Chapter 19
With as busy as the activities at the community center kept Carol, one would have expected the week to pass quickly. It seemed to drag by, even though she and Alex talked every day. The days were manageable, but the nights were torture. How in the world had she ever thought a king-sized bed a good idea? Without Alex, the mattress was massive. The empty space screamed his absence. By Wednesday, she took to sleeping on the couch. Of course, that only reminded her of the pelvic exercises they’d performed in the living room.
“Earth to Carol.” Vicki, the community center’s director, walked into her office. “Girl, where were you, because it was not in this office?”
“Oh, just thinking about my friend, and hoping we can get her here sometime next year.” Earlier, Carol had been thinking about Gabriella and how her pregnancy was going. That this wasn’t the friend on her mind when the director came into her office was something she felt need not be revealed.
“I still can’t believe what the Stones are doing. Gabriella’s donation was simply amazing, and that the family would follow that up with an annual scholarship is more than we could have dreamed.”
“They’re a wonderful family.”
Vicki sat down on one of two comfy chairs decorated in colorful cloth. “So, sistah, where is that fine man who came to the opening?”
“Alex?” Vicki nodded. “He’s in LA. He works security for Mr. President.”
“Wow. I’m impressed.”
“Yes, most people are. It’s a pretty big deal.”
“Honey, if I had something that fine warming my bed at night, I wouldn’t let him out of my sight. Not even for the president. You’re a better woman than me.”
“He’s doing what he loves, and so am I.” Carol swiped a page on her iPad. “It is what it is.”
“Y’all aren’t going to be together this Saturday? Valentine’s Day?”
“Probably not. He’ll definitely be working that night. And we’ve got the Sweetheart Dance.”
Vicki gave her a look. “Listen, I appreciate your dedication but would totally understand if you’re not here. Plus, we’ve just interviewed a woman who sent us a résumé and heartfelt letter about giving back to her community. Because of Gabriella’s generosity, it’s most likely we’ll be able to bring her on staff.” Vicki stood. “So if you want to see your man on heart day, don’t let us stop you.”
“Hey, man. What’s up?” Alex came into the living room of the mansion that Marlon “Mr. President” Simmons would temporarily call home. He walked over and gave his boss a fist bump, and nodded to the other men in the room.
“We’re planning a little party for tonight,” Marlon said, his eyes hidden behind dark glasses. It was two in the afternoon, but he hadn’t been up long, as evidenced by his wife beater tee and pajama bottoms worn with sleek, leather house shoes. “It’ll probably only be twenty or thirty of us. Can you handle that, or do you want to hire a couple of your boys?”
“Mostly women, right?”
Marlon grinned mischievously. “No doubt.”
“I could probably handle it, but Joey and Curtis, a friend of mine, are always up for a quick couple bucks. I can see if they’re available.”
“Sounds cool.”
“What time should they get here?”
“Around ten o’clock.”
“All right. I’ll call them now.”
Alex left the living room and walked toward the French doors leading out to the second-story veranda. The home was nestled high in the Hollywood Hills, with a panoramic view of metropolitan Los Angeles on one side and the valley on the other. The sun shone bright, but there was a bit of a nip in the air. Alex smiled at the thought, knowing that if he complained to Carol about the temperatures being in the low sixties, there would be hell to pay.
He was paying a little bit of that now, being here without her. It had been years since he’d had a serious relationship, since his heart had belonged to someone else. Alex hadn’t even realized what had happened until Sunday night when he’d left her place. It had been one of the hardest things he’d ever had to do; not even the prospect of escorting Marlon to an A-list party could lift his mood. He’d seen some of everybody that night; had been flirted with by a bevy of beauties in the days since Detroit. Last night, several women had played in the hot tub. Naked, of course. One of them had let him know in no uncertain terms that she was his for the taking. That’s when he knew he had it bad for Carol. When it had only taken him a second to decide to leave her fine ass alone.
He called his friend Curtis and told him about the party.
“Heck, yes. You know I’m down. What time?” Alex told him. “Give me the details and I’ll be there. How does Marlon feel about . . . you know . . . us and the ladies? Does he roll like Troy with a no-fraternizing rule? Or can we indulge in the leftovers?”
“Marlon’s cool about it, man. Don’t worry. There will be enough women to go around.”
Curtis laughed, a knowing chuckle. “Yeah, sounds like you already know something about it.”
