The Angriest Woman in the World! (GxG)

Chapter 6

   I kissed Hannah goodbye the next morning before heading down to my car.

   I placed the wrapped painting in the back before getting in the drivers seat.

   "So, how'd it go?" Aileen asked, startling me.

   My hand shot instinctively to my chest. "Jesus Christ, what the hell are you doing here?"

   She rolled her eyes. "C'mon, when you didn't come home last night I figured you got lucky. I wanted to talk to you about it as soon as possible. I want all the details."

   I shook my head, starting the car. "What're you writing a book or something?"

   She tapped her chin, seemingly deep in thought. "Well, no, but that actually doesn't sound like a bad idea-"

   I put my hand up. "Never mind. I'm not telling you anything so just drop it."

   "Oh, c'mon. We're both adults." She complained.

   I chuckled a little. "It's personal, ok?"

   She sat back. "Fine, fine."

   A humorous smile spread on my lips. "For a guardian angel, you sure do like to gossip."

   She shrugged. "What can I say, it gets pretty boring up there."

   "You know, I've been meaning to ask you... What happens after we die?" I asked.

   She faced me, looking deep into my eyes, a look on her face that made me feel uneasy. "Are you sure you want the answer to that?"

   I refocused on the road. "Well, now I don't."

   She laughed a little. "Good."

   After a mostly silent car ride, we made our way into my apartment.

   I set the painting down next to the fireplace, glancing at the spot above the mantle. "What do you think about here?"

   Aileen glanced up at the blank space on the wall. "Works for me."

   Then, a hammer and nail appeared in her hand and she hung the painting up in record time.

   "Wow, nice trick. I bet that goes over well at parties." I said.

   She winked. "It works like a charm."

   We shared a laugh before sitting down on the couch.

   "So, aside from the obvious, how was the date?" She asked.

   I smiled as I looked down, my face flushing. "It was great. She's an amazing cook."

   "She's not a bad artist either." Aileen replied.

   I sat back then. "She doesn't seem to think so."

   "Why not?"

   I shrugged. "I don't know... I think it might have something to do with her mom. Supposedly she was an art major, took the whole thing pretty seriously."

   Aileen nodded slowly. "So, mommy dearest doesn't like the work and now darling daughter's self conscious."

   I glanced at her. "Something like that."

   She rested her hand on my shoulder. "You know, I'm starting to get this feeling..."

   "What feeling?"

   She took a quick glance at me before standing up. "Like, you two meeting wasn't an accident..."

   I looked up at her. "You mean, like, fate?"

   She just nodded.

   I laughed a little. "Yeah right, tell me you don't really buy into that bullshit."

   She faced me. "Think about it, two women stuck in their work, mothers that don't approve of them, has trouble opening up-"

   I raised my hand. "Hey now, I'm a very social person."

   Aileen smiled. "Right, sure, good one."

   I folded my arms over my chest, glaring at her.

   She put her arms up. "Look, all I'm saying is, you two obviously need each other and I think the universe knows it to."

   I stood now. "So, you're really serious about this fate thing?"

   She just nodded.

   "Hell, crazier things have happened. I mean, you're here... But, what does fate have to do with anything?"

   She shrugged. "Beats me."

   "Great, thanks for all that." I said before heading into the kitchen, grabbing a water bottle...

   I laid awake that night, Aileen's words playing over and over again in my head.

   'Fate...'

The more I thought about it, the crazier it seemed. I mean, the universe gave me a heart attack just to hook up with some lonely nurse?

I sat up then, rubbing my eyes with a sigh. "You'd think the universe would have better things to do."

"Yeah, you'd think." Aileen said, appearing in my room.

I stood, heading for the door. "'Privacy' isn't a word you understand very well, is it?"

She laughed a little as she followed me into the living room.

I sat down on the couch, letting out a breath. "It doesn't matter, I can't sleep anyway."

She plopped down next to me. "Me neither."

I glanced at her. "I didn't know you slept."

She shrugged. "Fine, I don't. But, I can't focus on anything else."

I leaned back. "I know the feeling. If this really is fate, why drag you into it?"

She leaned back as well. "To make sure it happened, I guess."

I glanced at her again. "Did you know about Hannah before you met me?"

She shook her head. "No... But, when I saw the way you two looked at each other, I just knew there was something there."

I rubbed my forehead. "This is a lot to take in..."

"So, you believe it?"

I shrugged. "I mean, it's hard to argue with it... Can't beat 'em, join 'em, you know?"

She nodded slowly.

After a minute or two of silence, I spoke up. "We should tell her."

She faced me. "Whose 'we?' You got a mouse in your pocket or something?"

I stood then, grabbing something to drink. "No, you and me. She has to know the truth."

Aileen stood then. "Hey, look, kid, I'd love to help... But, I can't."

I turned to her. "Says who?"

She threw her arms up. "I don't know, the ethics of guardian angels? What the hell difference does it make? I'm here for you and you alone... If other people find out about me or my kind, it could cause a ripple effect throughout the world... And probably not a good one."

I sat at the kitchen table. "So, what? You just expected me to stay quiet after this whole thing?"

She sat down across from me. "Actually, there's an NDA and some other... Let's say 'messy' things we would've had to discuss. Either way, it would end with you."

I sat back, sighing. "Look... I understand what you're saying... But, I think we can trust her... She's open minded, abstract, and she deserves the truth. You brought her into this, not me."

Aileen looked into my eyes for a long while before sighing. "Fine... But, if this backfires, I can't guarantee a happy ending."

I nodded. "Fine by me... Let's call her up..."