A Time for Hope (Lexi, #3)(72)
“Lexi… I was...” Dan tried to explain, realising that his attempt at humour had well and truly been misinterpreted. Maybe it was because of the impending separation I knew I was facing or maybe it was just fatigue, but I couldn’t take it today. Not now, not in the last few minutes I had before I had to say goodbye to Alex.
“Dan. Enough.” Alex slammed his fist against the interior of the car door. “Lexi, are you ok?” He gently stroked my arm. Great, now I felt even worse. The last memory Alex would have of me would be that of a raving freaking lunatic.
“I’m sorry. I just hate this part… I’m sorry.” I turned to stare out the window, a little embarrassed by my outburst. I didn’t know what else to say.
We rode the rest of the way to airport in silence. My vocal eruption had put an end to any more antics. I rested my head against the car window, regretting the decision to come. When did I become so needy? I just didn’t want the car ride to end.
TJ merged onto the airport entrance ramp, slowing with the flow of traffic. The car glided along the departure drop off area before coming to a stop directly in front of the curbside checkin area. Press and fans littered the walkway, with airport security doing their best to move them on.
“I think it’s best if I don’t get out.” I swallowed, there was no point prolonging it, especially with the press there.
“Lexi,” Alex cupped my face and brushed his lips against mine. “I’m going to miss you. I’m going to call you every day until you get there. You’ll get sick of me.”
“I thought you hated talking on the phone?” I smiled, needing to make this ok for him. I didn’t want Alex to worry about me.
“I’m a changed man.” Alex leaned his forehead against mine. “Bye baby. I’ll call you when we land.”
“Bye,” I whispered and quickly kissed his lips, aware we had spectators.
TJ exited the car and walked around to open the back door.
I quickly hugged each of the band members and saved my last and longest hug for Alex.
One by one they emptied out of the car, greeted by flashing cameras and excited fans. I waved as Alex looked back and gave him one last smile before I closed the door.
“Where to, Lexi? You want to go home?” TJ asked as the car rolled away from the craziness of the sidewalk.
“Take me to Taylah’s.” I refastened my seatbelt. I was not going to go home and cry. I’d be seeing Alex in at most a couple of weeks. This was silly. I fumbled in my handbag for my newly acquired Penthouse keys and pulled out my phone.
-Meet me at the Penthouse, I’m bored – L xx
My phone beeped almost instantaneously
-I’ve got paint swatches and a nail gun. Shit’s about to get REAL! – Taylah
~~~
The penthouse was so much bigger than either of Alex or my previous apartments. It looked even larger as it currently stood empty. Its walls were almost unwelcoming with their stark whiteness, the space devoid of furniture.
“What did I tell you! Amazing right!? Look at all this space. I can’t wait to start. You guys got it at such an unbelievable price.” Taylah seemed more excited than I did with our new residence. She had played a key role in us obtaining the penthouse at a very satisfactory price, with her less than subtle insistence to other potential purchasers that the ghost of a manic opium addicted mob wife from the 1920s languished through the halls.
“Hopefully Lucille will rest in peace now. If only Tony have been more attentive to her, instead of being in Vegas with his ‘Comare.’ Such a tragic story. Lucky her dog Coco was with her at the end.” I laughed. You had to hand it to Taylah, if she was creating a backstory, she went all out.
I flicked through the massive book of paint swatches that Taylah had handed to me as I sat on the polished floorboards of our newly acquired home.
“Ha! Can you believe they bought that shit?! I honestly thought that couple from Rhode Island were going to pee their pants when I told them.” Taylah joined me on the floor as she pushed another book into my hand, this time with samples of fabric.
“Have you heard from Alex?” Taylah asked tentatively. It was hard to believe he’d only been gone seven hours and I missed him so much.
“Yeah he called when he landed in LA. He sounded tired. I hate not being with him but as soon as Noah is ready to fly, I’ll be on that plane. Matt is going to do an amazing job on the road with them.” I tried to hide my newly found funk. The truth was I’d felt like shit for days, fatigued and wrung out. I hated the emotions I was dealing with, I felt like I could burst into tears at any moment. What was up with that? When did I get so f*cking needy? I guess the separation was going to be harder than I thought.
“It’s ok to miss him Lex.” Taylah smiled sensing my change in mood, “Just use this time to think up some creative ways to welcome him home. Surely you still have something tucked away in your bag of tricks.” She shot me a cheeky wink.
“Yeah I know.” My eyes stung a little from my welling tears. Seriously, WHAT THE FUCK?! Pull your shit together, Lexi.
“Hey. What’s with the tears? You haven’t even seen my bill yet!” Taylah pulled an arm around my shoulder and hugged me.
“Honestly, I don’t know. Maybe it’s Lucille.” I joked, trying to lighten the mood. The last thing I wanted to do was have a breakdown for no good reason.