Starting Over Trilogy Boxset

by Kennedy, Brenda

  “Seriously?”

  “Yes, I mean it — anytime.”

  “Thank you, I will.”

  “Do you want to see how bad I beat your ass?” she smirks.

  “I can’t wait,” I reply, placing our targets out for us to compare.

  She did very well for the first time. Of course, she didn’t beat me, but I am impressed.

  Looking at me laughing, she jokes, “You know I let you beat me, Right? I felt sorry for you.”

  “You did?”

  “Yup.”

  We are both laughing at her “admission.”

  I roll up the targets, grab the bag with the weapons, and take her hand and say, “Come on, Killer, until next time.”

  We walk to our cars in the parking lot, hand in hand. Everyone is already done and loading up their vehicles. She waves at our friends. I lead her to her car and wait for her to unlock it. I open the door for her and wait for her to get in.

  “I’ll meet you at Donovan’s.”

  “Ok, I’ll see you there,” she says while placing her sunglasses on her face.

  “Is there anything special you want to drink? There is plenty of food, but I wasn’t sure about beverages.”

  “Diet Coke, water, and white wine are usually my drinks of choice.”

  “Good to know, now buckle up and drive safely, Beauty,” I say, shutting her door.

  She rolls down her window and just looks at me. Beauty, her new nickname. It suits her, perfectly.

  Brea yells out her window, “Follow us,” while pulling off.

  I wave to her while walking to my own car. I put the top down, put on my sunglasses, and follow everyone to Donovan’s.

  I stop by the store first, grab some more drinks and some desserts for Brea and the rest of us. I think back on the day and catch myself smiling. I never had this much fun with Julia. Angel is so relaxed and laid back but serious when she needs to be. I am thankful she took the shooting range seriously. When she got out of the car wearing that shirt, I almost thought I was going to lose it. Damn if she isn’t beautiful. The shirt should have said, “Beautiful and Armed and Dangerous.” She is going to be the death of me.

  I arrive at Donovan’s and everyone has already changed and is in the pool or by the pool tanning. I put the drinks in a cooler by the outdoor bar and take the desserts in the house and put them on the table.

  Brea walks in, sees the desserts, and kisses me on the cheek. “You always were my favorite,” she says while opening the container the cupcakes are in.

  “Yeah, yeah, I know.” I am laughing at her picking up the cupcake and taking a bite of it. “I have no idea where you put it all,” I say seriously, looking at the cupcake in her hand.

  Laughing, she licks the icing off her fingers and says, “I think in my ass,” she laughs and then adds, “It looks like you guys are getting along.”

  “We are, she’s pretty awesome. She is very easy to get along with. I like that about her. She has a seriously playful side to her."

  “I think you bring that side out in her. I think you should ask her out,” she deadpans.

  “You do? I have been thinking about it. I was thinking dinner on Saturday. What do you think?”

  “I think it is perfect. We need to join the party before people start talking.”

  She winks at me and then she grabs my hand and we join the party in full swing on the patio.

  The music is on the surround sound and the smell of steaks on the grill is mouthwatering. Everyone is near the grill chatting away and sharing their experiences at the gun range.

  Angel walks over to me, wearing a black bikini. Handing me a beer, she says, “You should go change. I think you are a little overdressed.”

  I take the beer without taking my eyes off of her.

  “Thank you. Beauty, I think you are right.”

  “Anytime, Handsome.”

  I take a drink and hand the beer back to her.

  “I’ll be right back.”

  “I’ll be waiting.”

  I head out to get my trunks and towel from my car. I change quickly before heading back downstairs.

  The girls are lying on rafts in the pool and the guys are at the grill. I walk over to the grill and Vincent says in a low voice, “So, are you going to ask her out?”

  “Sounds like you already know. Brea has a big mouth,” I say while looking at Brea, who is grinning at me.

  “She only told us. She’s pretty excited for you and Angel.”

  “Just so you know, it’s only a date and I haven’t asked her out yet. No need to plan a wedding — well, not my wedding anyway.”

