Part 19 (1/2)
”I'm not pouty and jealous.” I retorted.
”So, what happened to Angelique?”
”She's in custody. And so is Braydon. They arrested him a few hours later. It seems Angelique turned on him within hours.”
”Wow.” Lucky looked surprised. ”Really?”
”Yeah. I think they will get lighter sentences if they are able to get Sanchez, the guy who's running half the drugs from Mexico to L.A., but they will still go away for a long time.”
”Wow!” Lucky exclaimed again and held on to me tightly. ”I'm just glad you're okay. I don't know what I would have done if you hadn't been okay.”
”I'm sorry, Lucky. I wasn't thinking.” I stroked her hair around my fingers. ”Forgive me?”
”If you promise me you won't do anything like this again without telling me.”
”I promise.” I paused. ”Let me clarify, I promise to be open and honest with you and to trust that you can handle whatever comes up in my life.”
”I hope no more drug trafficking cases come up.” She made a face. ”I mean, I'm glad you got Braydon and Angelique, but I'm not sure I could go through all of this again.”
”I promise no more drug trafficking.” I slid my hand to her knee. ”I promise to focus all of my attention on you.”
”Oh really?” She giggled and I was happy to see the light back in her eyes as she stared at me and swatted my hand away.
”Oh yes, I'll get out my copy of the Kama Sutra and I'll spend hours each night devoting myself to your body.”
”Uh huh.”
”It'll be tiring, but I promise to give it my all.”
”That's one promise I think you'll be able to keep, all right.”
”You forgive me?” I held my breath as I looked into her eyes, searchingly. ”Say you forgive me.”
Instead of answering, Lucky leaned in towards me and kissed my lips softly. I could taste the remnants of orange juice on her lips. I sucked on her lower lip before plunging my tongue into her mouth and she grabbed the back of my head. I felt her fingers running along my scalp and I pushed her onto her back so I could feel her b.r.e.a.s.t.s crushed against my chest.
”Really, guys?” Leeza's voice echoed through the backyard and I groaned as I sat up and pulled away from Lucky. ”Lucky, I don't know how you were able to forgive him so easily.”
”Leeza...” Lucky's voice held a warning.
”I'm just saying.” Leeza whined. ”Are we going to go and do something today, or am I expected to sit at home and watch Maury and Days of Our Lives?”
”We can drive you around Los Angeles.” Lucky jumped up. ”Is there anywhere you want to go specifically?”
”Beverly Hills, 90210.” Leeza's voice was excited and I rolled my eyes.
”Leeza, can you give Lucky and me a moment please? I need to ask her something,” I said.
”Whatever.” She twirled around and walked back into the house.
”I know she's your friend, Lucky, but she really annoys me.” I muttered as I watched her friend leave. Even though I knew Leeza wasn't planning something with Evan, I still couldn't stand her. I was hoping in my head that she was on her way back to Florida very soon.
”What did you want to ask me, Zane?” Lucky looked at me with a worried expression and my heart went out to her. I felt ashamed of myself for making her feel that way. I made a vow to myself that I wasn't ever going to give her a heavy heart again.
”So, remember when I asked you about going to London?” I took her hands in mine and used my fingers to trace the lines in her palm.
”You mean the other day?”
”Yeah.” I nodded and watched her face, carefully. ”So, I was thinking, what about it? We could go for the weekend - just you and me. We could just take a break away from everything and relax.”
”But, London?” She half-smiled, considering my proposition. ”It just seems so far away.”
”I just want to take a trip away, you and me. Somewhere romantic.” A light bulb flashed in my head and I exclaimed. ”Or we could go to Paris. See the Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe. We could eat French pastries in bed and shop along the Champs-Elysees.”
”Well, I don't have money to shop, but I do love croissants.” She smiled at me. ”And I've always wanted to go to Paris.”
”See? It was made to be. You, me, and Paris.” I kissed the tip of her nose and we walked back inside the house. ”This is going to be the trip of a lifetime. I love the French. They are such a romantic and pa.s.sionate people.”
”Oh, really?”
”Yes.” I laughed. ”We could learn a thing or two from them.” I winked at her and she blushed. I felt a secret thrill that I could still make Lucky's cheeks redden with embarra.s.sment.
”I don't really know much about the French, aside from the fact that they love French fries and that they got rid of their monarchy during the French revolution.”
”I can't say I know much more than you, but Noah was obsessed with all things French. One of his favorite movies was called Jules et Jim and he would make us watch it every few years.”
”Oh really?” Lucky gave me a peculiar look. ”Was there a reason why Noah liked France so much?”
”Not that I know of.” I shrugged. ”Noah was a man with eclectic tastes, not that you would have known that by the look of him.”
”Oh?”
”Most people looked at him and thought he was just a playboy.” I laughed. ”I suppose that's how you thought of me as well.”
”Well, I...I didn't really know you well,” Lucky stuttered.
”It's okay.” I stretched my arms and turned to her. ”So are we down for Paris?”
”This weekend?” Her voice was hesitant, but I could sense the excitement in her tone.
”No time like the present.” I grinned.
She laughed. ”I guess so.”
”Is that a yes?”
”Yes.” Her voice was small and I lifted her up and swung her around. We were both laughing, but as I set her down, she gave me a worried look. ”Don't ever lie to me again, Zane. I don't think I can go through what I went through last night.”