Packed and Ready to Go Read Free Page B

ever act on.
    “ When will Crystal and Max get here? And where are your friends?” The edge was gone out of his voice now, as if he’d accepted his fate for the evening.
    “ Crystal and Max will be here soon. They wanted to say good-bye to their friends. This is a big day for them.” I patted the bar stool next to me. “Come, sit and taste this. It’s delicious.” I pushed my martini toward him.
    He sat and sipped the drink. “It’s good.” He hunched his shoulders, then placed his hand on my knee, making slow circles with his index finger as his hand inched up my thigh. That was him, distant one moment, loving and caring the next. All we needed to do was stretch the meaningful minutes into a lifetime. Could I gloss over the distance between us and look forward to some speck in the future filled with hope? Could I forget the loneliness of the past, cross my fingers and hope for something better? Did I want to?
    His hand continued to inch along my thigh. This was the reason nothing ever got resolved with us. We ignored our problems, afraid to peek behind the curtain because maybe there were no answers there.
    It had been weeks since we’d shared any intimacy. My fulfillment wouldn’t take place in the bar, but that didn’t stop the warm feeling from growing between my legs. My love for him always betrayed my common sense. My pulse sped up, roaring in my ears like a blender.
    “ Somebody must be feeling better now,” I whispered.
    “ I’m fine. Why’d you say that?” His hand felt warm against my flesh.
    “ You’ve been a bit of a grouch.”
    “ After this week my schedule should settle down.” The heavy sound of his voice stroked my already warm body.
    “ Tonight maybe we can finish—” Before I could complete my sentence, Carla and Javier walked into the bar. Carla’s flaming red hair fell to her shoulders. Every eye in the bar turned to take in her sexy black halter dress.
    “ Hi, girl.” She kissed my cheek. Carla could have been a model. Her flawless caramel complexion made her the most beautiful woman I knew. We had been friends since college.
    I craned back on the stool to find Javier. His white shirt and khaki pants made him nearly invisible in the muted colors of the bar. But Mr. Personality’s hazel eyes danced with mischief as he leaned in and embraced me.
    “ Hey beautiful,” Javier said to me.
    “ Get outta here.” I swatted at his chest, but couldn’t help feeling embarrassed.
    “ Did you cry?” Carla asked.
    “ Here we go.” Walter slid off the bar stool and tried to recede to the far corner of the room. Before he reached the end of the bar, Javier grabbed his hand and shook it. I hoped he filled Walter’s ears with whatever had made his smile so bubbly today. Then I turned back to Carla.
    “ No. I haven’t cried yet, but the night is young.”
    “ Do whatever you feel you need to do. It’s okay, girl, it’s even expected.” She climbed on the stool vacated by Walter. “So what’s up with him? He didn’t even speak to me.” She waved at the bartender and ordered a cosmopolitan.
    “ Who knows what’s up with him? It changes from day to day. Today he’s complaining about how much everything costs.” I took a sip of my drink. “He’s complaining about expenses, and yet last night he came home in a brand new, top of the line Lexus. We used to talk about large purchases. Now we don’t discuss anything.”
    Carla glanced over her shoulder at Walter. “Wow. I guess you don’t approve of the car? And, from the grim expression on his face, I take it he’s still angry over your reaction.”
    “ You guessed right.” I drained my glass and then ordered another.
    “ Do you want to talk about it before you get drunk?” Carla asked.
    “ Nope. I’d rather get drunk.”
    “ I aim to please.” She raised her glass and took a gulp. “What time is Ursula coming?”
    “ She should be here soon. You know we can’t have a celebration without both of Crystal’s