The Funny Thing about Love: Feel Good Sweet Romance stories

by Laura Burton

  Angie laughed and ran past Raven to the couch.

  “That was not funny!” Raven marched to the living room. She stared down at Angie with her disapproving teacher face. “You have got to tell me what’s going on with you.” Raven stomped her foot as if it helped to make her point.

  Angie sat up and hugged a pillow. “I’ve been through a lot lately. I just need some time.”

  “A lot like what?”

  “Well, you know I was driving on the side for extra money . . . and then, there was this guy.”

  Raven shuddered, then plopped down in the armchair across from Angie. “Dear God, Angie. Please tell me you didn’t date a guy from Hustle.”

  “No, I didn’t. The guy I was driving was a drug runner.” Angie slanted her eyes and waited for the tongue-lashing she knew Raven was about to unleash.

  Raven’s eyes grew wide. “Angela Andrews.” She scooted to the edge of her seat. “Did you report him to the cops?”

  “Not exactly. More like the cops found me.”

  Angie took a breath, realizing for the first time how odd her story sounded when she said it out loud.

  “This really good-looking officer pulled me over and frisked me.” Angie studied Raven’s facial expressions as they morphed in slow motion with every word she spoke. “Then, he let me know I’d been driving someone from a drug cartel.”

  For the next twenty minutes, Angie told Raven everything. From the first time she’d laid eyes on Trent to how he was the guy smiling at her in Taco Town to how he’d kissed her. Of course, she ended with Delilah answering the door.

  “Oh, you poor darling.” Raven rushed over and hugged Angie’s head against her chest. “You know what you need?”

  “What?” Angie mumbled under Raven’s embrace.

  “To wash your hair, first of all. And then, you’re coming with me tonight.” Raven kissed her on the head and then made a gagging sound as she hopped up from the couch. “Seriously, go take a shower.”

  Angie slogged toward the bathroom, knowing Raven was right. She’d let her hair get so nasty that even the self-absorbed middle-schoolers had scowled at her appearance the past two days. And while she wasn’t up for going anywhere (except maybe the 7-Eleven for more Blue Bell), she knew it would do her good to quit moping over Trent.

  Half an hour later, Angie had clean hair, shaven legs, and fresh clothes. Plus makeup and deodorant. Not bad for someone who hadn’t showered in three days.

  “Wow. There was beauty hiding behind all that grime.”

  Angie wrinkled her nose.

  “Seriously, you look like Angie again.” Raven stood and patted Angie on the shoulder. “Come on, I’ll drive.”

  Angie locked up the house and got in Raven’s SUV. “Where are we going?”

  “We’re meeting Doug for dinner.”

  “Do you know where?”

  “Not yet. He’s helping Jason move into his new apartment.”

  Angie refused to comment, knowing it would give Raven too much pleasure if she asked about Jason. She didn’t care, and she didn’t want Raven to think she cared.

  “Oh, I know. We can meet them at the apartment and all go to dinner together.”

  Angie put on her sunglasses to hide her frustration. This was one of Raven’s plots, and Angie had taken the bait. She sat in silence until they turned into the apartment complex she’d vowed never to go to again.

  Angie scrunched her nose. “Why are we here?”

  “This is Jason’s new apartment.”

  Raven drove around back and parked adjacent from Trent’s apartment. Angie almost swallowed her tongue remembering when she’d sat in her car and cried.

  “Let’s go.” Raven sprang out of her seat and hit the lock key as soon as Angie opened her door.

  Angie kept her sunglasses on in case she ran into anyone she knew. They also allowed her to discreetly glance around the parking lot to look for Trent’s truck. It wasn’t there.

  “It’s a really nice place. You don’t seem to like it.” Raven snarled her nose in disapproval at Angie’s moodiness.

  “I drove some people here once, so bad memories is all.” If she told Raven this was where Trent lived, Raven might hunt down Delilah and challenge her to a battle of the blondes.

  When they made it to the stairwell, Doug walked up from the opposite direction, carrying a lamp in one hand and a small box in the other. “Hey, hon.” He gave his wife a kiss. “Hey, Angie.”

