The show went to commercial before clearing up the picture enough for Sebastian to make out who “they” were. He glanced away when Kennedy returned to the room, but with Lexxi on his mind, he turned back to the TV to wait for what was coming up.
“How are you doing in here, Bash?” she asked, making a beeline to him.
“Busy,” he grunted, hoping she would leave him alone.
She checked the electrodes. Sebastian tried to ignore the way her hand stopped on his thigh rather than on the electrodes. He looked up to see her reaction, and let it slide rather than embarrassing her. He was more interested in what the new anchor was about say.
Kennedy consulted her watch. “Alright, looks like time is up,” she announced. “For me and you, that is. I’m ready to clock out. You have another ten minutes on the massager here, and the other therapist will be in to remove the equipment.”
“Thanks.”
“What about you? Got any special plans this week?” Kennedy arched a brow, and Sebastian’s attention went back on the TV.
“Hang on a sec.” He waved her off, hoping she would stop talking so he could find out which celebrity couple might or might not be back together. She moved in front of him just as the anchor continued with the story.
Kennedy turned to the TV. “Oh, look! Lexxi Rock and Wilkes Barracks hooked back up! I always liked them as a couple. They look great together.”
The blood drained out of Sebastian’s face. Kennedy moved aside and Sebastian’s eyes slowly lifted to the TV. The blurry photograph was now crystal clear. Standing in front of an ornate door, Wilkes and Lexxi were locked in a passionate kiss. His hands cupped her face, but a blind man could see that it was Alexandra. Sebastian knew exactly how those raven curls fell, and he recognized the curves of her body…a body that was pressed against Wilkes’. Her eyes were closed. The longer he watched, the quicker his heart rate sped up, painfully, and he struggled to breathe. She looked like she was enjoying it.
In his head, a black dagger of anger darkened every memory he held of Alexandra. Alex Roberts was a farce. Alexandra Storme was a fraud. She may have said she loved him but she had no idea what that meant. The song, “Linger,” was quite a performance, but the award winning act went to Alexandra Storme for convincing him that she actually cared about him when she didn’t.
It was suddenly clear that he was her hometown good time, meant to be kept in the shadows, but all along she had Wilkes waiting in the wings to take center stage.
I fell for it.
I fell for all of it.
The squeezing pressure in his chest got tighter. He tried to take a deep breath. Sebastian had worked through pain before, even the unbearable. Attempting the air of nonchalance he didn’t feel, he rose from the chair, electrodes still attached, and stood to face Kennedy. His voice sounded hoarse and untried when he opened his mouth to speak, but he cleared his throat and tried again. “You remember where I live, right?”
Kennedy looked up at him, confused. “Yes. Why?”
“Since you’re free, and I’m free, just come by.”
“Really? When?” she asked excitedly.
Sebastian remembered he had dinner plans with his aunt that evening.
“Tomorrow.”
“Sure!” She didn’t hesitate. “How’s nine-thirty?”
“Great. Get these electrodes off me now please.”
Kennedy’s smile cranked up by about a thousand watts. She disconnected the wires before she left the room, and Sebastian stormed off in the other direction. He headed straight for the main floor doors, no crutch this time.
A thousand personalities. The lyrics to Lexxi’s song echoed in his head.
A thousand personalities.
You’d think one of them would be real.
Chapter 64
ALEXANDRA looked at Wilkes and the entertainment news interviewer. They sat in the soundproof section of the Purple Blaze publicity room soundstage. He was doing a live interview about his upcoming album, and the wired speakers outside the room were on for staff and PR folks to hear as usual. As to be expected, the subject of their relationship came up.
“There’s a question you have to ask yourself,” Wilkes told the interviewer. “When you come to a crossroads like this, what’s right and wrong isn’t about what works for you, but what you can do to work for others.”
It made no sense, but Wilkes spoke as though it was the most profound revelation in the world. Alexandra snickered and shook her head at his New Age commentary. Dressed in a chic black suit that was a far cry from his cowboy attire, he hardly looked like himself. Again.
