The Fling (24 page)

“Look up Noe Crane,” Ronnie said.

“Wait. You’re Noe Crane?” Annie asked, surprised that she actually knew who Ronnie was referring to.

“Yup.”

“I have your
Struggles of a Junior Accountant
hanging in my office. My—I got it as a gift.” From Jeff on a non-birthday weekend. Noe Crane had done a series of paintings featuring children struggling with adult occupations. Annie never bothered to think of the artist’s true motivation for the theme, but every time she looked at the little blonde, behind the enormous desk stacked with papers, staring hopelessly at an adding machine, Annie felt that little girl knew her workday pain.

Jeff had gone on and on about how the artist never kept a single dollar from the sales of her work. Apparently, she had a primary source of income and donated every dime to charities around the city. Jeff had explained that the subjects of each portrait in the particular show he had attended had come from low-incomes families. He’d paid a nice little chunk for the painting and her family had been given every cent.

The best part of it all was the donations were a secret from the public. Noe Crane used Hollywood connections and the need to be seen to get her shows filled. Any information of where the money went wasn’t listed on her website, and Noelle took no credit for the good she had done. Jeff had heard the rumor and only found out the truth when he’d met one of Noelle’s subjects.

“I’ve seen that painting,” Megan said. “You’re fucking amazing.”

“So you’re both fans?” Noelle asked.

“Everyone who’s seen your work is a fan, baby,” Ronnie assured her.

“Thanks, lover.” Annie looked at Oksana as Noelle and Ronnie started sealing their affections with a kiss, a little heavy on the tongue. Not that it was a struggle to watch an attractive couple sucking face, but every second Annie watched was another second she wanted to pounce on Oksana.

“They do that a lot,” Oksana whispered before she kissed Annie on the neck.

“I don’t blame them,” Megan said under her breath, but her eyes were on Scooter.

“You know, Megan, he’s single,” Oksana said.

Megan turned to Oksana with a smile. “I’ll take that under advisement.” Annie was elated that they were getting along.

Suddenly, Noelle was back in the conversation. “I had another show in March and I was trying to unload this final piece.”

“She painted an injured Iraq vet’s initial wounds as he described them to her,” Oksana added.

“Whoa.” Annie grimaced, for all sorts of reasons.

“It finally sold though,” Noelle said.

“And he’ll get the money? Sorry, I didn’t…” Annie said when Noelle ducked her head a bit, blushing.

“No, it’s okay. People are weird when they hear where the money is going. Out here, it’s like they’d rather feed a hip artist than a broken family.”

“Oh, I know what you mean,” Annie said. Megan saluted with her empty glass in agreement. They’d both met plenty of the sort. Worked with a few of them. Annie was raised by one in particular. Her mother would much rather go to a charity ball for some trivial cause than donate any real time or money to people who really needed it. It made Annie sick to think about.

“Right when Ryan got out of the hospital they found out his daughter has leukemia. He said he was going to use the money to help with her medical bills,” Noelle said.

Annie couldn’t help but feel a twinge of upper class guilt. She couldn’t imagine serving in the military, and men and women like Ryan made it so she would never have to. She was grateful that people like Ryan
and
Noelle existed.

“Ronnie, what pays your bills?” she asked to take some of the heat off Noelle.

“My parents, but I do hair to keep myself entertained.” Annie liked the honesty in her admission. Most people in their thirties wouldn’t admit to living off their parents, especially if they were dating someone as selfless as Noelle. Annie hated when her parents offered to give her anything, money included. Even a wedding…

“See.” Oksana’s lip twitched as she tried not to smile. “We have our very own Ivy League trust fund babies.”

“So you didn’t get the sweatshirt at Goodwill?” Annie grinned, nodding at Noelle’s sweatshirt.

“No.” Noelle chuckled as Ronnie began stroking her neck with her fingertips. “We were roommates freshman year.”

“Yeah, Noe here gayed up my college experience. And three months after we moved here Sana tried to pick me up at Baba’s store,” Ronnie said.

