A/N: I know I said, I'll finish Grounded before I start on the other stories, but turns out I hit a wall with Grounded. So, in order to take my mind of things, I redirected my muse. Not sure it is that easy, but...well LOL
As if I had been stung by something, I jumped to my feet and left the comfort of Carlos' arms and lap.
"Shit," I cursed, not caring how that sounded or even thinking about much.
"Something I should know about?" Carlos asked, sounding amused next to me. He still sat in the chair, relaxed and looking like he wanted to get back to what had been going on the past few moments. Not that I really blamed him, I wanted that definitely, too, but I also knew what might be about to be stowed upon us.
"I… um… funny story," I started, looking for my purse, before remembering I left it in the foyer when I entered Carlos' house. Walking into the house, the knocking only increased to a point that seemed almost scary and must have given the same impression to Carlos since he was hot on my heels.
I located my purse, found the phone and confirmed a moment later what I had feared. Three missed calls from Mary Lou and just as many voicemails. Before I could explain anything or Mary Lou got another chance for knocking, Carlos was pushing the handle down and I was treated to a very unexpected view. Mary Lou was looking as if she was about to walk into battle to win a war, which was almost what I should have expected and which wasn't too surprising.
No, what was surprising was who was standing next to her. Someone I hadn't seen in years and somehow had expected to never see again.
"Can I help you with something?" Carlos asked as polite as possible and Mary Lou's expression changed from maniac to something I'd like to call star-struck.
"Trenton PD, I'm here because of a concerned citizen who is worried for her friend's wellbeing."
"I can explain," I intervened quickly, before this could get any more embarrassing. "It's just…I was ...um...occupied with other things and forgot the arrangement."
"Arrangement?" Carlos and the Detective said in unison.
"I was supposed to call her at one point during the night, to make sure this wasn't something it wasn't supposed to be."
"I'm sorry? I… what?" the cop said, and I figured the way I had spoken this created only more confusion.
"I was supposed to call Mary Lou, to make sure I wasn't kidnapped, murdered or… anything else. I just forgot."
The look I received from Carlos made me wonder whether he was amused or confused. Maybe he was both.
"I need to see some ID from both of you."
"Seriously?" I asked, finding this a little too much. "Morelli, you know me since kindergarten and you also know Mary Lou for just as long."
"Standard procedure," he just stated, and I knew he was just doing to piss me off. As he always did.
I found my purse again, gave him my ID and Carlos did the same, remaining silent during the whole process. Morelli stepped a few steps away, and I pulled Mary Lou closer.
"I'm sorry I didn't call and I appreciate your personal visit, but… out of everyone at Trenton PD you had to bring Morelli?"
"Well, he was the only one I could think of," she defended herself and I wanted to roll my eyes.
"How about Eddie, Big Cal, anyone else really? Why did it have to be Morelli, my ex-husband?"
"I…he was on my speed dial for everything Stephanie-related for years. Bad habit, I guess?" Mary Lou suddenly tried to explain, and I knew, without even looking at Carlos, that this news certainly quipped his interest. "Maybe I really should have gone with Eddie or someone else."
"Yes, that certainly would have been a much better choice."
"Sorry, Steph, but I'm glad you are alive and were occupied enough to forget about our arrangement," Mary Lou stated, looking sorry, relieved and sheepish all in one. I wasn't sure how that was possible, but she managed to do it. "I'm Mary Lou by the way," she said the next moment, extending her hand towards Carlos. The way she looked at him told me that this meeting right here, right now, was most likely the highlight of her year, if not even the decade. And there was no way Carlos didn't see it either. "I love your work and it is so nice to meet you."
"It's nice to meet you as well," Carlos replied, shaking Mary Lou's hand while smiling at her widely. "And while I appreciate the fact that you are looking out for Stephanie and were concerned for her safety, I wish your timing would have been slightly better."
Instead of a reply, she just smiled sheepishly again and probably for once decided on not speaking what was on her mind. God knows, I was glad for it. Her mind was a scary place.
"Can I just say you look way better and way more handsome in real life than on any of the covers?"
"Thanks," Carlos replied, laughing, amused for a moment. "Though you do realize these covers are heavily photoshopped, right? Anyone hardly looks like these covers. Some people you might not even recognize."
"But you are so pretty. Why go through the trouble of photoshopping when you are already a walking cover?" Mary Lou more or less whined.
Carlos shrug as first reply. "Industry procedure, I guess. They all want to go for a similar overall-look."
"All clear," Morelli all of a sudden interrupted, and for once I was maybe a little glad about that. While I loved my best friend dearly, she could have her fangirl moment at another time. Not that I preferred Morelli's return to Mary Lou's fangirling. But it seemed like there was no winning either way, unless both weren't here.
"What were you expecting, Detective Morelli? That I turned out to be a known criminal or that Carlos is on the FBI's Top Ten Most Wanted?"
"There's no need for that attitude."
"I would disagree," I replied. "This isn't even your home turf, jurisdiction-wise or department. Last time I saw you, you were in homicide and I don't see any dead people around."
