“Mr. Mister is an 80s pop rock band. Don’t you remember?”
Lash shook his head. There was a lot about the 80s he didn’t want to remember.
“She loves their Broken Wings song,” he continued. “It’s our song. When she was on assignment with me in ’86, she played it over and over on an old record player.”
“Oh! A record.” He was relieved. For a moment there, he thought he was going to be responsible for getting Rachel kicked out. “Well, that might be a little tough to get now-a-days, but I think I can manage.”
Uri tilted his head. “What did you think I was talking about?”
“Nothing.” His eyes darted to his cards. “Okay, what do you have?”
“Royal flush.”
“Shit!”
Uri howled as he leaned over the table and poured himself a drink. “Don’t tell Rachel. I want to surprise her.”
“No problem there. I don’t know when I’ll be able to get it for you though. It doesn’t look like I’m going down anytime soon.” Lash pushed himself away from the table, and taking the bottle with him, he went to the large window that overlooked the valley below.
“Care for another game?”
Lash pressed his forehead against the glass. It was no use. Even the wisecracking Uri couldn’t keep his heart from aching over Naomi. He’d been so happy when Rachel showed him that memory of Naomi giving up everything just for him, proof of her love for him. He wished he could just hold on to it. Instead, every time he closed his eyes, all he could see was the hurt on her face. Eyes that once looked at him with tender love were glazed over in pain and betrayal, eyes that wouldn’t even look at him when she left. Had he gone too far? Had he lost her love?
“It’s no good, Uri. Thanks for trying. It’s just...I can’t get her out of my mind.”
He heard the sound of cards shuffling as he looked at the bridge, wondering if he would be able to find her if he looked. Maybe he could sneak over there in the morning.
“You don’t remember this, but long ago, I was a royal ass-hole.”
Lash spun around, taken off guard. “Did you say ass-hole?”
Uri stared out into space as he shuffled the cards deftly in his fingers. “I didn’t deserve the love Rachel gave to me. I knew she cared, and I took advantage. I didn’t know what a gift she was until she came after me, and then it was too late. When I returned centuries later as a human, she was there again. Of course, I didn’t know her at first. I kept having these strange feelings whenever she was around. What do you call it?”
He paused for a moment then snapped his fingers. “Deja vu. It was like I knew her before in another life. Then, I fell in love with her. I couldn’t help myself. By then, the tables were turned, and she kept her heart away from me. Oh, she watched over me; that was her job, but never would she let me in. I know now it was because of how I treated her in the past.”
Lash stayed silent. This was the first time he’d ever seen Uri so serious. Rachel never talked about their past. In his mind, they were the perfect couple, forever loyal to each other and deeply in love.
Uri placed the cards on the table and looked at him with determination in his eyes. “I had to fight to win back Rachel’s trust. That is what you must do, my friend. Fight for your woman.”
“You think I don’t want to do that? I’m stuck here waiting for her.”
Uri pushed himself away from the table and went to him, slapping a hand down on his shoulder. “Then you will go to her. I’m giving you permission to go down and find her.”
“What about Gabrielle and Michael?”
“I’ll handle that. If you’re brief, we may not have to deal with them.”
“When can I go?”
“When the moment is right, I’ll find you. Be ready.”
11
“Is it over?” Naomi mumbled from behind hands that she kept over her face. She didn’t dare take a peek at what Chuy was doing and risk another wave of nausea like the first time when she saw him flirting with Megan. Who knew angels could get nauseous?
Jeremy chuckled. “Don’t you think you’re being overdramatic?”
Okay, maybe she was overreacting just a tad bit. When Chuy, closely followed by Lalo, had walked into the bar, she’d been overjoyed. In that moment, she’d completely forgotten she was an angel and not visible to anyone. She’d been so happy, she’d even wanted to hug Lalo. Jeremy had to stop her from running to them, reminding her that she was not human anymore.
Although she was sad that she couldn’t talk with Chuy and Lalo, she stood back with Jeremy, happy with the thought that if they were here, then Welita was sure to be nearby. She listened in while they talked about their work at Prescott Oil, hoping to get a clue of where Welita was located.
Then Megan showed up and asked for their order.
“I can’t bear to watch this,” she said with her hands still over her eyes. She knew she was acting like a dippy teenager, but she couldn’t help herself. “It’s just so, ugh, so gross. I mean, Chuy making his moves on Megan. It’s bad enough I have to hear it.”
Jeremy tugged on her hands and pulled them from her face. “He’s not that bad.”
She dropped her hands and glanced up at him, noting the amused expression on his face. “Seriously?”
“The man’s holding his own. He’s got some smooth moves.” He winked.
She looked over to Chuy, and groaned. He was flexing his bicep for Megan and showing her a tattoo that he had on his right shoulder.
Chuy got a tattoo! When did this happen? He must be nuts doing something like that. If Welita found out, she’d flip out. Probably find a way to remove it herself.
“Ooh, I love it!” Megan said as her fingers brushed over his tanned muscles. “I wish I could get one. Where did you get yours?”
“I got it down in Houston before we moved up here,” Chuy said.
“You guys are from Houston? I’ve never been there.”
Chuy leaned in close to her, his voice husky. “Maybe we can take you for a visit sometime. I was planning on going back to get another one next week.”
Lalo spit out his beer. “You’re going to get another one after Welita tore you apart for getting the first one?”
Naomi burst out laughing at the look on Chuy’s face.
“Not now, Lalo,” Chuy hissed.
Megan raised an eyebrow. “Welita? Who’s that?”
“Chuy’s grandmother.” Lalo picked up a nacho chip and put a jalapeno on top of it. “She moved up here with us.” He popped the chip into his mouth.
“You live with your grandmother?”
Lalo held his hand up as he chewed quickly before answering her. “Chuy lived with her in Houston, but after her heart attack, we had to move up here to work.”
Sweat beaded on Lalo’s forehead, and he took a swig of beer. “She’s in an assisted-living complex near our apartment.”
Naomi took a step forward, hoping that he would say the name of the place Welita was staying.
“Oh, that’s so sad. Is she all right?” Megan asked.
“Yep, she’s good.” Lalo picked up a chip and pointed it at Chuy. “Good enough to whip your ass if you get another tattoo.” He grinned.
Chuy groaned.
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Megan purred as she batted her thick lashes. “I like that...taking care of your grandmother like that. Where do you work?”
