Page 92 of Second Chance for Mr. Alden

Chapter Twenty-One

Jess

Ipaced the floor ofthe living room for what felt like the fiftieth time while I waited. Alden had just stepped out to do errands and grab our dinner. I had discreetly encouraged his outing, knowing Lexi planned to call me on the way to her investor meeting and we didn’t have much time to talk.

The phone buzzed in my hand, making me jump. I gave a nervous laugh as I answered. “You just about gave me a heart attack, Lex.”

She chuckled. “How?”

“Alden’s not going to be gone long and if you really want to surprise him with this we can’t be on the phone when he gets back.”

“I hope this works out. I hate keeping things from Jamie,” she said with a sigh.

I threw myself down on the couch with my head propped up on one end and my feet on the other. “Seriously, same. How in the world did you ever get Gage to stay silent on this one?”

A shiver ran through me at Lexi’s silence. “Lex?”

“You know how he is.”

“Lexi, oh fuck. Please tell me you didn’t ditch him.”

“I didn’t ditch him,” her sweet voice had gone up an octave. Not that I needed the sound of her voice to tell me she was lying.

“Damn it, Lex. You know Alden’s going to be pissed at both of us for this.”

“Jess, I tried bringing it up to him the other day and he threw a fit about needing to research the company and yada yada. What did he think I’d already done? I’m not stupid.”

I snorted, a smidge of my anxiety receding. “No Lex, you are one hundred percent not stupid, but he’s right.”

“Not you too. After all the dumb shit you’ve pulled on Alden and Gage, I thought at least you’d get it, Jess.”

“I do, Lex, but I need you to be safe. And I don’t want Alden to go out of his mind with worry.”

Lexi groaned. “But if I’d waited to do this Gage’s way, I’d have had to cancel this meeting. Besides, I can’t change anything now, I’m almost there. And do not for one second think I didn’t notice you putting my brother’s feelings as a priority. You, Jessamine Sulton, are hiding something too.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I avoided her question. “So, what can you tell me about this company? How did they find you?” I asked.

Lex was one of my closest friends, but Alden and I getting back together was something she’d wanted for years. I couldn’t get her hopes up just in case when we got back to the real world it didn’t work out.

“That’s the crazy part. Through your social media posts. He said his niece was actually the one who pointed out the outfits of mine you showcased. He wanted to see how the last quarter sales went, and my projections for next quarter.”

That sounded great, but I had my hesitations. “You know I love you Lex, but you just opened your first store and I know you’ll only go up from here, but a serious business wants to invest in you this early?”

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