Page 125 of Alexander: Alexander's Story

No, I won’t call.As I set my phone down, my thumb accidentally bumps the call button.Fuck!

It’s already ringing.Should I hang up? Should I see if she’ll answer? Why would she?

“Hello?” Her voice is enough to bring me to tears. It’s soft and doesn’t hold any anger or venom like the last time she spoke to me. “Alex?”Shit.Fuck, I don’t know what to say.

“I don’t know. Probably just an accident that he called. It’s still early on the West Coast,” she says to someone else in the background before sighing then hanging up.

Who was she talking to?

Early on the West Coast?She wasn’t on the West Coast?

Emma didn’t have…friends. Not on the West Coast, and definitely not on the East Coast…Oh fuck, Fuck. FUCK!!!

She was with him.

She was withhim. I don’t know if jealousy is the prevailing emotion or betrayal, which is rich coming from me, I know. Iwant to call back. I want to ask if she’s happy now. Or happier?Had she been happy with me at all?

I wait an hour before finally texting.

A

Sorry about the pocket dial this morning. Didn’t mean to wake you if I did.

Em

I was up. I’ve been meaning to call anyway.

She had?

My divorce lawyer needs a copy of the prenup.

Visceral. Pain.

A

Sure, I’ll email you a copy.

I don’t need anything for a settlement, just so you know. It should be entirely painless. Just sign the papers type of thing.

Entirely painless? For who?

Whatever you want, it’s yours. Even the house in Spearhead.

The bubble of three dots appears before disappearing again. I wait, hoping. Is there anything I could offer her that would bring her back my way?

No. Thank you, though.

Take care.

Take care?She may as well have slapped me in the face.

I can feel the doom spiral starting up, but instead of giving in, I heave my ass out of bed. It feels like I’m actually bleeding out as I drag myself to the kitchen.

“Woah, who pissed in your Cheerios?” Matt asks, standing at the refrigerator door, looking at me. I flip him off.

“Why are you up so early?” I ask, and he stares back at me like I should get it.

“I don’t sleep.” He looks away, maybe in shame. Embarrassment too. Yeah, I for sure got that.