Love to Hate Her Read online

  Love to Hate Her

  PUBLISHED BY

  Lauren Duvall

  Copyright © 2012

  www.LaurenDuvall.com

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  Angela’s Redemption -- a contemporary romance by Lauren Duvall

  Part Two: Angela’s Redemption: Coming Soon

  This is a work of fiction. None of it is real. All names and events are products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to real names, places, or events are purely coincidental, and should not be construed as reality.

  Copyright © 2012

  www.LaurenDuvall.com

  This Kindle book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book nay be used or reproduced in any manner, without the express written permission of the author.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Love to Hate Her

  Chapter One

  God, she’s beautiful, he thought. Andrew glanced over at his fiancé. She was doing her nails in his car. Again. The fumes were nauseating, and he really hated when she did that. But, he loved to make her happy, and he knew what he was about to tell her would not. It can wait, he told himself for the thousandth time that day.

  Nicole stretched her arm out to the dashboard, turned it sideways, and admired her hand. Tangerine Crush. The color would be perfect with a tan. Although, she thought, she always looked good anyway. They were leaving in five days, and she’d never been out of the states: To say she was excited was an under statement.

  She opened the window just a crack to let out the fumes, and a strand of auburn whipped up and out as the rest of her hair cascaded in lazy curls over her shoulders. Nicole’s hair had been pinned up and under a wide-brimmed hat all day. When they were leaving the party she’d let it down, and Andrew stopped dead in his tracks. Gorgeous.

  She pursed her lips and blew on her wet nails, taunting him through the corner of her eye, and anticipation tingled up his spine. He loved her. How couldn’t he? God she’s beautiful, he thought again. She was perfect.

  God he makes me sick. Nicole flashed Andrew a smile from the passenger’s seat as the thought ran rampant through her head. But – it’s worth it. The Rock on her finger glistened in the afternoon sun and she caressed it lovingly between coats. Well worth it. She reached over and slid her hand slowly up his thigh and gave him a wink. He accelerated.

  Andrew and Nicole had spent the weekend at a family party in Connecticut, and were now driving down I-95 on the way home to Philadelphia. It was his family’s party, so it was a little stuffy for her taste.

  Her family? They would have been in shorts, drinking beer, eating barbeque chicken with their fingers and swearing at each other all day. Andrew’s family ate tiny bites of food off small plates with smaller forks, and all kissed each other twice: Once on each cheek. Not Nicole’s cup of tea, but she put up with it.

  The kicker, for her, was the way these people dressed. Nothing was normal, she mused. All prim and proper, every function needed a particular outfit. There were gowns for the opera, flowing dresses and hats for polo matches, short, uncomfortable, hot in the sun linen dresses for backyard reunions. And so many polka dots! What was it with rich people and polka dots?

  Another keen observation: No shriveled up old ladies in this family. Rather, chic, face-lifted proper matrons with perfect make-up and perfect teeth. Crazy.

  “How are the wedding plans, my dear?” Andrew’s Aunt Meara had cornered her that day, with her 80 year old skin so shiny and white, stretched across her face like moleskin on a fat lady’s ass. She placed her gloved hand lightly on Nicole’s shoulder. Nicole held her giggle from her own thoughts, held Aunt Meara’s other hand in both her own, and kissed her, once on each cheek. She learned quick.

  “Lovely,” she answered. “Even with a wedding planner, there’s so much to do! So much more than I thought.”

  “I’m sure you’ll do a wonderful job, Nicole. You’re such a fine, young lady.”

  “Oh, thank you, Aunt Meara.” Nicole smiled a cordial smile, and thought If the old bat only knew… Then she giggled again in her head.

  Before she met him, Nicole was a t-shirt and jeans kind of girl. But for each of these functions, Drew took her shopping. This was good. Now, she had a closet full of clothes that cost more than her mother’s home.

