Page 8 of Desirous

Oh, that was a good touch. Please? I half expected him to follow up with a pretty please. I can see his face now. Those brown eyes of his the color of milk chocolate staring into hers with all the sincerity he can muster in his attempt to get her to do what he wants. I’ve seen that look before. That night we spent together. It wasn’t so much pleading as it was seductive, but I bet it works on every woman he meets.

It worked on me. God, I’m such a fool!

I hear the door close and scurry across the bed to where I was before so Sadie doesn’t see I was making an effort to listen. I don’t want her to think I cared because I don’t.

She appears in the doorway looking glum. He got to her. I knew it! I knew she’d buy his pathetic act.

“Hey, did you hear any of that?” she asks, likely knowing the answer already before I say a word.

“Some,” I lie, not wanting to look like I care.

“I think he feels really bad, Kat. He looked sad.”

Rolling my eyes, I don’t try to hide my disgust at how easily fooled she can be. “He looked the way he needed to look to convince you that he felt bad about being a dick.”

“Whatever, but I think he’s sorry.”

I pull the covers up over my head and mumble, “I think you’re too nice.”

“Maybe, but that doesn’t change the fact that I think he really cares for you and hates that he messed up.”

I don’t bother to respond to that craziness. Sadie’s always too nice. It’s the reason she always ends up with her heart in pieces when relationships end. Then again, here I am in the same situation, and no one could ever accuse me of being too nice.

So much for walls protecting a girl, huh?

CHAPTER FOUR

Alex

After I turnoff my car, I check my phone to see if Kat’s called or texted back. My heart sinks as I see nothing from her. Not a single missed call or text.

I’ve got it all planned out for this morning. After my unsuccessful visit to Kat’s apartment last night, proof that my grandmother was wrong, sadly, I lay in bed staring up at the ceiling half the night trying to find a way to fix things since clearly talking to Kat isn’t going to be enough.

Well, if bigger gestures are necessary, so be it. I can’t let her go on thinking that I sold her out just to have a chance at that million dollars. Yes, I want to win, but even more, I need her to see I’m not the selfish son of a bitch she thinks I am.

At least, I don’t want to be that with her.

Taking a deep breath, I head into the studio for the first day of taping for the reality show. I’m here early so I can talk to Maria and Shane, and as soon as I walk on the set, I see them on the other side of the room talking to one another.

I know what very well may happen when I do this, but I don’t care. Some things are more important than money. Some people are too.

“Hi, Maria, Shane. If you have a few minutes, I’d like to talk to you,” I start off, making sure I don’t sound contrite or ashamed.

I’m not. What I have to say is the truth, and if they react the way they should, I’ll accept it as my just punishment for breaking their rules.

“Alex, you look great! You must have gotten good sleep in preparation for today,” Maria says in her usual enthusiastic way.

“Not really, but you know, coffee. It’s a magic drink.”

Shane smiles, as if I said something funny or clever. “It is that for sure. You’re here early this morning. Wanted to get a jump on the day? It’s going to be exciting, so no one would blame you.”

The two of them grin at me while I wonder if they get paid by the word. Nothing is ever simply said by either one of them. They take the idea of using as few words as possible and turn it on its head every chance they get.

“So, I wanted to talk to you about what happened last week with Kat.”

Before I can continue, Shane steps toward me and wraps his arm around my shoulders. “We don’t blame you, Alex, if that’s what you’re thinking. In fact, Maria and I were just talking about you and how to move forward.”

I force myself to smile as I subtly twist out of his odd guy embrace. “I wasn’t thinking that, but I did want to tell you something. Kat couldn’t have done anything to that dish. You said security saw someone here the night before, but that couldn’t have been her.”

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