The Redemption(34)

Dex brings a chair, setting it at the corner of the crowded table. Tilting his head, he looks at me and smiles. It’s sexual and genuine all in one. “It’s good to see you.” When he looks back to the group, he starts the introductions, “Toby, Keith, but not the country singer, Wes, and Firenza. This is Rochelle.”

Firenza? Sounds exotic. Funny, I didn’t hear an accent.

Her chair is bumped up to his, and she leans forward, her arm resting on top of Dex’s. “You look familiar. How would I know you?”

Dex sits back, moving his arm out from under hers.

Everyone looks at me, waiting for an answer, but Toby replies, “She was married to the guitarist of the band.”

“Which band?” Firenza asks.

Dex sits up, looking annoyed. “The Resistance.” His answer is clipped.

She ignores his mood and continues in on me. “So you’re divorced, but you still hang on… I mean, hang out with Dex?”

“I’m not divorced. Cory and I weren’t marrie—”

Dex’s hands hit the table, drawing my attention as the metal feet of his chair scrape across the cement when he stands. “I haven’t seen the waitress in forever. I’m gonna get a drink from the bar.” He leaves so abruptly that we’re left staring at his back as he goes inside.

Uncomfortable being left here with her and confused to why he left, I start to get up so I can check on Dex. Persistent Firenza keeps going like nothing unusual happened at all though. “So you were only dating?” She scrunches her nose at me.

Wes touches her arm and she glares at him when he says, “He died. He was the one who died in the plane crash.”

Hearing Cory dismissed so easily by her angers me. I stand, my own chair noisy this time. When I look at her, her expression never changes. It’s just as cold and bitchy as a moment earlier. “You’re dating his band mate now?”

My eyes meet Wes’s and I say, “I’m gonna find Dex.”

As I’m walking away, I hear her explaining to the others, “So what, she’s dating Dex now. Who’s next, Johnny Outlaw?”

I let the bad vibes go as the distance grows between us. She wants to package me up and categorize me so it’s easier for her to understand. But none of this is easy to understand and if I don’t, then she won’t either. Dex is leaning on the bar talking with a tall brunette. She’s laughing. He’s smiling. I’m stepping to the side, debating. And now I’m apparently spying. Ugh! I make my way through the crowd of cocktail tables and patrons, not wanting to confront him, which is exactly what I’ll do if I talk to him now. But I still can’t resist sneaking a peek at him. He takes her card and tucks it into his shirt pocket before they say their goodbyes.

Wow. And here I was stupid enough to think he actually wanted me. Why’d I even bother? I just don’t fit into his world and by watching him, I don’t want to. I can’t stay here and continue to be hurt by him or these women.

I continue toward the door that will lead me to the valet. Just as I exit, I hear him call after me. I hand the ticket to the valet attendant and step to the side, pretending to be oblivious to Dex. “Rochelle? Why are you leaving?”

He’s got two drinks in his hand and he hands one to me. I don’t take it, but glance off to the side to see if that’s my car being pulled around. It’s not. I say, “You left me out there with that woman who seems to think I’m a gold-digger of some sort while you come inside and collect other women’s numbers. And you’re surprised I’m leaving?”

“I didn’t want to be rude. She works for Gucci and wants to talk to me about the potential for a campaign.”

“She should be talking to me then. I’m your business manager. Why’d you leave the table?”

He stares at me and I stare right back. Then he sets the drinks down on the valet podium and reaches into his shirt pocket, pulling out his pack of cigarettes. Flicking one up, he takes it and taps it on the inside of his wrist before lighting it and taking a deep inhale. Finally, he says, “I don’t want to talk about Cory.”

“I didn’t bring him up. I was only correcting Firenza’s rude comment.”

“I don’t want you talking about Cory tonight.”

“Then you should have answered for me so I didn’t have to.”

He inhales again. With a slow exhale above my head, he says, “I wanted you to meet some of my friends. That’s all.”

“Your friends are *s.”

“Not all of them.”

“No Dex, you’re right. Not all of them. Just her. And who is she exactly? I seem to be lost on her connection to you.”

He drops the cigarette to the ground and says, “We used to f*ck.”

My heart is set on fire as he crushes me with his flippancy. I glare at him, then spit, “You sure it’s past tense?”

“I’m not having sex with her anymore. Why are you so bent out of shape?”

I double blink in shock at his attitude toward me. This is the Dex I’ve always known, his cocky side getting the best of him. I shouldn’t bother, but I do. “By how territorial she seemed during the interrogation I got, she might be under the impression the two of you are still f*cking.”

With a shrug and an arrogant grin on his face, he says, “What can I say, she wants me.”