“It’s okay, I’ve started a new life,” Trish said proudly.
“Yeah, me too,” Darlene said.
“Sound like you two beauties are nursing broken hearts,” he said and gave them both a quick squeeze.
Darlene laid her head on Phillip’s shoulder. Trish did the same thing, yet she said, “We didn’t come here to mope. We came to party…have a good time.”
“Have you been having a good time?” Phillip asked.
“Mostly,” Darlene said and placed the palm of her hand on Phillip’s chest. She started fingering his shirt. “Is this silk?”
“Yes, it is,” Phillip answered.
“It feels….nice,” Darlene said.
Phillip smiled at her. “Well, it feels even better, now. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the company of such gorgeous ladies.”
“Oh, Phillip.” Trish smirked and raised her head from his shoulder.
Darlene giggled.
“Darlene, has anyone ever told you that your smile would light up a stormy night?”
“No,” she answered slowly.
“Well, it can,” he said and winked at her.
Darlene lightly rubbed his chest for a moment. “Oh, Phillip; thank you.”
“Should I leave you two alone?” Trish asked jokingly.
Phillip gave Trish a light squeeze where he had his arm around her. “Absolutely not, I’m sure I can give both you ladies the attention you need.”
“Oh my,” Darlene gushed.
Trish smirked. “I have to say I like a man who doesn’t back down from a challenge.”
They all chuckled.
Two waiters approached the booth. One sat down three Christmas Volcanoes, three glasses of water, and a fresh bowl of chips. He picked up the empty bowl. The other waiter had a tray of food.
“Wow, I am hungry, but we didn’t order that,” Trish said.
“I took the liberty. It’s on me,” Barry said with a smile as he approached the booth.
“Barry!” the girls chimed.
He chuckled. “Ladies….Phillip,” he greeted.
“What did you hook us up with this time?” Trish asked.
The waiter started sitting down the food.
“Nachos!” Darlene screeched.
“And wings,” Trish added.
“Smells delicious,” Phillip said.
“Yes, you really know how to take care of your customers,” Trish said.
“Of course, you’re VIPs, baby,” Barry said.
Darlene giggled. “You got that right,” she said.
The waiter placed silverware, three small plates, and some extra napkins on the table.
“Thanks, Drew,” Barry said.
“No problem, Barry,” Drew said and left.
Trish happily took in the sight. “Smoking drinks and smoking food, it doesn’t get any better than this.”
Everyone was all smiles and laughs until the Shaw brothers approached them.
“May we join the party?” Ted asked with a serious look on his face.
Trish looked at David like he was a Martian. “What are you doing in a nightclub?” she asked in a high-pitched voice.
“Um, looking for you,” David answered with a little attitude. He crossed his arms in front of him.
“I thought you boys were going to hang back until I assessed the situation,” Barry mumbled.
“We got tired of waiting,” Ted said. He looked at Darlene, who still had her head on Phillip’s shoulder and her hand on his chest. “Who’s your friend?”
She slowly raised her head, but kept her hand where it was. “Who were the whores?” she asked back.
Phillip let out a slow whistle.
Barry and David’s eyes widened.
Trish stifled a chuckle.
Teddy’s eyebrows furrowed. “Whores?”
“Yes, one was a brunette you were dancing with, or should I say damn near screwing in front of the world.”
Ted’s mouth dropped open.
Trish picked up her drink. “Now you’ve done it. You got Darlene cussing,” she slurred and sipped her drink through the straw.
“We haven’t spent the whole evening up here you know and there are monitors in VIP that shows the, ehm, party on the main floor. Nice shade of lipstick, Ted. Who’s it by? Rover or perhaps Dogiliene.”
Phillip started to chuckle.
Trish stopped sipping her drink. “Teddy, you got some explaining to do,” she said in a Ricky Ricardo voice, then she laughed. Phillip laughed as well.
Darlene smiled. “Not at all. We’re all single here. Isn’t that right, Phillip?” she asked and looked at him.