  “Hi, Doug.” They followed up the stairs behind Doug to an apartment with an open door. Jason stood inside assembling what looked like an end table.

  “Hi, ladies.” He smiled at Angie. “Good to see you again.”

  “Thanks.” Raven elbowed Angie in the ribs. “Nice to see you as well.”

  Angie removed her sunglasses and looked over at Raven, who smiled broadly at Jason.

  Something told her she was going to need a lot more ice cream after tonight.

  Trent spent the rest of the afternoon piecing together what Mario told him with the data he’d collected over the past few months. Now, all they needed to do was bust Salvador, and they could convict him.

  Once everyone on day shift left, he decided it was time to check on Angie. Trent pulled up the tracker and found that her car was at home. He thought about going to see her, but decided to give her some time. Maybe after Mario’s sentencing, he could personally deliver her informant money. At least then she might be somewhat excited to see him.

  Trent stared at the board another minute and then cupped his hands over his face. This had been the longest week of his life. Forget the time he went undercover as a janitor for a lingerie supplier. The week without Angie drug on much longer.

  He gathered his belongings and got ready to head out. With his briefcase and coat in hand, he headed toward the door. When he turned out the lights to leave, a hand touched his chest.

  “Oh, honey, what happened here?”

  Delilah’s voice scratched his eardrums like a feral cat clawing its way out of a dumpster.

  “It’s an ink stain. I was leaving.” Trent spoke sharply through clinched teeth before brushing her hand off his chest.

  When he moved her hand, she grabbed onto his and pulled him toward her. She leaned in and put her lips on his. Trent scrunched his lips shut. He flung her hand from his and pulled away from her.

  “What are you doing?”

  “What am I doing?” Delilah touched her lips as if she weren’t sure herself. “I was kissing you.”

  “Yeah, but why?”

  “Because I wanted to . . . and I thought you wanted me to.” Delilah picked at her lengthy fingernails and stared at the floor.

  Trent flipped on the lights. “Delilah, I haven’t given you any reason to think I would want you to kiss me.”

  “I was at your house every night last week.”

  “Yeah, along with Rich and Connor and a kitchen table full of evidence. We were compiling all the evidence on Salvador, remember?”

  Delilah glanced up at Trent and nodded. “I just thought maybe . . .”

  “Look, you’re a great woman for someone else. Not for me.”

  Delilah looked around and blew out a puff of air. “You like the Hustle driver, don’t you?”

  “Yes, I do. But that doesn’t matter much now.”

  “Why? I know she likes you.” Delilah slumped her shoulders. “And I got a fuzzy view of her flat chest while the two of you made out.”

  “Well, she must not like me too much, because she won’t answer my texts.” Trent slumped against the doorframe and sighed at the thought of never seeing Angie again.

  “When was the last time you talked to her?”

  Trent shrugged. “The night of the gala. All I can think is that maybe I shouldn’t have kissed her. It was too soon.”

  Delilah stared at her feet. “I don’t think your kiss is the reason she doesn’t want to talk to you.”

  “Then what is?”

  Fifteen minutes later, Trent wa
s on the road, headed home. He couldn’t believe what Delilah had said to Angie. First, it wasn’t her place to decide if Angie had completed her informant duties. And second . . . her insinuation that they were together made Trent’s blood boil.

  He drove home in a hurry, wanting nothing more than to go to bed. Maybe by tomorrow, he could come up with a plan to get Angie to talk to him. Trent debated having Delilah explain herself, but he didn’t think Angie would listen. Nor did he trust Delilah to make things right.

  It started raining about the time Trent pulled into his apartment complex. Cliché, but it fit his mood. He parked in his usual space and shut off the engine. Having nothing better to do, he sat in the truck and waited for the rain to taper off.

  An SUV pulled up behind him in the center of the parking lot. A man got out of the back and opened an umbrella, then ran around to the other side and opened the door.

  Angie?

