Chapter Five

The rest of the weekend was uneventful. Carmen and Elliott had seen each other a few more times but other than a couple of "Hey, how are you?"s nothing had been said. They were trying to become friends again but they both knew it was going to be a slow process. It was hard to start over with so much history.

She went straight into work on Monday morning without stopping by the apartment. She still wasn't ready to deal with Frank. He'd called her at least 10 times while she was gone but she hadn't bothered to answer. He left her a few messages but those were quickly deleted without being heard. When she got to work he'd left her a few voicemails, which she also promptly deleted then she leaned forward on her hands wondering what she was doing.

Frank was her fiance. He may have said some hurtful things to her but didn't he deserve the opportunity to apologize and explain himself?

Actually, no he didn't. He'd called her a whore and that was just something she wasn't in the mood to forgive. Not now, not ever. Maybe this job really was the best thing for her. Frank obviously had some insecurities that he hadn't dealt with and if they weren't out of his system before they were married then things were going to be a lot worse for her.

"Hello?"

Carmen's head jerked up in surprise. "Oh, hey Sal."

"That's not a happy Carmen," he said feigning grumpiness. "What happened? Nothing more with Elliott I hope."

She shook her head and smiled. "No. Actually, I got to spend some time with him this weekend and we're both acting like mature adults around each other and so far not more temper tantrums have happened so we're good."

"Good good. What's with the face then?"

"I don't want to go into it. I'm trying really hard to keep my personal life out of things today but…"

"Doesn't always happen."

"Yeah."

"I guess Frank isn't taking this too well," Sal nodded understandingly. "I'm not surprised. I'd be a little insecure if you were my fiance and you were going to be spending a lot of time apart and you'd be spending time with your ex. I'd be upset too."

Carmen sighed. "Well as much as I understand where he's coming from, Sal, he said some things to me that I'm not sure I can forgive right now. I actually haven't seen him since Friday night."

Sal nodded but frowned. "I know it'll be hard just don't let it affect your work alright."

"Not a problem. I'll use it as an escape if nothing else." Carmen smiled and watched Sal leave before looking down at the huge stack of papers she had on her desk. She had two weeks to get her current projects done and get her office packed up to move over to RYR. She'd still be on the payroll here but they wanted her working closely with everyone associated with the team and that meant she'd have to be back and forth between the two offices.

She called her secretary letting her know that she didn't want to be interrupted for the remainder of the day except for emergencies, unless the emergency involved Frank then she didn't really give a rat's behind. After that she dug into work not looking up until it was nearly 6:00 and well past time to leave.

---

Carmen slowly climbed the stairs to her apartment. She'd never dreaded coming home so much but today she couldn't bear the thought of having to face Frank much less sleep in the same bed with him. She'd try to make up some excuse about being sick, then maybe he'd take the spare bedroom. He was such a germaphobe the thought of getting sick would send him running.

The apartment was dark and she breathed a sigh of relief that he wasn't home yet. Out of habit she pushed the button on the answering machine, surprised by the first message she heard.

*Beep* Carmen, it's Frank. I've been called out of town for a few days. Donovan's got us flying out around 6 so I won't see you today. We've got a contract that's about to go belly up in Reno if we don't get this software adjusted so I'll call you when we get to the hotel. *Beep*

"Don't bother apologizing, asshole," Carmen muttered, deleting the message quickly.

*Beep* Caaaaaaaaarrrrrrrmmmmmeeeeeeeeeennnnnnnnnn!!! Hey girl! It's Megan. I just had the most interesting conversation with your brother so you best call me, love ya! *Beep*

She laughed at her sister-in-law wondering what they could possibly be up to now.

*Beep* CJ, it's Elliott.

"What the…?" He'd called her CJ.

I know I'm probably the last person that you expected to call but Robert thought that since I know you I should do it. Anyway, we need you to come by and pick up your paperwork for your track credentials so you don't get tossed out of the track with all of the other lizards. Just kidding. You're not a lizard. Anyway. Come by some time tomorrow and we'll get you set up. Lov…um… Bye *Beep*

"Did he just?" she rewound the message and listened to it again. "Yup." He'd almost said "love you". "Old habits die hard I guess. Even though that's a really really old habit that hasn't happened in forever.

