Angela's Salvation (21 page)

"I'm buying it from him," she tried to keep the pain out of her voice, but knew she'd failed miserably as Rachel's eyebrow lifted.

"Okay, tell you what, help me put our things away, then you and I are going to have a serious one on one girl talk session."  Whatever made her best friend look like she had just lost everything needed to be discussed.

Rachel took the smaller bedroom after some argument from her best friend, but she wasn't about to change her mind.  This was her house and she had no clue what was really going on here.  They discussed how things were going back home while they unpacked, but Rachel avoided any talk of Fitzgerald, wanting to get their work over first.

When their task was done, they walked back downstairs into the kitchen.  "I guess we'll need to order in, I don't think Nolan has used this place in a while." Angela noted that the cabinets were pretty stocked with can food, but there was nothing in the refrigerator. 

"Got a phonebook in this place," she wanted to get this settled before they had a sit down.

"I think I saw one by the phone in the living room."  Over the last few hours she'd pretty much discovered all there was to know about her new home, including the basement pool, and Jacuzzi that had been a surprising find.

Rachel walked into the living room, and ran through the phone book until she found a Chinese place that delivered.  She knew exactly what her best friend enjoyed and ordered for both of them before returning to the kitchen.  "There were some wine bottles in the wine cooler, why don't you pour us a glass and we can talk while we wait on our food."

Angela gave a nod, and pulled out the first bottle of wine she came to, since she had no idea what was considered good.  A cheap bottle of stuff at the grocery store was the norm for her and Rachel if they decided to drink.  After scrambling around for a corkscrew she opened the bottle and found two wine glasses before sitting down at the table with her friend.

"So just what has been going on with you and Fitzgerald since I last talked to you," watching Angela pour the red wine, she noted her hands were trembling slightly.

She took a sip of the incredible drink and noticed immediately there was a huge difference between superstore wine and this stuff before answering.  She explained everything from the last two weeks, to how he'd treated her since the attack by Ronald. She even brought up the balloon ride and their frantic lovemaking just hours ago.

"Damn Ang, that doesn't sound like a man who just wanted to get in your pants."  It was easy for her to understand what had happened, and just as easy for her to know why Angela didn't get it.  "That man has some serious feelings for you honey."

She'd been prepared to hate Fitzgerald for taking away her best friend, but after everything she'd just heard it was apparent the man was head over heels in love with her. 

"You should have seen the look on his face Rach, that wasn't a man who cared about me.  He looked ready to run for the hills and get away from me as fast as possible."  It made her heart ache to think how easily it had been for him to love her body then leave without even saying goodbye.

Taking a long sip of her wine, Rachel contemplated his actions.  It definitely didn't sound like a man who would romance her best friend, make love to her passionately, and then walk out the door without giving a reason for leaving.  "It just doesn't add up honey."

"I think he just couldn't deal with all the baggage I come with Rach." Fighting back her own emotions, she couldn't really blame him.  In the short time she'd known him his life had been completely turned upside down with the media hounding and then the police stuff with her stepfather.

"If you ask me, you should sit down and talk with him about what he's feeling."  There was something going on that she doubted had little to do with being overwhelmed by Angela's circumstances.  He knew about her past, and it was obvious he still wanted her.  He wouldn't have made love to her if he hadn't, at least in her mind.

"I'm not sure he wants to talk to me.  I mean he basically gave me his car, and loaned me his house just to get me out of his other place."  He deserved something better, she thought in desolation. 

"If you care about him Ang, then you need to be willing to at least talk about it."  Things had definitely changed for her best friend, she thought.  Knowing she had to make her own decisions, she decided to change the subject.  "So what's going on with your music?"

"You're never going to believe this, in two weeks I'm going to be the opening act for Desolite." She managed to smile over giving that news, determined to push the other idea from her mind for the moment.

"Oh my God!" Rachel was more than a little impressed at the thought of Angela performing with the group.  "That's f'ing huge, Angela!"

"I know, can you believe it, I mean we used to listen to those guys all the time at the club?" 
Since they had the number one song on the charts at the moment, most people listened to them.  "You're going with me right?"  She couldn't imagine going on the road without Rachel, and hoped that she'd be okay with not taking a job for a few months.

"Hell I don't know Ang, going on the road with you and the hottest band of the year?  Let me think for a minute, um yeah!" Screw a job, she thought to herself, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity.

"And you'll move in with me here," she knew rearranging her friends life was a huge step, but again couldn't imagine not having her here.

"I don't know Ang, give up our cruddy apartment in Jersey for a house on lake?" She laughed at the thought of there being a choice to make.  "I mean you might get so famous you don't want me around anymore."

Angela rolled her eyes at that comment, Rachel was the only person in the world that kept her sane.  There would never be a time in her life that she could imagine not wanting her by her side.  "Yeah Rach, I'm sure all these fans will have my best interest at heart."  Shaking her head, she joined in her laughter, feeling happy for the first time since Nolan left.  "You're my best friend in the entire world, I wouldn't want anyone else by my side."

"I'll always be here for you Ang, but you know I also have to earn my own way." She knew if anyone understood that, Angela would.  "I'll do the tour with you, but after that I have to find a job." As much as she loved her best friend, she couldn't allow herself to get into a position of depending on anyone completely again.

"Thank you Rach, I know how important your independence is, and I really appreciate you doing this tour with me."  She was so nervous about performing for all those people, and hoped it would get easier in time, but for now she really needed her best friend by her side.  "Nolan said he knew some of the owners of the Casino's out here, so when we get back, if he'll talk to me, I'll see if he'll still put in a good word for you."