"I followed the request of a concerned citizen as officer of the law. I can arrest people that are not connected to homicides, you know?"
"I'm sure you can. But please don't make this about you following the worry of a concerned citizen. We both know your interest probably only quipped when you learned who she was concerned about and why."
"Can't I be worried anymore?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"You lost that privilege when you screwed someone else ten weeks into our marriage on our dining room table."
"Why don't you yell any louder? I'm certain people in Philadelphia haven't heard you yet!"
"I don't think you need to worry about me, seeing who you slept with and how much pride she took in it, telling everyone about it anyway. I hope you are still very happy with her."
"I am, as a matter of fact. At least I don't have to wine and dine the shit out of her to get laid."
For a second, there was an urge of me to slap him for that comment, but then I realized how I actually didn't care. We were history and almost every single day I was happy about that fact and that I sort of dodged that bullet in the long run.
"Very classy, Morelli," I finally just commented. "How is it that I was so blind that I never realized that side of yours? It sure as hell was there before, but I seemed to have decided on ignoring it long enough."
"It isn't my fault that can't keep up with my needs. So, I went and found someone who can."
"Again, I'm very happy for you. I'm glad that worked out for you. Now if there's nothing else you need to look into and made sure no one is dead or about to be dead, I guess you can leave," I said, staring pointedly at the door and only realizing that moment that Morelli and me were alone. Carlos and Mary Lou were no where to be seen, making me wonder how bad the two of us had been that even my best friend had fled, never mind my date.
If there was one certain way of screwing up a first date and chasing a potential guy away, it definitely was fighting with an ex on said date.
Turning around without acknowledging Morelli for another second, I went in search of my best friend and Carlos, trying to come up with some sort of saving for whatever had transpired a moment ago. Still at loss for ideas, I found them in the kitchen, a glass of red wine in front of Mary Lou who looked just as star-struck as when she arrived.
"Are you alright?" I heard Carlos' concerned question even before I could form any possible explanation in my mind.
"I'm fine," came my reply after a few moments of thought. "Though I am certain this date didn't need this form of entertainment. Sorry for what you might have witnessed and for making with very awkward and you are probably uncomfortable. Even my best friend seemed to have followed your exit and that means something, since she's sort of used to it."
"I actually only followed his very strong suggestion of us giving you guys a moment of privacy. Plus, it isn't like I hadn't heard most of it before."
"You want to walk about?" Carlos asked, surprising me and Mary Lou in equal parts. A second wine glass was placed on counter both had settled at and I could tell the glass wasn't for him.
"Do I want to talk with my date about my lying and cheating ex-husband on our first date while said ex-boyfriend also did crash said first date? Sure, why not make this any more awkward, weird and uncomfortable than it already probably is?"
Stepping towards the island, I took the newly filled glass and drowned the red liquid in one go, feeling the need for alcohol all of a sudden. After a long moment of silence during which I drank my wine, I sat the glass down, let out a deep sigh and threw my head in my neck, staring at the ceiling for a moment. "This is probably the worst first date I've ever been on," I admitted, unsuccessfully suppressing a hysteric laugh for a second.
The silence that followed was different and felt heavy, which made me move my head once again, seeing Carlos looking at me with a rather strange and almost defeated expression. "And here I thought I'd get some points for the food and the mood I went for, at least."
"What?" I asked, confused what the food and his really impressive moves had to do with anything. Until it hit me what I had actually said and how it might have sounded. "I didn't mean you with my comment. I just… You can't seriously tell me that whatever just happened was favorable and should be a first-date-standard from now on."
Hearing him laugh and seeing even Mary Lou snicker gave me some hope that my point was made and he hadn't taken my mindless comment as an observation about the date in general. Because, let's be honest, until Mary Lou showed up with Detective Dickhead in tow, this date had actually gone spectacularly well.
"I'd rather have the drama now than at the wedding," Carlos just stated, amused, shrugging a moment later and I believe Mary Lou's jaw couldn't have hit the floor any harder than what it probably did. Because… holy hell, did he just casually throw in the w-word? On a first date?
I dated guys who would never even usher the word or indication after three years of dating and yet here was Carlos Manoso, on the first date, looking like nothing could ever faze him. I was obviously aware that this had only been a side-comment without any real meaning – or proposition – behind it, but it was a refreshing change to the guys I had been on dates with.
"Don't book the chapel just yet," I remarked. The fake frown he gave me made me laugh some more.
This was probably the strangest first date I had ever been on, especially seeing how the evening ended with me, Carlos and my best friend in his kitchen, sipping on wine and entertaining Mary Lou who seemed to have the best time in general.
Here was hoping for date two, if that even seems reasonable and realistic, seeing how the night had gone and the fact that Carlos might invite maybe too much drama and company into his life.
Mary Lou and I left about an hour after the Morelli incident and when I realized that the mood we had going on before was gone and certainly not going to return tonight. So, might as well pack it up and get going. The ball was in his court once again, and I just hoped I would hear from him. But there was only waiting and hoping.