  Nicole, or Nikki, for short, was a bank teller. She hated her job, but had met Andrew there, and he was her ticket out. She knew from his deposit that he had money. She learned later that he came from money. A lot of it. She knew then, she would have him. She was right. And, of course, it didn’t hurt that he was handsome, and built. The only problem was, he bored her to tears.

  He glanced over at her again. They were more than half way home now and he knew he had to break the news, but he didn’t know how. She works so hard, he thought. She deserves a vacation.

  Andrew admired Nicole’s desire to work. She’d insisted that until they got married she’d continue to work and pay her own way. She had everything he’d always wanted in a woman—beauty, ambition, brains, sensitivity, understanding—he lost himself in her list of attributes. Nevertheless, he had a multi-million dollar deal going and he just couldn’t get away.

  “About vacation, Nicole,” he started—

  “I know! I can’t wait!” She beamed at him with her flawless smile and it broke his heart to continue.

  “I know you’ve been looking forward to it for awhile now, honey, but I’m afraid I have a big deal going through next week and I can’t go. The buyers are insisting I’m there. My hands are tied.”

  Her face dropped. Her first impulse was to fly into a rage, but Nikki knew Andrew would not have that. After all, it had taken her months to transform herself into his ideal woman. She had been choking down the symphony, museums, food she could not begin to pronounce, cultural events and fine wine… She couldn’t blow it now. She’d have to “understand.” What a schmuck, she thought bitterly.

  Nicole composed herself and smiled sweetly.

  “I know how much your father’s business means to you, Drew. I understand.” She sat quiet and still for a moment. And then the wheels started to turn. “The only problem is, this is the only vacation I get, and I had to put in for it months ago. Now I’ll have nothing to do…” She gave him a sideways glance and put her best pout on. She knew he’d take the bait. She wondered what she’d get out of it this time.

  Drew was quiet for a moment. “Well, why don’t you go without me? We still have the tickets and you’ve never been to the Caymans before. You can just relax on the beach. If I can get through this thing quick enough, maybe I can meet you there. The only thing is, I can’t guarantee that. I’m sorry, honey. There’s nothing I can do.”

  Nicole thought about it. She didn’t have a problem going anywhere without him, but she knew he could do better.

  “You know I’m terrified of flying, Drew. I can’t do it without you.”

  Andrew sat, silently wishing a solution. He found one, so he thought.

  “Alright then. Why don’t you go down south and see your cousin Samantha for a couple of weeks? You talk about her all the time. She’ll be glad to see you and you’ll still be on a vacation. We’ll just switch your ticket over. How does that sound?” Wow! That was a pretty good one for a dumbass! She paused just long enough for him to notice.

  “Drew, I just said I don’t want to fly without you. It’s a great idea, and I would love to see Samantha, but I don’t think my car would make it.” She looked up and shrugged her shoulders, doe eyed. That one always wor
ked. And, it was always better when he thought he came up with the idea.

  The next day there was a brand new black Mercedes SL 550 Roadster sitting in Nikki’s driveway.

  Chapter Two

  “Sometimes you outdo yourself, Nick.” She spoke out loud as she admired herself in the rearview mirror and fixed her lip gloss. She started the car and cranked The Doors on the radio. “No more of that symphony horseshit. These two weeks are mine.” She laughed out loud and wondered again how she had been so lucky as to get out of spending two weeks alone with that sap. It would be bad enough after they were married.

  She sped down I-95, with the top down and her hair flying behind her. Nikki was breathtaking but she knew it and took full advantage of the fact. Always. She winked at a truck driver, just to make his day, and then laughed and took off.

  She couldn’t wait to see Sammy. They had grown up together, but hadn’t seen each other since Nicole moved up to Philly three years ago. God, going back to Florida was like a dream come true! Life was one big party when she lived there. The first thing she wanted was a shot and a beer, and last call at 5 A.M.

  **********************

  “You bitch!” Sam ran through the parking lot when she saw Nikki pulling in. “You bitch! Where’d you get that car?” Nicole’s cousin, Samantha stood in front of Nicole’s new Mercedes with her jaw on the ground.

