
“Straight?” he asked hopefully.
“Hardly.”
He frowned. “Then what’s the problem? Did you see those legs? Wow . . .” He grabbed at his chest. “Be still my heart.”
Thankful that there were no sharp utensils within easy reach, I said, “I don’t want to talk about it.” Then to make my point, I changed the subject. “What time’s your flight?”
“Anxious to get rid of me already?” he teased.
“Curious, as to when it is that I have to drive you to MIA.”
“Never, actually. I’ve scheduled a ride with a limo service. You don’t have to worry about a thing.”
“You know, every time you tell me not to worry about something, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.”
Aaron laughed soundly.
I nodded to the paper. “Are you done with that?”
He slid it across the table. “Since when do you care about Florida news?”
“Since right now,” I told him, staring down at the newspaper with mild interest. At least it gave me something to do besides having to partake in conversation with my brother. I really wasn’t in the mood. And yet my mouth couldn’t keep quiet. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“Which one?”
“What time is your flight?” I repeated.
“It’s in three hours,” he replied, almost regretfully.
“So soon?” Yes he was a pain in the ass, but that didn’t mean I wanted him gone already.
Aaron sat back in the chair, his arms across his chest. He was wearing a suit I’d never seen before. I didn’t even want to think where he’d gotten the money to buy that. “Was that the girl you are not in love with?”
I frowned at his change of subject. This was how it always had been with us. We kept switching back and forth between subjects the other didn’t want to discuss. It was like verbal ping pong. I had no idea how to answer his question. So I didn’t.
He chuckled. “You should’ve seen your face last night. Your tongue hit the floor. Not that I blame you.”
On second thought, it was probably a good thing he was leaving so soon. I wasn’t sure he would live very long otherwise.
Aaron suddenly turned serious, as if it finally occurred to him that I was not the least bit amused by his teasing. “Hey, Val, I’m sorry. I’ll stop.” He paused for a moment. “You should tell me what the problem is, maybe I can help.”
“You can’t help.”
“Well, then at least I can listen,” he replied earnestly. “I know I can be a total asshole at times, but you can always count on me to lend a friendly ear.”
Had I not been so depressed, I would’ve smiled. Then I sighed. “I lied to her. She hates me. The end.”
“I see,” he said. “Well, it’s none of my business, but if she hates you so much, why did she show up at your apartment at one in the morning wearing that?”
I stared down at a random picture in the newspaper for a moment. I don’t remember what picture it was, nor what the heading of the article read. I didn’t look up when I said, “She just wanted to thank me for keeping a promise. She’d stopped by on her way home from some . . . ‘thing.’”
“But, Valerie—”
“Look, she’s Jessica Heart’s best friend,” I stated flatly. “I used her to get the money. She’s not happy about it. Now drop it.”
Aaron stared at me for a long moment, then he said, “So it’s my fault.”
I looked at him sadly. “It’s not your fault. It’s mine. I’m a total idiot.”
“Ouch,” he said. “You must be really upset. That’s the first time I’ve seen your self-esteem waver.” He was silent for a second. “Do you love her, Val?”
“Yes,” I replied softly, too tired to deny it.
“Does she know?”
“She knows.”
He seemed thoughtful. “Does she love you?”
I paused, remembering what Alix had told Jessica the day before. “She’s never told me.”
Aaron stood, then walked over to me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders, resting his cheek against my head. “I’m really sorry, sis. It may not seem like it, but I am.”
I rose, too, so I could give him a proper hug. “Please stay out of trouble, Aaron,” I said, holding him tightly. “I really have no interest in flying to Brazil.”
He laughed softly. “I will do my best.” He kissed my cheek and let go. “I should get going.”
“Already?” I glanced at the time. It was almost noon.
“Yeah, I have some things to take care of before my flight,” he announced, moving toward the door. He paused before leaving. “I love you, you know?”
“I know. I love you too.”
He smiled brightly and winked. Then he was gone. And the emptiness that swept through me at that moment nearly knocked me off my feet.
Fighting back tears, I headed back into my room to get changed for work. It hit me at that moment that I’d finally gotten my life back.
