“Yes, I made a few decisions.”
“Anything you want to tell me?” Devon inquired, helping me into the car. He jogged round to the driver’s side and slid in.
I sent Devon a teasing look. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Hopefully, Heidi had booked the appointment I’d asked for earlier. Devon was in for a huge shock. I liked that Devon didn’t push for a reason but accepted my reply.
“I booked Silken Masion and then thought we could take in that new film,” Devon said.
“Which one?” I couldn’t recall the last time I took in a movie for fun. I would have been a teenager. Oliver believed that those of status didn’t attend regular movies unless at red-carpet events. Sheesh.
“The thriller—I remember how you enjoyed them,” Devon teased. My heart clenched a little. That meant a lot. I’d not seen Devon for over a decade, but he remembered the things I’d liked. Oliver couldn’t, and we’d been married for years. That showed who really cared.
“That sounds great.” I smiled as Devon winked. As a teenager, Devon had been a handsome kid; as a man, he was a woman’s wet dream, but somehow had remained single. Whoever Devon chose was a lucky woman.
It was time to shed Alicia Kensington. It was Saturday, and I’d ensured I’d kept today free. Three, nearly four weeks had passed since the divorce was finalised, and I still wore that persona’s clothes. The obedient society wife was getting a makeover. Oliver wouldn’t be allowed to have control over my life anymore.
Determined, I drove to the mall with money to burn and an alter ego to destroy. Alicia Kensington would no longer exist; Alicia Rosewood was back! A paparazzo was trailing me, one of the diehards who believed I was going to have a public meltdown, and I ignored him studiously. Odious little man.
After an hour in the first shop, I emerged wearing fashionable jeans and a cute, sparkly top. I carried several bags of clothes as I headed into the next one. By twelve o’clock, I was tired and had spent a small fortune.
Devon laughed as he approached. Holy hell, the man looked fantastic in jeans and a vintage tee.
“Now this is the Alicia I remember!” he teased, taking some of the bags.
“I feel more like myself,” I replied as I leaned in and grinned.
Devon stared into my eyes and smiled slowly. “Good, because that Alicia was amazing.”
Nerves clenched my stomach as self-doubt assaulted me. Had I been that great a person? If I had been, why had Oliver moulded me so carefully? Devon placed a finger under my chin.
“Babe, Oliver was the problem, not you. Never you,” he murmured. I saw a flash and stepped back quickly, but the paparazzo was grinning.
“Thanks, Alicia!” he offered a thumbs-up and swiftly moved away.
Resigned, I sighed. “Sorry, Devon, you’re going to be front-page news.”
“Makes a change from Oliver,” he quipped, and I laughed. Devon took the rest of the bags. “Let’s get lunch.” Devon escorted me through the mall to a small restaurant, and we grabbed a table. It was a place Oliver wouldn’t have dreamed of dining at, clearly a place below him.
I tutted as my phone pinged just as we were sitting down. What now? Couldn’t I even eat without something happening?
“Oh!” I gasped as I checked it. I quickly opened the headline and turned the screen to Devon.
“Damn, that asshole works fast,” Devon said. “That’s a pretty decent picture.”
“We look intimate,” I muttered, wondering if Devon would lose his temper. Oliver would have.
“Let people gossip,” Devon replied and motioned for the waitress. “Actually, I wonder if the reporter can forward me that. I wouldn’t mind a copy.”
My head shot up. Devon smiled confidently.
“Devon… I…”
“It’s too soon, Alicia, I know. Don’t worry, babe. You set the pace,” Devon said.
I held Devon’s gaze with difficulty. “What if I’m never ready for another relationship? Or I don’t find you attractive?”
“Babe, please, you checked my ass out. But if you’re not, then I’m lucky to have you as a friend. Don’t pressure yourself, Alicia. Let’s concentrate on you first. That’s the important thing. Oliver tried to destroy you and failed.”
