“Yeah. Family is everything.”
“No doubt,” she agreed.
“You should invite me up one weekend and show me around your city.”
“I’d love to,” she said without thinking. Another lie. Well, not really. She really would love to…but as herself, not ‘Alex Roberts’. “I get really busy when I’m home. We’ll see how it goes.”
He opened his mouth to say something, but the sound of his phone grabbed his attention. He patted around in his pockets for it. Alexandra jumped down from the low ledge, assuming it was his friends. It was time to get away from any talk that implied there was hope for a future, even a friendly future, between her and Bash. More and more, she started to believe that when her masquerade was over, Bash wasn’t going to want to have anything to do with her.
The next morning, as she was heading to the kitchen, a familiar voice sent her racing to the dining room.
Rosa was in conversation with Dad, and the smile dimpling her cheeks could light up a room, it was so bright. Alexandra breezed over to Dad’s bedside, noting the flush on his face. He was happy to see her, laughing at whatever she said to him.
“Hi Rosa! When did you get back?”
“Good morning, Alexandra,” she greeted her. “I flew in late last night. Lynn answered when I phoned, and I spoke briefly with your father.”
“Oh, right. Yes, I was out pretty late.”
“So I hear. How did it go? You were out with Sebastian Sullivan from next door, right?” Rosa gave her a playful sideways glance. It was full of questions. She ignored it, to shake away the wild speculation.
“Yes. Some of his friends from work invited him to try out speed dating. He asked me to tag along for moral support. It turned out to be terrible, and hilarious! We had a blast.”
“That’s good!” Rosa said. “It’s nice you got to enjoy yourself a little while you’re here.”
“And,” Dad jumped in, “now that Rosa’s back, you’ll have more time to yourself, Alexandra. You can stop fussing over me.”
“Dad,” she waved her index finger at him, “if you want time alone with Rosa, all you have to do is say so.”
His face flushed. “Well, I, uh…”
“I’m not going to intrude. Rosa, you want any breakfast? I was about to make some scramble eggs and something for Dad. I can fix enough for all of us.”
“I’ve already eaten, Alexandra, but thank you.”
“Good call, Rosa, because what my lovely daughter here makes is more like burnt everything,” Dad teased.
“Ha ha. Funny, Daddy,” she shouted as she walked to the kitchen.
Alexandra felt relieved that Rosa was home. She had become a part of their little family. Dad was happier already, and getting stronger by the day. It put her in a good mood. She hummed to herself as she pulled the eggs and bacon out of the fridge. Of course, this meant she had to go back to LA soon. That thought put an instant damper on her mood. With Rick on her back about fulfilling her work commitments, it was unavoidable. She was going to have to get back to her life as soon as it was feasible.
Putting the thought out of her head, she focused on how not to burn the bacon or dry out the eggs. She managed to do a decent job of cooking breakfast. She put some out neatly, and took the plate to Dad. All week, they had eaten their meals together. Now that Rosa was back, they needed alone time. She gave them some space. Taking her plate and cup of coffee, she went out to sit on the front porch. She ate slowly, watching the neighborhood come alive on the clear, sunny morning.
Sebastian’s car was parked in his driveway. She wondered if he was up yet, or sleeping in late after the crazy night they had gone through. A fresh burst of laughter surfaced at the memory.
“Asperger’s,” she mumbled between chortles, shaking her head.
She took a bite of her food. It was extra bland. It could use more salt, but she suffered through it. Her phone chimed an alert just before she started to plan her day. She tugged it out of her pocket. Her mood went from not too bad to borderline rage in an instant. Wilkes’ name and picture flashed across the screen.
Chapter 21
ALEXANDRA was livid. This man had a lot of nerve for daring to phone her weeks after she had tried so hard to reach him for an explanation.
“What the hell?” she said aloud.
She was tempted to ignore the call, but sometimes she was just too damned curious. She had to find out why the no-good, lying, cheating, country-ballad-singing cowboy son-of-a-bitch was trying to get a hold of her after all this time had passed. She slid the answer key to the side and let the call connect.
“Yes?”
“Lexxi.” He breathed her name like it was a prayer and she was his salvation.
Bullshit.
“Wilkes,” she said with disinterest.
“How are you doing?”
She pulled the phone from her ear and looked at it.
This asshole is calling to see how I’m doing?
“What do you want, Wilkes?” That was all he could get from her.
“You’re upset. I can hear it in your voice.”
“Don’t be silly.” He was right, but she laughed. “It’s indifference you’re hearing in my voice. Like a stranger calling. That is what you are to me now. So I’ll ask again. What do you want from me?”
“I know you hate me, Lex.”
“Pffft. I don’t hate you. You’re not important enough for that. Look, I’m kind of in the middle of something. Just tell me why you’re calling so I can get back to it.” She looked down at the pebbly, dry eggs, glad he thought she was in some exotic locale living the good life. The thought actually made the next bite slide down more easily.
“I know you’re busy, baby. Don’t blow me off, okay? You don’t know what nerve it took to even call you. I’ve been missing you like crazy. It’s tearing me up that I screwed up the best thing that ever happened to me. Lex, I love you. I miss you, and I want you to come home. I want to see you.”
