As it turned out, that was the wrong thing to say. Although the comedy interlude had in fact gotten Angela to forget all about her troubles for the moment, my attempt at a witty quip merely served to remind her that she’d come here for a reason, and that reason hadn’t actually gone away.
Suddenly remembering what brought her up to our apartment, Angela’s face crumpled up again, and the tears started to flow.
“It’s Antonio,” she said. “He’s been arrested. They say he’s been dealing drugs.”
“Has he?” I asked. Emmy shot me a look, but I thought the question was appropriate.
“No!” Angela replied. “At least, I don’t think he does,” she admitted.
“But you’re not sure?” I asked, trying to make sure we were all clear on the situation.
“He doesn’t talk much about his work,” Angela admitted.
“All right,” I said, settling down on the couch next to the distraught woman. “Your boyfriend Antonio has been arrested on charges of drug dealing. You don’t think he deals drugs, but it’s a possibility. The police haven’t arrested you, so that tells us that they don’t think you’re involved in any way, right? So that tells us that they believe he’d been hiding his activities from you,” I said, laying out my understanding of the situation. “Did the police search your condo?”
“Yes, they checked everywhere.”
“Do you know if they found anything?” I asked.
“They didn’t let me in to the condo while they were looking.”
“Well, if they did find anything, it must not have been anywhere in your stuff, or anywhere you’d know about it, or they would have arrested you, too,” I explained. “So at this point, unless Antonio somehow lays some blame on you, I’d say you’re safe.”
“He wouldn’t do that,” Angela protested.
“Let’s hope not,” I said.
“What can we do for you?” Emmy asked from her seat on Angela’s other side.
“I was hoping you knew a good lawyer,” Angela answered. “I’ve never needed one before.”
“Yeah, we have lawyers on retainer,” I said. “But they’re really expensive, and you may not need one.”
“Oh, no- not for me. For Antonio,” Angela said.
I sighed, not knowing how to have the next part of this conversation and not be a jerk about it. “Listen, Angela, you have to think about yourself first, then Antonio second. Ask yourself this- if he really has been dealing drugs, would you still do what you can to support him?”
The look on her face let me know that she hadn’t actually given any thought to that side of the equation.
“If he was dealing drugs, he clearly didn’t want you to know or be involved, right?” I asked.
“Yeah… I guess,” Angela said, thinking about things.
“Which means either he thought you wouldn’t approve, or he wanted you to be safe if things went bad, right?”
“I suppose so.”
“Here’s my suggestion. Be completely and totally truthful with the police and any prosecutors that want to talk with you, and tell them what you’ve told us tonight. Antonio didn’t talk much about work, you never got any hints he might have been dealing drugs, and you never suspected anything. That’s all true, right?” I asked.
“Yeah, that’s true,” Angela said, thinking about it.
“All right. If you get to talk to Antonio, you have a choice to make. Don’t ask him if he did it, and continue to support him. Or, you could ask, and if he says no, it’s all a big mistake, you can believe him and continue to support him. But if he tells you he did it, then you suddenly become an accessory after the fact, and it’ll affect every conversation you have with the authorities. So don’t ask, and hopefully he won’t tell you.”
“What’s the other choice?” Angela asked, showing that she was paying attention.
“Cut him loose. If you ask him if he’s guilty and he admits it to you, or he just tells you out of the blue, then tell him you’ll find him a good lawyer if he needs one, but otherwise, he’s on his own.” As I spoke, I tucked the towel in a bit better, as sitting on the couch was tugging on it from below.
“I…” Angela said, at a loss for words.
“Do you love him?” Emmy asked, her voice gentle.
“I thought we were going to get married and live together for the rest of our lives,” Angela said as the tears began again.
“Would you still love him if you found out he was dealing drugs?” Emmy asked.
“I… I don’t know,” Angela admitted. “Maybe if it was just weed? Not grown by cartel types? Maybe?”
“How about if it was meth or heroin?” Emmy asked, still in a gentle voice.