“Whatever you say, love,” he smiled and winked at her again.
Darlene smiled and batted her eyes.
Ted roughly rubbed his hand over his mouth.
“Trish, come on. Let’s go, honey,” David said.
“Go?”
“Yes, I want to talk to you - in private.”
“David, I’m hanging out with my friends, and we’re about to eat,” she said.
“I’ll take you to get something to eat. Somewhere a little quieter.”
“Eh, I don’t know,” Trish slurred.
Phillip gave Trish a little squeeze. He started caressing her bare shoulder with his thumb and index finger. “No offense, mate, but I don’t think the lady wants to go with you.”
“Take your hands off her,” David sternly said.
“Or what, mate?”
“Oh, shit,” Ted groaned.
“Or I’ll break your arm, wrist, and fingers,” David said stonily.
“David,” Trish said with shock.
Phillip just smirked at him.
“David, the DJ just started playing a slow jam. Why don’t you take Trish for a spin on the dance floor?” Barry asked in a deep commanding voice.
Trish pouted. “I don’t want to dance. I want to eat.”
“Oh, go on, Trish, At least David hasn’t bumped and grinded against two brunettes, a redhead, and a blonde all in one evening,” Darlene spat out.
Trish burst out in laughter.
Ted jerked his head up to the ceiling and groaned loudly as he grit his teeth.
David cocked his eyebrow and looked at Ted.
“Well, that’s true,” Trish said with a big grin directed at David.
He smiled at her.
“Okay, I’ll dance, but I’m doing it for Darlene and Barry.”
“Oh, of course,” David said and offered his hand.
She slid out around to the edge of the booth and took David’s hand. While they were walking away, Darlene said, “Have fun!”
They got to the dance floor. Trish tilted to the side and quickly straightened herself as David grabbed her by the waist. “Are you all right?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said.
David gave her a quizzical look. “You’re drunk, aren’t you?”
“No, I’m tipsy. Darlene is drunk. There’s a difference,” she explained with an innocent look.
He smiled. “Come here, Ms. Tipsy.” He gently pulled her against his body and wrapped his arms around her waist.
Trish placed her hands on the front of his shoulders. They started swaying to I’ll Make Love to You by Boyz II Men. Trish listened to the lyrics for a moment. Her eye’s traveled down his shirt. “Have I ever told you how handsome you look in black?”
He chuckled. “No.”
She looked at him. “You do. You look very handsome in black.”
“Thank you and you look-” He stopped and let his gaze travel down her dress. “You look good enough eat.” David tightened his hold on her.
The nerves in her body started to tingle, and her stomach growled. She got an idea to detract from the intimate situation they were in. “Speaking of eating, maybe we should go back to the table before they eat all the food. I’m famished,” she slurred the last word.
He looked into her eyes. “If you leave with me now, I promise I’ll feed you,” he sa
id in a husky voice.
Trish lightly gripped his shoulder. “This time of night? Or were you not speaking of food.”
“It’s up to you,” David said. “I know a restaurant that’s open twenty-four hours. It’s only two miles up the road; or we can go to my apartment, if you’re comfortable.”
Trish’s mouth opened. “I’m not sure if we should go to your apartment.”
David smiled. “The restaurant it is.”
“I didn’t agree to anything,” Trish said quickly.
David went in for a kiss. It was light and sensual and too short for Trish’s liking. He looked at her from under heavy eyelids.
“What about Darlene?” she asked.
“I think she’ll be fine. Barry is a client of Mr. Jacobs. He’ll make sure she gets home safely.”
“Oh, I don’t know,” Trish said.
David kissed her again. This time it was deeper. His tongue dipped into her mouth, then retreated. He gently broke the kiss. They were nose to nose.
Trish’s breathing was heavy. “Oh, all right. Let’s go.”
He smiled and escorted her off the dance floor. It was good timing because the song had ended. They approached the booth and found Darlene sitting between Phillip and Teddy. She and Phillip were eating nachos. Teddy was eating BBQ wings. Barry was sitting on the edge of the booth.
