“Hate that phone. I’m a Blackberry girl.”
He smiled a little and gave me a squeeze, “I’ll get you a Blackberry.”
I gave him a half a smile. Something seemingly insignificant amid a day that was total chaos but it was sweet.
We polished off most of that extra-large pizza; I was totally starved, ate four pieces, poured another big glass of wine, but then I crashed.
** ** **
I woke up alone in the bed. The lamp was still on, the two wineglasses beside me, Tommy’s empty one and my full one. It was warm but I drank a few sips of it anyway. I got up and saw his black t-shirt on the floor beside the empty pizza box. I threw it over my tank top it and inhaled it deeply. I was wearing a pair of boy short underwear but the t-shirt covered my booty. I lifted the box to take it to the kitchen and went in search of my fiancé.
I found him sitting in the backyard by the pool in just his boxers, his feet in the water, smoking a joint. I frowned. I’d never seen him do that before.
“Hey,” he looked up at me and looked around, “Fuck, where are your pants? There are guys around.” He picked up his phone and dialed, “Steer clear of the pool area till I tell you; tell the guys,” he practically barked those orders.
“Sorry,” I spun to head back in the house.
“Don’t go; sit.”
I sat beside him and put my feet into the water. It was warm; felt nice. He passed me the joint. I took a puff and then a second puff, then gave it back.
“I don’t smoke much. Just once in a while at night when I can’t seem to chill,” he explained and took another haul off it and then put it out in an ashtray beside him. If pot chilled him out maybe he should smoke it more often. I decided not to share that info at that particular moment. I just nodded and put my head against his arm. He put his arm around me. I nuzzled into him, looking up at the sky. It was a nice night. Too bad so much was fucked up for both of us right now.
“Why aren’t you asleep? It’s late. Trouble shutting your mind off, too?” he asked, kissing the top of my head.
“I guess,” I said, “I think I’d sleep better beside you.”
He leaned down and kissed me. I held tight to him.
“Let’s go put you to bed,” he said softly and got to his feet. He touched his phone screen and then put his phone to his ear as we walked hand in hand back inside, “You’re good. Off to bed. Yep.” He ended the call.
The pot definitely made me sleepy. My body felt all loose and gooey. I fell asleep running my fingers through his hair. It was so soft. He smelled so good.
** ** **
Tommy was shaking me.
“Baby, c’mon and move! We gotta bounce!”
I sat upright in bed, feeling all groggy,
“Huh?”
“Move!” He pulled me by the hand and was throwing a bundle of clothing at me, “Pack a couple changes of clothes for both of us and bathroom shit, whatever you can fit in that bag. And your laptop and phone and charger. Hurry.”
“What’s going on?” I felt so groggy.
“I’ll explain on the way, we gotta hurry, Tia. Hurry!”
I sprang into action, trying to shake off the grogginess and grabbed underwear, socks, jeans, t-shirts, shorts, bras for me then jeans, socks, underwear, t-shirts, long sleeve shirts for Tommy. Then I grabbed my train case in the bathroom and threw our toothbrushes and toothpaste and Tommy’s razor and shaving cream into it. In 3 minutes flat I was ready, wearing sweats and flip flops. I threw a pair of sneakers into the bag. He was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt and he grabbed the bag, my train case and purse, and then he ushered us to the jeep.
“Something’s fucked up,” he said, as we pulled out onto the street.
“What do you mean?”
“My guards disappeared. Jimmy is AWOL. We’re going to the safe house.”
“Jimmy disappeared?”