Page 24 of Where There's Smoke…
“No, we wouldn’t have been good together because there’s no way I would’ve ever been able to love you, and I would’ve resented our child. I would’ve been depressed and miserable, Nate,” she replied calmly, but her voice was shaking as a tear slipped down her cheek. “I couldn’t live like that, and I didn’t want an innocent child to suffer by having a mom who didn’t care. If you cared about me in the slightest, you’d understand that.”
The room goes quiet as her words fall around us. I could see the pain in her eyes as she stared at Nate. I could tell that she trusted him, but was heartbroken by everything that had gone on between them. He looked saddened as the realization suddenly started to sink in. He dropped to his knees and began to sob, apologizing over and over to her. I scratched the back of my neck, uncomfortable.
I wanted to tell him to get the hell up, but I held my tongue.
“I’m sorry, Angel,” he says, looking up at her. “I just wanted to be the man for you, but I see now how selfish that was. Deep down, I knew you and I would never be, but I held out hope. When you got pregnant, I thought it was a sign, and at first, I couldn’t understand how you couldn’t see it. So, when you went through with terminating the pregnancy, I left because my heart hurt too much.” He wipes his eyes before standing. He sighs. “When Orion invited me, I didn’t know that you would be here, but when I saw you, it was like all those emotions came rushing back. I…I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”
“I don’t mean to get all in y’all’s business or anything, so please spare me the extreme details,” Chris interjects. “How the fuck did y’all end up sleeping together anyway?”
“Itwasconsensual, wasn’t it?” Orion asks, eyebrow raised, as he looks between Angel and Nate.
“Yes, it was,” Angel nods. “It was a couple of months before I graduated. I, uh, I’d never…slept with anyone before, but I wanted to at least once. I’d been struggling with my sexuality for a while by then, and I guess a part of me felt as if I was running behind on some sort of timeline since I’d never dated anyone up until that point either. So, I asked him if he could be my first. It’s stupid, I know, but I knew I could trust him. We wore protection…but…”
“It’s okay, Sweets. I got you,” I assure her as tears fall from her eyes. She was visibly overwhelmed by everything that had unfolded, and all she could do was sob in my arms. She was trembling, the reality of the situation seeming to hit her all at once. I hated seeing her like this, and all I wanted to do was take her somewhere away from it all.
So, I did.
I began to gently pull her back outside and towards the front yard. When we make it to my truck, I help her in and get her buckled up before heading to the other side to do the same. It sucked that we had to leave early, but I had to put her peace of mind first.
We drove around for a while in silence before she eventually fell asleep. She looked peaceful, and I knew then that she needed a break from everything. So, I decided now would be the perfect time to give her that. I drove over to her apartment and let the bakery workers know they could close early today. I also let them know that Angel would be off for the rest of the week.
I spent about ten minutes talking with the head manager, and she assured me that everything would be taken care of in Angel’s absence, agreeing that she, in fact, did need a break. I thanked her and left her to clean up and lock up the bakery as I headed upstairs to pack a bag for Angel. I grabbed everything I thought she’d need for a week because we weren’t returning until next Sunday. We’d only be about two hours away at my granddad’s cabin, but still.
Oh, and I made sure to grab her allergy medicine as well.
Once that was all done, I locked up and returned to the truck just as she was waking up. I knew she had a lot of questions, but I told her I would answer them all once we got to our destination. Surprisingly, she didn’t fight me on it. Instead, she settled back into her seat and began to read a book on her Kindle while I drove.
I had to stop by the fire station and put in my vacation time, which surprised my uncle and the others since I rarely used it. They were happy to see me finally take a day off and assured me everything would be fine while I was gone. My uncle even came out to officially meet Angel, and he couldn’t stop smiling once I told him we’d be up at the cabin for a few days.
“Well, have fun for me too,” he joked, pulling me in for a hug. “Text me when y’all make it.”
“Will do, Unc,” I assured him with a nod and a smile before climbing back into the truck.
We were finally headed toward our destination, and I called Raven to let her know where we were going, and she assured me that she’d take care of Nori while I was gone. I thanked her and then called Orion to update him on where I was taking his sister. He told me to take care of her and to be safe. I told him that I would.
“You ready to spend the week with me, baby?” I ask, quickly glancing over at her with a smile before turning back to the road. I feel her take my free hand in hers, and I squeeze lightly.
“I’m kind of nervous, but I need to leave this town now, and I know I’ll be safe with you,” she tells me.
“Always,” I nod, taking the entrance to the freeway toward the cabin I spent so much time in growing up.
9
Where There’s Fish...
AngelSavoie-June25th, 2025 - A Few Days Later.
“I still can’t believe I went along with you bringing me up here to stay in the middle of the woods for a week,” I laughed as Phoenix helped me into a pair of boots. “And you’re taking me fishing knowing my ass can’t swim. If I fall in, you better save me.”
“You know I got you, Sweets,” she chuckled before smiling at me. “And I told you the water isn’t that deep where we’re taking the boat. Besides, you will be wearing a life jacket.”
“I know. I know,” I mumble as she helps me stand. “I can feel myself breaking out already.”
“You’re so damn dramatic,” she shakes her head. She hands me one of my allergy pills, and I take it before looking at her again. “We’ve been here for three days now and all we’ve done is fuck and eat snacks.”
“And what’s wrong with that?” I question with a devious smile. She pulls me into her arms and kisses me lightly on the forehead. Her hands cup my face, and her thumbs gently rub my cheeks.
“Nothing at all, Angel baby,” she tells me. “But we gotta go out and enjoy the serenity of the lake at least once. Plus, I really wanna share one of my hobbies with you. Please?”