“Like hell I did. She started talking to me about my tats while I was stocking shelves. And then she introduced me to Vivian.”

“Don’t start. I said I was sorry. Besides, she’s long gone now and you’ve moved on to better women.” Annie couldn’t tell exactly how serious Ronnie was, but beside her, Oksana flinched. She rubbed Oksana’s thigh then took her hand.

“And from what I hear, I’ve definitely made up for it this week,” Ronnie continued.

“What happened?” Annie asked.

“I got Oksana on as Willow Cruz’s trainer for her new movie.”

“She did?” Annie turned to Oksana. Willow Cruz was a huge star. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I just found out a few days ago. She’s just another client.”

“Yeah, who could get you Bob and Jillian money,” Ronnie said.

“I don’t want Bob and Jillian money. I don’t want my own weight loss show. She’s made it pretty clear that she wants to sleep with me. So what I
want
is to train her and send her off to set.”

Before Annie got to ask any more questions, Scooter and Neil took the stage. Megan gulped down the rest of her whiskey and leaned forward out of the booth.

“This song goes out to the lovely ladies right over at table four,” Scooter oozed into the mic.

“Blow me, Scoot!” Ronnie yelled.

“I intend to, Veronica. I intend to.”

Neil hopped on a stool beside him just before “The Stroke” by Billy Squier started blaring out over the cheap speakers.

Annie burst out laughing as Neil and Scooter started singing together. Four songs later, they came back to the table, sweating and reeking of tequila. They let two other people have their turns before they jumped back up and launched into several 70s and 80s R&B ballads that Neil took the lead on. His tastes seem to center around Bobby Brown and the Commodores.

Eventually, Noelle turned to Ronnie. “I’m ready,” she said.

Annie looked away as they started kissing again. She was having a fun time, but she could definitely go for some alone time with Oksana. Ronnie stood and waved to Scooter before she nodded toward the door. He nodded back, not skipping a word of “Easy Lover.”

“They’ll be here long after we’re asleep,” Oksana told Annie. “You want to go?”

“Yes,” Annie replied, trying not to sound desperate. “Will they be okay to drive?”

“Probably not, but they’ll call a cab,” Oksana said.

“Megan, where are you parked?” Annie asked.

“Don’t worry about me,” Megan replied. “I’ll give them a lift.”

“Are you sure? This is like a two on the rowdy meter for them,” Oksana said.

“Don’t worry. I got ’em. I’ll call you tomorrow,” Megan told Annie.

Annie and Oksana hugged Megan, then waved to the boys as they headed toward the door, Noelle and Ronnie close behind. They said their good-byes. Annie agreed to go shopping with Noelle as soon as she could rationalize spending any of her available time away from Oksana.

As Ronnie hugged Annie good-bye, she whispered in her ear.

“Don’t hurt her,” Ronnie said. This wasn’t a threat. It was a genuine plea. One Annie heard loud and clear. She wondered if Megan had left any messages with Oksana when they’d embraced.

Annie pulled back and looked Ronnie right in the eye. “I got it.” Oksana was too important. She cared for her too much to risk hurting her. Annie wanted Oksana long-term. Their own kids, their own house, and over-sized slobbering mutt long-term. It was a scary conclusion, but it was the truth.

They walked home a little faster than they’d walked to the restaurant.

“How was it?” Oksana asked.

“Your friends are great. So is your family. What the hell? Why do you have the monopoly on kick-ass people?”

“Just lucky. I like Megan.”

“Good. She likes you too, though not as much as she likes Scooter.”

“I’m not shocked. He’s a straight lady magnet. It’s the beard.” Oksana sighed, but laced her fingers tighter with Annie’s. “I didn’t tell you about Willow because I saw how you looked at Noelle in the mall and I didn’t want you to freak out.”

“I get it. I’ve never been jealous before. I can see myself being jealous over you. I mean, I
was
jealous, but I know that actor type and I don’t think that’s your type.”

