She only had a couple of hours before it wastime to meet Franklin in the lobby so she needed to pull ittogether. She was going to try and grab a shower and maybe even aquick nap before they headed back over to the hospital. As Sandyrose from the bed her cell phone rang. She ran over to the tablewhere she’d thrown it when she walked into the room and grabbed it.After looking at the caller i.d. she saw that it was Joshua.
“Hello.”
“Hey beautiful” Of course Joshua sounded assexy as ever. The sound of his voice just didn’t create the typicalexcitement in her as it usually did.
Sandy sighed and closed her eyes. If nothingelse, this ordeal was starting to put things into perspective. Lifewas too short to spend it playing games.
“Hello Joshua.”
“You don’t sound excited to hear from me.I’ve been texting you all day.”
“I’ve been pretty busy and I justhaven’t had time to text you back.”
“Well, I heard you left work early today withMr. Roth. What’s up with that?”
“So, is that why you called me to ask aboutFranklin?”
“Franklin? So, you’re on a first name basiswith him now?”
Sandy was so frustrated she could scream. Hadshe really wasted all this time on Joshua?
“What I call Franklin is really none of yourbusiness now is it? So, if that is all you called me for….”
“Wait, don’t hang up. Actually that isnot the reason for my call. I’m just a little frustrated andI…miss you. Let me start over.Can we do that? Let me take you to dinner tonight. I’ve made areservation for La Belle Vie. I know it’s one of yourfavorites.”
What was it with men? She’d tried to getJoshua to take her anyplace over the last couple of years to noavail. Now that he thinks someone else is interested, now he wantsto wine and dine her.
“Joshua, I can’t make it tonight. I’ve gotother plans.”
Joshua wasn’t used to being turneddown. He didn’t know what game she was playing but it was pissinghim off “What plans? Are they with Franklin?”
“Joshua what is it? Why do you keep asking meabout Franklin? What if my plans were with him? YOU decided youdidn’t want to be in a committed relationship remember? YOU decidedwe should just enjoy our time together when we were together andnot ask questions we didn’t really want answers to when we weren’t.You can’t have it both ways.”
“Well, well, well, so you are going for theupgrade. But, the CFO? Do you honestly think a man like him wouldbe interested in a lowly customer service manager like you? You’dnever fit in that elite women’s circle no matter how many designeroutfits you wear.”
“Are you serious right now? You knowyou’re being a bastard right? I can’t believe I allowed you tobreathe the same air as me. I am not a girl Joshua. I am a fullgrown woman and those mind games you’re trying to play, won’t work.There is nothing you could sayto me that would ever break my spirit and make me think less ofmyself. I’m proud of who I am and what I do. You on the other hand,are just a scared little boy who hides behind having multiple womento make you temporarily feel better about yourself. Well guesswhat, I’m done. You might want to hire a therapist for that.” Sandyalmost broke her phone hanging up on him.
She was so angry she was shaking with rage.Where the hell was the mini bar when you needed one? Over to herleft, right next to the t.v. was salvation; the mini-bar. Oh yes,there was going to be a slight change of plans. Sandy was going tohave a drink, maybe even two, and then take a shower.
Franklin decided to goover to the bar before he went to his room. He needed something tocalm his nerves. It had to be the stress of the day that made himkiss Sandy in the car ride over. Why he was always attracted to theones that were nothing but trouble was beyond him. Sandy hadT-R-O-U-B-L-E written all over her in blinking neon lights. Thesmart ones knew the power they had over men. Sandy was a very smartwoman. That made her dangerous. He’d had enough of women who weretoo smart for their own good. April had been too smart for her owngood and she’d hurt him. She didn’t even look back at all thebroken pieces she’d left behind.
However, if Franklin were honest with himselfhe’d admit that he really did enjoy that kiss. That’s why itbothered him so much. For just a brief moment she made him forgeteverything else that was going on around him. It was nice to forgetfor a while and just feel. It had been a long time since he’d beenin that space and not walking on egg shells wondering if this orthat was the right thing to do.
Franklin took a look at his watch and notedthe time. He finished his drink and decided Sandy was off limits.Now that that was settled in his mind, he’d better get to his roomand check in with the office before they had to head back to thehospital. Although, he was still a little wound up he felt a littlebetter for the clarity and focus.
The ride up to his room was quick. However,when he got off
