Uri placed the cards on the table and looked at him with determination in his eyes. “I had to fight to win back Rachel’s trust. That is what you must do, my friend. Fight for your woman.”
“You think I don’t want to do that? I’m stuck here waiting for her.”
Uri pushed himself away from the table and went to him, slapping a hand down on his shoulder. “Then you will go to her. I’m giving you permission to go down and find her.”
“What about Gabrielle and Michael?”
“I’ll handle that. If you’re brief, we may not have to deal with them.”
“When can I go?”
“When the moment is right, I’ll find you. Be ready.”
11
“Is it over?” Naomi mumbled from behind hands that she kept over her face. She didn’t dare take a peek at what Chuy was doing and risk another wave of nausea like the first time when she saw him flirting with Megan. Who knew angels could get nauseous?
Jeremy chuckled. “Don’t you think you’re being overdramatic?”
Okay, maybe she was overreacting just a tad bit. When Chuy, closely followed by Lalo, had walked into the bar, she’d been overjoyed. In that moment, she’d completely forgotten she was an angel and not visible to anyone. She’d been so happy, she’d even wanted to hug Lalo. Jeremy had to stop her from running to them, reminding her that she was not human anymore.
Although she was sad that she couldn’t talk with Chuy and Lalo, she stood back with Jeremy, happy with the thought that if they were here, then Welita was sure to be nearby. She listened in while they talked about their work at Prescott Oil, hoping to get a clue of where Welita was located.
Then Megan showed up and asked for their order.
“I can’t bear to watch this,” she said with her hands still over her eyes. She knew she was acting like a dippy teenager, but she couldn’t help herself. “It’s just so, ugh, so gross. I mean, Chuy making his moves on Megan. It’s bad enough I have to hear it.”
Jeremy tugged on her hands and pulled them from her face. “He’s not that bad.”
She dropped her hands and glanced up at him, noting the amused expression on his face. “Seriously?”
“The man’s holding his own. He’s got some smooth moves.” He winked.
She looked over to Chuy, and groaned. He was flexing his bicep for Megan and showing her a tattoo that he had on his right shoulder.
Chuy got a tattoo! When did this happen? He must be nuts doing something like that. If Welita found out, she’d flip out. Probably find a way to remove it herself.
“Ooh, I love it!” Megan said as her fingers brushed over his tanned muscles. “I wish I could get one. Where did you get yours?”
“I got it down in Houston before we moved up here,” Chuy said.
“You guys are from Houston? I’ve never been there.”
Chuy leaned in close to her, his voice husky. “Maybe we can take you for a visit sometime. I was planning on going back to get another one next week.”
Lalo spit out his beer. “You’re going to get another one after Welita tore you apart for getting the first one?”
Naomi burst out laughing at the look on Chuy’s face.
“Not now, Lalo,” Chuy hissed.
Megan raised an eyebrow. “Welita? Who’s that?”
“Chuy’s grandmother.” Lalo picked up a nacho chip and put a jalapeño on top of it. “She moved up here with us.” He popped the chip into his mouth.
“You live with your grandmother?”
Lalo held his hand up as he chewed quickly before answering her. “Chuy lived with her in Houston, but after her heart attack, we had to move up here to work.”
Sweat beaded on Lalo’s forehead, and he took a swig of beer. “She’s in an assisted-living complex near our apartment.”
Naomi took a step forward, hoping that he would say the name of the place Welita was staying.
“Oh, that’s so sad. Is she all right?” Megan asked.
“Yep, she’s good.” Lalo picked up a chip and pointed it at Chuy. “Good enough to whip your ass if you get another tattoo.” He grinned.
Chuy groaned.
Love ya, Lalo! Naomi thought.
“Aw, that’s so sweet,” Megan purred as she batted her thick lashes. “I like that...taking care of your grandmother like that. Where do you work?”
Chuy threw Lalo a glance and then turned to Megan with a smile. “Prescott Oil. We’re in their job-training program.”
Her green eyes widened. “You guys are engineers?”
Lalo wiped a napkin over his forehead. “Nah, they have me doing janitorial work in one of the offices. But Chuy, they have him working on the wells, and—”
The glasses and beer bottles on the table trembled.
“What’s that?” The bartender asked, trying to keep the glasses from falling to the floor.
“I think it’s an airplane flying overhead,” a waitress said.
“It’s happening again.” Jeremy glanced at Naomi, his face furrowed with worry.
“Do you know anything about this?”
He shook his head. “I was only told about my assignment. It’s not difficult to figure out where this could lead to, though.”
The shaking grew more violent. People started screaming and running toward the exit.
Naomi watched Chuy catch Megan when she lost her balance and then help her to the door. She followed them closely, thankful that she was near Chuy and Lalo and could make sure they were okay. She hoped Welita was safe, wherever she was.
As soon as they stepped outside the bar, the trembling stopped.
“Are you okay?” Chuy kept his arm around Megan.
“Yes, I’m fine.” The flirtatiousness in her voice was gone, and her face grew serious. “I-I need to get home.”
“I’ll walk you to your car. Where is it?”
“My truck’s over there.” She pointed to across the lot.
When they reached the truck, Chuy and Lalo stood off to the side as she tried to start it.
“Damn it!” She slapped the steering wheel when the engine didn’t turn over.
“Hold on.” Chuy popped up the hood and tinkered under it for a few minutes. “Try it again.”
She turned the ignition. “Nope. Still nothing.”
“Could be the alternator,” Lalo said.
“Yeah, it looks like it. Megan, let me take you home. I can fix this up for you in the morning.” Chuy closed the hood.
“Oh, I don’t want to be a bother. I’ll find someone to give me a ride.”
“No bother at all.” Chuy grinned. “Lalo, I’ll leave you off at Sunrise Haven. Look in on Welita, and let her know I’m helping out a friend.”
Naomi stood in the middle of the circular drive in front of Sunrise Haven. Welita was in there, somewhere inside that two-story building. She wanted to see her so badly.
It was a nice facility. Paved sidewalks were lined with perfectly trimmed hedges, and there were beds of flowers scattered around the building. There was even a huge porch that wrapped around one side of the wood and brick building. Naomi could imagine Welita sitting in one of the rocking chairs, enjoying the evening sunset and fussing with the landscapers for not feeding the surrounding flowers and plants enough.
When Lalo jumped out of the truck and waved after Chuy and Megan, she watched with deep yearning as he went through the sliding glass doors of the entrance. It took every ounce of strength for her to not run inside.
“Naomi,” Jeremy said softly. “We need to go.”
“Can’t I stay? Just for a few minutes?” The glass doors slid open as a couple walked out. It would only take her a few seconds. She would be quick. Run in and out. She just wanted to make sure Welita was safe.
Jeremy placed himself in front of her, blocking her view of the building. He placed a hand underneath her chin, lifting her head. Blue eyes gazed into hers. “We have jobs to do. If you see her, it’ll just make it harder for you to leave. We need to go.”