The Parking Space (7 page)

“He’ll be fine.” I brushed off my emotions. “So Wednesday, huh?”

“Yes, for six glorious days we will bask in the sun, drink fruity, out-of-this-world cocktails and I shall walk down the beach and become Mrs. Ben Hogan.” With the last of her words, she squealed.

“Yes, yes, you will.” I laughed. “Okay. Well, wow. I guess I’ll start packing then.”

“Ah, packing. I’ve already started mine. Don’t forget, lots of shorts, tank tops, and bikinis.”

Bikinis? A shopping trip might be in order tomorrow after work, too.

“Will do.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow with more details. It’s late and I’m exhausted. Night.”

“Night.”

I hung up the phone and plopped on the couch for a third time. The whirlwind of the day fought with a range of misery and excitement all at the same time. From a horrible showing, to talking to Tom, to getting fired, to losing my future plans, and finally to watching my bare-chested hot, annoying as hell, neighbor engage in sexy foreplay that I so desperately desired . . .

I closed my eyes and sipped on my glass of wine. The burgundy and berry flavors washed over my tongue. Charlie meowed from the floor, and with one swift jump, purred as he tiptoed across the couch and forced his way onto my lap.

“And what should I do with you?” I asked him, scratching behind his left ear. “A weekend here and there is nothing, but I don’t think you’ll be okay for seven days. I guess I’ll call Bayside in the morning to see if you can stay with them for the week.”

A whole week.

A whole week while I’m on vacation.

A whole week on vacation in Bora Bora.

THE TINY PLANE bounced and jerked as the wings cut through a few fluffy clouds. I detested flying—hated the cramped seating, the turbulence, the lack of control, the height, the feeling that if something were to happen that the strangers around me would be the last people I’d see. Of course, the thought proved totally morbid to think about, but I did just the same.

Lisa and Ben sat across the aisle from me; their smooching, happy behavior played like that of any couple on their way to their destination wedding.

Behind them, her parents talked and held hands, while behind me, Ben’s parents snuggled as they gazed out of the window. Bringing up the rear of our group, Jeff and Tracy were far too engrossed in their hour-long make-out session to pay attention. In fact, I doubted they even knew we were about to land.

With my ear buds lodged in each ear, my music blared as my fingers flipped through the pages of one of the half-dozen gossip tabloids I bought at the San Francisco airport. Countless stories of who’s cheated on whom, who’s making out with whom, and who’s on vacation in some wild destination wearing a bikini that has the material equivalent of a rice cake patty.

A hand touched mine. I jumped and met Ben’s wide-eyed gaze. He cocked his head to the side, motioning toward Lisa who was leaning around him. Her smile spread from ear to ear.

“Have you looked out the window?” she squealed.

“I’ll see it when we get off the plane.”

She frowned and motioned for Ben to switch seats with her so she could sit closer to me.

“Hey, I’m sorry that I’ve been preoccupied since we left San Francisco.”

“Oh, it’s totally fine. I don’t mind. It gave me a chance to read up on the latest gossip.”

“Yes, I saw that. So is there any article about your
fabulous
client and her house hunting?”

My gaze dropped to my lap. “No, not that I saw.”

“She’s going to give Jason a run for his money. His wife better be okay with her calling all hours of the night.” She laughed at her own thought and then cleared her throat as she noticed my less than amused reaction. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything is fine. I didn’t see any articles about her, but you never know what will come out next week.” I forced a chuckle from my chest.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing.”

“I don’t believe you.” She shot me a glare. “So spill it.”

“Spill what?”

“Whatever is bothering you. Did Tom call you again or something?”

“He’s called every day since I talked to him and rushed off the phone. I never answered any of the calls, though. I have nothing else to say to him. And quite frankly there isn’t anything he could say that I’d want to hear.”

“So then what’s bothering you? What else could it be?”

“Nothing is bothering me.”

“You are about to land at one of the most desired vacation destinations in the world and you look like someone shot your dog.”

More than anything, I wanted to tell Lisa about what happened with Reece. Never had I kept something from her, but to unload this news when we were traveling for her wedding felt wrong. I didn’t want to burden her with my stress or worry. Not now.

“I swear, it’s nothing. I’m just tired. We’ve been flying for over ten hours, ya know.”

