Page 53 of Embattled Ever After

“Hey, Shannon. It’s Alex.”

“Alex!” Shannon gasped. “How are you? Did you kick that flu?”

“Yeah, finally. I don’t really remember what we talked about when you called,” she laughed. “I remember the puppy.”

“Oh,” Shannon said, laughing. “Well, I had called to commiserate. I was very upset when I learned that you and Duncan had broken up. That just broke my heart when he said that you had left.”

Alex’s throat tightened because she could tell that Shannon’s words were heartfelt. “Honestly, Shannon? Me too.”

She probably shouldn’t have admitted that to her, but she had a feeling the other woman would keep her confession.

“Well,” Shannon whispered, “if it makes you feel any better, not everyone in this office has been hunky-dory either.”

Alex laughed at the vague way she stated that, and understood Shannon had loyalty to Duncan.

“I wish it could have gone in a different direction, but you know how it goes. There must be something better for me coming down the road.”

She highly doubted that, but maybe she could at least reassure Shannon. Not everyone had to be distressed about their breaking up.

“Well, his birthday is next week and he needs to realize what he’s losing out on before he dies a lonely old man.”

Alex blinked. “Duncan’s birthday is next week?”

Damn. That was one thing they didn’t know about each other.

“Yup.” Shannon’s voice dropped to a stage whisper again. “The fifteenth of January. We’ve planned a little shindig with the group. I really wish you could be here.”

The silence stretched for a moment because they both knew that while itcouldhappen, it probably wouldn’t. Throat tight, Alex asked Shannon about her pregnancy. Shannon seemed to understand she needed the subject change. Immediately she had several questions that Alex answered as thoroughly as she could. By the time they hung up twenty minutes later, Alex felt confident in the fact that she’d helped Shannon ease her mind about some things. Twins weren’t easy. She and John were going to have a tough road ahead of them, but they would be stronger for it.

***

Duncan didn’t wantto look pathetic, but he was dying to know what Alex had said. Shannon hadn’t been quiet when she’d said Alex’s name. Had she mentioned him at all? How did she sound?

Unfortunately, if he went to the cracked door and asked, that would just make him look more pathetic than he already did. Alex was a smart, beautiful woman and he’d broken up with her. What a stupid idiot he’d been.

Shannon leaned her head in his door, her expression tentative. “I just spoke with Alex. She sounds good. She had the flu last week and it really knocked her down.”

Duncan glanced up like he’d been busy, taking his glasses off like his eyes needed a rest. He’d been just staring out the window in a daze, but Shannon didn’t need to know that.

“Oh, yeah?” he asked. His heart thumped at the thought that she’d been sick and alone. If she had called he would have gone out there to care for her, no hesitation.

“Yes. I told her I missed her and that I didn’t think I was the only one in the office who did.”

Duncan lifted a brow at her as she walked all the way into the room, but he didn’t say anything.

Taking a deep breath, Shannon lifted her chin, staring at him with determination. “I’m not going to say you’re wrong, Duncan, but I definitely don’t think you’re right.”

In spite of himself he barked out a laugh, but she held up a hand.

“Alexandra Hartfield is an incredible woman. I’m not sure what the stumbling block is, but I have a feeling it’s you being stubborn more than anything else. Can I take off my receptionist hat and just be your friend?”

In other words, could she yell at him?

“Yeah,” he growled. “Get it over with.”

“Is it her age that bothers you?”

Sighing, he rocked back in his chair. “It did at first. Still does a little, I guess.”

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