“Right. Look, Wilkes. If you want to see me, I hear there are pictures floating around the internet. Most are of me hanging out poolside. I’m just a ‘right click’ and a ‘save image’ away, darlin’,” she drawled like him for effect.
“Don’t be like that, Lexxi. I’m trying to be mature about this. I’m telling you that I’m sorry. I want you back. I want to make it up to you, show you how much Lydia was…a mistake. I thought I needed excitement in my life, but it turns out I…I just need you.”
I guess that means I’m not exciting.
She rolled her eyes. “Wilkes, I wish I could say the same, but breaking up with you wasn’t a mistake for me.”
“You know, Lex, after being with you for a year, I pretty much pegged how this conversation would go down. I pegged it right. I didn’t expect you to take me seriously this round, but, don’t think I’m giving up. I’m going to prove it to you. I mean what I say. So, whatever you got to get out of your system, you go on and get it out now. When you’re back in LA, Lexxi, there’s nothing you can do that will keep me from loving you and winning you back.”
“Once a cheater, always a cheater, Wilkes…and don’t think I’m above a restraining order.”
She hit the end call button and smiled smugly.
“That prick thinks he can screw me over and come crawling back again? Men are such idiots,” she said aloud.
“We’re not all idiots,” she heard in response.
Shit.
She almost fell out of her chair. She whipped her head around at the sound of Bash’s voice. He had almost made it to the porch steps. She didn’t hear him walking up. She wondered how much of the conversation he had heard.
“Oh. Hi.”
“Morning, bro!” He reached out a fist to bump with hers, smiling and shaking his head. “I saw you while I was getting something from my car. How’s your uncle doing?”
“Better every day,” she answered.
Bash didn’t say anything more about her comment, so she acted like i
t never happened.
“I see Rosa’s SUV is back in the driveway.”
“Yes. She’s back. What can I do for you, neighbor?”
Alexandra’s phone rang again. She was certain it was Wilkes calling back, but now wasn’t the time. She smiled tightly, ignoring the sound. Without looking down, she fumbled for the volume button to try and mute it, but couldn’t find it in her nervous state.
Bash eyed the phone and said, “I was just saying hi. I’m heading out soon to visit a friend of mine. Sorry for interrupting your call.”
“You didn’t,” she told him as the phone stopped buzzing for a second. “It was just a crazy ex. Hey, you know how women are.”
The phone started ringing again. She groaned, snatching it up and hitting the Ignore button with a little too much force.
Bash grinned at her, nodding. “I guess both men and women have their fair share of crazies.”
Great. Another vague half-admission he’s gay.
She sighed when the phone started up again.
“You might be better off taking the call.” Bash stepped away from the porch with a wave goodbye, and slowly walked back to his house.
Thank goodness for upsides. She got to enjoy watching his sexy ass as he left.
With an irritated growl, she answered the phone. “Can’t you take a hint?”
“Lexxi, there’s one more thing I wanted to tell you.”
“What?” she spat out.
“Before that stupid mess with Lydia, I went out and did something else. I think that’s what might’ve led to me cheating on you.”
“I don’t care anymore.”
“I realize now I had a normal reaction. I got cold feet, Lex, and I’m sorry.”
“It’s over, Wilkes.”
“Lexxi, I bought you an engagement ring.”
“You did what?” she shrieked.
Had he told her this before he had cheated, before she had flown home to be with Dad, before meeting Bash, she might have melted at his feet. That was all she had wanted from him. To know how he felt, and have him love her with some fire and passion, instead of the cool relationship they had been in. Hearing it now, it was a tawdry reminder that she almost gave up the rest of her life to be with a man who felt the only way he could get some excitement was with someone else; not with her.
She barely heard the weak, pleading explanation he tried to feed her next about how his fling with Lydia was over less than a week after it started.
“Wilkes, let me make something clear to you. I met someone.”
“Huh?”
“Yeah. I met someone. That excitement you said you were looking for? Someone else is enjoying it. You know, if you had made a little more effort, you would have seen me as more than a trophy to wear on your arm, just so you could give your country album a boost. I was into you, Wilkes. I tried to show you the real me, but you’re the one who threw cold water on what we had…long before Lydia. You couldn’t handle me at my hottest, and I thought that meant there was something wrong with me. It wasn’t. I have someone who wants me for me now. You and me, we’re in the past, Wilkes. When I get back to LA, there’s no wooing me so we can get back together. Do you understand me? You can chuck the ring. Or give it to Lydia for all I care.”
“You don’t mean that, darlin’. You’re just trying to get back at me.”
“Believe whatever you want.”
“If you met somebody, what’s his name? Do I know him? Is he in the industry?”
“It’s none of your concern, so stop right there. The bottom line is, Wilkes, we’re through. We had a nice start, but you screwed it up. So don’t even try to win me back now. And please, forget my number and don’t call back.”
