In the week that I’ve been working here, Alec is the only one who’s treated me with true kindness, not fake pleasantries or forced smiles, and I appreciate it more than he will ever know.
“He’s still being a jerk?” He plops down in the chair across from my desk, stretching his long legs out in front of himself.
“If by jerk you mean he only speaks to me when absolutely necessary, then yes, he’s still being a jerk.”
“Give him time, he’ll come around.”
“I doubt that.”
“I heard he’s not the only one giving you hell.”
“He told you about Cat?”
My brain makes a beeline back to last week when I walked in to find Cat rubbing up on Penn like a feline in heat. I wanted torip her eyeballs out and stuff them down her throat the second I saw her touching him.
Mine, I wanted to scream.
I have no idea where the reaction came from. Obviously, Penn isnotmine and hasn’t been for a very long time, but in that moment, my brain seemed to have forgotten that little piece of information.
“If you ask me, I don’t know what he sees in her.” Alec shakes his head. “Well, that’s not entirely true. I know what hesees.” He cups his hands under his pecs, lifting each hand up and down. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what he’s referring to—her boobs.
“You’re a pig.” I snort out a laugh.
“In all seriousness, don’t let her get to you. She’s a snake that one.”
“Trust me, I’m well aware.”
“Besides, we all know you didn’t come back to Wren Cove because you weren’t good enough and she’s a twat for even thinking it, let alone saying it.”
“I appreciate you saying so.”
Silence stretches over us for a few long seconds. I can tell he wants to say something, but rather than push him to just spit it out, I wait.
“So why did you come back, really?” he finally asks. “Because I know it wasn’t the employment opportunities.” He gestures around the room.
“Definitely not,” I agree.
“So why are you here, LV? Really.”
“I got hit by a cab.”
“Shut up.” He barks out a laugh, slapping his knee like it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard.
“I’m not joking.”
“If you don’t want to tell me, you can just say so. Though, as far as excuses go, that one isn’t half bad, albeit a little hard to believe. I’ll give you points for creativity.”
“No, Alec, I’m beingserious. I got hit by a cab. Broke my femur in multiple places. Doctors said I’d never dance again. Didn’t stop me from trying, though it didn’t do me much good. I spent every cent I had trying to regain what I had lost until eventually, I was left with only two options—homelessness or Wren Cove.”
“Shit, London. I had no idea.” His humor falls away in an instant.
“I didn’t exactly publicize it.” I shrug.
“So you’re done. Like this isn’t a temporary return home?”
“I’m done,” I say, trying to fight the bitterness that rises in my chest at the thought.
“So what now?”
