Elizabeth made herself cozy on the sheet, digging her belly into the sand below and swept her hair over one shoulder. “I wish every day could be Saturday.”
“So, tell me, why did you have such a bad night? You never sleep that late, especially if it’s our beach day.”
Taking a deep breath, Elizabeth confessed, “I had nightmares all night. It was bad. It was really bad.”
“I knew it! Damn it, Liz, I thought you were going to the doctor to talk about this?”
“I did! She filled my script and told me I need to seriously consider going to the parole hearing.”
Rolling onto her backside and leaning on her forearms, China glared at Elizabeth and said, “No kidding? That’s what I’ve been telling you for months. You know, you could pay me privately and I’ll be your personal shrink. Win, win!” She leaned her head back, shook her bangs out of her eyes and closed them to shut out the sun’s rays.
“When you can give me my happy pills, I would be happy to be your life-long patient.”
“I thought Martinez was coming over last night, anyway? Haven’t you tapped into that Latin-love-fest yet?”
Flipping over onto her back, she sighed. “He ended up getting called out for a shooting. We barely made it past the first glass of wine. He’s coming over tonight though. Marta is having us over for dinner. You should stay and come with?”
“And be a third wheel? No thanks. Besides, I have a date already. Chester is taking me to a new place that just opened up in Cleveland.”
Elizabeth couldn’t help but laugh each time she heard it. The name didn’t suit her friend’s taste in men.
China rolled her eyes. “You know, you should be happy for me.”
Laughing again, Elizabeth explained, “I am! I promise you I am. I’m glad you decided to give a guy a chance since John. And I’m even more glad you told Thomas to take a hike. You did tell Thomas to take a hike didn’t you?”
China propelled her chin to the sky to even the coloring on her neck, remaining silent to the interrogation.
Elizabeth rolled back onto her belly and demanded, “Damn it, China! Please tell me you told him?”
Slinging her head to rest on her shoulder, she looked into Elizabeth’s eyes. “I tried. It’s complicated, okay? Give me a little time.”
“A little time? That’s all you’ve given him is time, while he plays house with the Blonde every night in their cozy, little ranch-style home.”
“You’re a fine one to talk. It’s been three months and you haven’t even skidded to second base with a guy who would bend over backwards for you. And what about that parole hearing? You have people backing you, Liz, and you refuse to take advantage.”
“That’s totally different!”
“Actually, it’s not.” China stood up and adjusted her bikini top. Her large, fake breasts barley covered. “I need to cool off,” she said before stomping off and wading in the lake, careful not to wet her perfectly styled hair.
Elizabeth and China were more like sisters than they were best friends. They worked together, hung out together, and nearly shared everything; except their taste in men. Treat me like shit and I’ll follow you forever seemed to be China’s motto. Of course, Elizabeth didn’t have the greatest track record either. Her ex-boyfriend was currently serving a prison sentence for nearly disfiguring her and he was up for parole in less than a week.
Sitting up and lacing her legs in a criss cross, Elizabeth reached into the cooler, pulling out a Corona and a pre-made sandwich. She popped the bottle cap with China’s lighter and took a swig of her beer, staring out at the calm lake. China made her way back to their spot, sat heavily in the sand, and sighed.
Her mouth half full of ham and bread, Elizabeth turned to her and said, “I’m sorry.”
Immediately turning to face her, China replied, “No you’re not. But for what it’s worth, I’m not sorry either.” They looked at each other with mutual empathy and smiled. “Look, I know how you feel about the parole hearing, Liz, but you seriously need to reconsider this. This is a little different than what Thomas and I have going on, and on a whole other level than you and your Latin-lover. This is serious! What if he gets out? And what if the only thing that keeps him in is you showing up at that hearing and speaking your mind?”
“I’m not sure I can face him again, China.”
She flicked her hair again. “You already did it once. Walk in the park.”
“It’s not just that. He’s already proven he can get to me in or out of prison.”
“Too bad your hero can’t prove that. And frankly, I don’t think he ever will. Johnnie Warren is part of a clan. Those guys never snitch on each other.”
“Yeah, well, if he doesn’t get out, he’ll just find another goon to terrorize me. And if I have anything to do with keeping him in, when he does get out, he will hunt me down for sure.”
China sighed as she rolled back onto her belly, leaning on her elbows, and flinging her manicured fingers in the air as she spoke. “Liz, I understand where you’re coming from, I do. I thought Martinez was a good detective? He didn’t get anything from Johnnie boy?”
“He’s been trying for three months. He thought at one point he was going to waive his rights and roll on Steve but he refused to crack. For everything he put me through he gets a plea deal and probation. I guess Matthew Polk is a better attorney than we all thought.”
Elizabeth thought for sure Johnnie Warren would go away for a while after stalking her,
