Page 14 of Safer Together
2 - He likes me that much that he is acting jealous of James and feels as though he needs to stake a claim
“Angie, you never told me you were dating one of New York’s most eligible bachelors.”
Elliot’s hand at my waist clenches into a fist,
“Well, James, that’s because, technically, Elliot isn’t a bachelor anymore, are you honey?” I cover Elliot’s hand with my own, willing it to relax, I don’t want him to have any reason to be jealous. Looking up towards his beautiful face, I nuzzle into his neck and give him a kiss. I feel Elliot’s hand relax out of his clenched position, running his hand along my lower back and making its way up to my shoulders.
“I hate those write ups in the magazines, I’m certainly not one of the most eligible, there are a lot of guys in my city whose bank accounts are of a similar size, and others who earn a lot more than I do” he takes a pull from his bottle of beer. “Most of them aren’t lucky enough to meet their girl while searching for a new project. That’s for sure.”
I can tell that James is feeling uncomfortable, knowing that I was seeing someone is completely different from actually seeing me with someone, especially when realizing that person you are trying to compete with is on a completely different level as you. Not that I see it that way, but most men do, constantly competing with each other. It’s like they each want to better each other for some reason, show the other who is more of a man.
And in my opinion, I think that it is built into them from a young age. Whether they are competing for a toy, competing on the field while playing a sport, or in the employment world, they constantly size each other up.
Now I’m not saying we women don’t do that; I have definitely done it a time or two, comparing myself to the pretty, thin girls back in high school. But men seem to have this air about them, constantly trying to better the other one.
Not wanting James to feel as though he needs to compete, I give him a compliment that not even Elliot can judge. “James is an incredible real estate agent. He was working at the firm when I first joined, so I have known him for close to three years now, and we have been firm friends from the very beginning.”
James allows a small smile to spread across his face. Good, he will take this victory.
“It’s nice to know that Angela has some great friends here. I look forward to getting to know you all better.”
“We would love that, wouldn’t we Ben?” Jenny gives Ben a slight elbow.
“Absolutely, we can grab a couple of beers and have a barbeque at our place.”
Jenny nods up and down so quickly I’m worried her head might just fall off. “Why don’t you come over tomorrow?” Just before I can let them know that we won’t be able to, Elliot’s voice comes from beside me.
“That would be lovely Jenny, unfortunately Angela and I won’t be in town tomorrow.”
Jenny’s mouth actually falls open.
“Where are you guys going?” James steps in, desperately wanting to know more.
“I’m flying back to New York with Elliot tomorrow. We are spending Christmas together, with his whole family, actually,” I finish.
Elliot squeezes my shoulder, “Also I am repaying the favor and taking Angie to my own work Christmas party tomorrow night.”
Jenny closes her mouth and gives me a wink. “Wow, meeting the folks, hey?”
James looks at me, I can see hurt behind his eyes, I want to make it go away, one of the closest people to me is hurting, and it’s all my fault.
Elliot answers, “Actually Angie met them a couple of weeks ago. She will, however, be meeting my sister, her husband and two kiddos, though.”
Thanks Elliot, rub that salt into the wound a little bit more. I know that’s not what he is setting out to do, but he might as well be stepping on James’s heart.
And then, in that moment I finally get it, I know why he is acting this way. He is making sure that everyone around us knows exactly how serious this is getting between us, leaving no doubt whatsoever how things are between us.
“Is that why you went to New York a few weeks ago? I thought you were going back to see your family.”
Darn you James Orchard, darn you to hell, this is a piece of information that I haven’t told Elliot as yet. I have avoided talking about my family as much as possible. And he already knows that I was visiting a friend not my family. It is as though he has dropped this information bomb on purpose.
“Nope, visiting with me instead. Weren’t you, baby?”
I turn to face him and can see that the smile on his face is false. “I sure was, baby” I lean up and plant a kiss on his lips, hoping that this will satisfy him for now. When I pull away his smile is no longer there, instead a look that tells me that when we leave tonight, he wants answers, answers I’m not ready to give.
“Okay guys, dinner’s ready, why don’t you all take your seats,” Sandra calls out from somewhere across the room. Seeing several of her employees in a huddle, Sandra makes her way over to us. “Dinner’s about to be served. Ah, hello there. I’m Sandra. Owner of Nashville Realty. And just who might you be?”
Once again, my boyfriend has another woman drooling over him, this time the jealousy inside of me threatens to boil over, ready to stake my claim. “Sandra, this is…”, before I’m cut off.