*Ring*

"Hello!?" She jumped as the phone rang, grabbing it without thinking.

"Hey baby," Frank said softly. "Did you get my message?"

She rolled her eyes at his sugary sweet tone. "Yeah, look I've gotta go. The bath's running and I need to get back in there and turn the water off," she lied.

"Okay," he cooed. "I love you."

*What the hell was he up to?* "When are you going to be home?" she asked trying to avoid responding to what he said, suddenly sickened by the sound of his voice.

"Monday or Tuesday."

"Alright well, I'll see you then. Bye."

She hung up the phone and fought the nausea she felt. What was happening to her? She'd been with Frank for two years and she'd never felt this way before. Now all of a sudden the things he said to her and his behavior made her skin crawl.

Until Friday night, he'd never so much as raised his voice to her, and now he was being a sweet and lovey dovey like nothing had happened. She was glad he was gone. This would give her time to sort things out. She just had to keep reminding herself that it had nothing to do with Elliott.

Hadn't she gotten mad at Frank before she even knew that Elliott was involved? Yes, she had. She just had to remind herself. It was about Frank and his behavior, not about Elliott.

She sat on the sofa near the bay window in the living room looking out at the lights that lit up downtown Charlotte. Her cat jumped on her lap and laid down, purring softly as Carmen rubbed her head.

"He hasn't changed one bit, Kylie," she said softly as her thoughts drifted to Elliott. He was still so young and naïve despite years on the circuit. He hadn't lost a bit of who he truly was and she couldn't help but admire that.

Just then she realized she wasn't mad at him for the way he'd spoken to her on Friday afternoon. He'd been just as shocked as she had that they were going to be working together. And quite honestly she was glad he was there because she was about to be thrust into a world of all things fast and she needed something familiar to keep her from getting caught up in the chaos.

She looked at the clock surprised to see that it was well past midnight. She'd been sitting there thinking for hours. After setting the alarm she laid down and fell to sleep immediately, exhausted from the emotional whirlwind that she was going through.

---

"I can't believe you didn't tell me you were working with Elliott!" Megan squealed as she rushed inside out of the rain once Carmen opened her apartment door.

"Megan, please tell me you didn't drive 4 and half hours to tell me that," Carmen laughed.

Her sister-in-law stood up to her full 5'4" and put her hands on her hips. "I absolutely did. Now give me the scoop."
Carmen shook her head at Megan's excitement. She wasn't sure what Charlie had told her but she had a feeling it was a lot more than she and Elliott were working together. "Oh, and don't lock the door, your brother's parking the car."

"Why are you guys here? You don't have anything better to do on a Friday night than bug the crap out of me?"

Charlie burst through the door a moment later, closely followed by Phoebe and Johnny. "You guys ready?!" his blue eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Ready for what, Charlie?" Carmen asked surprised to see her best friend and her husband. "What are you guys doing here? Where's Gracie? For that matter, where's Katie?" she looked back and forth at her brother and her friend.

"Grandmother's" they responded in unison.

Carmen shifted her weight onto one leg and crossed her arms. Raising a curious eyebrow in the process. "Alright. What gives? Why are you all here?"

Phoebe and Megan both got up and grabbed Carmen pulling her into her bedroom and closing the door. Megan pushed her onto the bed as Phoebe began digging through her closet, coming back with a baby blue lace cami bra top and a worn pair of jeans. "Put these on while I get your jewelry picked out and Megan fixes your hair."

"Wait a minute guys what are you doing? Where are we going?" she asked picking up the top that Phoebe picked out. "And my God, Phoebes do you not realize it's freezing outside."

"You'll wear a jacket while we're outside but it's bound to be warm once we get to the club. You can't have that many bodies pressed together and not have some heat."

"Club?" Carmen rolled her eyes. They'd all lost their minds. "I'm not going to any club guys. I'm trying to enjoy my alone time. I've got stuff I need to sort out and I can't do that from a club."

