A/N: Sorry about the wait between chapters. Thanks for reviewing. This chapter gets a little dark, but I've got some comic relief in the middle.
Disclaimer: I own nothing. And the Cal's parting shot goes to "Top Gun." Because it just worked.
Sha la la, sha la la lo li
The end is growing near
We're treading water now
And holding back our tears
And the day is rising
We're sinking sha la la lo li
"I look like an idiot," Kevin mumbled as Bella tied his bow tie.
"You do not," she said. "You look dashing." He looked at her. "I can't believe that you can't tie this thing."
"Maybe I just wanted your hands all over me," he said and winked. She laughed and shook her head. "Now that you and Gordon are official again, I'm going to have to give up on my evil plan to get you into my bed while we're in DC."
"God, I was really looking forward to that," she shook her head. He smiled. She hugged him and kissed him on the cheek. "You're sweet to do this for her, you know."
"I love her," he shrugged. "But I'm just going to have to get over it."
"You know, Anne's not always the most, well," Bella bit her bottom lip, "I guess consistent is the right word. If you only knew how many times she swore to never talk to me again growing up."
"Maybe if I'd gone with you that night," he shook his head. Bella smiled softly. Since becoming actual friends after her relationship with Gordon they'd teased each other about the night when they'd kissed, right after he broke up with Connie Vanderbilt, but she'd never noticed the look of sadness in his eyes before, the longing. She was sure it had to be that he was just wishing away the situation with Anne. He didn't actually want her. Did he? She swallowed and looked up at him as he put his arms around her waist. "I think that maybe I could have been in love with you," he whispered. "I think that maybe," he choked.
"Oh Kevin," she sighed. "You know we couldn't, not now!" He brushed her hair out of her face. "Couldn't you have decided that you could love me, oh say, two months ago? Before I knew Gordon still loved me?"
"Yeah," he said. "But South Bend is a long way from Washington." She looked at him.
"Not far enough," she said. "And even if," she swallowed and stopped and looked into his eyes, he looked dazed. "Oh God," she pushed away. "You're drunk!" He smirked.
"In vino veritas," he whispered.
"Drink a little more after the ceremony and forget we had this conversation," she said, coming just short of slapping him across the face. "I won't tell Gordon any of it." She turned on her heel and walked away her nose in the air.
"She won't tell Gordon," he said to himself, "but what about," he swallowed, "Bella," he called after her, "don't tell Anne either!"
"Don't tell Anne what?" Cal walked over to him, holding Carmen Mendoza's hand. Carmen was looking sheepishly at the floor, or a corner, anywhere but at Kevin. He felt kind of bad about how he'd treated her.
"Uh, that I got her a present," Kevin said. It wasn't a lie, he had gotten Anne a present. Cal raised an eyebrow. He wasn't sure he believed him. "It's a surprise OK?"
"Uh, OK," Cal shrugged. "The other escort guys are gathering over there."
"Super," Kevin walked away. Carmen watched him.
"Did you know he was Hispanic?" Carmen said once he was out of earshot. Cal looked at her and laughed.
"Yeah," he nodded. "His mom's Puerto Rican. Why?"
"I just," she said softly, "I heard him talking to his Aubela on the phone," she said. "In Spanish, I was surprised. I thought he was Italian or Greek or something."
"Nah," Cal said, still a laugh in his voice, "Fulton's Irish, like us. It's one of those destiny things with him and my mom, or at least that's what my dad always says." Carmen nodded. "Carm, what's going on? Are you going to break my heart and steal my sister's boyfriend so that you can have beautiful dark skinned babies with Kevin?"
"No," she said softly. "It's not like that." He nodded. "I just get lonely sometimes." He looked at her.
"You have friends," he said indignantly, "and me. It's not enough?"
"No!" She said. "Not like that. I mean, you saw at Christmas what it's like for me at home, with all my cousins, and uncles, and everyone else in the neighborhood." He nodded. "And then up here it's just like me and a bunch of white kids. So, when I found out that there was someone else around who shares my culture, I got kind of excited is all, but then he got all weird about it."
"I guess, I didn't think of that," he said. "But does he really share your culture? I mean, he's half Puerto Rican from Boston and you're Cuban from Miami. It's different right?"
"That isn't the point," she sighed and marched away. Cal sighed.
"I need a beer to put out these flames," he said and walked over to the bar.