“Those ruin peoples’ lives,” Angela said. “Knowing he was doing that would be too much,” Angela replied, more firmly.
“You remember what I said about making sure you’re O.K.? You need to think about your personal situation right now,” I said. “First off, have you had dinner yet?”
Surprised by the change in topic, Angela shook her head.
“Are you hungry?” Emmy asked. “We were just about to have Japanese food. I am certain there is enough for the three of us. Let’s eat, and talk things through,” Emmy suggested, giving Angela’s elbow a gentle lift to get her moving.
I stood up, and of course my towel made a break for the floor again. I caught it and held it in front of me as it came completely unwrapped again. Rolling my eyes, I said, “I’ll be back in a moment,” as I made my way to the bedroom to throw on a T shirt and a pair of jeans.
“She is not actually a nudist,” I heard Emmy say, her laughter bright and sparkling. “I think she is more of an exhibitionist.”
This got a laugh from Angela in return, so I guess there was at least a little bit of a silver lining to my embarrassment.
Sitting at the kitchen counter, Emmy divided up the yakisoba and the mixed tempura while I poured us all glasses of wine.
“I hate to be the one who bears bad news, but we need to discuss your situation in practical terms,” I said, once we’d all started on dinner. “As shitty as jail might be for Antonio right now, things are going to be rough for you for a while, too.”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, let’s start with your condo. Is it paid for, or do you have a mortgage?” I asked.
“I… I don’t know,” Angela admitted. “Antonio takes care of all that stuff.”
“You keep separate bank accounts?” I asked.
“Yeah, and he pays all the bills. I pay for my things, and our vacations. I usually pay when we go out, too,” Angela explained.
“The police have probably put some sort of judicial hold on his bank account, if they think he’s been making his money illegally,” I said. “So if he’s been paying the mortgage and association fees, well, those are going to not get paid until this clears up. Is the condo in both your names?”
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“No, it’s his,” she said, starting to sense the level of problems she was about to face.
“Do you have any relatives nearby you could stay with until all of this is settled?” Emmy asked.
“My family is all back in Colombia,” Angela said.
“Antonio- is he Colombian, too?” I asked, fearing that he’d maybe be part of some cocaine cartel.
“No, he’s Chicago Italian,” she said, which didn’t really ease my mind much.
“All right. If I were in your position, I’d grab my stuff from the condo and find a place to stay for now,” I said.
“Do you think Angela could stay with us?” Emmy asked. “Just for now, I mean?”
“I couldn’t impose on you two like that!” Angela protested.
“We have two empty bedrooms. It wouldn’t be much of an imposition,” I said, nodding at Emmy that I was O.K. with the idea.
“I don’t think I can get my things,” Angela said, her shoulders slumping. “The police have sealed the condo.”
“Well, that’s awkward,” I said, taking a sip of wine. “Are the police there now?”
“I don’t know. They were there when I left to come up here, but they might be gone by now.”
“Alright. After dinner, let’s go down and see, and if they’re gone we can grab your things,” I suggested.
By that time we finished with dinner, Angela had calmed down and was really starting to look at things clearly. When a quick trip downstairs revealed that the condo was still off-limits, she said, “I’ll only need a couple of days, until I can find my own place, then I’ll get out of your hair.”
“You do not need to rush,” Emmy assured her. “You are welcome to stay as long as it takes.”
I wasn’t totally in love with the idea of a roommate, but Angela seemed nice, and she needed a place to stay until this mess with her boyfriend cleared up, so I could live with it.
The three of us settled into the balcony living room with another bottle of wine, chatting and enjoying the summer evening. I’d turned on the fireplace just for the ambiance, even though it wasn't needed for warmth. I was zoning out, not really paying attention, when I caught Angela asking about me being an exhibitionist.
“I’m not actually an exhibitionist,” I objected. “I don’t even have an art gallery, much less a museum, so how could I even exhibit anything?”
It took Angela and Emmy a moment to understand what I’d just said, but then they both laughed.
