Xander

Elsie directs me to her friend’s apartment, and I pull the car into a free parking spot.

My teeth gritted, I slam the car into park. The fact that Luna hasn’t issued her retraction has weighed heavily on me for most of the drive.

Right now, I only care about two things — keeping the drone footage from ever seeing the light of day and getting Luna to do her retraction so that this story hurries up and goes away.

I am confident my lawyer has the drone situation under control, at least with mainstream American media. There’s not much anyone can do about a website in some foreign country from posting the video, but he said we should be to suppress it and stop it from going viral at least.

Hopefully it doesn’t come to that.

“Just to warn you now, her place isn’t very big,” Elsie says.

“It doesn’t matter, she’s kind enough to let me stay I’m hardly about to be picky.”

“Well, it’ll be real life for you,” Elsie says, laughing.

“Perfect, that’s what I’m after.” I actually am curious to see her apartment and how the other half live. The more I can understand the better I’ll be able to relate to Elsie. And figure out my own life.

Hand in hand, we walk across the crowded parking lot and into a three-story building.

My big issue now is Luna. As much as I don’t want to speak to her, I’m going to have to phone her. I need her to issue the retraction to restore my own reputation and make the story fizzle out.

During the drive, I also decided that everything has to come out. At least the parts about us never being a couple.

Elsie was crushed by the comments those idiots on the internet made and I need them to stop. She doesn’t need to be called a bitch or a whore or any other names and she certainly doesn’t need threats made against her.

If the whole story about Luna and I coming out is what it takes to make those stop then so be it.

I’ve also decided to tell Elsie everything, no holds barred, as soon as I have the chance. I probably should’ve told her while we were driving, but talking about it at high speeds wouldn’t have been wise.

Especially the parts about cutting my family out of my life. Elsie suggested only seeing my parents on Christmas and birthdays, but I think that’s probably too good for them, especially my father.

Plus, I was really enjoying talking with her about normal stuff. Things that aren’t related in any way to Luna or the media scandal. She makes me laugh, even with all the issues churning through the back of my mind.

The more time I spend with her, the more time I want to spend with her.

Elsie knocks on the door of her friend’s apartment and the door instantly flings open. The woman I recognize from the hotel flies through the door and throws her arms around Elsie.

“Oh my God, what the hell happened today?” she asks, ushering us into the apartment.

“Becca, obviously,” Elsie says.

I walk in and close the door. I don’t think anyone followed us, but you never know.

“I’ve already decided I’m not buying any of her photos, no matter how much I love them,” she says.

“Anyway, this is Xander,” Elsie says, planting herself at my side. “And Xander, this is Isabel.”

“Thanks for letting us stay here,” I say, looking around. The entire apartment is visible from where we stand, with a kitchen the size of a closet and an open door to a cramped bedroom on the far side of the room.

The room itself has a worn leather sofa and matching armchair that face a TV, along with a small white dining table pushed into a corner and four chairs, although two of the chairs are lined up against the wall, presumably to save space.

Elsie did warn me it was small and part of me is fascinated to see how an entire apartment can be smaller than my living room.

Isabel smacks my chest playfully and says, “Are you kidding me? Hiding the world’s sexiest man and his current illicit lover, who happens to be my best friend? This is totally the most exciting thing that’s ever happened in my boring life.”

“Is there space for us to sleep here?” I ask. It’s a genuine question.

“Of course there is. You two can have my bed and I’ll sleep on the couch,” Isabel says without hesitating.

I’m amazed that she’ll give up her bed for us. I can’t say anyone I know would have done the same. How did I end up being surrounded by such plastic people?

“I’m starving,” Elsie says.

“I’m on it,” Isabel says and rushes into her little kitchen area. She opens her freezer and asks, “Are chicken fingers and fries good with you?”

“Absolutely,” Elsie says.

“Works for me, unless you would rather order food,” I say.

“Real people can’t afford to order food every night,” Elsie says sarcastically.

“Is that what this is? Xander Whitman slumming it?” Isabel says and laughs.

I step close to Elsie and pull her into my arms. She looks up at me with that big natural smile of hers, and I can’t help a big natural smile of my own from spreading across my face. “Absolutely not,” I say.

Isabel closes the freezer and studies me. My hold on Elsie is natural and simply having her body against mine relaxes me and eases my mind about the drone and Luna.

“Okay, but I’m warning you now, you’d better not hurt my friend or you will have me to deal with,” Isabel says, her eyes boring into me.

“Yes ma’am,” I say, glad that she’s protective of Elsie.

“So anyway, my boyfriend, Larson, is coming over when he gets off work and we’re all going to play Lord of the Rings Monopoly.”

“Fun, you know how much I love Monopoly,” Elsie says. I can’t remember the last time I played a board game. Probably when I was a kid on vacation and Luna and I were trying to pretend we couldn’t hear our parents going at it in the next room.

It also means no TV and that means avoiding the news coverage, which is ideal.

“Perfect, I just have to make a phone call,” I say.

“You can use the bedroom for privacy,” Isabel says.

I glance at the nearby room, wondering how on earth it gives me any more privacy but at least I can close the door and pretend. Covering the living room with four strides, I enter the bedroom and close the door behind me.

The room is messy, with piles of clothes on every available surface. I thought she was a housekeeper.

Sighing deeply, I sit on the bed and dial Luna’s number.

“Didn’t think I’d hear from you. I thought you’d be too busy with your hotel fuck,” Luna says.

“Where’s the retraction?” I say, getting right to the point. I have no interest in talking to Luna right now.

“What’s the point of me saying anything when you’re having fresh sex pics spread all over the news?”

“That wasn’t what it looked like. Not that it matters, you need to do the retraction and you need to do it now,” I say, my voice firm.

“Not what it looked like,” she chuckles. “That’s what they all say.”

“Make the retraction, Luna.”

“It’s like that, is it, Xander?” she says, emphasizing my name.

“I’m giving you until tomorrow and then it all comes out. Every last detail.” I end the call and turn off my phone.