Then she went back in and deleted the whole thing.
But not Alex’s number.
She knew she should. But for right now, anyway, that was one step too far.
Maybe she was being paranoid, but Emily was just trying to be logical and smart about this.
The club.
She’d just go to the club tonight and find Alex. Tell her in person. And if she wasn’t there tonight, she’d be there tomorrow.
But Emily had to officially end this once and for all.
18
Alex slipped behind the bar at the club to fill a glass with some water, a light sweat covering her skin after spending most of the last hour on the dance floor.
Maria had kept her dancing, knowing that it was the only way to keep Alex’s mind off Emily and their new reality.
And Alex had lost herself in the music, enjoying dancing with Maria again, but she couldn’t ignore that pang of disappointment when she realized she’d probably never dance with Emily again.
The band started into a song that everyone knew, a cheer erupting as the percussion got going, the brass coming in, the crowd singing right along with the band.
As tired as Alex was, she was tempted to get back out there and join in, but her eyes landed on Emily as she came through the door.
Alex froze, torn between walking towards her and staying right here, but the only reason Emily would be here was to talk to her. She wouldn’t have come to dance or to have a few drinks. There were plenty of other bars for that.
Alex took another drink of ice-cold water and left her glass on the bar before weaving her way through the crowd to get to Emily.
“Hey,” Emily said, an almost sad smile on her lips.
It was so hard to believe how much had changed since the last time they’d seen each other almost forty-eight hours ago. They hadn’t spent last night together, because Emily knew she’d be starting her new job, and Alex had agreed, knowing she had class at nine o’clock.
Who knew they were heading for the same place this morning?
“Hi,” Alex said, swallowing down her nerves.
“Can we talk?”
Alex nodded, already knowing what that meant. She could have brought her out back, to the patio, or upstairs to a storage room for privacy and some quiet, but she suggested they go for a walk instead.
Emily didn’t waste any time, and once they were outside and a few yards away from the bar and the music that poured out of it, she cleared her throat.
“I don’t want to do this,” Emily said with a quiver in her voice. “Please know that.”
“I do.” Alex felt her throat tighten, and she didn’t trust herself to say anymore.
“But we can’t…” Her voice trailed off. “I’m sorry, but it can’t happen,” she said with a sigh, the words coming out in a rush now, and Alex wondered if she was half afraid of not getting them out. “I hate that I have to say this, but this is my career… We have to stop seeing each other.”
“I know,” Alex said, both of their feet slowing. There was no point in walking any further. The conversation was over. “I didn’t know.” She bit the inside of her cheek, feeling her eyes well up, but she wasn’t going to cry. Not here. “I had no idea.”
“I believe you. And I don’t know how that happened. That we don’t know that about one another, but… It doesn’t matter now anyway.” Emily looked away as she blew out a breath. “I wish there was a way around this, but I can’t risk losing my job. I’ve signed that lease…”
Alex just nodded. “No, I know.”
“I thought you might fight me on this,” Emily said softly after a moment, standing opposite her now.
“No. I think we’re in the same place. I don’t want to stop this, but I understand. And there’s nothing I can do really so… I just have to accept it.” Alex dared herself to meet Emily’s eyes, and they were definitely misty. “I’m sorry too.”
