Page 78 of Pick Six

I guess that’s the way things end when a marriage goes bad. With a quiet little bit of remorse for all the stuff you fucked up and should have done better and now have zero ability to change.

FORTY-ONE

Alex

She’sover at my place midweek as we work through some talking points and film a couple of videos for my socials. Sam and her development officer had gotten together and came up with some ideas they thought we could do that would help us but also get some more attention on the museum. Next week I’m planning to go to the museum for a meet and greet, filming a bit while I’m there with her showing me around, and then I’m going to do another round without her asking people to go to the PAC website Violet and her group had set up in order to get donations and votes. Sam was hoping it would seal the deal on our public relationship with bonus points for “being civically-minded” and Ashley was hoping that my celebrity might help them get the attention they desperately need. A win for everyone, and I get to spend more time with her.

We’ve just finished up and she’s busy editing some of it for me, while we wait on food delivery, when the doorbell rings.

“That was fast.” She looks up at the door skeptically.

“Incredibly fast. Normally it takes an hour, and it’s been what—thirty minutes?” I get up anyway to answer the door.

Except when I open it without looking through the peephole, I realize what a mistake it is. Danica bursts past me through the door frame, tossing her coat to the side wearing a dress that could barely be considered clothing.

“If you won’t come to me, I’ll come to you. Then we can both come.” She laughs and moves to kiss me before I step out of her way.

“Danica, I told you we’re done.” I feel a well of panic in my throat. Saint and I have been good, and I don’t need Danica crashing in and reminding her of all my past sins.

“Yeah, you’ve said that before and then you come around eventually. I just thought I’d hurry the process along,” she answers dismissively, and it riles me.

“I meant what I said. I have a girlfriend.” I flash a look at Saint who’s sitting at the table, eyes wide at the scene playing out.

“The mousy little thing from the gala? She hardly counts. No way she satisfies your appetites. Besides I’m not trying to be your girlfriend. Keep her. We can just fuck when I’m in town.”

“Get out Danica.”

“Oh come on! I know you want to—” She stops mid-sentence when she finally sees Saint sitting there, glaring at her. “Well, you could have told me she was here now.Awkward.”

“I told you to fucking get out!” My temper rises to a simmer.

“Fine. Fine. I’m here for a few more days before I go and do a European leg though. So call me before that?”

“I blocked you, for a reason. We’re done Danica. Please fucking listen and comprehend what I’m saying.”

“Whatever, Xander. You’re going to wear this little hard-to-get game out, you know. You’ll be sorry when you wake up and realize I don’t want you anymore.” She grabs her coat as she heads back to the door.

“I’ll have to learn how to deal,” I mutter, holding the door open for her to leave.

She shoots me a glare as she rounds the corner, and I shut the door behind her, my eyes turning to Saint who is remarkably quiet through the whole ordeal.

“I had nothing to fucking do with that. I blocked her number the night of the gala.”

“I believe you,” she says softly, her eyes on the tablet in front of her still working.

“You’re not pissed?”

“No. You kicked her out. Did what you’re supposed to. Why would I be pissed?”

“You were pissed the other day just for me being pleasant to her and Tobias’s sister. So I just want to be sure.”

“This is your life, Alex.” She shrugs. “I knew that going into this.”

“It’s not my life.”

“She certainly seems sure it is.”

“It’s not. She’s got an ego that’s even bigger than mine. It’s just how she is."