AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She desperately needed a distraction. Thankfully, Roxie could provide one.
Roxie lit up, lazily inhaled, smiled, and exhaled. “I guess you could say I idolized the guys. I’m three years younger than them and, as you know, we all grew up on this street. There weren’t any other kids our age on the block, so it’s safe to say that I’ve been running around after them all my life. I was that annoying kid who wouldn’t leave them alone and pestered them until they just resigned themselves to hanging out with me. We’re all singletons and just took to each other.”
Roxie pulled her knees up to her chest, setting her rocker in motion. “A few years ago, Quinn and I made one of those pacts you make when you’re completely hungover. Sort of like the I’m-never-gonna-drink-again thing, but not as drastic, of course.” She took another drag of the cigarette. “Well, adifferentkind of drastic. We both quit smoking cold turkey. Over the years, I’ve snuck in more than my fair share, but Quinn’s been so good. No cheating or anything. So please don’t tell him. I’d never be able to live it down.”
Alex smiled as her nerves calmed. She sent a mental thank you to the universe for sending Roxie over tonight. “I’m sure Quinn’s not as perfect as you make him out to be.”
“Oh, you’d be surprised. I mean, sure, the guy can be the biggest jackass you’ve ever met, but overall, he’s pretty close to perfect.”
She frowned. If Roxie thought the man was so wonderful... why weren’t they together? Rather than ask, she said, “You’re serious, aren’t you?”
“One thousand percent.” All of a sudden, Roxie’s eyebrows nearly hit her hairline. “Oh, shit. I see what’s going on. You think that sinceIthink he’s so perfect, then why aren’t we involved? Right?”
Wow. Her poker face must really be crap. She tried for a casual shrug. And was pretty sure she failed. “It crossed my mind.”
“Well, honestly, it’s crossed my mind, too. I think I was eight or nine at the time.” Roxie smiled and put out her cigarette, placing the butt on the table. “Seriously, though, Quinn and I don’t go there. We never have. I think it would be too weird. Incestuous, really. He’s always been a big brother to me, and I always try to have his back. But nothing remotely beyond that. Behind his bluster, he really is a wonderful guy. More than that, he’s a protector, and I always worry someone will try to take advantage of him.”
Roxie’s face scrunched, as if she’d smelled something foul. “There was this one girl, a real piece of work. I never met her, it was when he was working down in San Francisco, but man, she did a real number on him and—”
Silence.
Alex waited, more curious than she’d ever admit out loud. “And...”
“Sorry. Not my story to tell.” Roxie shook her head. “But I hate the bitch. Juvenile, I know. But I do. Quinn’s my pseudo-big brother, and no one messes with him without messing with me, too.”
Alex admired that kind of loyalty. She knew firsthand what a rare thing it was. “And Joe? Is he your other pseudo-big brother?”
“Good freaking god, no. Joe’s definitely more in the pain-in-the-ass category.” Roxie rolled her eyes. “So tell me, Alex—and yes, I amblatantlychanging the subject now—what were you thinking about when I walked up? You looked really intense, and, if you don’t mind me saying so, not in a good way. You okay?”
Roxie didn’t need to know all her baggage—no one did, really—but Alex had been in counseling long enough to know that she needed to be honest. With herself. With others. No more lies. No more hiding.
Her therapist’s advice, once again, echoed in her head.
It’s time to let go of the guilt and allow yourself to move on.
But damn, this opening-yourself-up thing was scary. Necessary, but so. Damn. Scary.
She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. Baby steps. She opened her mouth to explain what had happened with Preston and the cigarettes, but instead, she blurted, “I’m pregnant.”
Roxie’s jaw dropped, but no words came out. She was pretty sure that was an unusual occurrence. It would have been amusing, except the woman was now deathly pale, and Alex had no idea why.
“Joe’s?”
Annnd that was why. A world of emotion and turmoil hid behind that one name, but she was nowhere near close enough to Roxie to begin unpacking any of it.
“No. It’s not Joe’s,” she said, borderline insulted by the assumption. “It’s my husband’s—well, soon-to-beex-husband’s.” Irritation festered beneath her skin, and she began to regret bringing up the baby. “You know, Quinn thought the same thing. I don’t get it. You two are supposed to be Joe’s closest friends, yet you seem to think pretty poorly of him. He didn’t lure me out of some perfect marriage to have a hot, steamy affair. Joe is a wonderful man. It confuses me, and honestly annoys me, that his oldest friends jump to the worst conclusions about him.”
Roxie said nothing for a moment, then shrugged. “Joe and I have history. Why do you have him on a pedestal?”
She crossed her arms over her chest. “I don’t.”
Roxie scoffed. “You do. Shit, I just got mom-lectured by you because I thought he knocked you up.” She grimaced. “Sorry. That’s a horrible expression. The thing is, Joe has never played well with others. Ever. So, the fact that you think so highly of him is fascinating. The question is why?”
She was being overly defensive with Roxie. Snappy. She knew this. And that furthered her irritation. What if this was her new default attitude? God, she hoped not. She really needed to get a grip.
After counting to ten in her head, she said, “Do you want the long story or the short?”
“Either will do.” The bright-green eyes staring back at her communicated patience and curiosity. Not judgment.