"He gave me his number, and we'll make it through this tour and then go from there." Both of their lives were going to change forever after this, somehow she just knew instinctively. 

The last two weeks had passed by in a blur for Angela.  They'd managed to get the cabin redecorated to fit their style, and she'd had meeting after meeting with the studio in preparation for the tour. 
The one thing she hadn't had was a phone call or any word from Nolan.  It was apparent to her that he had moved on, and even the press was making claims that the sizzling romance had seemed to dwindle.

Outside of Nolan though, life couldn't have been more perfect.  Rachel and she had bought new wardrobes and all kinds of things they'd never had the money to splurge on in the past.  Angela had even surprised her best friend with the car she'd always dreamed of having.  After much protesting, Rachel had finally accepted the gift, promising her when she went to work she was paying back every cent spent on it.

They finished up the meetings for the day, and with Lenny escorting them, enjoyed dining out at one of the famous Las Vegas restaurants. Lenny had been overwhelmed when asked to join them as a guest for dinner, and had been a really great dinner companion.  Angela was beginning to think of him as the father she'd never had, and it felt less like he was a security guard these days. 

The reporters that had dwindled down over the last few weeks had been a huge relief for her until she was accosted outside the eatery when Lenny had to step in.  She gave a quick statement about her and Nolan having decided that a relationship wasn't in either of their best interests at the moment, before Nolan finally got them seated in the car.

"I hate to say it Ang, but I would go nuts with people delving into my private life like that all the time," Rachel commented as they drove home.

"Definitely not a part of the job I like either, but I guess I'll get used to it." She wasn't really sure how anyone ever grew accustomed to having their private life splattered all over the front pages of a newspaper though.

Lenny met up with the Crawford as they made it back to the cabin, and they were informed that everything here had remained quiet.  "Thank you ladies for an incredible night," he smiled warmly at the two young women. 

"Thank you Lenny, I'm glad you enjoyed yourself." Angela really did like the man, and felt really safe knowing he always had her back.

Angela and Rachel walked back in the house, and noticed the huge bouquet of red roses sitting on the kitchen table, along with a bottle of wine.  Angela walked over and sniffed the flowers, before pulling out the card.

"Wishing you nothing but the best on your tour tomorrow. Sincerely, Nolan."

She couldn't help that her eyes filled with tears at the sweet gesture.  "Nolan sent these," leaning over she inhaled the fragrance of the blooms again.

"No waterworks tonight," Rachel gave a sympathetic smile. Fitzgerald was one strange character she thought, if he wasn't going to be a part of life, she couldn't understand why he bothered with the flowers.  It had taken her best friend a week before she didn't cry herself to sleep and damn it she didn't deserve his wishy-washy sentiments.

"I'm sure they were sent by his office," Angela couldn't let herself hope that he had feelings for her.  She had to focus on this tour and thinking about Nolan definitely wasn't going to keep her on the right track.

"By this time next week I'm sure you'll have so many offers of undenying love that Fitzgerald won't even matter."  She didn't doubt the offers would come after she became as famous as the group she was opening for, but doubted seriously her friend was going to get over that man anytime soon.  She still remembered her first lover and that had been more years ago than she cared to think about.

"Just what I need," Angela laughed at the thought of having fans.  It took the pain away from the moment though, and she was grateful for having a friend that really understood her and loved her for all her faults.

"I can just see it now, thousands of sexy men screaming out your name," she couldn't possibly understand what that would be like, and wasn't sure she wanted to know.  Much like her best friend, she liked keeping a low profile.  Unfortunately for Angela that wasn't going to be a possibility any longer.

The thought of any man besides Nolan thinking about her in a sexual way made her cringe.  "As long as they keep their hands off." A new worry flittered through her mind.  She was going to be on stage, singing some very sexy songs thanks to the writers, and it just dawned on her at that moment what those men would be thinking when she sang.

She could see the worry in Angela's face.  "Ang, that's why you have a security
team and all of them will be with us on the road.  Don't you worry about a thing."  Her friend had come so far after working in the bar and not getting violently sick when a man touched her inappropriately, she'd make it through this as well.

"I say we drink this bottle of wine, and fall into a wine induced coma," she wasn't much of a drinker, but the thought of performing tomorrow really had her nerves on edge and she doubted she'd sleep at all without the help of some liquid encouragement.

"Listen Ang, I know this is probably stupid, but I really don't want you to get used to using alcohol as a way of getting through things."  Being raised by an alcoholic herself, she had a fear anytime someone she cared about mentioned drinking and getting through a problem.

Knowing her background as she did, Angela wanted to kick herself for her comment.  "I'm sorry Rach, I wasn't thinking, and you're right.  The last thing I want to do is get dependent on drinking to fall asleep."

"Well as long as we're clear on that, let's at least have a glass.  I mean you are going to become an overnight sensation tomorrow," she laughed and opened the wine.  Finding two glasses in the cabinet she poured them both a hefty glass full.

"Speaking of that, the show airs tomorrow night, I hope we can record it.  I really want to see how the gang does in front of the camera."  Lizzy and Devon had been very busy preparing for the show for the last few weeks, but they'd managed to eat lunch twice.  She been ecstatic when she discovered they'd both made it through the second round of competition and would be appearing on the televised showcase.

"I already set the dvr, and I'm sure we'll be hearing the results.  I mean it's not like it's not the number one show on television at the moment," Rachel grinned.  Handing Angela a glass of wine, she held it up to toast.  "Here's to my favorite singer in the world, may you sing like the angels that gave you a voice." With a wink she tapped her glass to Angela's.