Chapter 7
Rollie woke up to an empty bed in the morning, not that he should have noticed that anyone had slept in it. When he came into the room the night before, Angie had been getting ready for bed in the bathroom and hadn't said one word to him when she finally came to bed. He hadn't been able to sleep much with her body lying beside him, oh yeah, he noticed she was there and so did the rest of his body.
He felt like absolute scum, he wasn't sure how he'd done it but he knew Angie was mad at him. He knew it had something to do with that blonde that had been trying to get his attention all night but that was completely innocent, he hadn't said more than a few words to her and even less time with her.
Rollie realized it had probably looked bad when she had followed him outside but he had brushed her, politely, off and gone to check over the property. He guessed that Angie didn't know that and thought he'd been off with that woman. But how could she think that! Especially when he was sleeping right next to the only person he wanted to be with for the rest of his life.
Whoa, wait a minute when had that happened? He thought back, remembering when they'd first met, through her dad, to the day that he had died and then the night he'd almost lost Angie when someone had frozen her, keeping her barely alive. Then that first kiss…that was something he'd never forget, as long as he lived. Every touch, smell, taste, was all so strong in his memory that he could imagine being there right now.
He was in love with her, he admitted to himself. He had been long before that kiss, he just hadn't known it.
But now he had no idea what to do about it, what exactly was he going to say and…what if she didn't feel the same? That would ruin their friendship forever, was he willing to risk it on a hunch?
Rollie quickly showered and dressed, all the while thinking about what he was about to risk. When he headed downstairs to the morning brunch, he spotted Angie sitting alone at a corner table. She was too involved with looking outside that she didn't see Rollie sit down across from her.
"Morning," his voice, surprisingly, caught. Could he actually be nervous?
Angie glanced at him, then turned her attention to back outside, "Morning," her voice was cold.
Rollie wasn't discouraged, "Did you sleep well?" He hadn't and he expected the same was for her.
"Fine." She lied, she hadn't slept hardly a wink with his body lying so close to hers. She took a deep breath, "We need to talk."
Without waiting for his answer she put her coffee cup down and walked up to their room. She then went into the bathroom, closed the door after him and turned on the shower.
Before she could even start, Rollie spoke, "Ang, whatever you think I have going on with that woman, you're completely wrong."
Angie almost laughed, "So you do have something going on with her."
Rollie stared at her a second, "What?"
This time Angie did laugh, "I ran into her this morning and after a sort of…confrontation, she told me that, hard as she tried, she, ah…couldn't get you." In fact she'd told her that he hadn't been able to take his eyes off Angie but she didn't need to tell him that. "And anyways I just wanted to apologize for the way I acted last night, it was unprofessional and it'll never happen again."
He wasn't sure what event she was talking about specifically but he wasn't about to let this go. "Angie…" she started walking away but he grabbed her hand. "Jesus Angie, don't walk away from me. Don't walk away from…this."
She backed up so her back was to the door, "Rollie, its okay I won't let this effect our friendship, we can go back to normal," she was trying hard not to cry.
Rollie took a quick step to her, pushing the door closed when she tried to get out, "Angie, I'm in love with you." He was close to yelling.
Angie spun around, staring wide-eyed at him, "Wh-what?"
Rollie had laid both his hands on the door, trapping her, he took one off, rubbing the knuckle across her cheek, he bent his head down so his lips were in front of hers. "I love you."
Damned up tears ran down her face, her hands reached up to frame his face, "Oh God…I love you too."
They stood staring at each other, smiling, until Rollie spoke again, "I know there's a chance that this might not work out and I would die without your friendship but I can't keep going on, pretending there's nothing going on between us." He rubbed away a tear off her face, "I want to make this work."
Angie straightened up, "I do too. You have no idea how long I've waited to hear you tell me that you love me."
Rollie laughed as he moved his lips softly to hers, "I wish it hadn't taken me so bloody long."
He kissed her softly, his tongue slowly parting her lips, as the kiss deepened, Angie's body melted into his, her hands moved from his face down his chest, running her hands over the muscles.
Rollie was completely lost in the kiss, craving more he lifted her so her legs were wrapped around his body and moved outside to the couch. He laid her down and straddled her left leg. He broke the kiss putting his finger to his lips, reminding her they were being listened to. He would have loved to move to the bed but for that stupid video camera.
He was about to explore her neck with his mouth when Angie said, "Rollie as much as I'd love to do this, we should probably get back downstairs to the other guests." She made her left fingers into a circle and with the other hand, made a fist and moved it circular, mimicking an old fashioned video camera.
Rollie nodded but didn't move off her, he smiled and kissed her neck, "You think they would miss us for a few more minutes?" His lips moved to suck gently on her earlobe.
Angie was about to object when he felt his hand sneak under her shirt, "Maybe a few more minutes," she breathed.
