His attention zeroed in on the hideous pea-green station wagon sitting in his driveway and he swore again. Why was Lex there? And why was he driving his dad’s POS dinosaur of a car?
Not in the mood to deal with the other man, he almost turned around and drove away. Instead, he parked the Tahoe beside the station wagon and frowned. Lex sat in his dad’s car, staring off into the distance. With a reluctant sigh, Jayson walked over and rapped his knuckles against the glass. Lex jumped, then he opened the door and got out.
“Hey,” he said, not at all his usual vivacious self. “I was just in the neighborhood…” His voice trailed off and he looked…lost.
“Where’s your car?”
Instead of answering, Lex rubbed his hands together. “Mind if I come in for a little bit?” He faltered. “Unless your girl is here—”
“I just dropped Sabrina off at the airport. She’s on her way home…and she’s not my girl.”
“You could’ve fooled me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
Lex nodded to the door and blew on his hands. “Just open the door, will you? It’s freezing out here.”
Jayson obliged, unlocking the door and motioning for Lex to go inside first. Although he was in a foul mood, Jayson considered Lex to be one of his best friends, and something seemed glaringly off with the other man.
“And what I meant,” Lex said, pulling his coat off and tossing it over a chair, “is you two looked awfully cozy last night. Holding hands and dancing and sneaking kisses. We all saw it.” He crossed his arms. “Why’d you let her go?”
Lex’s accusatory tone caught Jayson by surprise. He figured if anyone would understand, it was Mr. Flavor of the Week. “First of all, she’s not a possession I can keep. And second, she has a life in D.C.”
“So, that’s it? Thanks for the memories and see ‘ya never?” Lex screwed up his face and sauntered over to the couch, dropping down. “Wow, man. Never took you for being such a callous dick.”
Goddammit, I am a dick.Pinching the bridge of his nose, he sighed heavily. “I fucked up, didn’t I?”
“Yeah, I’d say you did. Royally, pal.”
“Well, what was I supposed to do? Beg her to stay? Tell her I don’t want to let her go? Ask her to move in with me? I would’ve looked like a crazy, possessive, desperate psycho.”
“But you would’ve gotten the girl.”
“Maybe. Maybe not.” He sighed, raking a hand through his hair. “I don’t even know how she feels.”
“Because you didn’t ask, dumbass. Now, instead of having your arms full of a beautiful woman, you’re just full of regrets.”
Jayson slumped down on the couch beside his buddy, reluctant to admit the other man was right. “When did you get so wise?” he asked, sinking back into the cushions, beyond glum.
“I’ve always been wise.”
Jayson snorted. “A wiseassmaybe.”
“Hey, you’re the one who let an amazing, totally gorgeous woman board a plane and leave. I would’ve run back and turned it into a spectacular moment, straight out of a romcom. Probably would’ve asked her to marry me in front of everyone and they would’ve cheered as we kissed. That’s called an HEA, my friend. All women want one.”
“A what?” he asked blankly. Who the hell was this guy? Certainly not Alexander Battle, Professional Player, Scoundrel and Wooer of Women.
“A happily ever after. Get with it.”
Jayson’s jaw dropped. “Who the hell are you and where is Alexander Battle?” he deadpanned.
Lex turned his head, his normally bright blue eyes dull. “I think I have to put my dad in a care facility.”
“Shit, Lex. I’m sorry.” They all knew Lex’s dad had been battling health issues for the past year and a half. Although herarely talked about it, he did give Jayson and the others an update every so often.
“Seeing someone you love deteriorate fucking sucks,” he stated in a flat voice.
Jayson felt the pain in his friend’s words. Felt it vibrating off him in depressing waves. Out of them all, Lex was always the one who could be counted on to cheer the group up. He was never without a funny story, usually about a conquest or something completely absurd and over-the-top that would only happen to him. Like the time a movie filmed in Cielo Springs, and he ended up seducing both the lead actress and her assistant, and the three of them had a grand ol’ time in her trailer.
