This chapter is taking place in Mimi's loft. Mkay? Mkay.
I own nothing. The Almighty Larson owns it all.
"And then he just left," I say to Mimi, finishing my story about Collins.
"He didn't tell you where he was going?" Mimi asks.
"No. Mimi, do you think he's cheating on me?"
"NO! He'd never do that!"
"How do you know?"
"I . . . I don't."
"Exactly. And I left out the fact that he said, in a hushed tone, 'Angel can't find out about this.'" Mimi's eyes widen.
"'Angel can't find out about this?'" she repeats.
"In a hushed tone," I remind her.
"Nobody cheats on my girl and lives to tell the tale!"
"I thought you said he'd never cheat on me."
"That was before I knew he was speaking in hushed tones!" I sit down on the couch and bury my face in a pillow.
"What am I gonna do Mimi?" I mumble into the pillow.
"I don't know, but I'm sure the two of us can come up with some–" Mimi stops herself in mid-sentence and I take the pillow off my face.
"What's wrong?" I ask.
"Where'd he say he was going?"
"To a meeting for work. Why?"
"Do I work on Sunday?"
Odd question, but I guess I should answer it. "No."
"Does Joanne work on Sunday?"
Another odd question. "Sometimes."
"But a majority of the time, no, right?"
"Right."
"Has Collins ever worked on Sunday?"
She's confusing me! "What the hell are you getting at?"
"Nobody you know works on Sunday. Not even Collins."
"I'm with you so far."
"So if practically nobody works on Sunday, why the hell would Collins be working today?" Today is Sunday, isn't it? Then that means . . . HE LIED TO ME!
Before I can say anything, Roger comes into the loft.
"Hey, Angel, I thought you were at your place," he says.
"Who told you that?" I ask.
"Collins."
"Where is he!?"
"He's . . . uh . . . at the park." I run out the door and down every single flight of stairs. I start to run toward the park before I hear Mimi's voice.
"ANGEL! WAIT UP!" she yells. I let her catch up to me. "Jesus! You run fast in those things!" I roll my eyes and we both head to the park.
After walking around for 10 minutes, we finally see Collins sitting on a bench reading a book.
"Look at that," Mimi says. "He's just reading. Maybe all he wanted was some time alone."
"You're right. I should really trust him more," I say. Suddenly, a girl with long blonde hair taps Collins on the shoulder causing him to look up from his book, smile, put the book next to him, stand up, and hug the girl as she kisses him on the cheek and he does the same. "I take back everything I just said."
"Who the hell is that?" Mimi asks.
"I don't know. Let's get closer." We, inconspicuously, get behind the bench Collins was sitting on and hide in the bushes.
"How'd you get reservations for Bouley?" we hear Collins ask.
"I called some people and pulled some strings," the girl tells him. "I just thought dinner at Bouley would be really romantic."
"Do you have any idea how high those prices are?"
"I'll take care of everything."
"Even though I've told you already, you're amazing."
"And you're incredibly handsome." Collins and his newfound friend share a laugh. "Are you sure Angel doesn't know about this?"
"One-hundred percent positive."
"Good. You're wearing a tux, right?"
"I was plannin' to, but I don't have one."
"That's okay. I'll come over later and we can talk about getting you a rented one."
"Thanks. I don't know what I'd do without you." That's all I hear before I run out of the park. I stop about three blocks away, fall to my knees, and start to cry. Minutes later I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"Angel? You okay?" Mimi asks, helping me up. I shake my head and she hugs me.
"He doesn't love me anymore," I sob.
"Don't say that."
"But it's true. Mimi, this can't happen to me again."
"Just calm down." I break the hug and wipe my eyes.
"This is not gonna happen again. I'm gonna make sure it doesn't."
"What're you gonna do?"
"I'm gonna make him tell me the truth so we can work this out. Mimi, I'm gonna need your handcuffs, a bat, and Benny's number."
Second chapter done! YAY! Bouley is a real restaurant.
