Turn Over

I barged past her. “We have to talk.”

“I’m going to be late to my car.” She picked up her guitar case.

I stood between her and the door. “I have to tell you something.”

I never wanted this to come out. With everything that had happened between Alexa and me it was the last thing I wanted her to know, but fucking Charlie had forced my hand.

“Can we do this later?”

“No.” I gripped the case from her and placed the guitar on the floor. I could tell it made her mad.

“Luke, let me out of here.”

I’d never done this. Any of it. Never cared. Never bothered to try it. I didn’t have to. But Alexa brought something out in me I didn’t know I liked. And because of it I had jumped in a damn cab and raced to get to her before she did something she’d regret.

“I am going to that hospital today.”

“So am I,” she countered.

“Listen. Charlie has something on me,” I admitted.

“What is it?”

“The press. All the plans to clean up my image—involving you—it’s because a girl accused me of getting her pregnant.”

I saw the instant hurt in her eyes. The betrayal. The disbelief.

“Wh-what?”

“It’s not true. None of it. I’ve never even met the girl, but it doesn’t matter. I’m going through image rehab with Charlie. And she knows about us. She knows how I feel about you. Why I’ve been so damn adamant you stay out of this.”

“Wait, she?”

I shook my head. “Yeah, Charlie’s a she. I didn’t tell you that part?”

“You never mentioned that.”

“Not the point right now. The point is she wants you to fix my problem. She knows your schedule. She knows you’re going to the hospital. If I don’t go she’s going to tell management I’m not cooperating.”

“This is too much. Another girl? Pregnant?”

“God, no. She’s not. I’ve never met her.” I ran my hands through my hair in frustration. “The only girl I’ve had that happen with is you, Alexa. I swear. You’re the only one.”

I wanted to take a step toward her, but her expression told me to hold off.

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“What was there to tell? Some girl made up a story about me?”

“You could have told me the real reason for the PR problem from the beginning. You could have mentioned Charlie was a woman. How much have you been holding back from me, Luke? Is there more?”

“That’s it. It’s out. You know all of it. The rest you can read online. My sins are public. And that is the truth.”

She turned from me. I looked down at her boots. She wore those things everywhere.

“I don’t know what to say right now.”

“Fuck. Neither do I. Can’t you reschedule? Go tomorrow during the game.”