And I didn’t have the slightest idea what to do with it.
Ò
“Two Gin and Tonics!”
“Rum runner!”
“Martini, sweet!”
Orders flew at me from all directions and I moved behind the bar to get them done as quickly as possible. I poured gin into two highball glasses filled with ice, then filled the contents with tonic water. “Two Gin and Tonics?” I yelled, over the music and the crowd. A pair of hands shot out from the masses of sweaty bodies and gave me the money in exchange for the drinks.
I moved on to the next order.
Time flew by as it always did on nights that were busy. I’d been at work since two in the afternoon and Whispers had gotten progressively busier. I’d totally lost track of time, and though my shift was supposed to end at eleven, I was willing to stay there until closing. Anything to keep my mind off of my chaotic existence.
Eventually, the crowd at the bar dispersed slightly and things calmed down a bit, allowing people to sit on the stools and enjoy their drinks without getting pummeled by the masses.
“Hey beautiful.”
I cringed internally at the sound of her voice, then turned around to gaze into the familiar brown eyes of Robin Graham. “Hey,” I said, wishing someone would order a drink so I wouldn’t have to stand there and hold a conversation with this woman.
“Rough night?” she inquired, leaning back against the bar so she could face me.
I shrugged noncommittally. Ever since her little kissing spree I’d made sure to keep a safe distance from her.
She pursed her lips and smiled. “I thought maybe you wanted to step out for a cup of coffee or something after your shift is over.” She glanced at the neon blue clock on the wall. “Which will be in about fifteen minutes.”
“No thanks,” I said, hoping she’d get the hint. Though she never did.
A short guy with glasses approached the bar. “Can I have a Snowball please?”
Thankful for something to do, I moved about getting the ingredients. Gin . . . Anisette . . . light cream . . . shake with ice . . . strain into a cocktail glass. Voila. I placed the drink in front of him and grabbed the money from his hands. “Have a good night,” I told him. Much to my dismay, Robin was still there. “Shouldn’t you be tending bar or something?” Robin worked in a different section of the club. I tended the main bar, she took care of one of the smaller ones.
“I got off at ten-thirty,” she said. “Want to get something to eat instead?” She smiled suggestively.
I rolled my eyes.
<
br /> “Why do you hate me so much, Valerie?” she asked, seriously.
“Why?” I asked incredulously. “You left me! No explanation. No note. No ‘Sorry to throw away the past year but I’m sick of Florida.’”
“You knew I was leaving. I asked you to come with me.”
“And you knew I wasn’t going to leave!”
She held up her hands. “Look, let’s not discuss this here.”
“I’m not discussing this anywhere, Robin,” I said, hoping it would sink in this time. “It’s over. It was over the moment you walked out the door.” I glanced at the clock. Five more minutes. Suddenly I wanted nothing more than to get back to my apartment.
“Fine,” she said gruffly. “Have a nice life.” She stormed off and I breathed a sigh of relief. My replacement arrived a minute later and I headed home.
Back in my apartment I stared at the contents in my refrigerator. Finding nothing there, I turned to my freezer. I settled for a weird frozen lasagna concoction that I hoped wouldn’t kill me. I was halfway through the meal when I heard a knock at the door.
“Who is it?” I called.
There was a pause, then, “It’s Jessica.”
I blinked a few times as I recovered from the shock, then threw the door open. Jessica was standing in my doorway, holding my birth certificate in one hand. She wasn’t quite looking at me.
“Come in,” I said.
She entered and looked around for a moment. I felt a bit embarrassed about the size of my apartment. It was small by normal standards. It must have looked like a cardboard box to her. Jessica stared down at the paper in her hand. “You were telling the truth,” she said.
I closed the door and leaned my back against it. “I know.”
She handed the certificate back to me. “I came to return it. You might need it . . . sometime.”
“Thanks,” I said, feeling incredibly awkward. “How’d you know where I lived?”
“Alix told me,” she said. “I hope you don’t mind my showing up like this. I came by earlier but you weren’t here.”