  I look over at Angel, who is talking to Sara but is looking right at me. I smile at her and ask Donovan and Vincent, “Where should I take her to?” without looking at them.

  They both answer Ruth’s Chris Steak House on Tamiami Trail — it is a restaurant that my parents love. I look away from Angel, with a smile still plastered to my face.

  “Great idea,” I say, then I ask Vincent, “Do you know when you’re going to propose to Brea?”

  Donovan and I both look at Vincent for an answer.

  Taking a deep breath, he says, “Next week, we are going away for the weekend. I’m taking her to the Ritz Carlton in Miami.”

  We pat him on the back in a congratulatory manner.

  “She hasn’t said yes, so there’s no need to plan a wedding yet, either,” he says, looking almost sick.

  Donovan whispers, “She will, man.”

  When I see Angel’s drink is almost gone, I take a bottle of wine over to the pool and refill her glass for her, along with Brea’s and Sara’s. We finish the steaks and set the food out on the table near the bar. We all eat and talk nonstop about the shooting range, how much the girls are improving and how well Angel did for her first time. We make plans to do it again soon.

  After dinner, we all clean up, grab another drink and head into the pool for some fun in the sun. We toss a football back and forth and splash the girls intentionally. They scream about getting wet although they are sitting in the pool of water already wet. I will never understand that about girls.

  It’s late and we say our goodbyes. Brea and Vincent are already gone, and I walk Angel out to the car. I hold her beach bag while she unlocks her car door. I open her door and place the beach bag on her back seat. I turn to look at her. I swear her beauty takes my breath away. She’s been in the pool and her hair is naturally curly.

  I face her and take her hands in mine. She smiles.

  “I love your hair curly — it’s beautiful,” I say, touching a lock of her curly hair.

  “Ugh, I hate it, but thank you.”

  “Thank you for a wonderful time today, Beauty. I had a great time.”

  “No, thank you. Today was as perfect as they get, and thank you for being so patient with me at the gun range.”

  “No need to thank me; it was all my pleasure.” Taking a deep breath, I look her into her eyes and say, “I was hoping you would let me take you to dinner next week?”

  “Yes, I would like that.”

  Smiling, I say, “Great.”

  “Is Saturday at 7 good?”

  “Saturday is perfect.”

  “Great, I will pick you up at 7. I’ll call later this week to get your address.”

  “Ok, sounds good. She stands up on her tiptoes and leans in to kiss me on my cheek. Thank you for everything, Handsome. I am looking forward to Saturday.”

  “Me, too.” I stand back, hold her door open wide for her to get in. “Buckle up and drive safely. I’ll text you later to make sure you got home in one piece.”

  I smile and shut her door before she has time to argue with me.

  I turn towards my own car and head home with a stupid-as-fuck grin plastered to my face. I had a great day, and it feels good looking forward to something again.

  Angel

  I watch Mason walk away from me towards his new black Jaguar Convertible. A hot car for a hot guy. I keep smiling
because I can’t stop. He asked me out and did he just tell me again to buckle up and drive safely? I had a great time today. It was a perfect day. I start my car, buckle up, and head home. My minds drifts back to the events of the day. The look in his eyes when I walked up to him at the gun range. His patience with me. His concern for safety before anything else. His playfulness and his seriousness. He is such a gentlemen, holding the doors open for me and refilling my drink when it is empty.

  I pull up at home and park in the garage for a change since it may rain tomorrow. I unload my beach bag from the car and start a load in the washer. I shower and get ready for bed. I curl up on the couch to read when my phone chimes that I have an incoming text. Grinning, I grab my phone and true to his word there is a text.

  M: Did you get home safely?

  Yes, Father.

  A: Yes, I did. Thank you very much.

  M: Thank you again for a wonderful day. I really had a great time.

  A: Thank you. I did, too. Thank you for all your help at the gun range. You are a very patient man.

  M: Please, Beauty, no need to thank me. It was all my pleasure. Looking forward to doing it again.

  Beauty, I love that he calls me that.

  A: Next time, it’s game on. ;)

  M: Ok, I’ll hold you to that. Maybe we can wager something. Not unless you’re afraid?