Bella sat in an arm chair in a study at the club with her arms crossed, just stewing and shaking her head. Exhaling every once in a while. The mahogany door slid open and she sunk into the chair. She knew she wasn't technically supposed to be in here, it was one of those ancient traditional boys only kind of rooms. She wasn't all that surprised when the two men who walked in were her father, grandfather, uncles and Eddie's father Biff.
"Bella," Tom Riley said. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, I um," she said. "Just needed a minute," she stood up. "Excuse me," she walked out.
"Honestly," Tom shook his head, "Ricky, she gets more like Kelly every day."
"Don't I know it," Rick sighed and shook his head. "Saw Eddie out there. You don't think," he said hopefully.
"They're not getting back together," Biff said despondent. "Eddie's made that clear. The Faber girl's not awful though. She's very friendly."
"Cal said she's a pot dealer," Steve said, pouring himself a glass of scotch.
"Thank you for that," Biff nodded.
"It worked out for Cassie and Ricky," Jimmy nodded, joining Steve.
"Cassie was never a dealer," Rick said. Tom was staring at them. "She wasn't."
"She did deal to us," Scooter said, "although, she didn't so much deal as hook us up."
"You three are incredibly helpful," Rick shook his head. "Couldn't the girls have married guys who didn't enjoy seeing me squirm?"
"Aw," Jimmy said, "what would have been the fun in that for me?"
"Bella," Eddie said seeing her walk out, "were you just in the scotch and cigars room?"
"Yes," she said. "I just sort of," she sighed. "Forget it, I really can't see you of all people right now." She walked past him.
"Whoa," he grabbed her wrist, "me of all people?" She looked at him and nodded. "Alright, Annabelle Leigh, spill. What's wrong?"
"It's nothing," she said firmly. He stared her down, not letting go, "Eddie, let go, now," she said, her nostrils flaring.
"Not a chance," he said and pulled her close. "So tell me," he whispered, "Bella, baby, it's me, you're not getting away without telling me what the hell is going on." She swallowed, the way he was holding her wasn't romantic at all. It was strong, he was holding her up, same as he always had.
"Kevin sort of hit on me," she mumbled. That made him let go.
"That is ten shades of I didn't need to know!" He stepped backwards. "Does he know, I mean, about you and Conway?"
"Forget about that!" She said. "I mean, he does, but even if he didn't, he's Anne's boyfriend!"
"Well, yeah, but that's never stopped you before," he rolled his eyes, "I mean, hello!" He pointed to himself.
"OK, why am I still the bad guy for that?" She said. "Elisa stole you from me." He looked at her. "She did. Anyway, he's drunk, it's fine, I have work to do."
"He's drunk?" Eddie said. She nodded. "Why?"
"Oh God, Anne probably is too," she rolled her eyes, "she only did this to shut my grandpa up, and he only did it because he thought it might prolong their relationship a little. Like you went through mine sober?"
"The whole time," he said softly. She swallowed and looked at him. "I mean, until the champagne back at your grandparents." She blushed. "But that's because it was important to you."
"We were kind of amazing weren't we?" She said softly.
"Until the end, yeah," he said. "Bella, we've never really talked about Christmas."
"Eddie, it's kind of not a good time," she said. He smiled. "We will, I promise, once I figure out what's going on with Gordon, exactly."
"OK," he nodded. "Save a dance for me, alright?" She kissed him on the cheek.
"There will always be a dance for you," she said softly and walked away. He sucked his breath in and followed her into the ballroom, he glared at Kevin Reed, trying to hold in the urge to punch him in the face.
Elisa took a deep breath as Jimmy quietly took her arm.
"I don't understand why I'm first," she mumbled. "Shouldn't it be like, alphabetical?"
"You're a Riley," Jimmy said simply. She smiled. "Third generation trumps everything else."
"Trina is third generation too," she said, glancing behind her and seeing her cousin.
"Yes," he smiled. "But Trina's not a Riley." Elisa smiled. "I'm proud of you."
"Elisa Colleen Riley," a voice called out, "daughter of James and Julia Riley, escorted by Hunter Nichols, of New York City." Elisa curtsied deeply and glanced up. He beamed at her as she stood up and she smiled back, placing her hand on his arm.
"You look beautiful," he said.
"Let's just get through tonight," she said serenely. He looked at her. Get through? That didn't sound like Elisa at all. Actually it sounded a little bit likeā¦he turned around and noticed Julie Riley's cool blue eyes staring him down. He swallowed.
Keep the reviews coming! I appreciate it.