Trish took a napkin from the table and grabbed two wings. “Darlene, I’m going to leave with David. Are you going to be okay?”
“Sure,” she said with her mouth full.
“I’ll make sure she gets home,” Barry said.
“Yeah, me too,” Phillip chimed in. He grabbed a small black purse with a gold chain. “Is this yours?” he asked Trish.
Teddy just stared at Phillip.
“Yeah,” Trish said and took it from him. “Thanks, Phillip.”
“Anytime, love,” Phillip said.
“Barry, thanks for the best Christmas bash I’ve ever been to,” Trish said.
“You’re welcome, and please come back soon,” Barry said as he nodded his head. “Why don’t you let me walk you guys back downstairs? The fast way.”
“That would be great,” David said.
Barry stood up.
“Bye, guys,” Trish said.
Darlene, Phillip, and Teddy mumbled their goodbyes.
Trish ate her two chicken wings as they made their way downstairs. Barry walked them to the double doors of the main floor. “David, I’ll be calling you!” he yelled over the music. He took the chicken bones that were wrapped in a napkin from Trish. “You two have a great night.”
“Thanks, Barry!” David yelled.
The lobby still had a few patrons entering the club, but not like it was earlier when David arrived. David and Trish walked to the coat check. He gave the attendant his coat ticket. While they waited, David realized Trish didn’t give the guy a ticket. “Where’s your coat?”
“I didn’t bring one. I didn’t want to keep up with a coat all night.”
David looked at her in amazement. “It’s freezing outside.”
“I didn’t know they had a coat check, and it’s not bad if you get here early and go in and out of a warm car.”
The attendant returned and gave David his coat.
“Thanks,” he said to the attendant and held the coat out for Trish.
“David, I’ll be fine.”
“Put it on,” he said slowly.
She rolled her eyes and turned around to slip her arms into his coat that was two sizes too big for her. “You are so bossy,” she said as she adjusted to the size of the coat. She slung her purse strap over her shoulder. The trench coat sleeves hung from her wrists like bathrobe sleeves.
He smirked at the sight of her in his coat. “Yeah, and you love it.”
She couldn’t help but smile. He put his arm around her waist, and they started walking side by side through the lobby.
Chuck spotted them. “All right, David. I see you got what you came for. Woooo,” he said loudly.
A bouncer whistled and another bouncer did a coyote call.
“I ain’t mad at ya, bro,” the skinny kid who gave out the wristbands said.
Trish giggled and shyly looked down as David opened the exit for her to walk through. “Goodnight, fellas,” he said with a smirk.
They all happily returned the goodbye.
Chapter 25
Trish and David entered the diner. The booth and stool seats were red, and the floors were black and white checkered. The table and countertops were white. No customers were in the diner. A middle age man was wiping the counter with a white cloth. A waitress sat at the far end of the counter reading a newspaper. They both looked up when Trish and David walked in.
“Well, look what the cat dragged in. Hey, Dave,” the man said.
“Hey. Gus, Dee Dee; this is Trish.”
“Hi, honey,” Dee Dee said from the end of the counter as she popped her gum.
“Hi,” Gus added.
“Hi,” Trish said back with a small smile.
David walked Trish to the middle of the diner and stopped at a booth. Trish untied the trench coat.
“Hey, Gus, how about some coffee?” David asked as he stepped behind Trish.
“Yo, Dave, you know where it is,” Gus replied.
Trish’s mouth dropped open with amusement.
“You see how he treats me. Gus, I got a date I’m trying to impress.” David pulled his coat off Trish’s shoulders.
Gus laughed. “Well, you shouldn’t have brought her here,” he joked, then he got a good look at Trish when David took her coat off.
Gus’s mouth dropped. “I’ll get the coffee.”
“Thank you,” David said.
Trish shyly sat down in the booth. David sat down on the other side, placing his coat next to him.
“I want decaf,” Trish said.
