Tony: "Moving a little fast aren't we?!"
Angela looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"I'm moving too fast? Did you really just say that to me?!" She leaned in closer. So close he could see the gold flecks in her eyes. So close he could feel her breath.
"You're one to talk. You go faster with Kathleen in one night than we have in the last seven years. And yet you want to lecture me about going too fast?!" Her face was beet red. Her eyes flashed with anger.
Tony gulped. "Angela I just think…"
"I know what you're thinking. You can have all this fun with Kathleen! But I'm just supposed to sit at home twiddling my thumbs. I have a newsflash for you Tony. I'm not going to do that. If I decide to go to Athens I'm going to go. And you'll just have to deal with it!"
She walked to the front door then turned around.
"Have fun on your date tonight. I know I will!"
She slammed the door behind her.
"That's my girl!" Mona laughed.
"Mona! This isn't funny! Are you really okay with her going to Athens with this guy?"
Mona shrugged. "Why not? Look Tony, you made your decision. You can't have it both ways. If Angela wants to go to Athens with a hot, sexy, and charming man well I'm going to support her 100%"
Tony's mouth fell open. "Mona! I…."
"Close your mouth. You don't want to draw flies."
With those words she walked out the patio door leaving him standing there in complete shock.
"I don't believe this!" He growled and stalked over to the kitchen pushing against the swinging door making it slam against the refrigerator.
Ernie was there filling their water cooler.. He looked warily at Tony who was muttering under his breath and stirring whatever was in the pot like he wanted to kill someone.
"Uh hey Tony. How are things?"
"Oh they're just great! Fabulous! Peachy!" He slammed the lid on the pot with more force than what was necessary.
"Oh really? Cause you seem upset about something. Care to fill me in?"
Tony turned around and faced him. Maybe getting Ernie's input wasn't such a bad idea. Normally he would go to Mona or Sam but they were both so enthralled with this Christopher jerk-Jonathan too- that he didn't feel comfortable talking to either one of them-especially since Mona was all for Angela jetting off to Athens.
"Yeah, here sit down."
They both sat down.
"Okay, out with it. What's eating you?"
"It's this guy Angela is dating."
"Oh? You mean Peter? I mean he's a little dorky but he seems like an okay guy."
"No, not Peter. He's fine. I'm talking about Christopher." He said his name in a mocking tone.
"Wait a minute! Angela is dating two men?!" Ernie's eyes widened.
"Yeah."
"Wow. That doesn't sound like her. Mona, yes. But not Angela."
"I know. But it's not just her dating two guys, it's just that Christopher gets on my damn nerves!"
"Oh, a real jerk huh?"
Tony shrugged. "I don't know, I never met him."
"Then how can he get on your nerves?"
"Because Angela-hell the whole family is completely taken in by him. I can't explain it but I just don't trust him."
"You think he's too good to be true?"
"Exactly!"
"Tony, why do you care? I mean you're dating Kathleen. So what if Angela is dating this Christopher guy."
"I know. I know. I just… last night I had this dream about a faceless man taking all my loved ones away. Angela, Mona, Sam, and Jonathan were just blindlessly following him while I'm screaming at them to come back."
"Sounds heavy."
"Yeah, and you're right. I'm dating Kathleen who is a great girl but Angela dating Christopher is just gnawing at me. And now Angela is thinking about going to Athens with him!"
"Athens? Wow, that's certainly more than an overnight date." Erne chuckled trying to lighten the mood. At Tony's glare he backpedaled.
"So let me ask you this. If she were going to Athens with Peter would you be this upset?"
"I don't know. Probably not. Peter is a decent guy. But I just can't shake this feeling that something is off with Christopher."
KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!
"That must be Kathleen." Tony said and got up to open the door.
"Hi honey!" Kathleen smiled and gave him a kiss.
"Hi, Kathleen. Come on in." He stepped aside so she could enter.
