Page 55 of Big Daddy to Go

19

Kane

Two weeks have passed since I kicked Lexi out of my penthouse. I wish I could get the look on her face out of my mind. Her face had been covered in tears and regret.

I’ve been burying myself in work since then, often coming in earlier and staying later. I don’t want to be in the penthouse alone. It suddenly feels too big and too lonely. Memories of Lexi in my bed or in the shower are all I can see when I’m there.

Kayla seems to miss Lexi, too. She sits by the door and cries. Lexi was only in my life for a brief few weeks, but somehow, she’d made a lasting impression on us both.

Today is a slow day at work. There are no meetings. No reports. No special retirement lunches or birthdays. No deals I have to sign-off on. It’s just me staring at my computer while my mind wanders.

I’m still processing what went on. It hurts knowing that Lexi hit on me just because I look like someone else. Did she want to get back at her ex by sleeping with me? I shake that thought away.

I close out of my email and open my web browser. I type in the name “Jason Peckham” and hit enter. A slew of results pops up. Images of what looks like my face fill the computer screen. The first link is from a New York City gossip blog.

NYC Playboy Jason Peckham Gets Community Service for Marijuana Possession

The next link is Jason’s Facebook page. I click on it. His profile photo is of him appearing to be high with two skinny blondes with fake tits in bikini tops standing next to him. I scroll down and see his statuses from a little over a month ago.

In Bora Bora and single!

Sorry to anyone looking forward to my wedding. It wasn’t what I wanted. I hope you all understand.

Last night as a single man… bring on titties and ass!

A photo of him with a stripper on his lap accompanies his bachelor party post. How could he disrespect Lexi with a post like that? All of his statuses are emotionless and cavalier, like he doesn’t give a damn about anyone but himself. What a douche! What the fuck did Lexi see in him?

The phone rings, and I absently answer it.

“Kane Jones speaking.”

“I was getting worried about you,” Dad sighs. “I even called your mother to see if she’s heard from you.”

Dad must have been really worried to call my mother. They only tolerate seeing each other every once in a while for my sake.

“Sorry, Dad. I’ve been working a lot.”

“Yeah, yeah. You always work too much. I hope you’re making time for that new girlfriend of yours.”

I sigh. “She was never my girlfriend.”

“What happened?”

“I found some things out about her, that’s all,” I explain.

“What kind of things? Is she a lesbian? I hear that can be fun to work with.”

“Christ, Dad,” I laugh. “No, she’s not a lesbian. She just got out of an engagement, but she never bothered to tell me about it.”

“Kane, do you like this girl?”

“I did, but now I’m confused…”

“Talk to her. Let her explain. Don’t be like your mother.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“She was always too prideful and afraid to be vulnerable. She was too close-minded to ever hear me out or to concede in a fight.”