Free All Smoke No Fire by Randi Alexander

pounded his fist on the counter. “You didn’t think to look? To make sure he wasn’t listening at my door?”
    Marilou’s head spun and her ears rang. If Dax had heard anything they’d said…no, shouted… “Damn it.” She ripped open the envelope and pulled out a piece of Delroy’s letterhead.
    Given those choices, you’d break it off with me?
    Oh God, he’d heard her say that to Delroy. She shook her head, dizzying herself, then grasped hold of the counter for support and read the rest.
    Given my choice, I would have told your manager where to shove his full management contract, and chosen you. I guess that’s where we’re different.
    Her heart pounded, her body felt near collapse. “When did he leave?”
    “About ten minutes ago.” The receptionist scrunched up her nose. “He seemed upset.”
    Marilou looked at her manager. “You know what, Delroy? You’re not worth the time it’d take for me to cuss you out.” She shoved a finger in his chest. “You’re fired.”
    He backed up a step. “Fuck that. I quit.” He spun on his heel and stormed back toward his office. “Goddamn prima donna princess diva bitches…” His rant went on until his door slammed shut.
    Marilou knew they’d sort this out one day, but it wouldn’t be today. Tempers were soaring to an all-time high and she could barely breathe, much less talk to anyone.
    His footsteps came back down the hall. He held out Marilou’s purse, giving her a nod.
    She took it with a return nod and left the building, walking out into a day that had started out sunny and now looked like the clouds of hell were moving in. She glanced at Dax’s note again.
    Given my choice, I would have told your manager where to shove his full management contract, and chosen you.
    She raced home, but when she searched the condo, Dax was gone, along with his guitar and duffle bag. He’d left all his beads and throws on the bed, even the fancier ones he’d planned to bring back for his buddy’s girlfriends.
    He’d probably be at the airport right now, waiting for the next flight out. She could chase after him, but would there be any way to convince him that if she had it to do over again, she’d tell Delroy where to shove his contract, too? No, she’d lost him. Lost her chance at love.
    “Unless…” A crazy, scary plan formed in her mind and she paced the room, fleshing it out.
    ****
    Five nights later, Dax lay on his bed in the apartment he shared with his three friends. Outside the closed door of the bedroom, Shaw, Pete, and Huck sat at the table playing a subdued version of their Sunday poker game. When Dax had arrived home late Wednesday, defeated and sullen, they’d tiptoed around him, quietly offering him support all week.
    The weather had turned frigid, below-zero wind chills and snow blowing hard against the windows, accumulating in giant drifts that required even larger plows to clear. He’d worked his ass off the last three days, taking an extra shift on Saturday just to keep his mind off her.
    At her manager’s office on Wednesday, when he’d heard shouting and Marilou’s voice raised, he’d stormed down the hall, intent on barging in and standing up for her. Hearing his name, he’d stopped with his hand on the door handle.
    What he’d heard had chilled him, causing an ache that stabbed like a son of a bitch deep inside. He wasn’t her first “puppy.” This was her pattern, and he was just the next one in line.
    Dax snorted and scratched the beard he’d let grow since he returned home. He must have just imagined there was more between them, that it wouldn’t be easy for them to be apart, even for one day. But she’d easily given up on him—on them —when her manager put the slightest pressure on her. His relationship with Marilou had been all one-sided, and he was the one.
    Waiting at the airport that day, he’d stared at his phone, wanting her to call, wishing she had a great excuse for the things she’d said. When no call had