“It’s about paying it forward, you know? I mean I’ve spent the better part of my adult life looking out for myself and my siblings, and the part where I looked out for myself hasn’t worked out so well for me. I lost the love of my life doing that. Now, I’m focused on regaining her trust and…”
Oh no, please don’t say anything. Please don’t say anything about me!
She stepped in the doorway, chewing on her nail as she stared at Wilkes on set. Her initial amusement turned instantly to anxiety. Her smartphone rang from her side pocket just then, and she snatched it up, hoping it was Bash so she could tell him everything. It was Eva. “Eva. One sec.”
Just as she put Eva on hold, the interviewer asked, “Wait a minute, are you confirming the rumors that you and Lexxi Rock are back together? Is it true?”
Wilkes laughed that charming laugh. Alexandra shrieked, “Shit, don’t answer that, Wilkes!” She looked at the phone in her hand again, unmuted it and said, “Sorry for keeping you waiting this long, Eva. I can’t believe it.”
“You’re watching it?” Eva asked in a hurry.
“I’m watching it,” she whimpered.
“Fill me in, Lex—”
“Shhh, shhh! Let me hear how he answers this.”
The talk show host continued, “…caught footage of you in an intimate moment at her front door last night, then leaving her home this morning. Curious minds want to know.”
“It’s not anybody’s business,” Wilkes said comfortably. He eased back in the chair with his ankle crossed over his knee.
Good answer, Wilkes. Good answer. Now, stop there and we’re golden.
“But, yeah. Yes, she’s giving me the chance to make amends. I hurt her something bad. I’m trying to be a better man. One she deserves.”
Alexandra threw a hand up in distress. “Nooooo!” she groaned, face fallen.
“Hello? Lexxi?” Eva vied for her attention.
Alexandra dropped her head in her free hand and fought to recover. Well, that was that.
I should have known he’d go off the deep end.
“You’ll never believe what happened,” Alexandra murmured into the phone in disbelief.
“You hooked back up with him.”
“Hell no. I’d say he lured me into a mammoth trap and I fell for it, and then I did something awful. It’s all my fault. I should have known.” She added an exhausted wail to convey exactly how frustrated she felt, but it wasn’t needed. Eva understood.
“Well, don’t beat yourself up about it. Have you spoken to Sebastian?”
“I can’t reach him.”
“Shit. Did you leave a message?”
“Several.”
“Is that video of you and Wilkes kissing real? Don’t tell me it’s real, Lex.”
“It is.”
“Fuck. And he really left your place early the next morning? Did you seriously spend the night with him? You slept with him?”
“Hey, don’t you have better things to do than to consume that tabloid crap,” she complained.
“Nope. Not today I don’t.”
“Dammit, Eva…Yes, he spent the night at my place, but it’s not what it looks like. He slept on the couch. Wilkes and I are not together.”
“You need to tell that to Bash.”
“I will, and I can tell him in person. He’ll be here this weekend.”
“Are you
sure about that?”
“Well, he said he had it all arranged.”
“Plans can change, honey. Did you see that kiss? No sane man would believe there was nothing to it. Call him. Don’t stop calling until he picks up, and if he doesn’t pick up, fly your ass out to Tucson and tell him yourself before he makes up his own mind.”
“My schedule today is crazy, Eva.”
“I don’t care.”
“Look. I promise I’ll keep trying to reach him. Can you come by tomorrow night? I’m going to need a drinking partner for this one.”
“Sure. I’ll be there by nine. Are you sure you can’t change your schedule around tonight?”
“I’m not out of here until really late.”
“This is more pressing, Lex. Anyhow, fine. Tomorrow. Be sure to drop everything by eight thirty, and meet me at your house so we can fix this.”
“Okay. Look, I have to run. The interview is ending and Wilkes is about to get bitch-slapped.”
