A Time for Hope (Lexi, #3)(5)
DarNell climbed into the front passenger seat, and swiveled his head to check out the parking garage before giving TJ the all clear to pull out.
The daylight glow came into focus as we neared the outer doorway and I took a deep breath as we ventured outside my sanctuary; the walls that had shut out the world for weeks. It had been necessary, my exclusion from the outside. In the absence of “noise” I was starting to find myself. I had even stopped resisting the therapy. And what do you know, the shit was actually starting to work.
A few cameras snapped as the Escalade purred onto the streets. The dark tinted windows hindered the paparazzi’s opportunity of finding out who was inside and to my relief they didn’t follow. I wasn’t up to playing the whole cat and mouse game with shutterbugs.
Taylah prattled on as we navigated through the congested streets, her usual colourful and detailed status report of my old apartment building’s tenants being the topic of conversation.
“I swear, how dumb do you have to be to have an affair with your secretary?” She laughed, “It’s not like it’s the freaking 1990’s! Funny thing is Jack was looking for a little on the side and now he’s being well and truly “screwed” by his wife AND the secretary. He’ll be lucky if he gets to keep anything more than that pathetic rug he tries to pass off as hair. Still can’t say that I’m upset because it not only gets rid of a clearly moronic douchebag but also frees up that beautiful penthouse apartment that would be perfect for you and Alex. You’ve got to admit, it’s enough square footage to appease Rock Star and it means you’re back in the neighborhood. I see it as a complete win for all parties involved, except obviously not for Jack.” Taylah giggled, amused by poor idiotic Jack’s misfortune.
“And Lilly has totally had a boob job. She’s trying to palm it off like she just lost some weight so had to get a lift but I can tell her tits are more inflated than the Good Year Blimp.”
Taylah had me laughing easily as we made our way to Manhattan’s garment district. Those enviable streets between 5th and 9th Avenue had always excited me. Maybe I was shallow or maybe this was just one more thing for which I required therapy, but for me, shopping made me feel alive.
“Can we do something else?” I hesitated at the door as TJ pulled up to the curb with the engine left idling.
“You’re passing up shopping at Chanel? This outta be good,” Taylah mused as she waved TJ back onto the road. “Where to Lex?”
“My old apartment.” I should probably just go shopping, spend an insane amount of money and forget everything, but there was something I wasn’t ready to let go of. I needed resolution and as sad as it was to admit, a new pair of shoes or dress wasn’t going to find it for me. I was either evolving or had totally lost my mind but either way there was no turning back.
Chapter 2 - Bad Ass Lexi
It was with muted interest that Taylah and DarNell watched me as we rode the elevator of my apartment building. Funnily enough, it didn’t feeling like it was my home either. I should be annoyed that I was feeling displaced but there was a certain calm that came with the acceptance of my new reality. I had lost control and I was still kicking. My world hadn’t ended, despite me crumbling. Who knew that I would be ok with this? While I was no longer the old Lexi, the new Lexi that I had become was by far more adaptable, resilient and stronger than I’d ever been.
“You forget something back at your old place? Or are we just going to visit that fine piece of man-candy who works for you? I never thanked you for moving him in either. Nicely played.” Taylah broke the silence in her typical fashion.
“Yes, we’re going to see Matt,” I smirked, excited about the prospect of seeing my old friend. “I hope you don’t call him man-candy in front of Anna, I’m not sure she’d be ok with you ogling her boyfriend.”
“I do not ogle, my friend. What I do is appreciate, and that man is like a tall glass of water on a hot day.” Taylah mockingly fanned herself. “He runs… With his shirt off… A lot,” she added, arching her finely manicured brow.
DarNell cleared his throat in case his looming hugeness, which filled the space between us, wasn’t a big enough tip off that he was still around. Clearly he wasn’t appreciating our “serious” discussion about my old roommate and dearest friend.
The elevator binged as we reached our destination. Taylah waited for me to exit as I stepped into the hall. Matt came sprinting up the stairs beside us, his shirt noticeably absent.
“Oh my GOD! Lexi!” Matt engulfed me in a hug, his sweaty torso crushing into my body as he wrapped his arms around me. “It’s so good to see you! Hey, Tay!”
“It’s good to see you too.” I kissed him gently on the cheek, ignoring a beaming Taylah by my side.
“Well, come on in. Anna’s at the office, I was heading there later.” Matt pulled out the key from his running shorts and slotted it into the door.
“I’m not here to check up on you,” I qualified as Tay and I followed him through the doorway, while D waited outside. “But I’m ready to come back. Head up the account. I know you’ve been picking up the slack but it’s time and I need to do this.”
“Of course, Lexi. We’d love to have you back; it’s always been your deal. I’ve just been keeping the chair warm for you.” While the sincerity of his smile lit up his face, it was hard to imagine him not being disappointed underneath. During my extended leave Matt had taken over operations of the whole kit and caboodle and I had merely been overseeing the administration. He had excelled, as I knew he would, but I was ready to get back into the saddle.