Page 52 of Release
“Look, I’ve gotta go.”
A click echoed through the phone, and again he was listening to silence on the other end. Disappointment moved through him for a second time, but this was all wrong.
“No,” he murmured. “I can’t let it go down like this. She owes me an explanation…and now I owe her one too.”
He walked to the front door and locked it, then hit redial on Alexandra’s number and listened to it ring and ring. She didn’t answer.
He hung up and tried again. And again. And again. And again.
Finally, Alexandra picked up, “What is it, Bash? I’m busy.”
He had a death grip on the phone. “Just don’t hang up, all right? We need to talk this out.”
She gave a bright laugh, one that seemed a little too bright to be sincere. “You don’t have to explain anything to me, Bash. Seriously. You go on ahead with your new girlfriend. Besides, I’m expecting someone.”
“Right. You and Wilkes are back together. By the way, Kennedy is not my girlfriend.”
“I’m not expecting Wilkes, Bash. We’re not back together. Anyway, I’m sorry I interrupted you and Kennedy, whoever she is.”
“Don’t make this about me, Alexandra. You practically made out with him at your front door…and it’s all over the place, everywhere I turn!” Sebastian noticed he was shouting. This was getting out of control. “Look, let’s talk about it on the weekend.”
“You’re still coming to LA?”
“You don’t want me to?”
“Of course I do, Bash.”
Just then, he heard a knock on his door. “Alexandra, don’t hang up, okay? I just need to see who’s outside.”
Sebastian took the phone with him and stepped over to the door, half expecting Kennedy to be there for something she may have forgotten. Boy, was he wrong.
“Sebastian Sullivan?” a man asked.
“Yes. How can I help—”
Before he could get his question out, the man began to snap photos of him, blinding him with his flash. “How does it feel to be the man standing in the way of Lexxi Rock and Wilkes Barracks’ reconciliation?” the man asked him.
“What? Who are you?” He didn’t need an answer. Standing behind him were Aileen and her husband.
Aileen’s husband spoke up. “Hey man. We gave you a chance to deal with this, between friends. We figured out how to get ourselves compensated, and now you can answer to the court of public opinion.”
“Get off my front porch. All of you.” Slamming the door, he stormed back to the living room. That was when he remembered Alexandra was still on the line. “Alexandra?” he called to her. “I guess you heard that.”
“Yes. I should have known they’d eventually come after you. I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault. That was Aileen and her husband.”
“Don’t worry about it. It’ll blow over.”
“I’m not the other guy in this…this fiasco, Alexandra,” he told her, raking a hand through his hair as he sat in the couch.
“I know. It’s best not to address it, otherwise they won’t leave you alone.”
“Christ. This whole situation is a nightmare. I don’t need this right now.”
“It’s my fault, Bash, and I’m sorry. Let’s just leave it be until you get to LA, okay?”
He paused for a moment. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea anymore, Alexandra. I have to prepare for the new job I’m starting next week. I want to see you, but not if all we’ll be doing is running from the media. Let me get this out of the way and we can talk afterward.”
