The Bad Jokes #1: The Redhead

Chapter 6: Open the Damn Door

The last month I'd spent trying to capture Xane's attention had taken its toll on my naturally optimistic outlook. The man still hadn't given me one indication he returned my interest, yet that didn't stop my pursuit of him. So, being a little discouraged at my lack of progress, I did not feel like being Alexander's "date" for the night. Justice and Gracie and I took turns being his arm candy at parties when he was trying to shake off a particularly clingy ex. Since he had a strict no PDA policy, nobody thought it was strange he was hands-off with us. Tonight was my turn and I was not in the mood to dress up and mingle.

"Come on, Justice, take my turn tonight," I begged her when she answered my call. "I don't have the patience for this now."

She snorted. "No way. It's your turn, so quit whining. I did my duty three weeks ago."

"Gah! The things we do for him," I grumbled.

"Tell me about it. We've always spoiled that boy and now he expects us to do whatever he wants."

"That and he blackmails us with secrets we still don't want our parents to know."

"There is that," she agreed. "But I prefer to pretend we have a choice."

At precisely seven o'clock that evening, Alexander knocked on my door and I stomped through the door, not even letting him in. "Let's get this over with," I sulked.

He crooked his arm out at me, and I reluctantly took it. My dress was tight and my heels were high, so I appreciated the support his arm offered.

"What's the occasion tonight?" I asked. 

"Three-star clinger making moves to get that fourth star rating. Won't accept that we're over. She should get the point when I walk in with you."

"How do these girls not recognize us from the pictures in your place?"

"Roar, do you honestly think I'd let them into my apartment? I take them to hotels. Rule number one -- never shit where you live."

"Charming, Alex. I'm not even sure how we're related," I grumped as he handed me into his convertible sports car. It was a foreign something or other, but it was sleek and black and shiny. He bitched and moaned when I made him put up the top, but no way was I walking into this party tonight with my hair blown to hell.

We made the rounds for two hours at the party, and sure enough the three-star clinger was there giving me the evil eye the entire night just because I'd walked into the party on Alexander's arm. She cornered me as I was coming out of the ladies' room and told me she was Alex's girlfriend.

"That's an interesting assertion to make since he asked me to accompany him to this extravaganza tonight," I responded.

The big words confused her for a minute -- seriously, did he only date girls whose greatest claim to intellectual fame was finishing the fourth grade -- and then she huffed at me. Really.

"If there's nothing else...?" I was giving her another minute to get out of my way, then things were going down.

"Just stay away from him," she demanded.

"Well, I kind of think that's up to him who he chooses to hang with. My advice? Find another guy who appreciates you. Alex isn't known for staying with any woman for very long."

"I'm going to go talk to Alex," she stormed off.

Have at it, I thought. Why are you chasing after a man who doesn't want you?

That thought suddenly had me freezing in place. I was no better than this woman; in fact, maybe I was even worse since she'd gotten farther with Alex than I'd ever gotten with Xane.