“Hey, Gus. Make that two unleaded coffee.”
“Got it,” he said with his back turned.
Dee Dee walked up to them with two waters. “This is the first time Davey has brought a girl in. You sure are pretty, sweetheart.”
“Thank you,” Trish shyly replied.
“The menus are behind the napkin holder. Just holler when you’re ready to order,” she said sweetly and walked away.
David grabbed one menu and handed it to Trish.
“You’re not eating?”
“Oh yeah, but I know the menu by heart,” David said.
“Oh,” Trish said and opened her menu. She rubbed one side of her temple.
“Are you okay?”
“Yes. I think the cold air sobered me up a little bit.”
“You got a headache?”
“Just a little pounding. Some food will help,” Trish said.
“You know what you want?” David asked.
“You seem to be a regular here. What do you recommend?”
“Everything is good,” David said.
“Everything is great,” Gus said as he brought them their coffee. “Cream and sugar are on the table.”
“I know that, Gus,” David said.
“See how he treats me?” Gus said to Trish.
Trish laughed.
“Whatcha in the mood for, young lady?”
“I don’t know, but I’m starving. I usually don’t get hungry or eat this late at night.”
“Did you two just come from that Christmas Blowout at The Clover Club?” Gus asked.
“Yep,” David said.
The dishes Dee Dee was carrying rattled in her hand as she walked by. “You went to the nightclub, Davey?”
David laughed. “Yes, there was…something in there I wanted,” he admitted as he looked at Trish.
“Uh huh,” Dee Dee said and kept walking.
“You two got the place to yourselves for two hours before the drunks from the club come in demanding food and coffee. I suggest you take advantage of it. What about a club sandwich and some hash browns,” Gus suggested.
�
��That sounds good. I’ll take that,” Trish said and closed her menu.
“I’ll have the same, Gus,” David said.
“Coming right up,” Gus said and left them alone.
“Well, you got what you wanted,” Trish said.
“What do you mean?”
“I’m having dinner with you,” she said, reminding David that he asked her out to dinner the other day.
He smiled. “Yeah, I guess you are. Trish, I want to tell you about what happened after I left the office the other day. Before you make any decisions. Will you let me do that?”
Twenty-four hours ago she didn’t want to hear a word he had to say about the mysterious blonde. But, David’s actions made her change her mind. She had to admit, a man had never chased her all over town before. The least she could do was hear him out. “Yes,” she said and put some creamer in her coffee.
“The woman that came into the office, who I met at The Wingate, is Heather Young. But, when I first met her, she was Heather Richards. She was my fiancé.”
Trish let go of the end of the spoon. It clinked on the side of her coffee cup. Her eyes were wide. “I see. She was the woman you mentioned the night of the snowstorm.”
“Yes, I met Heather at Lakedale Associates. That’s the law firm I worked at in New York. Actually, I got a job with them as soon as I graduated from law school. I worked at the firm for a couple of years. I casually dated. I never got serious about anyone until I met Heather. She’d been at the firm almost as long as I had by then. She was a receptionist on the lower floor and worked her way up to executive assistant to one of the partners, George Young. That’s when I met her…personally. She was smart and charming. After a couple of months of dating, I introduced her to my parents. Ted had already met her earlier on. When I lived in New York, Ted would visit me pretty often. Heather and I dated for a year before I proposed to her. I thought she was happy, it seemed that way. She accepted my proposal.” David stopped and sipped his coffee.
Trish took a sip also and continued to listen.
“Thinking back, I think Ted saw something that I didn’t. After I told him I was engaged, he said don’t be so quick to walk down the aisle. I laughed him off- thought he was joking as usual. Now, I wish I had listened more carefully. Anyway, six months into our engagement, I had to go out of town for business. I finished my business three days early, and I wanted to hurry back - for her, because I missed her. I had a key to her apartment. When I first walked in I didn’t see her. She wasn’t in the living room. I thought she was taking a nap.” David took a deep breath.
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