Lips of an angel

Four

"It's only two nights." I say rolling my eyes, glad that Nicole can't see my face. This is not the first time I have had to go out of town for work. Every couple of months there is some or other convention or launch of some new radical drug that is about to heal the world. Obviously I have to attend. Nicole has it in her mind that these wild parties and debaucherous acts happen at these events, if she only knew.

I am not saying that they don't. I just have no interest in participating.

"Why do you always have to go?" SHe asks flopping down on the bed, right in the middle of everything I have been trying to neatly fold to place in my suitcase. Her pout doesn't go unnoticed, just unacknowledged.

"All the reps are going Nix." I say pulling a pants free from under her thigh. Great, I am going to have to iron it again. Sifting through my suitcase, I can see Nicole checking my clothes looking for any signs of duplicity. But this is not my first rodeo. We do this same dance everytime. I know to pack my simplest underwear. Nothing with lace or even remotely sexy. In fact I actually bought myself some plain cotton great-aunt almost granny panties, for this specific reason. I have two shirts and two pants and two pairs of socks. Yip, socks. I tried packing stockings once and honestly the comfort level I would have felt with my heels was not worth the argument. Now I pack shoes that can accomodate really thin socks. Like I said, I dial sexy all the way down. My pajamas are always the same. One is a long pants and long sleeve top, regardless of the weather with kittens on them and the other has reindeers. I should mention that I hate kittens, but again, not worth the drama.

"I don't even know where you will be staying." She replies after checking through all my clothes. I try not to sigh in annoyance as I find a hanger for my pants.

"My full itenary is on your side table Nix. Can we please not do this everytime?" Nicole rolls herself off the bed and comes to stand beside me. Shrugging her shoulders she steps closer and pushes her body up against mine. An easy smile rests on my lips as I enjoy the feel of her. Nix has an amazing body, and she is really generous with it.

"Is it so crazy to think that I will miss you while you are gone? Or to worry about some slut throwing herself at you?" She says leaning in to place a kiss on my neck. I lift my head to give her access. Nicole's insecurities can be quite unbearable at time and I think she knows this, so she usually softens the blow with a distraction. A distraction I am always happy to accept.

Wrapping my arms around her waist I pull her in closer and enjoy the feel of her. I can feel the smile on her face as she continues kissing me. It doesnt take long for us to go completely off track.

Thirty minutes later we find ourselves tied up in the sheets completely sated. With a smile on my face I stare up at the ceiling, fully aware of what it is Nicole is doing. Making sure kitty is fully fed before sending her off to play has always been her modus operandi.

With my hand gently stroking her exposed skin, i kiss the top of Nicole's head just before she looks up at me to smile.

"It will only be two nights Nicole. I will be back before you know it." I say hoping my words comfort her, but they dont. So i try again.

"Nix I would never cheat on you. That kind of behaviour repulses me. And you have met everyone who is going to be there, everyone is either married or in a long term relationship. There is no need for concern." I say trying to look at her, but her eyes have long since focused on the wall.

"Besides this gives you time to hang out with Mia and Lola without me moaning about rather staying home." My final comment has the desired effect as Nicole finally releases a giggle. Getting up and straddling me she looks down at me and smiles. She really is a pretty girl. A little crazy, but still.

"True, but I think Lola is working on some project for the next couple of days." she says as she comes down and gives me a kiss. Pulling me up with her as she gets off the bed, I head for the shower.

"Stop, there is no time. You will miss your flight." She says and throws my clothes at me. Looking at the time, I realise she is right and shake my head as I realise what it is she has just done.

"You know that if someone actually got close enough to me to sniff me, you would have bigger problems." I say as I pull my tshirt over my head and yank on my jeans. Handing me my shoes she comes closer and gives me another kiss.

"If they got that close, they would realise you are already taken." She says, swaying her hips as she walks away.

Or I just m*********d in the bathroom. But I don't dare say that outloud. I am almost out the door. Now is not the time to be stupid.

The two hour flight goes by so quickly. The moment I sat down I took out a book I had been struggling to read for nearly two months. I was looking forward to finishing it over the next two days. Nicole isn't exactly the kind of person you can read around.

"Looks like you are gonna be the life of the party, three years running now." A voice beside me speaks up as we pull up on the tarmac. I don't need to look over to know who it is. Joan and I have been working together forever. She is a mother of two, who uses these conventions to let her hair down. Her and a few other ladies in our department call these events their 'moms gone wild' parties. It is never anything salacious. Just clean harmless fun by working moms, it is really entertaining to watch.

Getting to the hotel, our itenaries are laid out on the beds along with the complimentary drinks vouchers and several note packages for the various seminars we need to attend. Thank goodness some of them or voluntary or we would never get a moment to ourselves. Deciding to take a shower, before I start my day, I drop my suitcase and make a beeline for the bathroom.

An hour later I show up in the foyer along with several other staff members. We all engage in small chit chat. I am forced to put it all on hold as my phone starts vibrating like crazy. I don't need to check the caller ID to know who it is.

"Hi Nix. Yes I arrived safely. Yes, its a single room. Yes I am on my way to my first seminar. And yes, I will give you a call when I am done for the day." I eventually stop rolling my eyes when I catch one of the guys in my department looking at me with concern. With a shy smile I turn to avoid his gaze.

"Well that's great honey, but I also called to ask if you have seen Lola yet?" She asks as my eyes instantly start roaming the foyer.

"Why would I see Lola?" I ask as I wave to Joan and her buddies as they look like their party may have started a bit early.

"She is capturing the event. Anyway, I am here with Mia. She just wanted to ask that you keep an eye on Lola. Make sure she is okay." Before I can say anything, Nicole says goodbye and hangs up.

