This woman has the right to choose whoever she wants.
She doesn’t need me to step in.
Plus, Alex’s a big girl and can look after herself.
But can she, though?
Her past choices of men have been questionable.
“Matt, I’ve lost you again, haven’t I?” Jaci asks, bringing my attention back to her, and I blink a few times, clearing my throat.
“Shit, sorry. I really suck tonight, don’t I?” I ask, and she lets out a small giggle.
“Well, you’re certainly not in the right headspace for a date, that’s for sure. I’m not sure what’s happening in your mind, but you’re clearly not focused. That’s okay. I know with your life, you must have so much going on.”
I smile weakly. “I am sorry, but it’s more than that,” I say, unsure if I should just tell her now that this isn’t going to go further and break her dreams of a rock star marriage here and now, or whether I should let this play out a little more.
“It’s okay, I know how tonight is going, Matt. I’m under no false illusions here,” she says, shocking me and gaining my full attention.
“Ah, what do you mean?”
She smiles, bringing her hand up to play with the end of her braid like she’s feeling awkward or uncomfortable. But she sighs and slumps her shoulders. “We had such great chemistry in our message chats. I felt a real bond with you…” I nod as she reaches out, grabbing my hand. “But, Matt, something about meeting you has changed all that, hasn’t it?”
I gnaw on my bottom lip and wince slightly as she holds my hand gently. Jaci’s hand is soft, and it’s nice to touch her, but there’s no spark. I glance at Alex and see her looking at our joined hands. She notices me watching her and quickly averts her eyes. I furrow my brows and turn back to Jaci.
“I think me being famous is too big of a deal, to be honest with you,” I say.
I like Jaci, and I don’t want to spin her the line of ‘it’s not you, it’s me’bullshit. She deserves better than that.
She nods and squeezes my hand, running her thumb gently along my skin. “I went a little hard on the fandom, right?”
I let off a stifled laugh. “Yeah. I wanted you to like me for me, notwhoI am. You know what I mean?”
She inhales sharply through her nose. “I failed your test, didn’t I?”
“Wasn’t a test, Jaci. It’s just, I think, I think… I want something a little different.” My words hang in the air as she contemplates them, and then she nods as she takes it all in.
“You don’t want a fan,” Jaci says as more of a statement than a question. The realization dawns on her, and she takes a deep breath. “Geez, I’m an idiot. I’m sorry, Matt. I’ve screwed this up before we even began.”
I turn my hand over, lacing our fingers and giving her comfort. “Hey, no, it’s okay. It is what it is. We can still be friends, and anytime you wanna come to a show, let me know.”
“Really?” she asks excitedly, and I know right there that I’ve done the right thing. If she’s excited about coming to a show, more excited about that than about us parting ways, then yes, I’m one hundred percent doing the right thing.
“Of course, anytime.”
She leans in, kissing my cheek suddenly. I grin at her in friendship. But a sudden movement catches my eyes as I watch Alex and Logan stand. I instantly let go of Jaci’s hand and look at Alex a little more obviously as she moves in beside Logan. He wraps his arm around her shoulders, pulling her to him. They chuckle and walk out of the restaurant next to each other. His arm is dangling over her shoulder, holding her to his side like they’re totally a thing.
My chest squeezes tight.
I want to scream at Alex and tell her not to go with him.
Not to leave with that asshole.
Her hand comes up and grabs his hand around her shoulders, and they walk out of the room, laughing together without even glancing back at me.
And just like that, Alex is gone.
Chapter Thirteen
