Annihilate Me (Vol. 4) (The Annihilate Me Series) (21 page)

“Well,
he isn’t now.
 
That’s for sure.
 
So, how about it?
 
Dinner tonight and also on Wednesday?
 
Maybe also a movie on Wednesday?
 
I’d love to see the new George Clooney
movie.”

My
eyes practically popped as I neared the door.
 
My girl was totally going for it.

“Done,”
he said.
 
“Tonight at seven?
 
I’ll pick you up.”

“Sounds
perfect,” Lisa said, and then she lowered her voice.
 
“And I’m sorry for any misunderstandings.
 
It’s not all about whatever book I’m
working on.
 
I also need to have a
life, and right now I’d like to spend some time with you.”

There
was a moment of silence before he said, “I feel the same.”

And
mission accomplished
, I thought with
a rush of excitement.
 

Before
I reached the door, Tank walked past me, looked outside, saw the car, and then
looked at us.
 
Because he was so
tall, both of us had to look up at him.
 
“I go first.
 
Give me a
moment on the sidewalk.
 
When I’m as
certain as I can be that all is clear, I’ll motion for you two to come
out.
 
Please be quick.
 
Get into the car as fast as you
can.
 
Then, we’ll get you to Saks so
you two can enjoy some shopping.”

He
stepped outside and Lisa immediately grasped my arm.
 
“Holy shit,” she said.
 
“Tonight
and
Wednesday.
 
The
zombies have aligned!”

“All
of it was just a misunderstanding,” I said.
 
“A freaking misunderstanding.
 
Did you hear him?
 
Of course you heard him.
 
Oh, my God.
 
He was holding back out of respect for
your writing.
 
How sweet is
that?
 
Hell, how supportive is
that?
 
He’s a total keeper.
 
I love him.
 
I want this to work out between you
two.
 
I’m so happy for you!”

“We’ll
see how it goes.”

I
shot her a stern glance.
 
“Oh,
come
on
.
 
Enjoy the moment.
 
Did you hear what he just said?
 
He wants to spend more time with you.”

Her
face brightened.
 
“OK.
 
It’s pretty great.
 
I’m totally psyched.
 
I think our little chat while we crossed
the lobby might have lifted our relationship up a notch.”

“Are
you serious?
 
That notch was just
lifted by several inches.
 
He’s such
a great guy, Lisa.
 
I want you to be
together.
 
I’m praying that it
happens.
 
Oh, look.
 
He’s signaling for us to come out.
 
He probably knows we’ve been talking
about him.
 
But that’s what girls
do.
 
I’m sure he knows it was only
positive.
 
Get your game face on,
but with a smile.”
 
I pushed the
door open.
 
“We’re out of here.”

And
without incident, we were in the back of the car.
 
Then, Tank slid into the passenger seat,
and we were off to Saks.

*
 
*
 
*

When
we pulled alongside the building, Tank turned around to look at Lisa.
 
“Jennifer knows the routine, but let me
outline the exit strategy because it’s important to me that you’re safe.
 
It’s pretty much the same thing.
 
I get out, I check the sidewalk, when
you see me motion for you to leave the car, you do.
 
Walk briskly into the store.
 
Don’t hesitate.
 
I’ll be right behind you.”

“It’s
important to you?” she said.

“Of
course it is.”

“OK,”
she said.
 
“Well, great, then.
 
Got it.”

“Good.”

“And
I know that you’ll have our backs,” she said, clearly unable to shut her
mouth.
 
I’d seen this too many times
before.
 
Whenever Lisa really was
into someone, her mouth didn’t shut.
 
“Especially since your back is so broad, you know, in that suit that
you’re wearing.
 
The one that I’m
thinking too much about.”

He
grinned at that, but then he became serious.
 

“Focus,”
he said.

“I’m
focused.
 
I am.
 
On so many things.”

“I
need you to focus on me.”

“I’m
totally focused on you.”

“I
meant when I step outside.”

“Outside.
 
Understood.”

“She
understands, Tank,” I said.
 
“I have
her back.”

“Then
I guess we both do.”

Another
breakthrough moment!

He
looked around the area, waited for a second, and then stepped out of the car
and onto the sidewalk.

“God,
he’s a stud,” Lisa said.
 
And then,
catching herself, she leaned forward to the driver and said, “Sorry, Mr.
Driver, whom I haven’t met.
 
All of
you are very handsome.”

“No
problem, Ms. Ward.”

“You
know my name?”

His
eyes lifted to the rearview mirror.
  
“Tank might have mentioned you a few times.”

“He
did?”

“Maybe.”

I
grasped her hand.
 
Score!

*
 
*
 
*

When
we were in Saks and faced with the rows of women offering to spray us with
whatever fragrance they were shucking, I asked Lisa what she wanted.
 

She
leaned in close to me.
 