“Good luck. See you tomorrow.”
Alexandra hung up the phone as the cameras lit ‘We’re Filming’ sign went off, signaling that Wilkes could leave. When he stood up, she charged into the room. It was time to end the insanity once and for all. “Let’s have a word in private, Wilkes,” she told him, not caring about the edge to her tone.
He nodded and followed her to the nearest boardroom, which she slammed shut once he was inside.
“Why did you do that?” she screamed.
“What?”
“Don’t act all innocent. You told them we’re back together.”
“Come on, Lex,” he said, walking toward her. “It’s only a matter of time before we’ll have patched this all up.”
Her eyes narrowed. “What did you just say?”
“You heard me,” he told her. “It’s time you stop fighting us. You felt is as much as I did last night. Now let’s focus on me making you happy.” He closed the gap and rested a hand on her shoulder.
“Don’t touch me, Wilkes. Don’t ever touch me again. This has to stop, and it seems there’s only one way for you to get the message.”
“What do you mean?”
“Wilkes, I’m sorry I have to do this, but…I’m terminating your contract with Purple Blaze.”
“What?” he shouted. “You’re not serious.”
“I’m dead serious. Rick will get the documents together. We’ll still release the albums you have, and our song, and you’ll be very well compensated. I’ll personally make sure you land on your feet with one of the other top labels. We just can’t do this anymore. What I mean is I can’t. I won’t let you.”
“Think about what you’re doing, Lex.”
“Trust me, I have.”
“But—”
“My decision is made, Wilkes. Now get your things and leave this building, and don’t let me have to get security to escort you out.”
“Lex.”
“Not another word. Unless it’s goodbye.”
He looked at her, confused, shocked and forlorn. No look he could give her would change her mind this time. She held her ground and stood there with her arms folded, waiting for him to accept the new reality and leave. After a minute, he shook his head, turned and walked out.
Chapter 65
SEBASTIAN shifted in his chair at the dinner table. After the news about Alexandra and Wilkes, he was less eager to be at his aunt and uncle’s house tonight, but it beat spending the evening alone. Aunt Sadie’s eyes softened when she placed the garlic mashed potatoes on the table in front of him. She probably knew about what he was going through, even without Sebastian saying a word.
“Sorry I’m a bit tired from my physio session today,” he lied, trying to save face.
“No need to apologize, son,” his uncle Lucas told him from the head of the table. “I mean, you’ve always been more on the quiet side.”
“Don’t worry about us,” his aunt added. “You hardly talk much after those sessions, but now we think we have a better understanding about why that is tonight.”
Sebastian looked over at his aunt when she finally took a seat so they could start eating. “Really? You’ve already figured me out, haven’t you? I could never hide stuff from the two of you.”
Sebastian said that, but was skeptical. Unless they picked up watching TV all of a sudden after not owning one for the thirty-plus years they had been together, there was no way she could have his situation figured out. Hell, even he didn’t have his situation figured out. Still, while he was skeptical, he was also a bit curious now. “Tell me, then. What is it you think you understand is going on with me? Maybe I need all the help I can get.” It was as much a challenge as it was a request.
He reached for a piece of bread, waiting for one of them to say something. He was expecting some long, drawn out explanation, but instead, Aunt Sadie surprised him with three short words.
“You’re in love.”
“Excuse me? How did you guess that?” He was fairly certain he snorted somewhere in his reply. She was right, but how on earth did she figure this out without him saying a thing? It was beyond him.
With confidence, she replied, “You might be trying to tell yourself you’re not, but you’re not fooling anyone. I’m guessing you aren’t even doing a decent job at fooling yourself.” A slight smile turned up one corner of her lips. “Go ahead, try to tell me I’m wrong.”
“I’m more interested in what I’m doing, or not doing, to give off whatever is making you so sure of this.” He admitted to nothing. Nothing. If he did, their next request would be to meet her. Right now, there was no one to meet.
