A Time for Hope (Lexi, #3)(3)
I was no longer alone.
Chapter 1 - Re-entry
Alex wrapped his arms around me while I mindlessly pushed around the scrambled eggs on my plate. Sitting at the breakfast bar while he casually sipped his coffee, it was easy to think it was just another morning. The last few weeks had gone a long way to relieve the tension between us but I wasn’t deluding myself into thinking that it was going to solve our issues and throw us back into marital bliss.
“So, you have any plans for today?” I mumbled, shoving the now cold eggs into my mouth. That’s what normal couples did right? Talk about their day?
“Actually, I do. James and I are going to go over a tour schedule with Chris. She wanted to finalize the timeline.” He carefully brushed the hair away from my neck.
“Oh! There’s a meeting? Shit. I must have missed the memo.” I bolted upright, looking for my iPhone. Crap. When was the last time I had checked my emails? I was back at work, nominally, but Matt and Anna had been handling most things since... Damn. I needed to get back in the game. I felt like I had dropped the ball on work lately and I really need to get my head back into it. It was the one thing I had no doubts about, in the business world I was still Lexi Reed.
“Baby, the reason you didn’t know about it was because there wasn’t a memo. The rest of the guys aren’t going to be there. It’s just the two of us and Chris.” Alex gently eased me back onto the stool, “Enjoy your breakfast. Besides, you have plans of your own this morning.”
I was mildly annoyed at not being included in the meeting, sure as PR representation to the band Power Station I wasn’t “required” to be there but hell, I was more than just the representation. I thought I was part of the team, not to mention the wife of the lead guitarist who was one of the founding members of the band! Damn it! Why wasn’t I invited?
Easy there, Yoko. It’s his band. Yes you work with them but it’s still his band and you really don’t need to be there. Control freak much? Ughhhhhh!
“What plans?” I blinked, focusing on the one detail that wasn’t pissing me off. I really didn’t want to fight with Alex this morning.
My confusion grew as a buzz came from the front door. “Expecting someone?” I raised an eyebrow, just now noticing that Alex was fully clothed in a fitted white t-shirt and blue jeans while I was still lounging around in one of his t-shirts and a pair of shorts.
Alex shot me a devilish smile over his shoulder that told me that he knew exactly who was at the door as he sauntered over to open it. Obviously this was something to do with my plans? The plans that up until now I had no idea were mine and no one had bothered to tell me. HELLO... didn’t we already establish I was a control freak?
“Jesus Christ, Stone! It looks like Ikea threw up in this place!” Taylah’s massive personality burst into the room before I even saw her.
Taylah Nixon, my former neighbour and possibly my most honest friend was a breath of fresh air. Her witty and unique presence had made my early days in New York not only more pleasurable but had helped ease me into my new life. What had started as an unlikely friendship was now one of my lifelines.
“TAYLAH!” I screamed as I leaped of the stool and ran to the front door.
“Hey Lex!” Taylah gave me one-armed hug as she pulled her large Jackie-O styled sunglasses from her eyes and surveyed the room.
“I didn’t shop at Ikea, Taylah.” Alex smiled as he rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, Yeah... I can smell the meatballs from here. You know, I get the whole “clean lines” bullshit you’re going for but we could do with a few pieces that aren’t mass-produced.” I loved that Taylah was her usually “busy” self and wasn’t focusing on my apparent “fragile” state.
Taylah and Dave had visited me briefly before I was discharged from hospital but since my release I had been holed up in the apartment. I had thrown myself back into work, mostly from home, and had used the absence to develop project “rebuilding” Lexi. We had spoken constantly on the phone but she had been respectful about giving me space and time to heal. Our longer than usual separation didn’t seem to matter to Taylah (one of the things I loved about her) and I was so glad she wasn’t getting hung up on the “how are you’s” and “you’re looking so well’s” that everyone else had spouted when they visited me.
“Tay! What are you doing here?” I asked, wondering if she was here for something other than a postmortem on Alex’s decorating style.
“I invited her,” Alex smiled in satisfaction, “The two of you have a date.”
“Huh?” I stared in confusion between them, it seemed that I was the only one apparently out of the loop.
“Lexi, the Dow Jones plummeted 16 points since you last hit 5th Avenue. Wall street is in a slump. We’ve got to get you spending before businesses close down and there is rioting in the streets. The poor skinny poor bitch from Prada is going to have to get her soy, non-fat latte from a McCafe instead of Starbucks and she’s already had to downgrade from a Venti to a Grande. The country needs you.” Taylah proclaimed dramatically.
The first real laugh in what seemed like weeks burst through my lips. “You’re a freaking nut case.”
“Yeah, so I’m in good company,” Taylah beamed. “Now if you, my fellow nut case, would be so good to put some clothes on, we can go and exercise some economic stimulation.”