“Adam, man, you alright?" William asked with a smirk.
Adam straightened up and leaned his back against the wall. He looked like he might throw up.
“That woman is sure quick. Didn't see it comin'. She’s got a kick like an angry mule, too. Christ, but she got me good.” His head was leaning back against the wall with his eyes closed. He shook his head with a smile on his face. Apparently he was taking this in good humor.
Lump was struggling with her guilt and her desire to make amends. Being a person that said when she was wrong, she didn't quite know how to admit it within the constraints of their hatred for one another.
“C'mon man.” William chuckled as he tried to help Adam up.
Adam shook him off. “I'm good. Just gotta walk it off.”
Lump stepped up to help. Adam threw both hands in the air, still leaning against the wall.
“Easy there, Miss. Just stand away right quick. You win. You win, I lose. Just let me get my bearings. I can’t handle no more of those punches just yet. I'll be ready for ya in a minute." He laughed again, trying to straighten up further and get his breath.
Her face fell. She looked like she was ready to cry. The boys walked toward the cabs, Adam leaving his hand on his chest where Lump punched him. I fell in with Lump, putting my hand on her shoulder. She shrugged me off and shook her head without looking at me.
"I didn't mean to do that, Jess. I really didn't. I just reacted. I was so riled up that when I saw movement my muscle memory kicked in. I hit him in a painful place near the sternum. I shouldn't have done that. I could have really hurt him."
“But you didn't. He's fine. Or, he will be."
She continued to shake her head. "Most men would’ve hit the deck with that punch. He is tough thank God. But I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have let myself lose control! Thank Willie for me please. He’s also way stronger than he looks—and he looks like he can hold his own. How are these guys bread so damn strong?"
"Ever ride a bull?" I asked with a laugh. I knew she would, given the opportunity. I would make sure she had just such an opportunity, too.
Chapter Fourteen
The next morning I woke up with a slightly smaller headache than the day before. My stomach wasn't as queasy, though, so I was doing well on that route. I convinced William to put on the clothes he was wearing last night instead of wearing the reserves he had at my house. He wouldn't wear the tighter shirt in Gladis's house for reasons unknown, but he wore the fabulous fitting jeans and chose a tank top/upper scale Wife Beater from his drawer.
I couldn't see how that was better in terms of looking nice, but it was sexier, so I didn't say anything. I would get to admire his arms and shoulders all morning now, instead of just when we were in bed.
Gladis had breakfast limited to the kitchen, and we weren't allowed to linger anywhere but. She was directing caterers and event staff for the party and didn’t want us in the way. We met the girls in the kitchen, had a quick bite then all decided it would be best to head to my house.
I stopped in to Gladis to ask if she needed anything. "No dear. I have this all under control. I am an old pro."
I smiled and nodded and turned to leave.
"Jessica," she said. I turned back to her. "I see Willie is here today."
"Yes. He made me an apology I couldn't refuse."
"You should have given it one more day."
I told her how the night unfolded, what I had said, and what he did. She nodded when I told her how I very nearly ended it, and surprise lit up her face when I described what William did and said.
"He really did that?" she asked, shocked.
I nodded.
She thought a moment. "He really loves you, honey. It was necessary what you did, but you were right to accept his apology. That is not something a Davies man will do lightly; lay down pride like that. You have something he needs. Guard it well and he'll guard you well."
I was not sure what I had that he needed, or any clue as to what she was talking about, but I nodded anyway.
"Oh, Gladis?"
"Yes?"
"Would you mind if Lump stayed with me for a while? It would only be a couple weeks until she got her own place, and she would stay out of your hair. She just needs a place to sleep. She is just back from--"
Gladis cut me off with a hand in the air. "Jessica, don't be silly! Of course she can stay. She will stay in her own bedroom right here. There is plenty of room! You and Willie need your privacy just as surely as your friend Lu...Lump does. I need to learn that girl’s real name. Calling a young lady Lump is ridiculous!"
I tried to press her that Lump didn't need to trouble Gladis by staying in her house, but a plastic cup was thrown at me and I was told to get away.
Crazy old bird.
The day passed in a flash. Lump wasn't thrilled about Gladis saying she should stay in the big house because she felt like she was putting her out. She couldn't pay rent and Gladis was a stranger, so Lump felt like she was free loading. I didn't care to argue. Let her get hit with something—I was afraid that next time it would be a hard object.
We picked up my old roommate Ami from the airport. She was dressed appropriately for an afternoon gathering among people with means. Of course she was. She was raised with money--she knew how these things worked. She was thrilled to see me and jumped around squealing. She greeted William, and he greeted her back. It didn't take him long to recognize that she was in the same club as him—People with Trust Funds club.
Ami was sporting a giant diamond ring. "Ami, you are engaged!"
She beamed at me. "Yes! He proposed a week ago. Isn't the ring gorgeous? Mother says it isn't big enough, but I don't mind."
"How big is it?" It looked plenty big to me.
"Just shy of two carets. He got round so it looked bigger. He said I can upgrade in a year, but I like it. I might just stay with this size."
"It’s gorgeous Ami! It really is. I think it is a prefect size. I am more of a Princess Cut girl myself, but you know what they say about beggars." We laughed and got into William's car.
It turned out that Ami and her mom had a falling out due to her choice in fiancé. While he had amazing prospects and would probably be hugely successful in a couple years, not to mention his complete and apparently adorable obsession for Ami, he was not already established and wealthy enough for her mother.
Her mom stopped talking to her for a couple months and threatened to cut her off. Ami didn't budge. Her man assured her that she would be provided for, and she assured him it didn't matter. He was what she wanted. It was romantic and touching, viewed from a 'glass half full' type of girl. And as it usually does for positive people, it worked out exactly how Ami hoped. Her mother eventually saw reason and came around when she saw that Ami wouldn’t change her mind, and Ami believed—probably wrongly—that her mother started to adore her beau just like she did. Staying that naive had its benefits. Being an only daughter to an unhappily married woman did, too.
