Page 24 of With Wine Comes War

RK

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Now I’m holding my breath.

From: ALEX

Reply to: ROMAN

Subject: Re: Back totruth or dare

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TRUTH: It’s hard. My reality is really fucked up.

DARE: I can’t! I don’t know what to think.

AK

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If she’d just let me see her or talk to her I know we can get through this together.

From: ROMAN

Reply to: ALEX

Subject: Re: Back to truth or dare

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Then I dare you to just call me.

RK

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Ten minutes no email. I guess that was the last straw for her. I’ll just have to wait and see her in the office if she still even wants that favor from me. I put the bourbon glass in the sink then shut off the music, putting the remote back in the soft close drawer that I would love to slam right now. Just then my phone lights up with Alex’s name scrolling across the screen. That ends my frustration. The tipsy haze of bourbon dissipates as I pick up the phone to get my answers.

***

ALEX

I smiled, thinking about what a great meeting I just had with Ella and Darius. Except now I’m going to have to bite the bullet and see Roman. I know he won’t just take a phone call for this. Someone else, maybe, but not from me. I was going to have to kickbox the anxietyof seeing him out of my system. I gripped the steering wheel tightly for the whole ride to the gym, trying not to wear a hole in the leather or my lip for that matter. I took a deep breath and grabbed my bags then got out of the car, leaning against the door for a minute.“I can do this,”I chanted to myself looking up to the heavens for help before heading into the studio to face my girlfriends.

“Hey Jerkface.” Maggie said nonchalantly as she glanced up at me for a second then went back to tying her shoes. I liked that she wasn't trying to figure out how I’m feeling or not feeling anymore. I let the door swing shut and flopped down on the bench next to Abby and took my shoes out of the bag and started lacing my own up.

“Hey, do you think this class is making my butt look good or too big? My pants are getting tight,” Abby said as she leaned over a little and slapped her hip right in my face as I was bent down. I laughed and shook my head, shoving her in the butt to get it out of my face. I loved having normal conversations again.

“Abby, kickboxing isn’t making your butt bigger, your bun in the oven is.” I reached over and rubbed her belly which I knew she hated, and she swatted my hand away then flicked my shoulder.

“I know, don’t remind me. I have to quit these classes in a few months,” she whined.

I didn’t even think about that. I wrapped my arms around her and stuck out my lip, adding my best puppy dog eyes. Even though my face was exaggerated, I really was sad that our kickboxing trio would get broken up for a bit, sooner than I’d like.

“We still have brunch though, and maybe you girls can take these crazy online birthing classes with me instead of Jack. He already did them with me the first time.” We laughed at the thought of the three of us “who who whoing” and “ha ha haing” and Jack standing there watching.

After class, I high fived the girls and went home to eat and get my head together.

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