  He knows I have a competitive side. Sneaky bastard

  A: Who, me? I was holding back today. I didn’t want to show you up. Being our first date and all.

  M: Well, that was sweet of you. I didn’t realize it was a date!

  Crap, I just called it a date.

  A: Good night, Mason.

  M: lol Sweet dreams, Beauty. Don’t forget to lock up.

  A: Already did. :)

  I decide to go to bed and read. I am not far from dreamland. I double-check the locks on the doors, first. Damn Mason, he’s becoming very overprotective.

  It is mid-week before I even realize it. I cleaned my house top to bottom on Sunday and returned the orange juice pitcher to Josephine and thanked her again. I worked late Monday and Tuesday. It’s Wednesday. I head home and decide to go for a run. I put my running gear on and walk the short distance to the beach. I find the right music on my iPod player and set my pace to a slow run. I focus on my breathing, and my head starts to clear. Things are going so well for me, and I am beginning to look forward to dating someone again.

  Only one thing could mess this up: Jim. He used to call me when I first left. He would beg me to come home, apologize for all his abuse, and said he would get help. It got so bad I had to change my cell number. I never told him where I was, but I fear he will find me. Sometimes I still feel like someone is watching me. I started parking my car in the garage all the time. I still lock the doors as soon as I enter the house. I wonder if this fear will ever leave, or if I’ll always feel like a prisoner everywhere I go.

  I look up and Mason is running next to me, looking at me with a smile on his face. How long has he been there? I remove the ear buds from my ears and smile back at him, slowing my pace to a walk. Through panting breaths, I ask, “How long have you been here?”

  “Not too long. You looked like you were in deep thought. I almost didn’t want to bother you.”

  “You’re not bothering me; it’s good to see you. I didn’t know you were a runner.”

  “It helps to clear my head.”

  “Yeah, mine, too. There’s a lot I don’t know about you.”

  “I need some water. Want to stop over there?”

  He points to a tiki bar.

  “Sure, sounds great.”

  We sit at the outdoor table under a red and white awning that overlooks the beach. We each get a big glass of ice water and he orders a fruit salad and two chicken salad wraps, although I declined on the food. We sit and talk about his parents and sister. He tells me that his Dad and he went out Sunday looking for office space for his new private practice. He tells me about his mother’s artistic talents, although he denies being able to draw even stick figures. I learn his Dad is a judge in the county, and he was born and raised on Long Boat Key.

  I tell him about my mother passing when I was 12. I share how close Aunt Rosie and I were before her death. I share how I went to school to be an interior designer and how I am currently taking online glasses to get my degree.

  He shares about how he met Vincent and Donovan and how Sara and Brea came to be a part of their group. I already heard that story, but I let him tell it anyway. He tells me about how he loves his job and prays he can make a difference while working at his own practice.

  I share I’m an only child and my father passed away last year, and that my extended family live in Puerto Rico, and an aunt and uncle from LA. I want to share upbeat stories, but I don’t have a lot of them to tell. I tell him Aunt Rosie left me her beach house two blocks away and that’s what brought me to Florida. I tell him I love Sara and Brea and couldn’t have asked for two better friends. He nods to agree.

  He tells me Vincent is going to propose to Brea this weekend and about how nervous Vincent is about it. He shares how crazy Vincent is to think that, because Brea is crazy about him. I agree. She is so in love with him.

  It’s getting late and I want to be home before dark. Yeah, I’m still a prisoner. Damn Jim!

  “I’m sorry, but I need to get going.”

  “Let me walk you home.”

  “No, that’s fine. I just live two streets over. It’s not even dark yet.”

  "Please, my mother will never forgive me if I let a woman I am dating walk home in the near dark by herself.”

  “We’re dating?”

  He laughs at me and says, “Yes, we’re dating. Now they are my words, too.”

  He got me there. I did say that in a text to him once.

  “Ok, fine. Come on, Handsome, let’s make your mama proud.”