  “Stop drooling, girl. Andrew bought it for me.”

  “

  No WAY! You are such a bitch!”

  They laughed and Nikki pulled her suitcase from the back seat. She didn’t bring that much to wear: Bathing suits, shorts, nothing stuffy. No polo dresses here, thank God.

  The two grabbed something to eat, Nikki settled in, and they started walking to the beach. Although they hung out all the time when Nicole lived close, since she left they rarely spoke. On the walk they started catching up on each others lives.

  “So, what about this Andrew… What do you call him? Drew? You always step in the shit!”

  “Oh Sammy. You would too, if you looked like me.” Nicole pulled her pony high on her head and gave her cousin a snooty little look. Samantha had dirty blonde hair, curls, and freckles. Cute, but she was no beauty like Nicole. Sam sunk into her shoulders and tucked her hair behind her ear. It was then she remembered why they lost touch. But she knew it would be a long two weeks ahead if she didn’t shrug it off, like she used to.

  Samantha went on. “Anyway, your mom told my mom he’s great. Hot, well, handsome, she said. Down to earth, sensible, from a good family… worth millions… what more can you ask for? Except that car! Bitch!” Samantha added the last ‘bitch’ for Nicole’s last comment about her. She sneered obnoxiously and shook her head at her cousin. “Your mother sent a picture—oh my God—a Greek God sitting on a BMW in the parking lot of the Hard Rock Café in Maui…” she shook her head and laughed. “You are such a--” Nicole cut her off.

  “He’s a sap.”

  “What?”

  “A sap—a schmuck—a nothing. He bores me to death. He makes me eat broccoli and listen to Beethoven. I haven’t had a beer, or french fries, for that matter, in months. I can’t sleep after nine on weekends because there’s always some outing or family function to go to. He wouldn’t know the smell of good dope if it bit him in the ass, and he loves the opera. But,” she added with a broad smile, “he buys me anything I want.”

  Samantha looked at Nikki and rolled her eyes. “Ya know,” she said, “You make me sick. You’ve got this great looking guy, obviously in love and gushing all over you. He’s gorgeous, loaded—and you’re still not satisfied!” She laughed. “But I can play that game if you want to. Let me introduce you to my boyfriend’s friend, Craig. We can go out tonight. You up for it?”

  ****************

  “How do I look?” Nicole asked, her green eyes sparkling. Nikki was always up for a compliment. She had on a pair of jean short shorts and a half-shirt, showing off her long, tan legs and taut belly. No make-up, loose curls falling down her back, she struck a pose as she walked out of Sam’s bathroom.

  “Great, as usual!”

  “You expected something different?” Sam had friends who joked around like that. The problem was, when Nikki said that stuff, she meant it. Sam always let it roll off, because Nikki was her cousin, and when she didn’t get cocky she was really fun to be around. Deep down, Samantha knew Nicole was a nice person. If she wanted to be.

  Nikki glanced again in the mirror on her way to answer the door. She and Samantha were double-dating with Sam’s boyfriend Ryan and his friend, Craig. All thoughts of Andrew aside, she had no problem with that. Before she opened the door, she slid the three carat princess cut off her finger and hid it deep in her pocket.

  Craig and Ryan were standing outside. Oh my God, she’s gorgeous, thought Nikki’s date. He fell in love with her, first sight. That happened frequently. They said their introductions and hellos, and Craig could not take his eyes off her.

  They ended up playing pool in a little dive around the corner where Nikki and Sam used to hang out. And, of course, everyone who remembered Nikki bought her a shot. At last call they went for a walk on the beach. Nikki’s head was spinning, and she loved it.

  Craig took her hand as they walked, and after a few stumbles they landed on the sand. It might have been romantic, except Craig was a little sloppy and passed out on top of her. She wasn’t far behind. They woke up naked to the sun rising and people walking their dogs along the shore. Both got dressed quickly, and ran off the beach laughing. Both thought the sex was great. Then again, neither one fully remembered it.