  Trent’s eyes locked on her for a split-second, but that was all he needed to know it was indeed Angie. A heaviness eroded his chest. Angie smiled at the man holding the umbrella, and together, they trudged over the wet asphalt to the adjacent building.

  Was that Jason? He couldn’t know for sure. All he knew was it wasn’t him. That was all that mattered.

  He sat like a stone and watched them disappear behind the stairwell. Raindrops flooded his back glass like metaphorical teardrops. Trent cemented himself in the same position for far too long. As if staying there long enough might make Angie run down to him and say she wanted him and not Umbrella Man.

  But Angie wasn’t coming down for him. And, even worse, she might not come down at all.

  It was too late.

  Chapter 10

  Angie blinked, trying to refocus her attention on the computer screen. She’d saved most of the money from Mario’s tips and started tutoring to earn extra cash after quitting Hustle. But now that she could finally afford the first semester of grad school, she found herself scrolling through the application mindlessly.

  Not only was answering any and every question imaginable a total bore, but it made her brain susceptible to trailing off toward thoughts of Trent.

  At first, Angie had felt satisfaction in him seeing her with Jason. But the look on his face had made her think of a puppy in a kennel. How could she have ignored something so sad and adorable?

  On the way up to Jason’s apartment, she’d reasoned that he deserved it for having Delilah over at his place. She’d had a nice conversation with Jason and gloated in the fact that Trent deserved seeing her with someone else. Then, when Jason drove her home, he’d kissed her good night.

  He was a good kisser, but his kiss hadn’t ignited any sparks. Much less a lightning storm. Trent could walk past her and make her feel more jolts. As badly as she wanted to like Jason, she didn’t. Not in that way.

  Not wanting to string him along, she’d told him she saw him more as a friend. He’d understood and told her good night. She’d done the right thing. So why did she feel so miserable?

  Angie set her laptop on the coffee table and stretched out on the couch. Too much thinking for a Sunday afternoon. The application could wait. She was hours overdue for her post-church nap.

  Just when she got comfy with her favorite blanket, the phone rang. Probably Raven asking how it went with Jason. Or wondering why she didn’t want to date him. Raven somehow knew everything right as it unfolded. Maybe she should’ve been a detective.

  Angie reached for the phone. She didn’t recognize the number, but it was local. Most likely a telemarketer who’d purchased some local digits.

  “Hello?”

  “Hey, Angie. This is Rich from the police department.”

  “Oh. Hi, Rich.” Angie propped up on her elbow, eager to hear any news from the case.

  “I’m calling to tell you that Mario confessed and is in a plea bargain.”

  Angie sighed. “That’s great.”

  “Yeah.” Rich laughed. “So, your payday is coming, but I need to ask you a favor.”

  “Okay.”

  “Would you be willing to testify in Salvador’s case? Just give details of where you took Mario and how often. Things like that.”

  Angie plopped her head back on the couch arm and stared at the popcorn ceiling. “Would I have to see Trent again?”

  “Why wouldn’t you want to see him?”

  Angie swallowed. “You know . . . because he’s with Delilah now.”

  “He’s not with Delilah.”

  “He’s not?” Angie was caught off guard by the force in her voice and decided to try again, hoping to not sound so eager this time. “I mean . . . he’s not?”

  “No. They dated once like half a year ago, but it didn’t last long. Trent thinks she’s shallow and superficial.”

  Angie nodded in agreement.

  “And for what it’s worth, I think Trent really wants to see you.”

  “You do?” Angie hoped this wasn’t some pre-nap hallucination.

  “Of course. He doesn’t think I know it, but he’s been miserable not talking to you.”

  Angie smiled for a moment, then shook her head. She had to know for sure Rich was right. The kiss had been awesome, but . . .

  “Wait, I don’t get it. Then why was Delilah at his house a few nights after the gala?”

  “Ooooh . . .” Rich’s voice trailed as if he’d pieced together context clues. “We all spent a couple of days at Trent’s apartment after the gala, putting together all the info we could to catch Salvador in the act. I was there, too. Heck, I even brought my dog.”