Megan just smiled and began spritzing her hair with water allowing her natural curl to come through. "Look Car, you're just gonna have to trust us okay. It's been forever since we went out and had fun. And since Frank's not here, you can go."

"I could go if he was here, I just choose not to."

Phoebe handed Carmen a bracelet and some earrings that matched her top. "Car, sweetie. Shut up." She tossed a jacket at Carmen and pulled her back down the hallway into the living room. "You guys ready?"

Carmen shifted nervously still not quite sure what they were up to. She appreciated that they wanted to get her out to have fun but she just wasn't so sure this was a great idea.

---

An hour later, Carmen sat sipping her jolly rancher while she watched her brother and Megan do things that someone should never watch their brother do, and Johnny and Phoebe had disappeared the second they walked through the door so she didn't have any clue what was up with them.

She propped her hand under her chin, absently twirling the cherry stem in her hand.

"Can I buy you a drink?" she heard, barely audible over the music.

She looked up, prepared to shoot the guy down only to find Elliott standing there with a soft smile on his face and a fresh jolly rancher in his hand. "Aren't you supposed to wait for the girl to say yes before you buy her a drink?"

He handed her the drink the sat down in the booth across from her. "Normally, but you're not a normal girl so I have to do things differently. Plus I already know what you like." He watched her for a few minutes as she absently stirred her drink. "Why aren't you dancing?" he asked, finally getting up the nerve and preparing to be shot down.

"Just not in the mood really. Don't want to be here. I was practically abducted. Once those four get their minds set on something there's nothing to stop it."

Elliott looked towards the dance floor seeing Charlie and Megan but he didn't see anyone else he knew. "What four?"

"Huh?" She followed his gaze and understood his confusion. "Johnny and Phoebe are here somewhere."

"Ah."

They sat there quietly as the last song came to an end and a ballad began to play. "Would you dance with me?" Elliott finally choked out, surprised when she accepted.

He took her hand and led her out to the dance floor, pulling her against him as he rested his hands on her hips and she wrapped her arms around his neck.

You used to say you wanted someone to know you inside out
And as I look back on things well congratulations baby
Somebody knows you now

All of this time you told me you wished that you could figure yourself out
You say you're still a mystery but no not really not to me
Yeah somebody knows you now

They swayed slowly to the music as everything around them faded away. Without realizing it, Elliott leaned forward resting his forehead against hers and suddenly things were just as they were meant to be. Her hands curled into the hair on his neck and he pulled her closer.

I got a hundred bucks that says right now your hair's up in a clip
Your socks don't quite match and you're bitin' your lip
I can finish your thoughts or pick the right restaurants
Even order for you 'fore you sit down
Yeah somebody knows you now

Elliott's hands slid up her back, pressing her body into his so tightly that neither of them could breath. But at that moment neither cared.

So no matter where you life's path leads
Remember me somehow
And feel a little warm inside knowin' that somewhere tonight
Somebody knows you now

Well baby all your mystery
Like you and me is history
'Cause somebody knows you now

He pulled back gazing into her eyes as she stared up at him, tears threatening to spill over as the words to the song sunk in. She didn't pull away when he leaned in pressing his lips softly to hers, testing the waters before he deepened the kiss.

Surprisingly she opened to him, allowing his tongue to plunder her, fighting with hers, hungry for what he'd lost so long ago.

"Elliott… stop." Carmen pulled away from him. "I can't do this. I'm sorry."

She turned away quickly running towards the bathroom, leaving him standing in a daze in the middle of the dance floor. "Way to go, dumbass," he muttered.

"Hey Peanut," Charlie yelled, slapping him hard on the back. "What's up!?"

Elliott looked at Charlie like he had three heads and rolled his eyes. "Shut up."

Charlie and Megan watched in amusement as Elliott stormed towards the bar. "Well that was interesting," Megan giggled.

"Yes, I do believe you're right my darling," he smiled and spun her around on the dance floor until they were lost in the crowd.

---

* "Somebody Knows You Now" is by Brad Paisley and on the Mud On The Tires CD. Check it out… it kicks arse!

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