After a sip of her wine, she sat her glass down carefully and tilted her head, staring at Sebastian with an odd expression on her face. “Wow. You really are in denial, aren’t you, son? Whoever this girl is, she did a number on you. Was it a nasty break-up?” Her words flowed out without a breath between sentences. Sebastian opened his mouth to say something when she spoke again. “Wait…this is pretty recent, isn’t it?”
“You can’t have a breakup with someone you never really had a chance with,” he finally admitted. “So, how long have you been a psychic, Aunt Sadie?” He looked over at his uncle. “Has she always been like this? I haven’t seen her like this before.”
Uncle Lucas nodded. “There’s no point trying to keep anything from Sadie, son. She’ll drag it out of you before you ever open your mouth to speak, so you might as well lay it on the line.”
Sebastian turned to his aunt, hoping there was still time to change the subject. “Do you think you can share your garlic mashed potatoes recipe? These are great with the pot roast.”
“Hmmm.” Something about the way she was studying him made him uncomfortable. He was either being scrutinized or was about to get a lecture on the tribulations of dating.
No thank you, I’ve had enough of it this round.
Remaining silent, he added nothing more. He cocked an eyebrow, filled his mouth with the pot roast on his plate, and waited. He was sure the curiosity on his face was information enough, and curious he was, as to what analysis she would come up with. She made it clear she was going to ignore his attempt to change the subject. She wasn’t going to let this topic go.
“Why do you feel you never had a chance before, if you feel so strongly for her now?” Aunt Sadie resumed eating as if this was a suitable dinner topic for family, like world news, or politics, or the top wine and cheese pairings during the summer months. He, on the other hand, was completely out of his element.
“It’s a long story,” he answered, immediately realizing he had fallen into her trap by getting right back into the topic.
“It always is,” she said with a smile. “So, let’s hear it. Your uncle and I don’t have any other plans for tonight. All we have is time. Besides, talking about it usually helps. Most normal people call it venting.” Her smile grew to a grin. “What’s her name?”
“Alexandra,” he uttered.
“Tell us how you met her,” she
encouraged.
He took a deep breath. This was too tough a conversation to have just hours after learning the woman who told him out of the blue that she loved him was now back with her ex. “I think I’d like to leave well enough alone, Aunt Sadie.”
“Tell me something. What do you have to lose? It’s not like you have anyone else to talk to about it. You parents wanted us to remain close, and it’s clearly bothering you, so why not?”
Ahhh. The guilt trip. Works every time.
Deciding he wouldn’t go into too much detail, he told them, “She grew up next door to me.”
“The girl next door! How cute and cliché. Convenient too. So, you grew up together. Go on.”
The weight of just that admission felt heavy on his chest. Whoever said talking about things was therapeutic must not have had much emotion in the mix. This felt heavy and empty and useless all at once, not at all therapeutic or helpful.
Aunt Sadie raised her eyebrows. “You can tell me.”
Sebastian opened his mouth to politely ask her to please drop the subject when his phone rang in his pocket. A smile crept up his face before he pulled it from his pocket. This could be the save to get him out of this interrogation, never mind how good dinner tasted tonight.
“I’m so sorry,” he apologized, looking down at it to see who was calling, fully intending to exaggerate whatever the call was about so he could leave before the hot seat burst into flames with him in it. When he saw the number on the screen staring back at him, he thought twice about answering at all.
Why exactly is Alexandra Storme calling me…and why now?
He wasn’t up for talking to her. He swiped the reject call button, slid the phone back into his pocket, and told his aunt and uncle something pressing came up. It was too much to take right now. In his Jeep, he pulled out the cell phone again, this time checking for messages. There were six voice and text messages. The first five were from Alexandra, all telling him she needed to speak with him urgently—no doubt to come up with some story to explain away what happened between her and Wilkes. The next was from Clint. He tabbed to Clint’s number in the call logs and tapped the green call icon. Clint picked up after one ring.
Hollywood Undercover Page 42