“No, man. My woman’s in Detroit.”
“That’s cool. These women in Cali don’t have to know.” He laughed again. “Wait until that party on Saturday night. When one of those exotic dancing cutie pies asks to be your Valentine, shoots you with that Cupid arrow. We’ll see if baby girl in the Dirty D will keep you from tasting one of those chocolate candies.”
They talked a bit more before Alex ended the call to call Joey. With both men on board for the night’s festivities, Alex leaned against the railing and looked out on the glorious view. He really loved California, had even entertained a recent offer from Troy to work again at Morgan Security and be based in LA. He only wished that he could talk Carol into moving here with him. Because as much as he was looking forward to eating good food, drinking pricey bubbly, and rubbing shoulders with A-list celebrities, the thought of doing it without her here wasn’t as exciting . . . especially this coming Saturday night.
“Come on, Carol. You should come up for the weekend.” Carol sat in a restaurant as she listened to Gabriella, delaying the inevitable trip to her empty home. “You already said that Alex wanted you here. Y’all could hang out Saturday night and then join us on Sunday.”
“I already told you, Gab. I’ve got an event.”
“Girl, please. I’m not trying to devalue your position at the center, but are you saying you can’t find someone, anybody, to handle your duties that night?” Silence. “What exactly will you be doing there?”
“Now you’re sounding like a mama.” Delivered sternly, but Carol smiled. “You’ll be running someone else’s life soon enough. So leave mine alone.”
“I will not. As your best friend, meddling in as many of your affairs as possible is my business. Just like you did mine, thank you very much.”
“Since you’re happily married with a child on the way, I’m sure you’re not complaining.”
“Don’t worry. There’s plenty of time to blame you for my getting fat.”
“You better blame that brother who put the bun in the oven.”
“Point well taken.” A short, companionable silence, and then, “Come up, Carol. Please, I need you. I’ll take care of everything, even a romantic getaway for you and Alex on Saturday night.”
“Marlon’s having a party on Saturday. Alex is working it.”
“I’ll take care of that, too. So you’ll come?”
Carol hesitated for half a second. “Yes.”
Alex’s phone rang, surprising him since it was only seven o’clock on a Saturday morning. He hadn’t gotten Marlon back to the mansion until four a.m. and finally crawled into bed at five. He gave serious yet short consideration to totally ignoring whoever was calling. Given his work, however, that was impossible. So he snatched the phone off the nightstand and growled a greeting.
“What.”
“Man, what’s wrong with you? You’re acting like your boss never lets you sleep.”
“Marlon?”
“Yeah, man.”
“You’re still up?”
“Barely. I’m gonna lay it down right after this call. But I wanted to let you know that you’ve got the night off.”
Alex sat up and looked around, to make sure he wasn’t dreaming. “What? Why?”
“You’re working hard. I’m feeling generous. Plus, it’s one of the last times you’ll have off for the next six weeks. I’ve got a date here and there and promotions throughout. Just today and tomorrow, though, man. You’re back on the clock Monday morning, son.”
“Wow. Thanks, man.”
“Cool.”
Marlon hung up. Alex looked at his phone, still reeling from this unexpected freedom. He wasn’t so out of it to not know how he was going to spend the evening. Smiling, he dialed an airline and booked the next available flight to Detroit. Suddenly all thoughts of sleep were gone. He started to call Carol but just as quickly changed his mind. Thinking of the look on her face when he walked into the community center, he jumped up, threw some clothes into a suitcase, and headed to the airport.
Several hours later, Alex landed in Detroit. Shortly after takeoff he’d abandoned the idea of surprising Carol at the center. He wanted to see his baby the moment he hit Michigan soil.
“Hey, sexy.” He motioned to the driver holding a card with his name on it and passed over his luggage as they walked toward the door. The air was crisp, and he zipped up his jacket as well. “What are you doing?”
Muffled sounds were heard before Carol answered, “Uh, I’m kind of busy right now. Can I call you back?”
“I just need to know if you’re home. I’m on my way over.”
One second passed.
Two.
Five.
“Over where?”
Laughter erupted, dancing on the light snowflakes beginning to fall. “Over to your house, baby. Marlon gave me the night off. I’m in the D.”
“You have got to be kidding me.”
“No,” Alex responded, a crease marring his handsome brow. “Why do you sound so put off by my being here?”
“Because, Mr. Worthington . . . I’m in LA.”