Page 110 of Under the Table

“No, not because of her. I’m not a huge fan of Angelica. I find her cold and bitchy, and standoffish. But I don’t know her very well, in all fairness. I’m not talking about her specifically. I’m talking about the choices you’ve made, Hope, and nothing else. Be gay, be queer, be whoever you are. But this person who steps out on a committed relationship? That’snotthe person I know, and that’snotsomeone I want to be associated with.”

Rachel stepped away from her and sighed heavily. She turned back around and put her hands on her hips.

“I’ll finish filming this week, because Rex doesn’t need or deserve to be left in the dust because of a choice you’ve made. But I’m going to need some time before I’m ready to be around you again. If that ever happens…”

She walked away.

Hope stood still, the sun beating down on the top of her head and shoulders. But she was so cold. Her entire body was telling her to run after Rachel and not stop until this was fixed, until they went back to the way they were before, but her feet were glued to the spot.

She brushed her fingers across her cheeks, now drenched with tears she hadn’t known she’d shed. Hope sniffled, breathing heavily as she tried to get herself under control. They still had so much to film that day. They still had so much they needed to do. But she couldn’t stop spiraling out of control.

What if Rachel was right?

She hadn’t seen that this would affect more than just her and Rex and potentially Eva if she could keep a handle on everything.

But Rachel and Rex were so close. When Rachel’s first husband had left her, Rex had been the one going over there to help her out with the house and kid whenever he was in town. He was the one who had been there for Mandy when she ran away to try and go stay at her dad’s.

Hope moved to a bench and collapsed down onto it.

It wasn’t a matter if Rachel was right.

She was.

This relationship with Angelica was going to be too much of a risk, not just for her immediate family, but for everyone she loved.

Chapter

Thirty-Seven

Angelica pulled her AirPods out of her ears and put them in their case, sliding them into the pocket of her leggings. That run had been exactly what she’d needed. Her muscles burned from the exercise, from the strain, but the rest of her body felt warm and right. She stepped around the fence to the large pool on the property, the scent of chlorine hitting her hard and nearly making her sneeze.

Squeals of laughter echoed, and she found herself smiling as she heard the voices. This was exactly what a hotel like this should sound like, and she was glad that the voices were here for that. She turned the corner and had to jump back.

The golf cart’s wheels squealed as it turned too sharply, nearly toppling over. Angelica’s heart raced as she watched it overcorrect and turn the other way, this time falling flat on its side. She raced toward it, her hands trembling as she peered through the darkness to find none other than Annalise lying on the grass.

“Oh my God!” Angelica looked around, trying to find Rachel or Hope or anyone else nearby, but she didn’t find anyone. She touched Annalise’s cheek lightly, but Annalise was already wiggling around and moving. “You shouldn’t get up!”

The tears started, sliding down Annalise’s cheeks as the cries of fear and pain ramped up. Angelica touched her cheek more firmly, trying to get Annalise’s attention. “Annalise, are you hurt anywhere?”

“Mama!”

Angelica looked up, trying desperately to find someone, anyone, who was nearby and could actually help. Annalise pulled herself up onto her knees and climbed her way closer to Angelica, crawling into her lap and pressing her face against Angelica’s chest. On instinct, Angelica wrapped her arms around Annalise’s small frame and hugged her tight.

She didn’t seem hurt. More shook up. She was moving fine.

Angelica moved her hands along Annalise’s arms and over her legs briefly before she pulled away to look Annalise in the eye. “Are you hurt?”

Annalise nodded, eyes clenched tight. Then, as if the question finally registered, she shook her head. “No. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure?” Angelica asked again, trying to see anything that she could, but it was so dark outside and on this side of the building. There were hardly any lights to help her out.

“Yeah. Where’s my mom?”

“I don’t know,” Angelica said, her voice rushed as the panic and adrenaline hit her harder than it had before.

Annalise sniffled and rubbed her tiny fists against her face. Angelica had no idea how old she even was, but she was smaller than Eva. Then again, that didn’t necessarily mean anything either. She stayed where she was, her ass damp from the grass where the sprinklers had gone off earlier, and her muscles now protesting not being able to move. She kept Annalise against her chest until the girl started to move and shift.

“Do you think you can stand up?” Angelica asked.