Luca (I Love the Way You Lie #1) (23 page)

More than once, the heavy bag drew me to my knees. So, I worked harder. Faster. Twisted my body under the weight of the bag, working on my footwork. Sweat poured down and stung my eyes. I was fucking done and on the verge of collapse, but struggled on. Supported by Archer, in more ways than one, our mechanical rhythm was cohesive and now locked us together. Gunner tossed us two towels, hitting us in the face.

“Done and done. Shower up, and I’ll see you next week,” he said before leaving for his next appointment.

We were heaped in sweat and famished. I wanted to wait until tonight to eat. My stomach was not ready to partake in delicacies I’d hardly taste. We walked silently to the locker room, unable to talk from sheer exhaustion. This was nothing new to us. We always got our monies worth with Gunner. I freed myself of my shorts and stood under the shower’s spray. My eyes were closed; tonight I’d have to prepare to accept my fate. If Allison swallowed me up and spit me out, there was nothing I could do about it. I was all in with this event. If this didn’t beg her for forgiveness, nothing would. I exhaled loudly, letting all the self-doubt expel from my body. I mouthed a childhood prayer that I remembered silently.

I’m heartily sorry for having offended thee…

Fuck, I couldn’t remember the words. I started again.

Oh My God,

I am heartily sorry for having offended thee

And I detest all my sins

Because of Thy just punishments,

But most of all

Because they offend Thee, my God, who art all good

And deserving of all my love.

I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace,

To sin no more and avoid the near occasions of sin—Amen.

I made the sign of the cross, feeling Archer’s widened eyes on me.

Embarrassed, I wanted to lash out at him. But he turned to me and asked, “You really love her, huh?”

“Yes.” I struggled to get the words out as they made me feel vulnerable and weak. Not a place I was used to. And I hated it. “You have no idea, man. No idea.”

“I think I do now. Good luck tonight. I mean that. But, above all, I’m here for you and always will be,” he said, leaving the shower to change.

I believed he meant it, too. Fuck, I hadn’t prayed since my Confirmation, and I hoped like hell someone heard my prayers, allowing me some peace in my life.

I ran my hands from my shoulders, down my sides, and to my hips, pressing me in, molding me into the nude, wet looking fabric of my gown. It was an illusion of course, very contemporary, and more than a little risqué for me. However, it was my first gala, and likely my last. I wanted to feel beautiful and daring. Everything I fought to feel on a normal day. It was strapless and the fabric had an iridescent sheen to it, making it ethereal. The bead-work draped heavily to the floor. I couldn’t afford it, of course. However, Mel and I decided that since it was our first and last gala, we’d splurge and put it on credit. I was nervous but powerless to resist. And Mel…well, Mel was Mel and she lived on credit willingly. I tried taking a breath but couldn’t. The dress’s thick-wired ribs kept me completely bound and unable to take in a proper breath. Fuck. How was I going to sit? I didn’t even think of comfort. So entranced by making a proper entrance, I opted for wow-factor over practicality.

Archer was sending a car for us and we were grateful not to have to take a cab to Brooklyn. I was positive it would be frowned upon to pull up in a cab. I checked my iPhone for the time. She should be here any minute. With my matching beaded clutch in hand, I made my way down the long flight of stairs sideways. Fuck, I was going to kill myself. I wondered how Mel was doing in hers. She opted for a black, multi-layered silk chiffon with a double plunging neckline. Finally, I made it to the bottom step as the knock sounded at my door.
Three more fucking steps
, I thought. With a handful of dress in my right hand, clutch in my other, the chauffeur took my elbow, gently escorting me down the final three steps.

“Thank you.” I smiled up at the tall man. He nodded, opening the door. “Fuck, how am I going to bend to get in—sit?” I covered my mouth, embarrassed by my sailor’s tongue.

“Just do it. Don’t think about it,” Mel’s voice carried through the limo. I didn’t see her.

“Mel, where are you?” I tried to squat down to peek in. She was lying across the back seat. “Are you fucking kidding me Mel?”

“Umm, no. You think I want to be a wrinkled mess walking in? Now, get your ass in here, there’s champagne.” She huffed and probably rolled her eyes. Who could see, though? At least there was a smile in her voice. That much I could make out.

The chauffeur took my clutch and threw it into the back seat. “Here allow me. I have some experience with this kind of thing being in the delivery business for years.”

“Okay, tell me what to do.” I smiled almost laughing. I supposed he did have a ton of stories. We surely would be one of them after today.

“Bend as much as you can to your left, hand on the seat.” I did as he asked. “That’s right. Now, allow yourself to fall onto the seat. I will bend your knees and slide you in.”
Oh, this is fucking ridiculous,
I thought. However, I listened and it worked. He slid me in on my side and closed the door.

“Thank you,” I screamed and could hear him chuckle. Now I was face to face with Mel, She was on the other L side of the bench.

“Hey you! You look Ah-mazing, Al. At least from down here.” She chuckled. “Listen, don’t make me laugh because I’ve got to pee. Like a jackass, I didn’t before slipping into this dress and then what’s his name pulled up. So…”

I pointed at her with my new ring. “Ditto, I’m going to wet myself. So, don’t even think of making any jokes.” I smiled, suddenly feeling lighter than I have in a while. “Where’s the champagne?” I asked her.

She motioned to the bar across from both of us. “I can’t move,” she said, rolling her eyes.

