Free Hearts In Rhythm by Angel Wheeler Page B

a bloody nose and a busted lip, caused by you I might add, and what do you do? You high tail it out of here!”
    She double-checked to ensure the bleeding had stopped and then tossed the bloody sock in the wastebasket sitting beside the bench.
    “I’m so sorry,” he said. “It’s just that…well it’s a bit embarrassing.”
    “More embarrassing than everything that’s happened to me?” Allie interrupting pointing to her shirt with several blood spots on it. What could be worse than being slapped by his girlfriend, running and crying like a scared child, and stopping a bloody nose with a dirty sock?
    “It’s just, I can’t handle the sight of blood. I get sick to my stomach.” He answered.
    “You’ve got to be kidding me? Had you been a true gentleman, you’d have offered me your handkerchief, but instead you’ve been over here barfing in the bushes?”
    He raised his head and looked at her. “Yep, puking in the park.”
    She laughed, “Yakking on the yard?”
    Brandon paused thinking, then continued, “Vomiting in the vicinity.”
    Laughter ensued. He stood and put his arm through Allie’s walking toward home.
    “Spewing in the snow.”
    “Retching in winter.”
    “Hey, that doesn’t work.”
    “Why not, it starts with the same sound. Almost.”
    “You know, this is the second time you’ve seriously hurt me, said Allie. “You do remember the tumble we took at Given’s Grocery? I had a sprained ankle for two days; I could barely walk. I think you need to make it up to me.”
    “Do you have any suggestions?”
    “Well, for starters,” she said with a slight grin. “I’d like you to finish your song.”
    Brandon laughed. “Okay, but make sure you stand back this time.”
    He began to sing loud and deep, “When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that’s Amore. When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine, that’s Amore. Bells will ring ting-a-ling-a-ling, ting-a-ling-a-ling and you’ll sing Vita Bella.”
    Allie felt her heart smile. She hadn’t enjoyed someone else’s company in a long time, and it felt good to have fun.
    Brandon finished the song and looked at Allie. They stopped walking and stood staring at one another.
    “You know what sounds really good?” Allie asked.
    “Pizza,” they both said at once. Brandon looped his arm in hers once again and they walked toward the pizza parlor.

 
     
    Chapter Eight
     
     
    Allie and Brandon sat across from each other at Leo’s Pizza Parlor. It felt good to be in a warm place and out of the cold. Allie’s first stop was to the restroom to clean her face and hands. She looked terrible. Her cheeks were bright red from the cold, one worse than the other from the slap Simone delivered. Her tears had caused the eye make-up that she had so carefully applied to run, leaving black streaks running down her cheeks.
    Her eyes really did look black now. She took a paper towel and wet it under the hot water. She wiped her eyes clean and scrubbed the splatters of blood from her face. Her top lip was busted in the middle and had grown larger than usual. What a night. She couldn’t wait to get home and put on pajamas and fuzzy socks on her cold feet.
    The restaurant was quiet with only another couple sitting across the room. She slid into the booth across from Brandon and opened the menu. Deciding on a pizza proved to be another hurdle of the night.
    She wanted pepperoni, but it gave him heartburn. He liked olives; she would rather stick her hand in a lawnmower than eat an olive. After several minutes of deliberating the type of pizza to order, they finally decided they would order half pepperoni, and half Canadian bacon with olives. It was all settled until the waiter asked what kind of crust: thin, hand tossed, or thick. Brandon rested his head on the back of the booth, looking up at the amber light that hung over their table.
    “Allie, just choose. I’m too hungry to fight anymore.”
    “Thin,” she said.
    Brandon