“You’re right. She’s too tall anyway.”

They entered the yard of the big house and Annie followed Oksana as she did a quick check to make sure all the doors were locked, not that an intruder would stand a chance against Vasily.

After that, they headed to the little house. Oksana led them inside but pulled Annie to her before they could make it to the bedroom. Annie looked up into those searching eyes, eyes that were focused on Annie’s chest.

“I’ve learned my lesson from sleeping with clients,” Oksana said quietly. “And I think I’ve already used up my heartbreaks, which means you have to date me forever. Like forever.”

Annie reached up, softly cupping the side of her neck. “I’m not going anywhere, but I am wondering. Do I have to get a full sleeve to keep hanging out with you guys?”

“No.” Oksana bent until their lips barely touched. “Just be you.”

As she promised, she made love to Annie. Right there on the living room floor.

The Brown Bear and the Bird

Thursday, in the interest of preventing Annie’s house from being burgled, they decided to spend the night apart. Annie went into work that morning already feeling a sense of separation. She was on edge, antsy as hell as the day went on. She missed Oksana and she was dying to hear Megan’s impressions of their own night out. When Esther took off to run some errands, Annie texted Megan.
Call me when you’re free.

A few seconds later, her cell rang.

“Okay. I want to hear it,” Annie said. She quickly closed the door to her office.

“Scooter’s dick is huge.”

Annie froze halfway across the room. “What?”

“We dropped Neil off and then we went back to his place. He’s the best lay I’ve had in years.”

“Well…good. Congratulations?”

“Thanks. And I don’t know if I’m going to see him again, but I gave him my number.”

“Okay…” Annie had no idea what to say. This conversation had taken a bizarre, slightly unnerving turn.

“Of course I liked her,” Megan said. “She’s awesome. Noelle is awesome. Ronnie is awesome. Neil has a voice like a dark, chocolate angel. They are all hot as hell and funny. Just call Jeff now and dump him. I’ll pay for the international minutes.”

“No.” Annie let out a dry laugh. “I can’t do that.”

“Listen. I think your mom is going to shit. Like there’s no way she’s going to be cool with this, but there is something about Oksana. You’re right. She’s exactly what you need. She laughs for one. Haven’t seen Jeff do that.” Jeff had laughed plenty of times in front of Megan, but she was on to something. Oksana was warmer, more inviting. Sweeter. She made Annie happy, not just comfortable. This wasn’t pre-wedding jitters. This was a chance at the life Annie really wanted with someone she was starting to love.

“You should see her with her sister. She’s a great mom too.”

“I don’t even know why we’re having this conversation. Even if you and Oksana don’t live happily after, can’t you see now? There is someone better out there for you. Jeff isn’t it.”

Annie let out a hefty sigh and slouched on the end of her desk. How the hell was she going to break this to him?

“But I think the real test will come when he’s back. You have to see how you feel when you see him again.”

“You think I’ll still marry him?” A flash of anger warmed Annie’s face. The thought of staying with Jeff felt like such a gross betrayal to Oksana. God, how the tables had turned.

“No, but I think you might screw this up if you’re not careful.”

“Gee, thanks.”

“Annie, you don’t like hurting people. Even though I’m pretty sure he’s a soulless automaton, I do think Jeff loves you in his own robotic way and you’re going to have a hard time cutting him loose.”

“I know.”

“But you’ll do it or I’ll strangle you.”

“Trust me, it’s happening. What should I do about Shane and Feather? They still want to go out, and I’ve kind of been avoiding Shane altogether these last few days.”

“I’ll handle them. Just act natural if they call you, and then after Jeff knows you can tell them. I’ll back you up. You just worry about telling Taum.”

Annie pictured her mother and all the various things she could possibly say or do. Best-case scenario, she surprised Annie with some miraculous level of understanding and accepted Oksana as the new person in her life. Worst case scenario? She’d only seen her mother really angry a few times in her life. It wasn’t a pretty sight.