Page 52 of The High Price Of Loneliness

What if I just told Edward that I did the homework assignment, which was nice?she thought.How would he really know?She lay in the bubble bath, trying to figure out ways around the rest of the homework. Then, finally, she decided to think about something else, like the trip. For that, she was genuinely excited.

When Angelica exited the bathtub, with lavender bubbles gurgling down the drain, she toweled off slowly and took her time. She loved cocoa butter, which Edward knew, and filled her cupped palm with several pumps of the butter from the bottle on her bathroom counter and, rubbing both palms together, got prepared to coat her legs first. Again, she took her time and did every part of her except her back which was hard to reach. Afterward, she slipped into her pink robe. She brushed her teeth and did everything to get ready for bed, except for the final homework assignment.

She got her comfortable chair and positioned it just in front of her full-length mirror as Edward had requested and thought about it for one more moment before sitting down. Again, Angelica looked at herself in the mirror. But this time, she looked at herself, not as if she were brushing her hair or fixing her makeup. She really looked. She looked into her own eyes for a good full minute. It was a different feeling; almost odd, really looking herself in the eyes.

She thought about what Gray had asked her to do and said out loud to her reflection, “Edward wanted me to tell you that you are amazing. You are beautiful and exciting to your man. You are kind. You are a good person. You take care of everyone at work. They count on you, and you are always there for them.” Her voice drifting into the night, she added, “You are a good friend to others. And, you are worthy.”

CHAPTER TWENTY

Wheels Up

Angelica woke up sleeping next to her fully packed but still open suitcase. Her sleepy eyes barely opened to the sight of the bag. She smiled, remembering what day it was. Travel day! Her eyes searched for the time on the digital clock by her bed, which told her it was only half past five in the morning.Oh, good. I can sleep in a bit longer, she thought as she wrapped around her pillow, imagining it was Edward snuggled next to her in their hotel bed over the weekend just ahead. The smile grew bigger with her eyes wide shut, but now her mind was racing with the idea of pulling him closer and wrapping around his muscular frame and having him to herself for three whole days.Oh my!

Angelica gave up. There was no going back to sleep now with her adrenaline starting her mind to race already. She picked up her cell phone to look at her screen and discovered one text from Edward, from the night before, asking how her homework assignment had gone and then saying,Sweet dreams. After that, she didn’t even remember going to sleep. After those few glasses of wine and the hot bubble bath, she had been very relaxed, but then the Mirror Exercise had done her in. She did the full fifteen minutes in front of the mirror as Edward had asked, crying several times. Afterward, she crawled into bed and was out like a light switch had gone off.

She was a delicate soul that rarely heard those words, the ones that tell you how great you really are except maybe her grandmother on their talks, just the two of them, when she was little. She was her grandmother’s favorite, and they had been very close. She still missed her.

Knowing he was always up early, she texted Edward,Good morning! I’m up already making coffee. She was hoping to surprise him that she was up early and that he might be proud of her for being an early riser like him.

Angelica’s phone buzzed with his reply.Good morning, Kitten. You’re an early bird this morning!She smiled at every little acknowledgment she received from Edward. They were her oxygen. He continued,Are you looking forward to flying off to D.C. this evening for our trip?

Was this the understatement of the year, or what? Her coffee was brewing as she replied, smiling, just giddy with excitement on pure adrenaline this early with no caffeine helping yet.I simply cannot wait to spend time with you!She sent her message while beaming. She only wished she had a magic time machine, and it could already be this afternoon. How she wanted it to already be time to go to the airport and be transported into another world with Edward.

He held her captive with his final note as he added,I’m off to the office to wrap up some important work before we go. But I’m already counting the hours until we fly away together.

Angelica’s biggest smile peeked out as she read his last line. She finally took her second sip of coffee and thought instantly,Counting down the hours?I will be counting the minutes!Time to shower and get to the office early. She could get a head start and make her day zip on by!

Try as she might to get Thursday to fly by, it simply would not. She watched the clock too often and time seemed to stand still. But finally, as it always does, four-thirty in the afternoon arrived, and Angelica left the office as if shot out of a cannon. The Sarasota-Bradenton airport was only five miles from her downtown office, but it would not get any closer soon. Her car wouldn’t start. She turned the key for the fifth time. “Oh no! Of all days for this to happen.” She looked at her watch and wondered if she should call Edward or just call an Uber. She hated to bother him, especially since this was a bit embarrassing to her for some reason. So, her passion-red Nissan Z just sat there dark and depressed in her office parking lot.

She remembered Edward’s words to her when he said, “Whenever there is a problem, come directly to me without delay with total transparency.” So, she gathered up her courage and gave him her report via text,I’ve just left the office, but my car won’t start. Should I call an Uber? I don’t want to be late!She sighed as she pressed the send button. Finally, the problem was off her plate. Now it was shared by the two of them. She waited in suspense for his text reply, which did not come.

Instead, her phone rang. Seeing it was Edward, she tentatively answered, “Hello.”

Gray was in a booming mood and instantly changed her state with his playful reply. “Hello, ma’am. I understand you just called for the Edward Gray Uber service. We happen to be just leaving the parking garage of my building downtown, only a few short blocks from you. We can be there to pick you up in about two minutes if that might be helpful?” he said with an energetic, upbeat tone.

A relieved Angelica laughed out loud at his fun bit of comedy at the situation and said, “Why, yes, that would be absolutely lovely!” She was thankful and smiling at his playful response and added, “I will see you soon!” She didn’t have long to wait.

She recognized the same black Cadillac Escalade and driver from the black-tie event in Tampa pulling into the parking lot just moments after their call. It pulled right up next to her vehicle, and Edward and his driver exited to help her aboard. Waving to their driver, Angelica said, “Hello again, Taylor.”

Greeting her more formally, Taylor said, “Good afternoon, Ms. Hart.” He reached into her open trunk to grab and load her bags into the SUV.

Edward gave her a quick but firm hug, almost lifting her off the ground, and a quick kiss before opening her door for her. “Ready to go see what Washington, D.C., is up to?” he said nonchalantly, his smile revealing his shared excitement.

Angelica managed a quick “I am!” before her door closed. Edward circled around the SUV to join her on his side.

The driver closed the automatic hatch and slid into the driver seat and said, “On our way.”

Angelica felt relieved and excited that her momentary car issue had not become a major calamity. “Thank you both for rescuing a damsel in distress. I don’t know what I would have done without you two gallant gentlemen coming to pick me up.”

Gray said, “A problem shared is half the challenge, as you can now quickly see.” He smiled, acknowledging that she had trusted him with her predicament.

Taylor followed Gray’s lead and said, “Never a bother at all, Ms. Hart. Happy to pick you up. Do you think it might be a dead battery or something else?”

She replied with a slight shrug and said, “I have no idea, actually. It was just completely dead this afternoon.”

Gray nodded and offered, “If you don’t mind leaving your keys with Taylor, he can have it looked at tomorrow while we are away and hopefully fixed good as new when we return.”

Angelica was bashful to accept the offer for help with her car and said, “Oh, I don’t want to impose. Besides, you already went out of your way to pick me up this afternoon.”

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