She hung up the phone again and turned it off. That would keep him away for a while. She took a few minutes to calm down before taking her dishes back into the house. She peeked in on Dad and Rosa after putting her plate in the dishwasher. Rosa sat next to his bed, her glasses perched on her nose. The two of them shared a book, each filling in a Sudoku game. Alexandra was pleased Dad had someone special at his side now. Rosa looked happy too. The cozy couple didn’t seem as though they needed a third wheel. She went up to her bedroom.
“I can’t believe he had the nerve to call me back to say he bought me an engagement ring,” she huffed. “Like that could change anything between us.”
She turned her phone back on. If he called again, she would send him to voicemail. She couldn’t afford to miss other important calls. It was too early to phone Evangeline and fill her in. Alexandra could already imagine her reaction. As soon as the phone screen loaded, she saw a new text message.
“God Wilkes, don’t be a nag,” she said, already expecting it was from him.
When she checked the message, she saw it was from her manager. Rick’s text said, “Another week gone, Lexxi. You’re losing relevancy and momentum. Need you back here. Now.”
She felt the anxiety rise up inside her. She was being pulled back, whether she wanted to leave or not. Rick made it clear—her career was on the line. With Dad improving so well, he didn’t need her anymore. Rosa was back too. She didn’t have a reason to stay in Tucson. Well, she had one reason, but it wasn’t as tangible as a family illness. She didn’t want to go back to the Wilkes and Ricks of LA.
In large part, it was due to what was waiting for her—the long days, the demanding work load, the feeling she was selling out and not creating the music she wanted to, the concerts, tours, media appearances, making and promoting albums. It was all too much right now. There was also the question of Bash. She could barely resist the man, but more importantly, she liked him. She liked herself when she was with him.
She needed to wake up and face reality. Her friendship with the sexy firefighter was a shit storm waiting to hit the fan. Who knew how he would react when he found out she wasn’t the cute boy next door. She should get back to LA before things got more intense with Bash and ‘Alex’. She could make trips home more frequently to keep an eye on her father now that he was out of the woods.
The decision deflated her. She sat on her bed and pulled out her tablet. It was time to book her flight and get back to the real world. Spending time here with her family and the new neighbor in Tucson was great, but it came at the expense of her career. She needed to find some balance, and until then, it was time to get back to work.
She hit the Book Flight button on her tablet and steeled herself for the blitz of goodbyes ahead. The one person she would miss most was the person who likely would cut himself out of her life completely once she went back to being Lexxi Rock.
Chapter 22
SEBASTIAN leaned forward, looking at the chessboard on the card table back at Clint’s place.
“Oh, by the way, I went out on that date,” he said, deciding on moving a pawn as the game was in its early stages.
“It looks like you scored, by that stupid grin on your face,” Clint answered. “What date was that?”
“The speed dating thing I was telling you about. Rob and Nate took me. It was nothing like I expected though.”
“Yeah? So, how did it go?”
“Not that great. Kinda funny though.”
“Did you meet any hot babes? It would be just like you to get lucky, you bastard.”
“No, man. I didn’t score last night, but there was one hot woman in there.”
A wry grin rose up on his face. The vivid mental picture took shape—Alexandra in her black blazer and black slacks, pants snug across her firm ass, curls falling around her face, her smile when he had opened his front door before they left his house that night.
“I invited a guy pal of mine to tag along—Maxwell Storme’s nephew—and he pretty much stole the show. The minute Alex sits down next to me, he clams up tighter than a stone. I end up giving him pointers, and one of the woman notices. She gets the idea there must be something wrong with the kid. She goes, ‘Aww, your little brother has Asperger’s!’ Poor guy had women coming at him from all si
des. Well, you had to be there, but it was a hoot.”
He quieted down when he realized he was the only one laughing. Clint gave him a confused look.
“Don’t tell me you let some other guy steal your thunder,” he said. “You got to be off your game, buddy. Actually I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that. Me and Beth have been talking—not gossiping or anything. Just talking…Anyway, I told her how dismal things have been for you in the dating scene lately.”
“Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Not you, too, man.”
“Come on, Bash. You’ve got to admit, things aren’t what they used to be. I remember when you were on my crew. We all saw you with a different chick every week. You went out more. You were enjoying life. That was just two years ago, pal. Now all you do is sulk and stay home.”
“That’s not all I do.”
“Yeah. Whatever. Since you blew out your knee, it’s been worse. Do you know why I invite you here every month? So I can check up on you now. I worry about you, man.”
“It’s not as bad as you think,” he said. “I’m not that isolated. I told you my neighbor’s been sick, and the time off with my knee has just given me the chance to help out. I’m not staying away from the dating scene. I’m doing just fine without anyone’s help. Plus, I hang out with Alex—”
“Are you listening to yourself right now?”
At this point, the chess pieces had gone untouched for at least five minutes. Sebastian looked down at the rook and pawns with irritation, wishing Clint would make his next move and stop prying into his private life. He didn’t add fuel to the fire by mentioning he had a long phone list of women available whenever he wanted them. There was also no way he would out Alexandra Storme, especially not to Clint, who would definitely make the connection to Lexxi Rock. As far as Sebastian’s romantic life was concerned, Clint would just have to think whatever he wanted.
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