“It’s all right if you are,” Angela said. “There’s nothing wrong with showing off your body, you know. Especially since yours is so amazing,” she added.
“You have seen Leah’s body?” Emmy asked, perking up.
“Um, yeah- when she dropped her towel earlier, but I meant at the gym,” Angela said.
“Oh- that is right,” Emmy said. “She did show off her beautiful nude body for you earlier!”
Rolling my eyes, I said, “It wasn’t intentional.”
“It is alright, Leah,” Emmy said, patting my knee reassuringly. “I know how you like to show off for beautiful women.”
“She does that a lot?” Angela asked, her eyes wide, playing along.
“All the time,” Emmy confirmed.
Sighing, I said, “Not all the time.”
“Only to women you find beautiful?” Angela asked, leaning forward a bit.
“There was Luisa, Mia…” Emmy said, counting off on her fingers. “And you, of course. Twice!”
I could tell it was ‘roast Leah’ time, so I just sighed and took another big sip of my wine.
“But of course, Leah has the most amazing body ever, so it is understandable if she wants to show it off,” Emmy said, running her hand up and down my denim-covered thigh. “In fact, I adore seeing her nude. What did you think?”
“I only saw her naked for just a moment, and I was so surprised I really didn’t get a good look,” Angela said, getting into the ‘roast Leah’ groove. “But my impression was of legs that went on forever, and those abs! And her shoulders. Really, it was all very impressive.”
“I think you deserve a better look, after all you have gone through today,” Emmy told her. “I think that Leah should take off her clothes.”
“I am not taking off my clothes,” I said.
“Oh, but Leah! Angela has been through so much today! Just think how much it would improve her mood to see you in all your glory!”
“I don’t think she does actually want to see me naked, since, you know, she’s not actually gay,” I said. “She has a boyfriend.”
“I think I had a boyfriend,” Angela said, her face falling. “I’m not sure I do anymore.”
Emmy got up and sat next to Angela, wrapping her arm around the other woman’s shoulders. “It will be alright,” Emmy murmured. “Things will work out somehow.”
Angela couldn’t stop the tears, and within moments she was sobbing. Emmy motioned me over, so I sat on Angela’s other side and followed Emmy’s example, wrapping an arm around the distraught woman. We held her like that for a while, until she stopped crying. I handed her a napkin to clean her face and tried to stand up to fetch some kleenex for her, but she put her hand on my leg to keep me there, so I sat myself back down.
“Don’t go,” she pleaded. “Just stay here for a little bit longer.”
“As long as you want,” I said, wrapping my arm arm around her waist again. I used my other hand to tuck Angela’s long, dark hair back so it wasn’t in her face. “Are you going to be O.K.?”
“I suppose,” Angela answered. “I’m just really… emotional right now.”
“That is understandable,” Emmy said, her voice soothing. “Take all the time you need to recover.”
We sat like that, crowded into the smaller of the two couches, for at least another fifteen or twenty minutes, until, with a big sigh, Angela announced that she was O.K. “Thank you, you two, for everything,” she said, wiping the corners of her eyes.
“Is there anything more we can do for you?” I asked.
“You’ve done so much for me already,” she said. “I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”
“There is no need for that,” Emmy assured her. “We are in a position to help you when you need it, and that is all.”
Later, when were bringing everything back inside, Angela asked, “Leah, I’m sorry for being so difficult, but can I borrow some workout clothes for tomorrow morning? All I have is this,” she said, indicating the torn jeans and fuzzy hoodie she was wearing. “All my other clothes are in the condo.”
“Sure, no problem,” I said, indicating she should follow me. I led the way to our walk-in closet, Emmy trailing along behind. “How is this?” I asked, pulling some leggings from my exercise wear drawer. “Will this do?” I asked as I handed Angela a sports top.
“I have some things if those do not fit you,” Emmy said, as Angela held up the top against her chest.
“Let me see,” Angela said. “Where can I try them on?”
