Page 23 of Pick Six
“We were. We are. It’s just a rough patch. I have a hard time believing that you didn’t try.”
“Well, you should. But trust me, if I’d known you were cheating on her I would have made sure she knew where she could find a warm bed of her own if she wanted one.”
His fist hits the table loud enough that a couple of people around us look over, and I smile at him to reassure everyone that things are fine. Because Drew is a lot of things, but stupid enough to punch me in public isn’t one of them.
“Some friend,” he mutters.
“That I stayed away when I could have had her? Yeah. I’m fucking awful.”
“Could have had her.” He laughs like it’s the stupidest thing he’s heard lately.
“You think she would have chosen you if she’d known I was an option?” I should shut my mouth. Listen to Tobias. Try to be more like him. But I can’t.
“Except you’re not an option and never will be. She would never want to be with someone like you and you fucking know it.”
“Well, she also doesn’t want to be with a cheater, so guess we’re both shit out of luck now, huh?”
“Fuck… I came here to ask for your help. I thought maybe you’d help me win her back. That at least if the two of you were pretending, it’d keep her from dating someone else. Give me time.” He huffs and lets out a sarcastic laugh, shaking his head.
“I’m not going to help you win her back. She doesn’t deserve to be cheated on again, and I give it less than a year before you’re right back where you started.”
“You don’t know me like you think you do.”
“Don’t I?”
He shakes his head again, pressing his lips together. “Well, I know you too. And if you think that you can win her over, being who you are… Forget it. She’ll never pick you, Xander.”
“Well, look at it this way—if you’re right, then you’ll know she’s safe. She won’t be seeing anyone else while we keep up our arrangement, and she’ll have zero interest in fucking me. So feel free to try to show her you’ve changed. I doubt she buys it, and I’ll definitely enjoy watching her tell you to fuck off after everything you did to her.
“I know I’m right. You’ll be the one pissed a second time when she tellsyouto fuck off. I might have fucked up, but she and I have history—a life together, memories, a family. You’ve got a reputation and a long list of past offenses.” Drew smugly stands, grabbing cash from his wallet and throwing it on the table.
His barbs hit as intended but I don’t let it show, smiling and waving as he heads out the door. He might be right about my chances with her. She might not want me, but I’d make sure he never hurts her again.
TWELVE
Harper
We’reon our way to the grocery store to do some sort of clandestine surprise photo shoot there as part of this fake dating adventure. Alex picked me up after we were both done from work, and luckily, I was off a little early which meant I was able to actually fix my makeup and change clothes. I told myself it’s because of the photos, but part of me wants to look the part—at least try to look like I belong in his world.
“I figure after we’re done with this, we can eat dinner at my place if you want. Talk some and try to figure out which of the things Sam wants us to do we’re actually up for,” he offers, keeping his eyes on the road.
I’m slightly surprised he wants to spend time alone together, but I’m willing to try it. Knowing what sort of events I’m going to be attending would be helpful. It also meant getting a sneak peek at his place, which I’d always been curious about.
“Okay. I feel like I need to mark this down on my calendar then. The day I was allowed in Alexander Xavier’s apartment.”
“Funny, Saint.”
“I might have to take pictures for social media. Brag about the access I have. Then I can have another awkward meeting at work about how they’d like to have an event at your place.”
“I mean, if you want to, we could talk about it. It’s not nearly as big as Ben and Violet’s place.”
“Don’t tell them that, then they’ll just sell it as an intimate gathering and hike the ticket price. Sell special access to your bedroom,” I mutter.
“I’m sensing bitterness on your part there.”
“I’m just frustrated. So is everyone else. We all know how this is going to end, barring some kind of miracle. Everyone is at each other’s throats; abandoning ship or doing more and more ethically gray things to try and keep hope alive that we save this place. It’s depressing, and I really used to love my job.”
“Why is it so hopeless? Don’t families and stuff still go to the museum?”
