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“But one thing I can tell you for sure, Lexi?” She bent forward slightly. “He didn’t cheat on you. The show had cameras on him the whole time they were out that night. They’ve also had eyes on him whenever he’s left the apartments.”
I held my breath.
And I realized I couldn’t stop the tears from coming.
“Are you sure?” I asked with the last bit of air left in my lungs.
She nodded, and her face crumpled at the same time mine did. “Positive. He acted like a fool, and that was bad enough,” she sniffled, “but he was faithful. I promise. I scoured every bit of footage myself.”
The relief I felt at hearing her say Trey hadn’t slept with anyone—was like a boulder lifted off my back.
I wiped my eyes and tried to get myself to stop crying.
No matter what I did, it was like I’d finally opened a dam that now wouldn’t shut.
“I’m sorry, I don’t normally act like this.” I set my glass in one of the cup holders and used the back of my hands on my cheeks.
“Here,” Lola said and handed me a small box of tissues.
No matter how much Lola’s news about Trey’s faithfulness alleviated some of my heartache—lots still remained.
I’d observed—along with the rest of the nation—how he’d acted with the women on the dance floor.
How he’d let them touch him.
And no matter how carefully the show’s cameras followed him—they couldn’t possibly be on him every second.
So, while Lola’s news was comforting in a way—I didn’t one hundred percent believe it.
“The way the show cut out all the bad stuff about Trey—and making him look like a big ladies man—” she shook her head, rolled her eyes, and plunked another olive into her mouth, “it’s disgusting. I can’t tell you how many meetings I’ve had with the producers and the execs about it.”
She chewed another olive. “Girl, I even forced my way into meetings. But,” she tilted her glass nearly upside down, “it didn’t do one bit of difference. I told them they needed to be honest about what Trey was doing. And they needed to accentuate the amazing stuff you’ve done on the ice for your team.”
Finally, she sat back and crossed her legs. “They just won’t listen. So,” she shrugged, “I decided to tell everyone myself.”
My brain was swirling with everything she’d said. “You didn’t have to do that. It must’ve gotten you in trouble.”
Her shoulders and body shook with laughter. “It got me fired.”
“Oh, no. I’m sorry. Maybe—” I gazed out the window for a second, “I can go speak to them?”
She was still laughing as she shook her head. “Lexi, I’m a big girl. I can handle them shoveling shit on me if that’s what I gotta do to keep my job. What I can’t handle—” she pointed a red tipped, index finger at me, “is them targeting a strong, funny, smart, talented as shit woman. They’re hanging you out to dry while Trey is getting away with—everything.”
I took a deep breath.
Wow.
She’d stuck her neck and her ass out there for me.
And they’d cut them off.
“You can’t lose your job because of me, Ms.—”
“Oh, call me Lola. And yes, I can and I did lose my job for you. What would that say about me as a person—as a woman—if I didn’t? If I sat around and continued to watch you get roasted every episode? Nah, girlie. That ain’t cool.”
For a few moments, I sat there and collected my thoughts.
And my emotions.