“Oh please. You’re not an old fuddy-duddy, so don’t try to play one now. You slept half the way here so I know you aren’t tired. I know you are keeping it from me on purpose because you think it will stress me out. But holding it in is just going to ruin your vacation and mine, so you might as well just tell me.”

Drat. She knew me well.

The plane descended and landed, giving one last lurch as it skidded from the brakes. A bell dinged above our heads. Everyone around us rose to their feet and began rummaging through the overhead bins for their carry-on bags.

Along with Ben and their families, both Lisa and I followed suit, though I had checked every piece of luggage except for my small handbag that I hooked over my shoulder.

“Reece isn’t my client anymore,” I finally admitted.

“What? Why? What happened?”

Sparing her the details, the only words I could muster were the simplest and easiest to say. “She fired me.”

“What? She fired you?” Her tone screeched so loud that everyone within earshot turned their attention toward her, gaping at the both of us as though we just announced our love.

Gee, thanks for announcing it to all the passengers on board.

Lisa grabbed one of her bags and handed it to Ben, who then grabbed the other one and held them both in his hands. He smiled at her, knowing the concerned look on her face meant for him to remain silent while we spoke to one another.

Lord, he was annoyingly perfect.

“It’s a good thing I don’t have a phone right now or I would call her up and let her have it. I’m so sorry she did that to you.”

“It’s okay. Everything happens for a reason, right?”

She opened her mouth, but the line began filing out of the plane and Ben tugged slightly on her arm, motioning her to follow him.

My feet were rooted in their place, unable to move as I glanced around the plane. Each face, unknown and known, beamed with joy—a little too perky for the dark cloud that hovered over my own head.

I had been looking forward to this moment ever since I stepped inside the San Francisco airport. Heck, I’d been looking forward to it since Lisa told me about the possibility at lunch that one day, and now that it had arrived, my thoughts were on Reece and how she’d ruined everything.

I can’t think about her. Not anymore. I can’t. She’s not going to ruin this vacation.

With a deep inhaled breath, I wedged myself in between the other passengers, following Lisa and Ben while ignoring Jeff and Tracy behind me who continued to explore each other’s mouths with their tongues.

Ben and his parents, along with Lisa and her parents, all disembarked in front of me. Their oohs and ahhs as they exited stirred in my excitement.

As I stepped through the door, I put on my sunglasses. Heat from the sun warmed me through my jean shorts and chiffon button up shirt. Salty sea air swept through my blonde curls and filled my lungs, leaving a beautiful tranquility that inched across my skin.

Down each step, I fought the battle of watching where I placed my feet over taking in the beauty of the island around me. Nearly barren as it had been from the sky, the island’s runway still awakened my soul. A desolation that soon gave way to the flowered bushes, sand, and palm trees surrounded the hut-like building of the Aeroport de Bora Bora, with its shake-style roof and stucco siding.

“Is this the hotel?” Tracy’s nose crinkled as she squinted and popped her gum.

“No, babe, this is just the airport. We shuttle over on the boat, remember?”

“Oh, that’s right. Well good, because I was about to freak out. Pay all this money and this is the resort. Uh, I don’t think so. But as long as it’s not, then it’s okay.” Although the utter repugnance in her voice faded, her nasally voice grated on my nerves.

Ben exhaled a deep sigh and shot his brother a glare as we all made our way to the luggage cart—equally annoyed.

After locating my bags, I tugged on the handles. The wheels rolled behind me drowning out the sound of Tracy’s stiletto heels clicking against the cement walkway and the clanking of the dozens and dozens of gold hoop bracelets around each of her wrists.

Another typical woman Jeff always seemed to find. Ones with the IQ of a gnat who followed the money instead of followed the man. Not that I thought having your only mission in life to find a rich man to support your every whim would be a bad thing. That just wasn’t me.

Of course, given my relationship status and the lack of potential for one, perhaps they were the smart ones.

Lisa glanced over her shoulder and winked as Ben held the terminal door. The bounce in her step mimicked the excitement on her face as she reached for my hand, dragging me onto the uneven cobbled floor inside the building. Air conditioning cooled my skin as I spun in a few circles and examined the thick, stained ceiling beams.

Ben’s parents, Lisa’s parents, and the make-out twins walked in behind me, all equally taken aback by the size and the relaxation that seemed to flow from the room.