“Oh! Let me show you to your room,” Emmy said, taking Angela’s hand and dragging her out.
Emmy returned a moment later and started looking through her drawers for something Angela could borrow.
A minute or two after that, Angela joined us again, wearing the ensemble I’d loaned her. She was holding up the waistband of the leggings, which extended all the way down her feet, her toes just barely poking out. The top I’d handed her was drooping loosely like a redneck’s tank top, except for where it was snug across her remarkably buoyant breasts. She was significantly smaller than me everywhere except her boobs, it seemed.
“Oh!” Emmy exclaimed, her voice happy. “That is perfect for you!”
Angela gave a wry smile and said, “It’ll be hard to work out if I have to hold onto the pants with one hand to keep them from falling off.”
“You could join Leah in the exhibitionist’s club!” Emmy said, laughing.
“Hmm… Let’s see,” Angela said, letting go of the waistband and mimicking barbell curls. As she moved, the leggings drooped down dropping enough to just hang up on the top of her legs, showing the top half of her undies. She looked down and said, “Maybe only a provisional member.”
“Here, I have some things for you to try on,” Emmy said and handed her some pieces of brightly colored spandex.
Angela pulled the leggings back up and took the new clothes with her other hand, shuffling out and back to her room.
“That was hilarious,” Emmy said, her face lit up. “I really like her.”
“Yeah, she seems really nice,” I agreed. “It’s a shame about what’s happened.”
“Yes, it is,” agreed Emmy.
Angela returned wearing Emmy’s dance wear, which was just the opposite of the clothes I’d given her earlier. Emmy was much more slender than Angela, and the cross-back sports top was squeezing Angela so tightly she could barely move. The leggings were so tight they gave her a muffin top, even though Angela had hardly any body fat to speak of. I took in her pained expression and covered my mouth, trying to hide my laughter.
“I don’t think this would work, either,” Angela said, deadpan. “And god, the camel toe! I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on my workout at all with that going on!”
I couldn't help but look, and sure enough, there was significant crotch cleavage on display.
“Ooh, that is sexy!” Emmy said. “But it looks uncomfortable.”
“Here,” I said, handing Angela another outfit to try on. It was nothing like the things I’d seen her wear in the gym downstairs, but it would certainly do for a workout if you didn’t really care how you looked on Instagram.
“I think I’m gonna need help taking this off,” Angela said, indicating the sports top, so Emmy followed her back to the other room.
A minute or two later, they were back. Angela was wearing the mesh drawstring shorts and T shirt, which was a little bit baggy, but since it was my smallest it wasn’t too bad. She looked as if she was ready for a pick-up basketball game at a street court, but honestly, it looked good on her.
“Thanks,” Angela said. “This really isn’t my style, but it’ll work just fine until I can get my own clothes back.”
“It was a real struggle to get that top off,” Emmy commented. “I was afraid I was going to have to get out a pair of scissors!”
“Do you need any pajamas or anything like that?” I asked, since we were already trying to find clothes that would fit her.
“No, that’s alright,” Angela said. “I don’t need ‘em. What time are you going to go to the gym in the morning?” Angela asked. “And do you eat beforehand?”
“I try to be down there by five thirty, and usually just eat a banana before I go down. I don’t like to have anything much in my stomach.”
“Alright,” Angela said. “I’ll be ready at five fifteen. Do you have a phone charger I could borrow?”
Later, after Emmy and I had climbed into bed, Emmy snuggled up against my side. “I envy Angela a little bit,” she said, kissing the top of my boob.
“What? Why?”
“She got to see you naked,” Emmy answered, and I could hear the smile in her voice.
“You get to see me naked every day,” I objected.
“Yes, I do, and that makes me the luckiest girl in the world,” Emmy said. “But the day I got to see you naked for the very first time was the very best of all of those days. And today was her first day to see you naked.”
“Only day,” I corrected.
“With your exhibitionist ways, I am certain she will see more of you,” Emmy teased.