Page 28 of Hollywood Undercover
Chapter 11
ALEXANDRA rolled over in bed,studying the red numbers of the alarm clock on her nightstand. It hadn’t yet buzzed. She was awakened by the light of the approaching sunrise, which turned the walls of the room into a buttery hue. She had barely slept. Rosa would be here in about two hours to take her to thehospital.
In the almost two weeks she had been in Tucson, she spent much of her time in the ICU, watching over her father. On most days, she would stay with him from the start of visiting hours to late at night when the nurses kicked her out. Dad’s team of doctors went to great lengths in their efforts to turn around his condition. Still, Alexandra tried to hold out some hope, but had been disheartened with each passing day that he didn’t getbetter.
Stretching lazily in bed, she wiggled her toes against the plush beige comforter, and threw off the heavy quilt and soft cotton sheets. In the privacy of her bedroom she could be herself. She could be a woman. She let it all hang out, breasts and all. Breasts that now strained against the fabric of her t-shirt. She stood up and caught a sideways look in the mirror, in the black lounge pants held up by a drawstring. Her stomach tapered from under her breasts, down to her waist, to her hips. Pushing back black curls falling over her face, she craned her neck and peered through the bedroom window at the house next door. Somewhere over there was the handsome neighbor who made a point of extending his friendship. Of course, she wasn’t sure whether he was gay or not. Not that it mattered, she toldherself.
Anytime Bash Sullivan was home when she returned from the hospital at a decent hour, he would stop by to check up on her, and ask about her father. They had spent a few evenings sharing dinner. It turned out he was a decent cook, which Alexandra appreciated. She was horrible in the kitchen. She had skipped out on his party. It filled the street with cars and the night air with soft country music. Bash came by after it was over to bring her a plate of bar-b-q ribs. Basically, Bash was making it impossible for her to pretend he didn’texist.
She shimmied out of her pants, shaking the lounge pants and panties down her legs so she could shower and get dressed. She didn’t mind his constant showing up. There was something freeing about getting to play the part of being a guy. When she talked to Bash, there was no need to present herself as meat on the chopping block. She had often felt she needed to add a layer of something more when she dated the men in herpast.
She didn’t have to pretend she was less intelligent with Bash, or more sophisticated, or in need of a champion, or just independent enough—or any of the other often conflicting traits expected of women. She could be herself …well, she could be Alex Roberts. They chatted about his hobbies as well as hers, although in that area, she told a few white lies mixed in with some truth. She mentioned to him she played guitar, told him about her favorite shows and favorite music. She was more vague when she talked about her childhood. In spite of the odd harmless lie, she had shared a lot more with him than many of the men she had dated. Normally, her love interests weren’t allowed this much access to who she reallywas.
Bash isn’t a loveinterest.
She kept reminding herself of that. Stepping under the warm stream of water in the shower, she let it run over her hair and face. She closed her eyes, immediately picturing him without trying. She had gradually allowed him to get closer, maybe because it gave her something to think about other than her father’s waning health. She had gotten to know Sebastian’s schedule, when to expect him, and what he was likely to do. Tonight, he would probably stop by with a wrapped plate and his warm smile, ready to take her mind off her worries. They would probably watch TV for a while and make casual conversation. She neededthat.
He invited her to come by and check out the model train set his father had built in his basement, but she held back. She grinned and sluiced the water out of her face, thinking about his half-embarrassed smile whenever he mentioned the model train setup. He said it was something his father had started, and he didn’t have the heart to let it go. As she moved on to scrub the bath sponge over the rest of her body, she couldn’t stop thinking about him. It wasn’t the first time that she wondered whether he was gay or straight. She had quite a few gay friends out in Hollywood, and still, she wasn’tsure.
She mentally prepared herself, repeating silently that she wouldn’t be surprised if he was gay—just disappointed as ever. She had already imagined being with him. He never hesitated about casually dropping a hand on her arm during conversations or hugging her close when he was ready to leave. Come to think about it, she had never seen him with a woman, or even heard him talk about anyone female. Actually, the more she thought about it, the more she was convinced he was probably, definitelygay.
Probably.
She was ninety-one percent sure of it, but what did that mean forher?
She stepped out of the shower and wrapped her body in a large pink towel, tiptoeing into her bedroom to avoid leaving puddles down the hall. She patted herself dry and looked through the closet for something to wear. Again, she convinced herself it wouldn’t mean anything for her if he was indeedgay.
It’s not like I’m interested in him likethat.
Neither she nor her ‘Alex Roberts’ character she was playing had anyinterest.
Sebastian Sullivan can be as gay as he wants, and it’ll never have to affectme.
She threw on a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, some sneakers, and a fitted cap. As she sauntered downstairs, her phonerang.
“Eva!” she answered, pumped up by the surprise call from herbestie.
“Darling, I got your messages and heard the news. How isDaddy?”
Alexandra sighed and shook her head. “Not too well. I’m on my way to the hospital in a few. What are you up to? Where are you? I have so much to tell you about what’s been going on since the last time we spoke! Do you have aminute?”
“It’s a rare day off, dearest,” Evangeline answered. “I have all the time youneed.”
She walked into the kitchen and reached up into the cabinet for a bowl. Digging around in the utensil drawer, she grabbed a spoon and checked the pantry for cereal. Rosa had been amazing, making sure the house was stocked with food while Alexandra spent most of her time at the hospital. All her favorites were in the pantry and the fridge—which meant anything that didn’t have to be cooked on astove.
“Like I said in my message, Eva, this isn’t exactly the vacation I dreamed up, but it’s been a welcome break. Rick has been keeping me up to speed with everything in LA. He even fed the media a rumor that I’m on the French Riviera when in reality, I barely see the outside of Dad’s hospital room. Although…I’ve metsomeone.”
“Wait a minute. Didn’t we agree you were going to try being single for a while? What is he? A hotdoctor?”
“Oh, no! It’s not what you think. Gosh, where do I start?” She poured a large bowl of cereal and sat on the edge of a barstool. “Okay, you know how sometimes we go out all covered up to keep a low profile? You know, sunglasses, massive hats, head-to-toe bodysuits?”
“Yes? What aboutit?”
“I’ve done that timesten.”
“How do youmean?
“You’d never even recognize me, Eva. You’d be so proud! For starters, I chopped off all myhair.”