“Tank.
 
On top of me.
 
Now.”

“I
think, at this point, we all know that, my hormonal friend.
 
But you need to pull it together.
 
Where would you like to shop?”

She
straightened.
 
“Why don’t we look at
lingerie first?”

Oh
no she didn’t.
 
I knew she’d said it just loud enough so
Tank could hear, so I just looked at her.
 
“Seriously?”

“Mmm-hmm.
 
I haven’t bought myself any sexy
lingerie in years.
 
And you probably
need to find a few things for yourself to keep up the heat with Alex, because,
you know, that’s important when you’re in a new relationship.
 
Which you are.
 
Sort of.
 
Anyway, let’s start there.
 
Then let’s move down to the fourth floor
for shoes.
 
Then we’ll hit pay dirt
on the third floor with the women’s collection.
 
Sound good?
 
Why are you looking at me like that?
 
Doesn’t matter.
 
What do you think, Tank?”

“Lingerie
first?”

She
nodded.
 
“That’s right.
 
Lingerie.
 
I’m thinking lingerie.
 
I’d like to buy some lingerie.
 
That’s what I’d like to do.
 
Some fresh, sexy lingerie.”

It
was clear by the look on his face that he was trying not to react, but there
was a gleam in his eye that even he couldn’t hide.
 

“If
you insist,” he said.

“Jennifer?”

“Alex
bought me a boatload of lingerie, so I’m not sure that—”

“Jennifer?

“Let’s
go and have a look at the lingerie,” I said.

*
 
*
 
*

It
was a good hour before we got to the women’s section, which is where I really
wanted to go.
 
That said, Lisa did
score a few pieces of pretty lingerie that she had skillfully held up, tried
on, asked for my advice about, and purchased, all while Tank looked on.

“You’re
in a mood,” I said to her when she was at the counter paying for her haul.

“No,
girl.
 
I’m on a roll.
 
I’m working this shit for all it’s
worth.
 
I will not be single for the
rest of my life.
 
That man over
there?
 
You are right about
him—he’s a keeper.
 
I’m
letting down my guard.
 
I’m stepping
it up.”

“I
have a feeling he knows that.”

“And
that’s bad because… ?”

“Who
said it was bad?
 
I just think it’s
kind of hilarious.
 
I haven’t seen
you like this since Kevin, and that was years ago.”
 
I put my hand on her shoulder.
 
“And no one is happier for you than I
am.
 
So, if you’re going to work
this shit, then work this shit, girl.”

“Oh,
I plan to.”

“I’ll
help where I can.
 
Here, hold up
that pale blue negligee.
 
That’s
right—hold it up and admire it.
 
I know he’s watching.
 
Just
keep turning it in your hands—that’s right, perfect—then give it
back to our friendly and tolerant sales lady.”
 
I caught the older woman looking at me,
and whispered, “We’re trying to land a man.”

“Oh,
are you?
 
I wouldn’t know.”

“Please,
don’t judge us.”

“Don’t
worry—I remember those times,” she said.
 
“And a quick glance around the room just
confirmed that the man in question is watching.
 
I have to say that he’s very
handsome.
 
So.
 
Keep at it, girls.
 
Do what needs to be done.
 
Pull out every trick in the book.
 
All of us have been there at some
point.”

“You’re
a doll,” Lisa said.
 
“Thank you.”

“We
all were young once,” the woman said.
 
“And at certain times in our lives, we did what we needed to do.”

Then,
after visiting shoes but finding nothing there, we headed to the third floor,
which is where I wanted to stay for a good hour.
 
With the full onset of fall upon us,
there were so many beautiful dresses, sweaters, coats, pants, and skirts, I
could barely contain myself.
 

The
floor was crowded with women, all seeking what I was seeking—the next
best thing.
 
The holidays were soon
upon us, and from the conversations I overheard, I sensed that some were
shopping for others, while some were shopping for themselves.
 

I
heard mentions of Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, and I wondered where I’d
spend each
.
 
I heard how much this sister would like
this jacket, or how much this mother would die for that sweater.
 
Looking around, I kind of wished that
Blackwell were here.
 
She would have
been in her element.
 
A part of me
felt that I should have invited her to come along with us, but a bigger part of
me knew that these few hours needed to be spent bonding with Lisa.
 
We’d seen too little of each other for
too long.
 
These two hours were for
us.
 

And
Tank.

“Jennifer,”
Lisa said to me.
 
“Come over here
and look at this dress.”

I
was in competition with a blonde woman who was aggressively looking through the
same rack that I was sifting through, and I was damned if I was going to lose
anything to her.
 
“Hold it up for
me.”

“No,
you must come over here and look.”

The
woman was closing in on me.
 
“No,
really, just hold it up.”

“You
have to see it against me.
 
Come
on.”

Fine.