And Back Again

Chapter 14

Zara's first week at Botha Capital Partners was a short one. She started on Thursday, two days after Angel's impromptu proposal, and only worked half a day on Friday. Bishop was released that morning so she was happy to have a chance to go to the clubhouse to celebrate and welcome him home. The entire time she knew Angel was off. She first noticed it in his movements, then she could hear it in his voice, and when they finally had a moment alone she saw it in his eyes.

"Talk to me." Zara spoke quietly as she straddled him on the ripped up leather couch outside the clubhouse. 

Angel nodded and took a quick hit of their shared joint before passing it to her. "Bishop told me my head would clear if I finally asked you. It did, like you fucking groundedme, but after he got picked up it got worse."

"But he's home now," she reminded him.

"Yeah," he sighed. "My mom, my dad, the attacks on Galindo, Bishop's arrest."

"Okay, Arya, what's with the list?" She asked, leaning in and pressing her forehead against his.

"The shit I can't explain," Angel said sadly. "The shit that's playing in my head."

"The noise?"

"The noise."

"What happened to your mom and dad is unexplainable," she said, guilt filling her heart over lying to Angel. "The attacks are being looked at or whatever you want to call it. But Bishop, I thought you didn't buy my suspicions?"

"I don't want to," he admitted. "Little bit different."

Zara smirked and nodded, knowing a sure fire way to distract him from it all. "When do you want to get married?"

"What?" He laughed.

"Let's pick a date," she told him. "I was going to say summer but I don't have built in vacation anymore so, all seasons are on the table."

Angel paused. "October? Not too hot but before your mom is gonna get all nuts over the holidays."

"I love that you know that and take it into account when picking a wedding date," she giggled.

"Put your ring on," he told her.

"I thought we were waiting till shit calmed down?"

"No, I don't wanna wait," he said, grabbing her waist as he stood up.

"You know you're really killing me with this shit," she laughed. "I'm supposed to be the overly excited one but I'm trying to respect your feelings."

"Oh shit, sorry," he sat back down. "Go ahead."

"Can we tell everyone?" She asked, suddenly dramatically enthusiastic. "Please! PLEASE!"

Angel groaned, feigning annoyance, but when he grabbed her hips again to hold her steady as he stood up, he purposely tickled her. She laughed loudly, wriggling with her legs around his waist, as they walked into the clubhouse.

Placing her on top of a table, Angel whistled loudly to call everyone's attention. "I know it's Bishop's night but I'm tired of waiting. I finally asked her," Angel announced. "Me and Z are getting married!"

The room erupted again, the already drunk Mayans were now even louder and more rowdy. In the madness though, Bishop made his way over to Angel and hugged him.

"Congratulations, brother," he said with a wide grin. "You do it the night I told you to?"

"Yeah," Angel laughed. "You were right. Shit made sense after that."

"I'm happy for you," Bishop said, hugging Angel again. "But you better get her off that table before they start throwing cash at her," he remarked, noting the shots she was being forced to down.