In her pursuit of happiness Lola has been taking pictures for the past two years. I have seen some of her work, they are really good. And I am sure she could be great if she could stay focused for longer than five minutes.

Taking a final sweep of the room and coming up empty, I decide to let go of the search and leave Lola to find me.

Two seminars later, I am starving and grateful that we are breaking for lunch. Making my way over to the dining hall, I fish my book out of my bag and tuck it under my arm as I start filling my plate at the buffet station. I have an hour before my next compulsory three hour seminar, then I am done for the day. Thankfully.

Finding a fairly isolated table along the side of the dining hall, I quickly take my seat and open my book to the right page. Stuffing some fries in my mouth I cannot help but smile. This truly is my happy place. Nicole insists on us eating 'clean' at home. So no junk food of any kind. That along with the lack of a reading corner at home, this is truly utopia right now. About half way through my burger and milkshake with my eyes locked on a very interesting section of the book I barely notice the person taking a seat across from me.

I eventually decide to ignore them and continue reading. I mean come on, the open book with head buried in it should have been a sufficient clue that I am not up for socialising.

"I thought you were meant to be looking out for me?" Lola's voice snaps me out of fictional world.

"Oh s**t, so they weren't kidding. You are really here." I say finishing off my fries. Lola smiles as she digs into her salad.

"Yeah, I will be sure to tell Nix that you are actually at a boring as s**t pharmaceutical conference. With a shrug of my shoulders I smile, because its the truth. And it doesn't surprise me that Nicole actually wanted confirmation from someone else.

"So listen I have two more seminars to hit up then I should be done. Meet you in the foyer at eight." Without waiting on an answer Lola gets up and hauls her bags onto her shoulder leaving me at my table.

With a grown I drop my head in my hand as I feel my quiet night slipping away.

My seminar ends at five. I make my way to my room, message Nix before setting my alarm to take a nap.

By the time eight rolls around, I manage to find myself in the foyer waiting on Lola. I didn't pack for a night out, so I had to work with what I had. I kept my shirt on and coupled it with my jeans and my flats. It would do for grabbing something to eat and I am guessing a few drinks. The elevator pings and Nicole steps out dressed in barely anything.

"What the f**k are you wearing?" I say as she walks up to me. My annoyance level sky rockets, this is not what I had planned for the night.

"Me? What the hell are you wearing?" She says looking at me touching my hair as she wrinkles her nose.

"I am dressed to head out for dinner and maybe grab a drink. You...you look like you are about to paint the town red." I say as the elevator pings again, this time release Joan and her friends dressed similarly to Lola.

"So you did get the menu. These ladies invited us along with them. So lets get going." She says taking me by the hand as Joan and her buddies follow us.

Against my will the girls drag me to a nightclub, about twenty minutes from the hotel. Trust Joan and her girls to find the only nightclub in this one horse town. The girls order a round of drinks and frown at me as I ask for food. I have to remind them that I was under the illusion we were heading out for supper. But my complaints fall on deaf ears as the girls inhale their drinks the minute they arrive and head out to the dance floor before my food arrives.

I spend most of the night on the couch nursing a beer after I had my burger and fries. The food wasn't too bad for a nightclub. Sitting on the couch I watch several middle aged men strike out as they try and hit on the ladies. Joan and her friends are in their element. Each enjoying the ability to let loose without having to feel like they are being bad parents. And Lola, well Lola is always up for a party, so her behaviour is no surprise.

After a couple more songs the girls all head in different directions, two of them walk to the other side of the club and two of them come and join me on the couch. Joan and Lola walk towards me.

"Drinks?" Joan asks as she gets close enough, but doesn't wait for a response as she heads over to the bar. Lola sits down next to me and giggles about something or the other.

"Having fun?" I ask as I finally finish my beer.

"I am. Are you?" She asks leaning in closer waiting for my response. Despite myself I realise that I am actually having a good time. But I am not quite ready to admit it.

"Oh come on, just admit it." Lola says, but she is interrupted by someone I saw dancing with her and the girls earlier.

I cannot hear what they are saying, but the way Lola tosses her hair back in response to whatever it is the other woman had said, leads me to believe that it cannot be anything good. And as if to confirm my suspicions the short haired butch looking girl runs her finger across Lola's cheek, with no objection from Lola.

"Hey buddy, I think you are barking up the wrong tree here." I say as I lean across Lola to make sure the other woman hears me. Lola makes no effort to put any additional space between her and the woman.

"Really? I think I am on the right track here." There woman says as she leans closer to Lola and smiles. Out of no where a bolt of rage flairs up in me, causing me to jump to my feet.

"Asshole, I said walk away. She is taken!" I say putting myself between Lola and the deaf lesbian.

"Oh dear. What is happening here? Olivia is everything okay?" I hear Joan's mom voice as she steps up behind me placing her hand on my shoulder. The other woman puts her hands up in surrender and turns and walks away.

Joan gives my shoulder a comforting squeeze and sits down on the couch. My body is still trembling with anger as I turn to face Lola.

"What the f**k was that?" At first Lola completely ignores me as she walks over to Joan and picks up a drink. Joans' friends have joined her now.

My eyes are trained on Lola as I wait for her response and hopefully my anger levels to drop.

"Calm down, we were just talking." She says taking a sip of her drink before offering me the beer Joan brought back from the bar. I look at the beer for a second before deciding that I need a sip.

"And when exactly where you going to tell her that you have a girlfriend." I say as I sit down beside her. Lola places her hand on my thigh and I instantly flinch. What the f**k is this girls deal?

"Liv, seriously. Calm down. We were just talking. And what does it matter if she knows who Mia is. I do." Taking her focus from me she bobs along to the music as I try and calm myself down. Why does Lola flirting with someone else bother me so much, Nicole does it all the time.