Page 15 of Pick Six

“You ready?”

“Yeah.”

As we leave the place I can feel the eyes on us, a few whispers and smiles, as we walk past tables to the exit, and I wonder if this is just a taste of what it’s going to be like pretending with him.

SEVEN

Alex

When I get homethat night I send a text off to Drew and my publicist Sam, explaining the situation. He’s unhappy in his reply, and he asks for a meeting with us both tomorrow. Now I have to get her on board with that, and I doubt she wants to see him. Not that I blame her.

Can you do an emergency meeting at Drew’s office tomorrow morning?

SAINT:

I guess. I assume he’ll be there then?

Unfortunately. Him and my publicist. They want to have a game plan and get our side of the story before the week starts.

Okay. I’ll see if Violet can meet me for mimosas after.

You can put them on my tab.

Deal

I smirk at my phone before I tuck it back in my pocket and stare out at the view from my window. I’m fucked with this whole game we’re going to try to play. I knew the second I saw her at that party that everything felt as unresolved as it ever has, and the fact that she’s no longer his? The one thing that kept me at a distance—I’m fucking doomed. I don’t have the kind of self-control required. Especially when she looks at me the way she does. The little comments and hints of jealousy.

But I can’t fuck this up. It’s too important for my career and I can’t imagine that she needs any extra stress or problems when she’s fresh off a divorce and fighting to save her own job.

I pace in front of the window a couple more times, but I’m too unsettled to sit at home right now so I text Tobias.

Gym?

TOBIAS:

Run instead? Trail up by my house?

K. Be there in a bit.

An hourlater Tobias and I are hitting the trail near his house for a run. He always likes being outdoors for workouts, and I can’t say I hate it. At least if it’s not raining and making the trails slick. This particular trail is quiet enough that we don’t run into too many people and with hats on and heads down, they don’t usually recognize us anyway.

We take our first loop around and then pause at a bench to stretch and catch our breath. He glances over at me and gives me a mocking grin, like he’s about to give me shit and wants to warn me.

“So what’s got you so strung out?”

He already knows the answer. He just wants to hear me say it. I give him an irritated look.

“This is your fault you know. If you hadn’t fucking said that she was my girlfriend…”

“He would have called the cops and reported you for assault? Yeah. I’m a terrible fucking friend.”

“Might have been a better fate.”

“What’s the deal? A little bit before that you were talking shit about going after her anyway. Asking what the mourning period was.”

“I was running my fucking mouth. I would’ve talked to her a bit. Seen where she stood with things before jumping in headfirst.”

“Yeah. Well, where does she stand? She not over him?”