Page 29 of Where We Fall

"It's really not a problem. I was gonna be here anyway."

"But it's not a traditional ask for an IT Director."

I laugh. "Definitely my first request of the kind. Honestly, you guys have been so good to me. Iwantto do this for you. I just hope we can pull it off."

"Well, whatever comes of it, it's not your fault."

I think about how Marcus would feel if they did lose the client, and even though I should keep my mouth shut, I can't.

"You know, if the client did pull out because of it, I don't think that's really Marcus's fault."

She looks up at me curiously. "No?"

"I mean, I just think you can't sleep with someone you don't know and have any expectations. It just seems unfair that he gets labeled as a bad guy for her poor decisions or misguided expectations."

"Hmm. I suppose there's some truth to that."

I feel good about sticking up for Marcus. Mia appears to have taken my words to heart, and nothing bad happened.

Is this part of the new and improved Lexi? Another wave of satisfaction rolls through me at the realization that I'm finally starting to find myself. If only my mom could understand it. If only she would accept me for me.

But she's sick, and I can't hold anything over someone who's sick.

When we get to the hotel, we nearly sprint to our rooms to get ready. I'm supposed to meet them in the lobby in twenty minutes. It sounds like a lot, but I have some boob tape that I need to contend with.

I will say, my breasts have held up nicely over the years, but I'm not about to go out without some kind of support.

I get into my room and kick out of my clothes, being extra careful not to ruin my hair or makeup.

My dress is hanging up in the closet. I rip open the plastic cover and pull it off the hanger. After I step into it, I let it rest on my waist while I get to work on the tape.

Ten minutes later, there's scattered pieces of tape that I've ripped off my breasts and thrown on the ground. Oh, did I mention that I didn't realize that there are nipple covers in the box? Have you ever tried tearing tape directly off your nipples? I don't recommend it. The amount of curse words that I've screamed in the last six hundred seconds is probably more than I've spoken in the last year combined.

With two minutes to spare, I finally get the damn tape in place. I pull my dress up and tie it around my neck then slip into my heels.

I pull out the gold jewelry that Trudy picked out. I've gotta give it to her, she really thought about everything.

When I look in the mirror, I'm struck by how different I look. I've never looked like this before. It makes me feel oddly brave. I can do this. I can be the woman who belongs on Marcus's arm.

I grab my clutch, throw in my lipstick then spritz a last-minute spray of my perfume.

Okay, here we go. It's time to go pretend to be in love with the man who had his arms wrapped around me all night, who makes me feel things I've never felt before. What could go wrong?

Chapter Ten

Marcus

"How'reyoufeelingabouttonight?" Mia asks me as we wait for everybody else in the lobby.

I pull at the cuff of my sleeve. "I think we'll be okay. I'm not too worried about it."

In reality, I'm kind of nervous to see her again. We haven't talked since our little snuggling escapade last night. I don't know why she ran off this morning, but I'm hoping she just didn't want to disturb my sleep.

I don't want any awkwardness between us. Especially after what she went through last night. I can't imagine what it would feel like for your own mother not to recognize you. I've never wanted to steal someone's pain away from them as much as I did in that moment.

Mia gives me a strange look.

"What?" I ask defensively.

---