"Hi Ernie!" Kathleen said politely .
"Hey Kathleen. It's nice to see you."
"You too."
Ernie got up. "I'm going to take off. Have a good night"
"Bye Ernie! And thanks!"
"Anytime!" Ernie went out, closing the door behind him.
"So honey, how was your day?" She asked cozying up to him.
"Oh uh fine. You know. School and work. Work and school." He gently detached himself and went over to the stove and lifted the lid off the pot.
"MMMM that smells heavenly."
"Uh yeah. Here go ahead and sit down. I'll get everything ready."
"We're eating in here?"
"Well yeah. This is the kitchen." He chuckled nervously.
"I just thought we could eat in the living room. It would be much more…romantic." Her voice took on a breathy tone.
Tony gulped. She was right it would but he just couldn't. After all, he had two "dates" with Angela in there. Of course they weren't dates. But circumstances out of their control.
"No, let's eat here. I'm closer to the food." He laughed.
"Okay. If you say so." She sat down. "Maybe we can go in there after dinner?" She smiled.
"Yeah, sure." He grabbed two plates, some silverware, and two glasses and set them on the table.
'What would you like to drink? We have soda, lemonade, and iced tea."
"Lemonade sounds good."
He grabbed the pitcher and poured them both a glass. He then grabbed her plate and put some spaghetti on it and covered it with some sauce. He set it down in front of her."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"Do you have any parmesan?"
"Oh, right!" He grabbed the parmesan out of the refrigerator and set it down.
"Thanks."
He nodded and fixed his own plate and sat down.
"MMMM Tony, this is really good."
"Thank you."
"I am so lucky I have you for a boyfriend." She smiled coyly.
"What? Oh thanks. "He smiled back.
They continued eating with her, monopolizing most of the conversation. He offered an occasional word but in truth was barely paying any attention to her. He was too preoccupied by Angela going off to Athens with Christopher. It was too soon. Too fast.
'You have no room to talk pal! You went too fast and too soon with Kathleen!'
"I know. I know." he mumbled.
"What was that?"
"Oh, nothing. Hey, I'll clean up and make some coffee. Why don't you go ahead and go into the living room?"
"Are you sure you don't want me to help?"
"Oh, no. You are my guest."
'I'm more than your guest Tony. I'm your girlfriend!' She thought bitterly but didn't say anything.
"Okay." She got up and went into the living room.
Tony sighed and began cleaning up. But his mind wasn't on cleaning the kitchen or Kathleen.
It was on Angela and Christopher and how he was going to stop her from going away with him.
###################################
"Have I told you how beautiful you look tonight?" Christopher asked, taking Angela's hand and planting soft kisses on her palm.
"You you can tell me again." She smiled.
"You look beautiful." He winked.
"Thank you."
"You are very welcome." He released her hand and picked up his glass of wine and took a long, leisurely sip.
"So, have you thought about my invitation? To go to Athens with me?"
"I have and it sounds like a wonderful opportunity."
'So, it's a yes then?"
"I…."
'Moving a little fast aren't we?!' Tony's voice echoed in her head.
"Shut up!" She muttered under her breath.
'Excuse me?" He raised an eyebrow.
"Oh, nothing." She waved a hand in the air.
"So, how about it? I would love to show you around."
Angela was torn. On the one hand she was a single woman who had every right to go off to Athens or wherever if she wanted to. On the other hand she couldn't help but think she was only going to spite Tony. She had wanted to throttle him when he insinuated that she was moving too fast with Christopher. He certainly had no room to point fingers at her considering his relationship with Kathleen! So you know what? If Tony could have all this fun with Kathleen then she could do the same with Christopher.
"Yes, I would love to go to Athens with you."
"Oh. I'm so happy to hear that." He smiled and raised his glass. She picked hers up.
"To Athens and to a wonderful adventure." He said.
"To Athens!" She repeated and clinked her glass with his.
She just hope she didn't live to regret it...