“Well, I literally can’t move. You just don’t want to get wrinkled. So, if you want it, you’ll have to move that gorgeous ass of yours,” I answered her eye-roll quickly.

“Okay, flattery will get you everywhere. And I since I’m known for my gorgeous ass, I’ll be kind and pour us some champagne before we die of thirst.”

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. She rolled up to her side and pulled the bottom layers up above her knees, squatting on the floor. She was completely self-serving. No way would she let an expensive bottle of champagne go unopened. That was a fact. She did love her alcohol.

“Jesus, you’d think they’d have bigger glasses. I’ll be on my knees the whole ride there. Look how tiny they are.” She handed me a glass and I couldn’t resist my comeback.

“Not the first limo ride spent on your knees, I’m sure.” I laughed loudly, taking a careful sip.

“Hey, if you want any more to drink…I’d quit it if I were you. And speaking about being on knees, you never told me about your night with Oliver,” she said, tousling with her dress. We haven’t had a moment to talk about the night. Our days and nights have been spent getting New York City’s Women Crises Center up and going.

“Duly noted. What do you want to know?”

“Umm, like everything and take your time. Ugh, do you know how jealous I am that you were in that man’s penthouse—alone? Fuck, I would do just about anything. Wait. Let me rephrase. I’d do everything.” She laughed, clearly already high on champagne.

I recanted the entire night—slowly—as she interjected and paraphrased what she’d have done differently. “I’m just saying, fire or no fire…I would have made sure to taste more than fucking marshmallow treats.”

I laughed; no doubt she would have handled the situation differently. However, I didn’t want to get into the feelings behind who or why I was hindered from moving forward. I didn’t want to ruin the night, bringing his name into the conversation.

“Oliver Sven is a piece of fuck-me-hard man-candy, and if you don’t, someone else will,” she said, refilling my glass.

“And I’m positive someone is. He’s not abstinent,” I said, cautiously choosing my words. It pained me a little to think about him with another woman. I was a selfish bitch. That much I knew. I didn’t exactly want him, but it killed me to think of him moving on.

“I sure hope not! All that man-cake going to waste. God, I hope someone’s enjoying it.” She sighed heavily as the limo turned onto a graveled driveway. I was thankful because this conversation was taking a sour note.

She took a moment to powder her face. I used the time to take my phone out, looking to see if I had any recent texts from Ollie. In a sick way, I felt better when he reached out to me. Even if he was with someone else, he never flaunted it—ever. He was never in the media with another woman. He kept everything on the down low and away from my eyes. He was a sexual creature. It was that Viking fucking lure and those piercing eyes, that hard honed body, and firm command he had about him. My will bent to his every time. I hardly trusted myself around him. God, I couldn’t imagine him on the road with his band. All those slutty groupies. My stomach knotted painfully and my thighs squeezed shamelessly remembering that night. How he catered to me. His thoughtfulness and how he led me, knowing exactly when to push for more. I punched in the security code, unlocking my phone. There was a text from my mother wishing me luck and how proud my parents were of me. Another from my little Dominican princess asking me to take pictures, and one from Oliver. He probably just remembered I had the event. I opened the chat box. Five words….

Oliver: Allison, where is this gala?

The driver’s door opened and shut with a slam. I didn’t even touch up my makeup. I quickly responded.
Brooklyn Botanical Garden’s why?

My door opened swiftly. I saw the bubble of his response, but couldn’t read it. I threw my phone in my bag quickly, ready to get out of this awkward position. My hands were sweating from my nerves. Gross
. I wished I had a tissue or a box
, I thought.

“This is it! Time to make our entrance and enjoy,” Mel said, winking at me. I don’t know how she was so calm and I was such a mess. I didn’t even respond I was too nervous. Honestly, I could use another half an hour in the limo getting over my nerves.

“Time to go.” The chauffer slid me across the seat and tugged my arm until I was standing.

“Thanks.” I shrugged marveling at his lady skills with a laugh. He smiled warmly. Melissa opted to depart the limo on her own, clearly unimpressed by my spectacle. Now, both of us were righted and vertical. My nerves were getting the better of me. “I need a minute.” I gulped, taking in the scene before me. It looked like a fairytale wedding.

“It’s bejeweled,” I whispered in awe.

“Oh my god, it’s like the Emerald city. I’ve never seen anything like it,” she said, holding her hand to her heart. Then she lunged at me, enveloping me in a hug. I knew how she felt, and it was beyond awe.

“I can’t breathe, Mel, please.”

She shushed me with a wave of her hand. “Oh look, there’s Archer. Fuck, he’s the hottest thing my eyes have seen in a while.”

I turned, looking in her sight of direction. Glory Be… I was tongue-tied. His black hair, black tailored tuxedo, and black bow tie stretched across his delicious neck, showing every stretch of honest to goodness sex on a walking stick.

Melissa turned to me, slapping my arm. “You’re just selfish. Do you think you can have all the hot men of the world at your beck and call or what? Leave some to other people in need. Christ, you’re an awful friend.” She winked at me and we started to move in his direction slowly. There was no way I could move as fast as her in all this bead work.

“Tongue in, Melissa. Ladies don’t beg,” I said, trying to get her attention. She was a walking tart with Archer on the top of her list.

“I do, and I never claimed to be a lady. That’s your cross to bear,” she threw over her shoulder while still smiling with ease. Bitch. “And before you give me the evil-eye all night that I can already feel…my snide comments are with love. Maybe a tiny bit of passive-aggressiveness mixed in.” She made a little pinching motion with her fingers.