While Jeff found a corner bench and sat down, Ben, his dad, Bob, and Lisa’s dad, Allen approached the front desk. They pointed to our group a few times while they spoke to the clerk.

“So, Helen, how have you been?” Nancy, Lisa’s mom asked, her hesitation obvious by her tone after hearing Lisa on the plane. “The last time I saw you was . . . well, I guess was just before your . . . wedding . . .” She let her voice trail off then cleared her throat.

Didn’t quite think about that sentence before you started speaking, huh?

“I’ve been great, actually.”

“I hear the housing market is really good in San Francisco right now.”

“Yes, it is. There are so many beautiful homes available. It’s really a buyer’s market right now.”

“Oh, well, that’s good. Even if . . . well, as we heard on the plane that a client let you go.”

My eyes shifted to Lisa, who stifled a giggle as her eyes danced from her mother to me.

“Helen is one of the top agents in the city, Mom. Losing a client like Reece Jones isn’t going to affect her at all.”

“Reece Jones? The star of . . . oh what was the name of that movie . . .”

“Yes, Mom, that’s the one.”

“Wow. How fun it must have been to work with a star. So is she as nice as they say in the magazines?”

“Hardly,” Lisa scoffed.

Mrs. Carter’s eyes widened and she jerked her head slightly. “Oh.” Her sound was more of a breathed sigh than a spoken word.

“She was fine.” I tried to wave off her confusion.

Lisa rolled her eyes. “She wasn’t fine. Her wish list proved nothing more than a ridiculous and endless stream of outrageous requests. I swear no house in the whole city of San Francisco would have ever measured up. She called Helen nonstop and treated her horribly.”

“Oh, I would have never thought she could act like that. In all the articles I’ve read, people talk as though she’s an amazing person.”

“Yeah, amazingly rude.”

“Who are you talking about?” Jean, Ben’s mom asked. Curiosity finally got the better of her, drawing her toward the tiny group.

“Reece Jones.”

“Isn’t she that star of that movie . . . oh, what was it called?”

“I know,” Nancy laughed. “I couldn’t remember it either. I guess that means I didn’t think much of it.”

An antsy heat tickled through my chest. While Reece planned to badmouth me all over town, I hadn’t exactly desired to stoop to her level.

“All the houses and sellers and buyers are just going to have to wait, though, because I’m here to celebrate and relax.” I boasted with a raised, joking volume to exaggerate the change of subject.

“Exactly.” Lisa hooked her arm in mine and mirrored my smile with a squeal in her voice. “And I’m here to get married.”

“Are you ladies ready?” Ben asked as he approached. “The boat just outside will take us to the resort, and it’s leaving in just a few minutes.”

While the two mothers and Lisa followed their men outside, I hung behind—an idea that seemed great until I glanced to my right and caught sight of Jeff and Tracy still going at it as they both stumbled outside to the dock.

Don’t they ever come up for air?

We strolled down the walkway to the boat dock. The uneven wooden planks shifted a bit under my dazzling new sandals that I’d purchased the day before we left. All of the diamond-like crystals glimmered in the sunlight, brightening the white leather straps.

The luxurious party barge rocked back and forth in the ocean waves as we all stepped down into the hull, while its cream-colored canopy shifted in the slight breeze. Large enough to carry every passenger from the plane, each of the strangers we’d flown in with now all sat sporadically throughout the seats of the boat.

I sat down on the plush cushion next to Lisa and scooted my purse under my seat before I pulled my bags up against my knees. A few of my shoulder length curls brushed against my face. The annoying strands got in my way and made me regret not packing a hair tie.

Even through the dark lenses of my sunglasses, the sun brightened the island. Each color popped against one another—the turquoise water, the green palm trees, and the white sandy beach, all in deep hues that caused me to melt into my seat.

Conversation buzzed all around me as each member of both families spoke of the wedding plans. Talk of flowers, the dress, and the top picks for ceremony sites rattled through my brain. My ears heard each of the words spoken, and yet, I couldn’t repeat any of them even if I wanted to.

Tracy continued to smack her gum as she sat next to me. She crossed one leg over the other and it twitched with nervous energy.

“So how long is the boat ride, babe?” she asked Jeff.

He shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, but I guess we’ll find out.”