I have my phone on mute at the restaurant. I arrive home and pull it out of my purse to check it. It’s flashing blue. When I hit the button, it shows two texts: one from Michael and the other from Anna.
MICHAEL: I’d like 2 C U 2night. Can U get out?
ISABELLA: Sure Time?
MICHAEL: 9 I’ll B waiting down the street.
ISABELLA: Sure, C U then!
ANNA: Can U come over? Or do U want 2 go 2 Memphis?
ISABELLA: Was already there with Scott & his mom. I can go 2 your house but I can’t stay long. Michael wants 2 C me. Can U pick me up?
ANNA: Will B there. I texted Michael:
ISABELLA: Can U pick me up @ Anna’s instead of my house?
MICHAEL: Sure, same time?
ISABELLA: 9:30 Pls?
MICHAEL: Sure.
Mom isn’t home so when Anna arrives at my house we split right away. I get into the passenger side of her car and she starts backing out of our driveway. I notice she doesn’t put her hand on my headrest the way Scott does when she backs out. It must be a habit only Scott has. We go upstairs when we get to her house, seeking the privacy and comfort of her bedroom to catch up, “I’ve been dying to talk to you,” she admits. “I can’t believe the way you kissed Michael in front of Scott!”
“He grabbed me! I wasn’t planning it.” I try to explain.
“How lucky are you! Two gorgeous guys fighting over you. Must be hard,” she sympathizes. “You looked like you were enjoying that kiss!”
“Was it that obvious?”
“God, Yes! So are you giving Michael a second chance?” “Yes, I think so; he says he still loves me.”
“Do you believe him?”
“He has no reason to lie; Jeremy told me the same thing. He says Michael hasn’t been with anyone since that one girl right after we broke up. He told me that he’s been waiting for me.”
“That’s so romantic,” Anna gushes. “Did Scott confront you in the car?”
“Hell ya, he was pissed! He doesn’t understand why I’m giving Michael a second chance and not him. He said that he’s not going to stand around and watch Michael hurt me all over again. He already did that.”
“So, the two of you are history?”
“Ya, he dumped me like yesterday’s trash.”
“I find that hard to believe,” Anna says skeptically. “If I had to choose, I think I would pick Scott,” Anna teases.
“The choice has been taken out of my hands,” I explain. “There’s more, I went to pick up dad’s car from Scott’s house and it wouldn’t start. He must have heard me from inside. He came out and helped me get it started and then he couldn’t get away from me fast enough. Then when I went to visit dad’s grave, and he showed up. He watched me the entire time. He said he wanted to make sure my car didn’t strand me again. He must still care about me, what do you think?”
“I know he does, it’s obvious. That was super nice of him,” Anna comments. “How was he when you went to Memphis? Who planned that?”
“Mom did obviously; she wants to discuss our future.” “What did you guys decide?”
“The correct question is, ‘What did mom decide?’ I told everyone I wanted to do shows. I’m not ready to give up skating yet, I enjoy it too much, and I can’t see myself skating without Scott. So then, Scott suggests we go to the same university together. I took it further as a joke, saying, we might as well just live together. Never in a million years do I expect them to go along with my stupid idea, I was joking. They took me seriously Anna! Mom is all over it like a bee to honey. So now, Scott and I are going to be sharing an apartment, going to the same University, and doing shows together.”
“Get the fuck out of here! That’s not going to go over well with Michael.” “Don’t you know it! Mom thinks Scott walks on water as you know. Scott had the nerve to tell her I was alone with Michael in your bedroom. That’s probably why she jumped at me living with Scott, out of her hate for Michael.”
“But to allow this?”
“That’s not all, there’s more.” Anna grinned, “Go on!”
“Mom gave us a present dad bought for Scott and me after we qualified for the Olympics. He wanted to surprise us with it. I think he was going to give it to us the night he died.”
Anna’s mood darkens, “That’s so sad Isabella. What did he buy you guys?” “Four nights and five days in Las Paris.”
“So you’re going on a trip with Scott after you get back with Michael?” “Yes, the day after tomorrow.”
“Oh my God. How are you going to tell him?” “Exactly, I don’t want to lose Michael.”
“Just tell him the truth and keep your fingers crossed,” Anna advises. “Start with the trip, and don’t break the University thing to him until after. I don’t think any guy would trust their girlfriend to live with another guy like Scott and not expect the two of you to cheat. Your relationship with Michael is doomed, unless...”
“Unless what?”
“You get him to move in with you and Scott, but there’s no chance of that, hell hasn’t frozen over yet.”
The Mercedes rolls silently up Anna’s driveway with the headlights off. I scurry to his car and get into the passenger seat waving bye to Anna who is peering out her window at me. When Michael begins backing up, I notice her wink good luck. I’m so nervous, my hands are sweating.
He takes me to his house. There are two cars parked in the driveway. “My parents know you’re coming over. Dad starts work at five so they’re already in bed,” he explains. “They want to meet you,” he adds.
I smile and take his hand once he has the front door open. He silently leads me to a carpeted staircase going downstairs. He turns the lights on so we can see our way down. He looks rougher than usual with a six o’clock shadow and a cut slicing across his swollen nose. We face each other on the couch and I caress the cut on his nose, “Does it hurt”
“You’re worth it,” he flatters me. He takes my hand and weaves his fingers through mine. “Your palms are sweaty, are you nervous?” “Yes,” I admit.
“Don’t be,” he encourages. I stare into his eyes and he kisses me hard and demandingly. The force of his kiss is so great, the upper part of my body starts leaning backward. He continues the momentum by crawling over top of me kissing me aggressively. My increasing apprehension is ruining the moment for me. I start pushing him off, “I need to talk to you about something.” He backs off and waits for me to continue.
“There’s no easy way of saying this,” I hesitate. “Then just say it,” he instructs.
“Dad bought Scott and I tickets to Paris when we qualified for the Olympics and now we are going there. Mom told us about it tonight.”
“You were with Scott tonight?”
“Yes, mom wanted to give us the tickets over dinner. We’ll be gone for four nights and five days.”
“You have got to be fucking kidding,” he seethes. “Tell me you’re not going,” he demands.
“I have to go Michael; it’s the last present from my father. You have to trust me please!” I plead. “I swear, he wants nothing more to do with me and the feeling is mutual. He knows I’m back with you.”
“You are asking a lot,” he informs me. “I won’t let you down,” I promise.