Throughout the whole bubbly, enthusiastic telling, I could tell William was listening to every word, comparing her situation with his. From his nods, it appeared he would have done the same thing, probably with the same result. His mother had more than one kid, but he was the golden child. Denise would eat her finger off before she’d let him get away.
Just like Ami’s mom, though, Denise didn’t have to like it. I wasn’t so naïve as William or Ami—Denise would put up with me, hoping I would go away with all my poor people problems. I knew this. This was common news. I just chose to ignore it and let William have his fantasy that she actually liked me. It was just easier that way.
I probably had a whole lot in common with Ami’s dude.
Except the money, of course.
And the prospects.
And the ability to support my partner.
Whatever.
We had stopped by William's place so he could get changed for the party, which started in three hours! My head was still soggy from last night, but with a great dress and a smile, I was confident I could hide it.
Shit! Great dress.
“I need something to wear,” I announced.
Ami and I were sitting in William’s living room. I’d just interrupted Ami’s accolades regarding the eccentric decorating.
Eccentric meant ugly. Ha!
“You don’t have one?” Ami asked, clearly surprised.
“I was shopping Friday but had to go meet the girls. I didn’t know they were in town, actually, so I went to meet Gladis. But since they were, I didn’t get another chance to shop.”
“What have you girls been doing?”
“Causing trouble, mostly.”
Ami nodded. I knew she remembered my various mornings of guilt from the four years of living together through collage. Thank God she was tip lipped—William did not need to hear those stories!
“You still need something to wear?” William asked, coming out of the bedroom in a snug dress shirt and black slacks.
“You look handsome,” I gushed.
He smiled and winked.
“Yeah, I need something. Let’s go to Hopper’s on the way to Gladis’s. They’re expensive but they always have something.”
Being that we didn’t have much choice, since there were a lot of people today that I would need to impress for William’s sake, everyone packed into the car and off we went.
I thought two people to help me choose would make things faster. If I was with Lump and William, or another of my friends, it would have. Unfortunately, Ami was a little more modest then my other girlfriends, Candace included. She and William agreed on very little, and when they did, the dresses were hideous—way too conservative. William liked things that showed off my figure, while Ami was down and out modest.
I finally found a dress they both agreed on, but bought one of the dresses William really liked because of the way he looked at me when I wore it. I made him a deal, though—I’d buy and wear a dress of his choice one night if he would wear an outfit I chose.
I was cheating since I was wearing the dress at the time of the deal, but he was too busy staring at my chest to notice. He agreed, because he’s a guy, and I picked out two really hot, snug fitting shirts for him. That broke the spell, but he’d already agreed with Ami as a disapproving witness, so he picked a black one and that was that.
By the time we got back the girls were ready, looking decent if not a touch revealing, with Mimosas. Adam was there in a dress shirt of powder blue and slacks. He cleaned up well, but not as nice as William, which not only looked good, but exuded manly confidence and polish. Adam was hot, sure, but he looked so uncomfortable he might as well have been wearing a halter top.
“What airport was Ami at? The one in Little Rock?” Flem asked.
“Had to get an outfit,” I answered, stowing my bags in a corner of the living room.
“You went shopping and you didn’t think to bring us?” Lump asked, horrified.
“I needed speed on my side. If all of you went it would take all day. Plus, I went to the expensive place.”
“So? We have credit,” Jane declared.
“What happened with Brad?” I asked, changing the subject.
Jane shrugged. “A few kisses, some wandering hands, and curtain call. He wants to call me, but I’ll be in California so obviously that’s a no.”
“Brad’s a good guy,” Adam said from the corner.
It didn’t escape my notice that he was sitting as far from Lump as humanly possible. Plus, the two were in chairs that faced each other, but neither would look straight ahead at the other. As far as reconciling differences went, they weren’t off to a great start.
“Yeah, he’s cool. And cute. But in Texas. I live in California.”
“He going to be here today?” I asked.
“No. He didn’t get an invite.”
“His family isn’t all that close to Gladis,” William explained, stretching out on the couch.
“Willie, yer a bigger fecker, but not that big. Make some space,” Claire scoffed, giving him a shove so we could sit comfortably.
“I was here first,” William said with a smile, not moving.
“So? I knew Jess first. I win.”
“Right, I have to go change.” I bounded up the stairs with my dress. I needed time to mentally and physically get ready for the coming hurricane.
When the time came to face the music I headed downstairs, ready as I could possibly be. The dress fit well, I didn’t have buyer’s remorse even though I paid way too much for it, and my make-up went on without a hitch. I had a tiny bit of trouble with my hair, but after a few threats and a gallon of product, it all worked out.
I descended the steps, trying to think if I needed my handbag for anything, when suddenly everything went quiet. I froze halfway between floors.
All eyes on me.
Lump’s mouth was hanging open, Jane looked cross, Claire was judging how fast she had to drink the rest of her champagne to leave on time, Flem looked bored, Adam was looking at my legs, and William had a small smile on his face.
“What?”
Ami walked in from the kitchen and followed everyone’s gaze.
“You look perfect, Jess. Good choice,” she judged.
“Sorry Willie, it was the angle,” Adam said, looking down with a guilty smile.
William looked over at him in confusion, looked back up at me, then smiled. “Eyes off my prize, Dunn.”
“Your prize?” Lump joked, looking at my shoes. Well, her shoes.
“There she goes,” Adam mumbled.
I finished the decent as I said, “She was just kidding, Adam. Don’t start.”