Free SOLO by Deborah Bladon

me to get your coffee now?"
    "Right now," I turn around sharply.
    "Is something wrong?" He takes a step into my office.
    I don't recall offering that invitation. "Get the coffee."
    He races out the door almost tripping over his own feet. I'll give him credit for being enthusiastic. Not credit in the form of a raise, mind you.
    My desk phone rings and I immediately decide to ignore it. No one knows I'm here and the fact that they're calling this early doesn't impress me one bit. I'm all for making the most of your day, but I'm not sure I'm ready to start mine officially yet. It finally comes to a stop almost the exact moment my cell starts ringing. Persistence is a quality I admire. I recognize the number immediately.
    "Margaret," I say her name clearly into the phone. "Good morning."
    "Alec." Her voice is calm. It's completely different than the last time we spoke. "I tried calling you at your office."
    "It's just past seven here." It's a conversation we've had time and time again. "New York lags a few hours behind London."
    "Right." The word is clipped. "I'm calling about opening night."
    I knew the call was coming. I've been avoiding it and her. Whenever I've backed a new play it meant seeing Margaret and David. The experience was rarely pleasant, but always painful.
    "We want to book our flights before prices go up."
    "I'll arrange all of that for you." I always do. There hasn't been one time when Margaret and David have come to New York where I haven't paid for the entire trip. She knows it. She's always sure to remind me of it.
    "Are you sure, Alec?"
    I hesitate briefly before answering. I'm tempted to just tell her what I'm feeling. They don't need to come back here. I don't need to keep investing in plays. This needs to be over. "I'm positive."
     

Chapter 17
     
    Libby
     
    "Those are for me?"
    I know I shouldn't sound so completely shocked, but let's be realistic for a minute. I live with a budding supermodel. Her legs are almost as long as my entire body. Her face is exotic and flawless. Since I've lived with Jade every single flower delivery has been for her. On her birthday, there was literally no room to move. There were dozens of bouquets being delivered all day. Now, today, the day after my so-called-date with Alec Hughes, I'm the one with the flowers. They're beautiful.
    "That guy that was in your room last night must have sent them." She points the half peeled banana in her hand at them. "He was hot, Libby. Score."
    No, I didn't score. I didn't even round third base. I fell asleep. "You saw him?"
    "He was coming out of your room half-dressed." She takes a big bite of the end of the fruit. "I said goodnight to him."
    Why do I suddenly have a vision of Jade pulling Alec into her room to give him a goodnight kiss on his dick? "What does that mean?"
    She cocks one of her perfectly coiffed dark brows. "What do you think it means?"
    My head hurts too much for this. I need to shower before I go to rehearsal. I also need to find my dress. "Have you seen my dress, Jade?"
    "You left it on the floor." She nods her head back towards the front door. "If I was with a man like that, I'd strip naked as soon as I could too."
    I turn around to go back down the hallway. I can't be late for rehearsal. I need to get my mind back into my job. I didn't work this hard to lose my chance to finally make it on Broadway. Today I turn a new leaf. I need to forget about Alec Hughes and what it felt like to kiss him.
     
    ***
    "I didn't think it was possible for you to look more beautiful than you did last night." His voice floats over my neck as I'm reaching down to pick up my bag.
    I was prepared to face him in a day or two. I can't do it now. I don't even know what I said or did last night. I know I kissed him. I can't forget that but everything after that is a blur. I stay hunched over hoping that someone else in the rehearsal hall will say something that will steal his attention away from me.
    "Mr. Hughes," Sharma says his name over