Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 99

"So, you just told her that it would be okay?" Tommy asked as he cradled the telephone between his shoulder and his ear. His tone was serious, but Elizabeth who sat across from him on the floor could see the twinkle in his emerald, green eyes.

"Well...yeah," Gina replied, her voice uncertain. "Do you have plans?"

"Maybe." Tommy bit his lip to keep from giving himself away. Gina had agreed to their participation at quite a few outings with Jason and Keesha without Tommy's consent, and he'd decided that now was the time for her to learn a teeny, tiny lesson.

"Maybe?" Gina asked. "What do you mean by that? Do you and Liz have something planned?"

"Possibly," he answered. He masked a chuckle with a cough as Elizabeth shook her head at him in mock disapproval. She also reached for the remote control in an effort to restore the sound, but her cousin was too quick for her and grabbed it.

"Tommy, either you do, or you don't. What are you up to?" Gina asked, her voice a mixture of irritation and anxiety.

Tommy responded to both. "Neither, it's just that you're always saying yes for both of us without asking me first."

"And?"

"And I'd rather you didn't. I don't mind hanging out with them, but I wouldn't mind if we didn't so often," he told her, shifting his body away from Liz as he spoke softly.

"I didn't know. I'm sorry. They're our friends and I didn't think you'd mind... You know, I'll just tell them no."

"Gina, sweetheart, wait," Tommy said. "I'd like to have dinner with them tonight, so the yes still stands. Okay?"

"What about what you just said?" Gina asked, becoming a little irritated again.

"I meant what I said," Tommy said, slightly exasperated. "Gina, please, just tell them that we're coming, okay?"

"Fine."

"Fine!" he said, rolling his eyes at Liz whose forehead had crinkled up into a frown. He shook his head at her to tell her that everything was fine between him and Gina. A mischievous smile played across his lips and his next words were soon out of his mouth without consideration. "So, what time are you picking me up, woman?"

"You are asking for it, Thomas Hardy, Jr.!" Gina warned, but the smile in her voice took the edge off her warning.

"I know," he replied softly. "So, what time?"

"I'm not giving you a time! Just be ready when I get there!"

"Yes, ma'am!" Tommy said his good-byes to Gina and when he hung up the phone, a huge grin was on his handsome face.

"You are walking a thin line with that 'woman' stuff," Liz told him. She picked up the deck of cards which lay on the floor between them and began to shuffle.

"Not really," he shrugged. He placed the telephone on the end table behind his head and turned around to watch Liz as she dealt the cards. "Gina likes it."

"Oh, you think so?" Liz cocked an eyebrow.

"I know so. She rolls her eyes at me when I say it, but she always smiles, too. I just can't overdo it."

Liz laughed. After their early morning jog where she had surprised both of them by keeping up, they had spent most of the day together. Simone and Audrey, having seen how content they were with one another's company, had left them alone to spend time with their own friends. Now, the two cousins were about to play a friendly game of Uno™.

Tommy smiled as Lizabeth laughed. He hadn't been so certain that he'd hear it today, but so far, he'd heard it several times. She and he had discussed her relationship with Lucky and the aftermath of the kiss. Tommy had been a little surprised when she'd told him about Lucky's theory regarding lies versus omissions. He didn't agree with his friend, nor did he understand his actions. He had been hesitant about voicing his feelings, but as Lizabeth continued to prod him for his opinion, he gave it to her. She then surprised him even more with her decision regarding the status of her and Lucky's relationship.