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Still, I didn’t want to judge Alex too harshly. Seeing him was a shock. But I had to remember that the past was the past.
“I have a lot of other commitments,” I said.
"Commitments?”
“You know.Familycommitments?”
“What, are youmarriedor something?”
“No,” I replied. For some reason, that stung most of all.
Alex looked like he was about to say more, but then he stopped, and shook his head.
“Lola,” he said. “For what it’s worth, I’m sorry I didn’t call you. I’m sorry I sent that letter. I wasn’t thinking straight.”
“Thank you,” I said. His apology didn’t even begin to scratch the surface, but somehow I was hoping that if I pretended it was fine, the feelings wouldn’t keep bubbling up, that I’d still be able to keep smiling, keep being nice, to the man who’d ruined everything, to the guy who’d abandoned me when I most needed him…
“And I hope the money was useful.”
That did it.
“I gave it to a dog shelter,” I replied.
“What?”
“I said,I gave it to a dog shelter.”
“Why? That was foryou…for whatever trouble you were in!”
“I don’t need your money, mister. Never did. I told you that when I called, as a matter of fact. I said I needed your help, to talk to you.”
“I…just…” said Alex. He’d screwed up his face and his piercing blue eyes were burning like cold fire. He looked like he was about to lose his temper.
“So, there’s nothing I can do?” he said.
“No. Not now.”
“And you don’t want to tell me about whatever it was? That you called me about?”
“Not your problem!” I said, happily. Even if it made me most unhappy to say it.
“So, we’re not going to talk about it at all?”
“You sure are a smart cookie,” I replied sarcastically.
That did it. Alex had stood, and was buttoning his elegant designer blazer.
“It was good seeing you, Lola,” he said, through gritted teeth. “But I really must go.” I watched him pick his way gingerly through the crowded coffee shop.
But I didn’t care. Sure, I’d been really looking forward to working atThe Blue Orchid. But I was better off without Alex Lowe.
***
I took the subway back to Jackson Heights that afternoon. It was almost an hour-long journey fromThe Blue Orchidto my apartment.
I’d gotten a text from Zeke, thanking me for coming in and telling me I’d be hearing from them. But somehow, I got the feeling that billionaire, asshole Alex Lowe wouldn’t be welcoming me to one of his upmarket venues any time soon. Besides, the commute was long, and I bet they made you work all kinds of crazy shifts at such a fancy place.
When I got off the subway, I walked back to my building. I lived above a bodega owned by Sebastien, Sara’s uncle.
