Especially now that I knew his ex was the Spawn of Satan.
An idea — a terrible one came to mind.
I shouldn’t.
I really shouldn’t involve myself.
Cursing, I quickly dialed the number I’d come to memorize for self preservation.
It rung twice. “Hello?” I swear my body full on trembled then threatened to puke up all contents of my stomach at the sound of that woman’s voice. I wondered if it was similar to the reaction people had when getting audited.
“Angelica.”
“Asshole!” she greeted. “What’s up?”
“How’s life?”
She snorted. “Yeah, let’s not play around. What do you want? I’m driving.”
“Smith, I don’t know the ass**le’s last name, just Smith, you know like Beyonce.”
She sighed then answered,“…yeah?”
“He’s your ex?”
“So?”
“Is he?”
Angelica popped her gum in the phone. “Yes, but how do you even know that?”
“I know it because he just told me and within the same breath may have mentioned dating another girl. An innocent girl.” I swallowed. “Ang, she’s not like us.”
She sighed heavily into the phone. “Local girl?”
“Pastor’s daughter.”
“Serious?”
“She’s pretty.”
“Well, no shit, Jay. I think it’s probably the same girl he was with last week. Alright, so why are you calling me?”
“Are you guys getting back together?”
“Not that it’s any of your business.” She snapped her gum. “But possibly. We just have a lot of drama to work out. It’s not easy dating a civilian.”
I laughed at that.
“Jay, why are you really calling?”
“I like her.”
Why the hell I was telling Angelica this? No idea.
“Shut the hell up!” She burst out laughing. “Aw, Jay, I almost feel sorry for you.”
“Don’t.”
“Fine.” She huffed out an exasperated breath. “You’re lucky I turned over a new leaf.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. I’m no longer evil. I traded in my magic wand and everything.”
“You had a wand?”
“It was white.” She sighed. “And filled with magic I snorted every freaking day until sunset.” I heard her honk her horn and curse. “At any rate. I’m over it. Where did they go?”
“Out to eat.”
“Duh, you said lunch, do you know where?”
“No, But I can find out.”
“Find out and text me.”
“I thought you put away your magic wand.”
Angelica cackled. “Yeah, I put it away. The drugs are gone but I’ve still got bitch written all over me. You want the girl. I want the guy. I’m just going to help things along.”
“And by help you mean… me?”
“And me.” She snorted. “I’m not entirely selfless.”
“I would never accuse you of such a thing, believe me.”
“Nice.”
I swallowed my pride. “Thanks, Angelica.”
With a heavy sigh she answered. “Well, you’re hot so I can’t really say no. And you were one of the only guys in the last year who didn’t try to murder me in my sleep, so I figure I owe you.”
“I’ll text you in a minute.”
“Sounds good. I’m headed downtown now.”
I hung up and quickly got on my messages.
Me: What are you doing?
Priscilla S: Driving to get food.
Me: Where?
Priscilla S: Um, Seaside? Where I live.
Me: Silly, what restaurant? I wanna look it up on Google Earth.
Priscilla S: Creepy hobby, and it’s called Seaside Brewery.
Dammit! The same place I had taken her?
Me: Oh cool.
I clicked over to my text messaging.
Me: Seaside Brewery right off Main.
Angelica: Great beer. Love that place. Cool, be there in ten.
The minute she sent me that last text, my heart dropped to my stomach. What the hell was I doing?
It was Angelica, what if she made a scene? What if it embarrassed Priscilla? And then my heart started hammering harder. What if it broke her heart? And it was because of me?
Dammit! I quickly locked up and ran out of the store.
Chapter Thirty-One
Priscilla
Was it wrong to think of Jaymeson and only Jaymeson while I watched Smith order the exact same beer and sit in the exact same spot we had just three days before?
Not one to mess with destiny, I ordered fish and chips. Again.
“So what are your plans tonight?” I casually took a sip of water as Smith cleared his throat and broke eye contact.
“Grandma.” He nodded. “Helping her walk the dog.”
I laughed. “That’s sweet.”
“Well.” He shrugged in an aw-shucks way and reached for my hand. “She’s adorable and we usually spend one night a week hanging out.”
Okay, so he took his grandma’s dog on a walk for her? And voluntarily spent time with her? He earned extra points for that.
His face fell.
“What?” I squeezed his hand. “What is it?”
“Nothing.” He laced his fingers in mine. “I just wish I was hanging out with you, that’s all.”
“Well, why don’t we hang out afterwards?”
“There’s an idea.” He smiled. “How about I text you when I’m done with her?”
I nodded and released his hand as the food was brought to our table. I was just about ready to grab a fry when Smith started choking.
“Are you okay?” I reached for him, but he jerked away and stood, still coughing.
“Asshole!” a feminine voice all but shouted, gaining attention from other patrons of the restaurant. “What do we have here?”
It was the girl from the first night we’d gone on a date. The famous one. Angelica, I think.
“Hi,” I said cheerfully.
“You poor thing. I almost feel sorry for you.” The way she said it wasn’t mean. It was almost like she pitied me and wanted to rescue me at the same time. She patted my hand and gave it a squeeze then turned her full attention to Smith.
“Make your choice.”
“But—”
Angelica released my hand and smacked him on the shoulder. “I won’t ask again. Either we make this work or I walk.”
“Make this work?” I repeated, my mind unable to figure out what the heck was going on.