  “So, why did Delilah act like Trent wasn’t there?”

  “I don’t know. She’s kind of evil.”

  Angie rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I can see that.”

  “So will you come testify? It would really help back up Mario’s story. You could aid in convicting Salvador and help lighten Mario’s sentence all at once.”

  “Sure.”

  “And, Angie?”

  “Yes?”

  “For what it’s worth, I’ve never seen Trent as happy as when he’s with you. Or as sad since you ghosted him.”

  “Thanks, Rich. For everything.”

  Angie hung up the phone and closed her eyes. If she could help convict the drug lord and be with Trent, all would be well in the world. She’d best use this good-news energy to finish her application. And, anyway, she’d never be able to sleep now.

  Trent straightened his tie, then walked into the courtroom. He found a seat in the back by Rich.

  A grin spread across Rich’s face when he saw him.

  “What are you smiling about?”

  Rich shrugged. “I’m just happy to nail Salvador, that’s all.”

  “That’s all?” Somehow, Trent knew that wasn’t all, but he let it go.

  Trent and the prosecuting attorney had spent all week going over the case with Mario, prepping him to take the stand. When Mario made his way to the witness stand to testify, Trent’s limbs went numb. Mario was dressed well, and when spoken to, he answered with respect.

  That would go a long way in proving him a reliable source. Trent just hoped he wouldn’t crack under the pressure of all the questions from the defense. They needed to put Salvador behind bars. If he walked free here and made it back to Mexico, he may never pay for his crimes.

  Trent wiped his brow. He nodded to Mario whenever he nailed a question. Mario held his head high, appearing confident, whether he was or not. After both attorneys had finished their questioning, the judge dismissed him, and he took a seat near the front.

  Trent smiled with satisfaction. So far, this was the best conviction case he’d experienced.

  “I’d like to call another witness to the stand,” the prosecuting attorney said, then motioned toward the back door. A uniformed officer opened it.

  Trent wanted to pinch himself to make sure he wasn’t fantasizing. Angie walked into the courtroom, her head forward. She wore a dark skirt and jacket, with her hair pulled back. Kind of like t
he hot librarian or a Realtor running an open house.

  Once on the stand, she stated her name and vowed to tell the truth. Trent studied her every move, trying to decide if she’d spotted him. It was hard to tell. She kept her eyes on the prosecutor.

  The prosecutor asked her details about Mario and all the times she’d driven him. She didn’t hold back, telling everything, from all the stops they’d made to the time he strutted out of Walmart dressed like a big kahuna on vacation. Everything she said validated Mario’s testimony.

  When the lawyer asked if Angie had anything else to add, Rich shifted in his seat. Trent turned and looked at his friend. A mischievous grin crossed Rich’s face. He turned back to face the front, and his eyes met Angie’s. She smiled and cleared her throat before saying the words that would forever change his life.

  “I came into this case by accident. And to be honest, I wanted nothing to do with it at first. Sure, I loved Mario’s tips and the idea of the reward money. But I was scared. I’m still a little scared. I’ve since quit driving, and I’ve learned that most things that seem too good to be true, are. That’s probably what Mario realized, too, when he decided to quit drug running.” Angie looked over at Mario, who nodded in agreement.

  “The point is that sometimes we get caught up in things we never wanted. Something can start out scary but end good, or start out perfect and fall apart. What matters most is the person behind it all.” Angie fixed her gaze on Trent, making his heart pound like a demolition.

  “Mario isn’t perfect, and he’s done a lot of wrong, but his heart is in the right place, and he’s willing to do what’s right to help fix this. And I, for one, think he deserves a second chance.” Angie turned from Mario to Trent, her immense eyes glossy, as if she might cry. “Trust me, I’ve misjudged people before.”

  “Thank you, Ms. Andrews. That will be all.” The prosecutor motioned for Angie to leave the witness stand.

  Trent’s eyes followed her all the way down the aisle. When she made it to the back row, she paused for a moment and mouthed “sorry” to him before exiting the courtroom.