Alex
It's been a month and Alexis is recovering well. She has been staying with Ma and we all have catered to her every whim. She doesn’t mention Nick again and I have promised that he will be our little secret. I can tell that she is still heartbroken over him and it hurts me to see her in this kind of pain. I would never have thought I would know what it felt like to lose someone you love, until now. It’s been harder than expected to track down Adele and Garth. He sold their old house and moved. He doesn’t have any family that he keeps in touch with and neither does Adele. I work at the club during the day and try to find her at night. He has taken her out of Chicago, so it hasn’t been easy.
Thomas decided that he is sick of seeing me mope around and took me out one night. We went out and I got drunk and I did the one thing I never thought I would ever do. I got several tattoos, but the pain was nothing compared to the pain I feel in my heart. I told the tattoo artist I didn’t care what he did, but I wanted it big and I wanted it to make a statement. The only specific thing I wanted was a tattoo of one name written across my heart, Adele. I don’t know if I will ever find her, but I know she will be the only woman I will ever be able to love. No woman will ever come close and I won’t let any woman ever try.
I go back to the tattoo artist several times for him to complete it. When it’s done, I couldn’t have asked for anything more perfect. I head to the club the next night and head straight for the office. I haven’t been helping Teddy at the bar lately. I haven’t been in the mood to talk to anyone. As I am completing paperwork there is a knock at the door and I yell for the person to come in. I look up as Angie struts into the office with a smug smile on her face. I put my hand on my chin and watch her as she approaches me. I only hope she doesn’t cross any lines because I am in no mood for her.
“I haven’t seen much of you lately, Alex,” she smirks at me as she walks behind the desk.
“What did you need, Angie?”
“I actually need you. How about you and me…” I cut her off as I get up and walk to the other side of the desk.
“Not happening, Angie. Do you want to keep working here?” I ask her and her eyes widen in disbelief.
“Yes, I need this job, Alex,” she tells me.
“If you need this job, you need to focus on this job. You’re the worst waitress we have and if you don’t get your shit together, I’m letting you go,” I tell her and her mouth drops open and I know she is in shock.
“I don’t understand?” she tells me.
“What is there to understand? Shape up or your ass is going to be shipped out, Angie. Now get back downstairs and back to work,” I order as I walk over to open the door for her. When she walks out I slam it shut and go back to work. A few minutes later there is another knock on the door and I immediately get pissed. I yell for Angie to come in, if it’s her, but when the door opens, it’s Thomas.
“Hey, Alex. Are you in a good mood?” he asks me and I look at him and back down to my paperwork.
“What the hell does it look like?” I bark as Thomas laughs and takes a seat across from me at the desk and I notice that he’s holding a small box.
“I was thinking you might want these things,” he offers as he sets the box on the desk.
“What is it?”
“It’s Adele’s backpack that we found in the backseat of the car.” I glance at the backpack and look up at Thomas’ questioning eyes.
I grab it and look through it, noticing all the shit that women carry with them. I pull out an envelope and find pictures of Adele and Garth, Adele with some other girl are in several of the pictures. She looks happy with the girl. They almost look like sisters, but Adele never mentioned having siblings so they must be good friends. I analyze the pictures and hand one of them back to Thomas.
“Is there any way we can find out who this girl is?” I ask him and he takes the picture and looks back at me.
“I’ll see what I can do, Alex.” I nod as he walks out of the office and I stare at the picture of Garth and Adele and wonder what he’s doing to her.
Have you ever felt like time is sitting still? Another week has gone by and it feels like I haven’t seen Adele in years. I would never have thought I would ever ache for some woman, but I am literally aching and I can’t fucking stand it. I even did something else so fucking stupid I had to laugh at myself. I went out and bought a damn motorcycle. I have never had any interest in having one, but I needed something to go with my new tattoos. You could even say I needed a new drug since I haven’t even had the urge to smoke a joint lately. I have gone out on it every night, which has also kept me from going to the club. Frank has been calling me and leaving me messages since I haven’t answered him, asking when the hell I was planning on showing up. I just can’t go in right now. It just reminds me of Adele.
I finally head into the club where everyone at the bar stares at me. I haven’t shaved all week and I also am wearing a leather jacket and worn jeans. I realize that I do look a little rougher than I normally do, but I hope they realize I am the same person and I will shoot them if they fuck with me. I nod at them and head upstairs to the office to talk to Frank. I push the door open and walk right in and he’s sitting at the desk and Lola is with him sitting on the edge next to him.
“Alex?” Frank looks me over and Lola gives me smile as she walks around the desk and hugs me and for some reason, I hug her back. Lola and I have never been friends, hell, we never even really like each other. I wanted to kill her when I first met her and would have if Frank wouldn’t have taken over and forbid me from doing so. Lola pulls away and I can tell she is suspicious and I look back at Frank who has the same questioning look.
“Are you okay, Alex? You have been missing in action for a week and you’re hugging Lola?” He looks at me and I walk over to the couch to sit down.
“I’m fine, Frankie. Lola, are you working here now?” I ask as I look between the two of them.
“No. I actually was telling Frank that I need to go back to New York. I want to check in with my parents, “ Lola answers.
“Okay. So, when are you two leaving?” I ask her and look back at Frank.
“Lola is going alone this time Alex. I have a lot of shit to handle here after being gone a month,” Frank answers.
“I’ll go with you!” I invite myself as they both look at me stunned.
“I’m sorry... what did you just say?” Frank asks me as his eyes narrow.
“I said, I’ll go with her. I am sure you’re taking the twins and could use the extra pair of hands. I need to get out of here for a little while. I’ll go with you, Lola. I won’t promise I’ll be there for the entire time, but I can help get you and the kids there,” I offer and I think Lola and Frank are stunned speechless.
“I don’t think that is a good idea,” Frank prevaricates and I look back at him.
“You don’t trust me with your wife, Frankie?” I tease him as Lola looks on.
A few hours later, I am on a personal jet with Lola and two very active two-year olds. Lola sits with Talia and I am sitting with FJ. I should laugh because FJ is just like me and his hands are touching things they just shouldn’t be touching. I can’t take my eyes off him for a second and he seems to be enjoying me telling him ‘no’. As FJ tries to take off his seat belt, I pull his little hands off once again telling him ‘no’ and he starts to laugh. I shake my head at the thought that this toothless kid will one day run the Mafia.
After the longest flight I have ever had, we finally arrive in New York. Lola’s dad sent a car for us and we put the kids in the car seats and climb in. I look out the window in amazement at New York City.
“How about you tell me why you really accompanied me, Alex,” Lola says and I look at her and at the now sleeping kids as I roll my eyes. They couldn’t have fallen asleep on the plane?
“I need your father’s help.”
“What exactly do you need from him? Lola asks me.
“I need divorce papers,” I tell Lola as FJ starts to stir which ends her questioning.