Chapter 55: Reevaluation (Part 2)

Welcome back, all. If you've made it this far, you've got a pretty strong stomach. And trust me, you're gonna need it for today's installment.

Chapter 55: Reevaluation (Part 2)

“You are?”

“Jeff Hardy.”

“Yeah, I’ve heard of you. You and your brother wrestle in WWF.”

“That’s me.”

“You guys are good.” [so you’ve heard of them, know that they’re good, but can’t recognize him? Oookay.]

“You have incredible lips, Angelica Kerris.” [oh barf.]

She tilted her head to one side and gave him a lopsided grin. [tm Joey Potter, I think. I lurved me some Dawson’s Creek back in the day. And by “back in the day” I mean I might have it on in the background as I type this.] “You’re quit the charmer, aren’t you?”

He pushed the bar napkin back towards her. “Wouldn’t you like to find out for sure?”

“And so full of yourself.” But she pulled the napkin towards her and lifted the pen. Before she could put a single digit on the paper, however, she became aware of a figure hovering over her.

“This creep bothering you, Angel?”

She looked up to see Dustin giving dirty glances to Jeff. Jeff stood up and glared back. [what is Dustin doing there? Aren’t they in Minnesota?]

“He’s fine, Dustin. I’m fine.”

“Stay away from him, Angel. He’s trouble.”

“Why don’t you back off and mind your own business, cowboy?” Jeff suggested, voice low and stern.

“Why don’t you,” Dustin began, but Angel gently pushed him aside.

“I said I’m fine, Dustin. We were just leaving.”

“You’re leaving with him?”

“Yes. Goodnight. Go home to your wife. I can take care of myself.”

“Angel,” Dustin half-whispered, “I know this guy. He’s not the kind of person you want to spend your time with. Where’s Chris?”

“I appreciate you looking out for me Dustin, but don’t worry about me … and don’t even breathe that man’s name to me ever again.” She turned to Jeff. “So let’s go.”

Jeff left a twenty on the bar and put his arm around Angel, leading her out of the bar. Dustin shook his head as he watched them leave.

The night was cool and foggy, but the air smelled somewhat sweet. They walked in silence for a few blocks before Jeff spoke.

“So you have some overprotective friends.”

“And you have a crappy reputation.”

“The two obviously don’t mix.”

“I guess not.”

“So are you going to give me your phone number or what?”

“Maybe.”

“Am I going to have to thrash you at tic tac toe again?”

“Maybe.”

“Where are we going?”

“You just walked me home,” she said, stopping in front of her hotel. [huh?!?]

“How about that?”

“Can you find your way back?”

“You’re not going to invite me in?” he asked with a playful smile.

“I’m not that kind of girl.”

“How should I know what kind of girl you are?”

“That’s right,” Angel mused aloud. “You don’t have any clue about who I am or how I act or what kinds of things I do or anything at all.”

“That could change.”

“Walk me to my room,” she said.

They made their way through the hotel in utterly unawkward silence. As they walked, Angel marveled at what she was doing – letting a total stranger—one with an apparently dangerous reputation—take her back to her room. What was she thinking?

As they got to her door, she turned to him. She knew what she was thinking then – he was gorgeous. She looked up at him.

“So do I get your phone number now?” he asked.

She responded by pulling him down towards her and kissing him. Taken somewhat off guard, Jeff quickly responded, placing one hand on her waist and the other on her face. Neither of them seemed willing to pull away. She could not remember the last time she had been kissed with such passion. Her knees felt watery. She gripped his arms to keep her balance. [what, no marveling at how muscular his arms are?]

When the kiss finally ended, they parted and looked at each other almost quizzically.

“I could tell,” he said after a little while.

“Tell what?”

“By looking at your lips. That you’d kiss like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like … there would be no words to describe it, only somehow only better than I imagined.” [uggggggggggggggggggggggggggggggg]

“Give me a break,” she said, grinning. “You probably say that to every girl you pick up at a bar.”

“Nah. Some of them. But I rarely mean it. And I never mean it this much – ever. Scout’s honor.”

“So what is it—the way they’re shaped?” [yes, Angel. The way they’re shaped. And the fact that they’re attached to you, of course, because you are the living embodiment of scrumtrulescence.]

He lifted her chin and stared intently at her lips. “Partially—have you noticed how full your lower lip is?”

Before she could say “No,” he kissed her again softly. She almost wanted to invite him in. Almost.

“So can I get your number?”

“I suppose.” She grabbed a pen from her purse and wrote her number on a scrap of paper.

“I don’t date wrestlers,” she reminded him.

“Who’s dating? We’re just hanging out.”

“That’s fine then.”

“I’ll call you sometime, Angelica.”

“Angel.”

“If you like. It was nice meeting you, Jeff.”

“You too. Sleep well.”

“Be safe.”

He kissed her forehead. Even that small act sent tiny shivers down Angel’s spine. She smiled at him and stepped into her hotel room.


NOTES:

1) Good golly, I loathe Angel. That is all.

Coming up next ...

Chris and Justina kind of sort stuff out while Dustin inserts himself into a chapter for no reason. Tune in next time for ...

Chapter 56: The Other Half