| There was so much swimming inside Lance’s head, so many words and questions. But her eyes captured him and he wanted to just savor that moment -- deal with the rest of the shit later. The drink in her hand felt cool against his skin and he smiled at her. “LA huh?” “LA,” she batted back at him. And Lance wondered just how someone’s lashes could be so long and enticing. “I went to your job to find you,” he stammered. “Ah,” she said, sipping her margarita. “And I guess you found out I quit.” “Yeah, actually, in pretty crude terms.” Lance laughed now. He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her away from the swarm of people to the far end of the pool where it was dark and quiet. He adored the way her eyes twinkled in the light of the Tiki torches. “I took a shower and lost your number,” he whispered, brushing a curl from her neck. “I was really pissed off.” She chuckled, touching her margarita to his lips, offering him a sip. He accepted, locking eyes and never blinking. The drink was frosty and cool, and slid down his throat easily. “I was surprised, actually,” she said, as her eyes danced over his face. “I mean, your friends called me and I thought it was a joke. I was thinking I found this really cool guy and he asks me to go away, and I say yes like some kind of hussy ....” “No,” Lance laughed as he inched closer to her. “Not hussy. It was ... impulsive.” She rolled her eyes at him and grinned. “Yeah, okay. Impulsive. That sounds kinder.” The deepness of his chuckle surprised him. It was a long time since he’d laughed so truly, so abundantly and honestly. “Look, this is something I can’t explain. Hell, I don’t want to. I just want to lean back and enjoy the fact you’re here.” Theresa sipped her drink thoughtfully. “You’re friends were pretty insistent. They're great guys. They tracked me down and from what I understand, paid a pretty penny to my ogre of an ex-boss.” “Ah, money buys a lot,” Lance agreed. “It doesn’t buy everything though.” Theresa’s hand found his leg and ran along the length of it comfortingly. “Doesn’t buy happiness does it?” Lance frowned slightly. “No. That’s for shit sure.” JC bounced over and pressed a Pina Colada into Lance’s hand. “For you.” A petite girl in a bikini trailed him and Lance lifted an eyebrow as his friend turned to her. “For me,” he grinned, wrapping his arm around the girl. “Catch you later.” Lance shook his head as his gaze followed JC. “I wonder what makes people crave what they don’t have.” Theresa sighed and rested her head on his shoulder. “Life. You have to learn to be happy and content with what God gives you. I mean, if you spend idle time coveting what other’s have, then even when you do find happiness, it’s bittersweet.” And that made all the sense in the world to Lance. It was as if Theresa climbed into his being and picked his brain. It was as if his world had just begun to spin again after lying idle for so long. She understood and accepted what he was. “Wanna get outta here?” he said suddenly, placing his glass down and grasping her hand in his. His eyes danced happily and he felt light -- free of responsibilities for the moment. “We’ll have to take a cab, but I’d really like to just be alone with you for a while.” Theresa nodded and touched the golden cross that dangled between her breasts. “I’d like that. A lot.” So Lance didn’t waste a moment. He placed his arm around her waist and guided her gently through the crowd. He didn’t even mind when people tapped him to say hi -- or when Justin jumped on his back, spilling beer down his shirt. He was untouchable -- or so he felt. His feet moved quicker than they had in ages -- and his mind was filled with nothing more than where to bring Theresa. Someplace quiet. Someplace romantic. The beach. His mama had always called him her beach boy. Her little sand flea. And it was true. The waves soothed his soul. His grandma used to say the waves sang songs only the pure of heart could hear. Lance had been destroyed when he suddenly couldn’t hear them anymore. He finally understood what legend she’d been telling. That had started the whole feeling of claustrophobia and closure for him. But as he took a sharp inhale of California air, he realized the weight that so often accompanied each breath was gone. It made him laugh. “What’s so funny?” Theresa asked as they wove their way out to the front yard. “Nothing really,” Lance said, as the moonlight danced in his jade eyes. “I’m just glad I found you.” He extracted his cell phone and dialed information, requesting a cab. “We gotta meet them by the gate,” he grinned, grabbing her hand again. “Security and all that.” Theresa shivered in the cool night air and Lance didn’t miss a beat. His arm was around her, his hand rubbing her goose fleshed skin immediately. “Sorry. I wish I brought a jacket.” “S’okay,” she replied, giving him a playful nudge with her elbow. “You’re warm enough.” He blushed. The stars guided their path down past the few limos and valets that lined the circular driveway. “I still can’t get over they found you,” Lance said lowly. Boldness encompassed his normally quiet demeanor and he leaned down to plant a kiss on her head. “Justin and JC. Who’d of thunk?” “You sound surprised.” Theresa leaned into the warm lips that brushed her hair. “Are they not usually so kind?” “JC? Justin?” Lance sighed as he thought about it. His hand rubbed over the back of his neck, scratching over the shorn hairs. “I guess. I mean, we’re with each other so often. I suppose we all have our selfish moments.” And that was true. There wasn’t one of them, Joey and Chris included, that gave one hundred percent of friendship all the time. “Nah, I guess I would expect this of them. We can read each other. I suppose I just forgot that.” Theresa squinted as headlights approached. “Well, I for one think you’re lucky. They took care of my ticket and everything. I felt like a princess.” “Yeah?” Lance chewed on his lips uncertainly. He had no reason to distrust anything -- not Theresa, not Justin or JC, yet reality was a tough thing. And reality said this girl had no money. But freedom was surely better than money. Money well spent, he thought, as the cab stopped and they climbed in. |
| LITTLE WING 6 by destiny |