  She and Craig spent the following four nights much the same way, along with Sam and Ryan. Each night was a different bar, with free food at Happy Hour, drink specials, shots. Lots of shots. They went back to the beach, but after that first night they got smart and brought a blanket. Sometimes they went back to Craig’s place and slept there.

  She never asked what he did or where he was from. She didn’t care. When she left it would be over, and she would go home and marry into millions.

  Craig? He was falling. Hard. He hadn’t cared about anyone but himself for so long, he almost forgot what it was like. The last girl he felt like this about ripped his heart out through his throat, and he vowed to himself never to go there again. But when he looked at this one, it was different. His heart skipped a beat. He felt like a chick. Usually, that’s how they fell for him. With this one, the tables were turned. Even after just a few days, she was all he thought about.

  And so it went until Friday of the first week of Nicole’s vacation. On Friday morning, she woke up with a dry-mouth and a banging headache, and rolled over to face Craig. He was on his side, naked, still passed out, and drooling onto his pillow. She sat on the edge of the bed, and shook her head. What the hell am I doing here?, she thought. Disgusted, she snuck out of Craig’s apartment and drove back to Sam’s. It had been a long week, and after none of this partying for four years, she was feeling the effects.

  Nicole didn’t go to the beach that day. She didn’t do anything. Nor did she answer her phone. She just lay around Sam’s house, nursing her week-long hangover, and watching TV. She had this nagging feeling… something was bothering her… but she just couldn’t put her finger on it.

  By the time Friday afternoon rolled around and Sam came home from work, the last thing she wanted was Happy Hour.

  Chapter Three

  “What’re we doing tonight?” she asked as Sam walked through the door.

  “We have to meet Craig and Ryan at the Banana Boat in Boynton. Two for one Happy Hour with free eats.”

  “We’ve been out every night this week—can’t we go to a movie or something? Can we get some REAL food?”

  “Um, Helloooo… Come in Nick! Earth to Nick! This is what you’re here for, remember?”

  Nicole rolled her eyes as she walked into her room to get ready. Curling her hair, she talked to herself in the mirror. “I would kill for a nice filet with s
ome grilled asparagus right now, maybe a baked potato, and crème brulee for dessert”-- she stopped abruptly when she realized what she’d said. Rather than dwell on her statement, she shrugged it off and went to a more familiar place in her head: The place where she was the star. “You’re gorgeous,” and she blew herself a kiss.

  On the way to Boynton, the car was silent. It seemed all week she and Sam were running out of things to say, and now the well had run dry. She turned on the radio. As she fiddled with the dial she landed on Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 in D Minor. She hesitated for a moment. Hmmm… I kind of like this… For the first time since she arrived in Florida, her thoughts went back to Andrew, and she felt a little twinge.

  “What are you doing? I don’t want to listen to that crap.” Sam shot her a scolding glance and they pulled into the parking lot. They locked the car and went in. There was Craig. Already. Yay, thought Nicole. He had a Michelob Light — no, two — waiting for her with a shot of Cuervo Gold and a slice of lime. He liked to lick the salt off her neck before he did his shots. Started the night right, he said. She slid past him and ordered a glass of Chablis.

  “What’s that, babe?” He whispered in her ear and then slobbered in it. She winced. “I missed you today. Can’t wait to get you back to my place.” And then he winked and slid his hand slowly up her thigh. At that moment, something in Nicole snapped. She felt like the person she was before she had left this place, her old home. It wasn’t a good feeling. There had been too many nights like these before: Too many nights that ended at the beach, or waking up in a random apartment. She had left for Philadelphia with her mother to change. To get away from it all. To grow up. At this moment, with the music blaring and the smell of smoke and alcohol engulfing her, she realized she had. Little by little, she’d changed. She just hadn’t known it yet.