  Smiling, he takes my hand in his and we walk hand in hand to my cottage. We come to Josephine and Carl’s house. They are sitting outside on the porch swing, drinking lemonade. They wave us over. I tell Mason they are friends of the family and I can’t be rude. He gladly walks up to their porch with me swinging our arms as we go.

  I introduce Carl and Josephine to my friend Mason. They smile and tell me they’ll have some more fresh squeezed orange juice for me tomorrow. We say our good nights and Mason walks me to my door. I offer for him to come in, but he declines. I offer to drive him home, but he declines that, too. He kisses me on my cheek and tells me to lock up when I enter the house. I laugh at him, but I know that I would do that even before he told me to.

  I close the door behind me and lock both locks and secure the chain. I leave the porch light on for him, because it is so dark on this street — any bit of light helps. I fall back into the door thinking about him. The more time I spend with him, the more I like him. This can’t be good — or can it? I shower and head to bed.

  It’s Friday before I know it. Uncle Raúl calls and checks in on me on my way to work. I tell him I sent him and Aunt Maria a box of fresh fruit yesterday from the Morgans’ fruit trees. He tells me Aunt Rosie’s house sold and he will close on it next week. He asks if I want anything in it. They will auction off the contents in the house after we take what we want. Maria takes Aunt Rosie’s quilting materials and I ask for her sewing machine and some serving dishes. He says he’ll call again soon and if I need anything to let him know.

  I pull into work and the same black SUV is parked down the road. Looking around, I don’t see anyone. I walk into work and ask Sara and Brea have they noticed the black SUV that had been parked near the novelty store lately. Sara said she had seen a dark-haired man walking from the novelty shop and getting into the SUV the other day. Brea is too busy with the coffee and donuts to get involved in the conversation.

  At work, Brea talks excitedly about her upcoming romantic weekend with Vincent. She bought a new green bikini and some sexy lingerie for her weekend. Vincent has planned the whole weekend
and wouldn’t share much about it. She is gleaming as she tells the story.

  Sara tells us about the weekend she and Donovan have planned. Their half-marathon is this weekend. She is very excited and this is their first big run together. They have been training for months. It’s a run to raise money for breast cancer, a cause very close to her heart. Her grandmother died of breast cancer before she was even born. She and Donovan always try to run in marathons and half-marathons that raise money for a cause individually and as a couple. They both have been working diligently on getting donations.

  I finally tell them about my date with Mason. I haven’t said anything to them, although I have been dying to. Sometimes I just need to sort things out in my head before sharing things with other people. I am very excited but also scared. My past comes back to keep me hostage from time to time. I pray I will be able to overcome those smothering feelings of dread. I tell them that Mason and I text every night and he always tells me to lock up and to have sweet dreams.

  They are excited for me and for Mason.

  Brea heads home and packs for her trip. They are leaving tonight. Sara and I head to the mall. She wants to get a pair of running shoes, and I need a dress. She tells me how excited she is for Monday when Brea shows up to work engaged. I smile at her. I am also just as thrilled. It’s great when a plan comes together the way it was intended.

  I find a knee-length, black halter dress and Sara spots some red chunky jewelry that will go perfect with it. She finds a new pair of running shoes she has been looking for, and I find a pair of red five-inch heels. I like that Mason is so much taller than me. It allows me to wear the heels that I love and still be shorter than him. Sara and I have dinner and share a bottle of wine together at Bella Nonna’s Italian Bistro in downtown Sarasota. We sit outside and talk nonstop.

  A woman comes up to Sara, and they smile and hug awkwardly. They talk briefly about Mason and Donovan. Sara looks over at me like she isn’t sure she should introduce us. I smile politely and take a sip of my wine. Sara apologizes for her rudeness and introduces us.

  “Angel, this is Julia, and Julia, this is my friend Angel.” I notice she refers to me as a friend but Julia as Julia. She smiles and leans in to shake my hand. She seems nice. Sara makes an excuse that we must get going, but it was great to see her. I’m not buying the sincerity in her words. I have never seen Sara rude, but she was a little short with Julia. I tell Julia it was nice meeting her and she turns and leaves.