Lex(13)

“Please move.” I whisper, angling myself so when he does release me from the confines of this booth, I can shoot out and get to the Jag quickly. I can’t take another second of this rudeness. Trying not to forget my manners, I apologize to Corey for our ruined date and his smile from earlier has been replaced with a pitiful frown, that consumes his entire face.

Such a shame.

“What did I say, Lex, that isn’t true?” His incredulous tone washes disdain over me.

“Just move, Gage.” I’ve had more than enough. If I don’t leave now I’m going to bawl.

“I’m serious Lex; you’re a pretty gal carrying a Gucci purse. It has spoiled written all over it.”

Wow, stereotype much?

“You know, Gage, I wish my father would have gotten that memo when I was a child. I’ve always wished I had been spoiled, unless being beaten unconscious and burned repeatedly with cigarettes is considered spoiled. I don’t think he quite understood the meaning behind the word. Maybe you’d like to see all the scars and you can decide for yourself?”

As the last word drawls from between my trembling lips, a tear pours down my cheek and he removes himself from the booth. Not wasting another second, I shoot out behind him.

“I’m…”

I cut him off, “Save it, I don’t want anyone feeling sorry for me. Just think about the next time you decide to stereotype a person. You should know their history beforehand. I could have sworn they taught you that in law school. Apparently, I’m mistaken.” No response is uttered from Gage and I turn to Corey, reaching out I slide my palm across his stricken face and apologize again for ditching him. I really feel awful but I can’t see how this is a salvageable date.

Turning to leave I throw a twenty on the bar and out the front metal door I go. I hastily walk tall to my Jag even though I know as soon as I get inside, I am going to lose my marbles and ugly cry all the way home.



“What in the hell are you doing in here?” Roni inquires, stepping into my living room, still in her pj’s from this morning. I told you she was a slob. You should see her apartment. Yuck!

I’m sitting on my couch in my red cami and black boy-shorts, my cream Sherpa blanket thrown over my legs, as I depressively dive into a half gallon of rocky road ice cream smothered with expensive caramel sauce, raw coconut shavings, rainbow sprinkles, and Reddi Whip. I’m pulling out all the stops tonight and this is by far the best ice cream in the galaxy.

Leaning over to spot my spoon and the half-gallon partway gone, she slumps down into the sofa beside me and pats my leg. “Eating your feelings again, I see… What happened?”

“Do you want some?” I offer her my spoon and she grabs my hand feeding it to her mouth.

“Mmmm, this isn’t half bad, Lex. But if you splurged on Reddi Whip and the fancy caramel sauce, I know this must be bad.”

She knows me all too well.

Pressing the pause button on the remote to stop my movie I turn toward her.

“It was the best and worst date I’ve ever had.” I mope, feeding another heaping spoonful into my mouth.

“Care to elaborate?”

With a long sigh, I give in and explain it all. Talking about how hot they both made me, down to my abusive father and everything in-between. I can’t think of a thing I left out. Roni, being the woman she is, sat and listened the entire time. And like a man, she didn’t interrupt, not even once.

“Now you see what it was the best and the worst.” I reiterate, licking the caramel sauce off the spoon, feeling fifty percent lighter in emotions and ten pounds heavier in my stomach. Between the two of us, this ice cream is nearly gone, and I’m stuffed.

“It seems as though we will be dealing with this jackass, Gage from Masterson and Associates, for the next few weeks. I’m sure our lawyer, Kim, is going to get a real kick out of it, if she hasn’t already received the paperwork yet. I find it funny, that it happens on Monday and we are being sued by Friday, sounds a bit fishy to me. To top it all off that Donald douche is still trying to woo you. Where does that fall into all of this? ‘Hey you’re getting sued but I’d still like to fuck you.’ Oh goody, just think of the sweet stories to tell the grandchildren after you two get hitched and walk into the sunset, living happily ever after.”

All-righty then, Roni is in full bitch mode, not that I can blame her. I’ve spent most of the day, once I got home, either crying about my past or angry with what happened. I can’t decide which has won out.

Pressing the button back on the remote the perfect make-you-happy movie turns back on.

“Do we have to watch this, Lex?” Roni groans, stealing part of my blanket as she snuggles further down into my brown suede couch.