[chapter eleven]
Disclaimer: If you've heard of them, I don't own them. Everything else is mine, so no stealing, pretty please. ;-)
**
Alexa glowed as Robby smiled at her, taking her hand in his as they stood up from their table in the dimly lit restaurant. The last three weeks with Robby had been wonderful - long talks, long kisses and long dates that stretched far into every night they could get together. No wonder she was so tired at work every day.
Granted, she was…conflicted…about how she and Robby had to date.
Secret rendezvous in restaurants. Meeting in the back row of movie theatres. Notes passed in the RCR hallways as though they were between classes in high school.
But it was worth it to see Robby so much.
"Ready to go?" Robby asked gently, rubbing her hand with one thumb. She nodded and followed him toward the front door when she saw him tense and stop in his tracks. He abruptly dropped her hand and kept walking. Alexa followed him, confused, until he stopped again at a nearby table.
"Richard! Hi!" Robby said heartily as Alexa paled. Sitting nearby was Richard Childress with several men she didn't recognize. "How are you?"
"Robby." Richard said with a smile before he looked to Alexa. "Andrea, is it?"
"Alexa." Robby said quickly. "She's one of the RCR interns. She was having dinner with a group of friends, and I was having dinner with a group of friends, and so are you. We're all just running into work people tonight. This must be the place to be."
Alexa smiled weakly at Richard as he smiled at her, her heart thudding in her chest at their near miss. At Robby's quick thinking.
At how easily he could lie about her.
When they finally stepped into the parking lot, Robby let out a deep breath and turned to face her. "God, that was close."
Alexa nodded but said nothing, her emotions warring inside.
"Robby…" She said after a few moments. "Maybe…"
"What's up?" He asked, his face hidden in shadow.
"I was just…I was just impressed with how easily you can lie about us. Makes me wonder what other hidden skills you have."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Robby asked, his voice rising slightly.
"Nothing, I just…you know, maybe we should just cool it." Alexa said haltingly, not believing her own words, at how much they hurt to say.
"What do you mean?" Robby asked, confused.
"I mean…all this slinking around, and you wigging about anyone knowing, and all the…it's just so sneaky." Alexa said more firmly. "I'm only going to be around for a few more weeks at RCR. Maybe we should just cool it."
"Oh, come on. Don't be such a girl." Robby argued.
Alexa's eyes blazed as her head snapped up, meeting his gaze head on. "What?" She asked, her voice dangerously quiet.
"I don't mean girl like that. Woman, chick, whatever, geez. Just don't spontaneously wig out and go all high school on me." Robby said, his words quick and run together.
Alexa stared at him coolly. "I'm sorry I'm being such a chick, and so high school. Maybe my first instinct is right. Maybe you should call me when I'm not such a little cheerleading tease at RCR any more." Alexa argued, her temper flaring. "Assuming I'll return your call."
"Alexa, what the fuck?!" Robby roared.
"I'm going home to bed. I'll see you at work - though god knows, we won't talk. Wouldn't want anyone to think Robby Gordon would deign to speak to a lowly intern."
"Alexa…"
"Good night, Robby."
She said, spinning on her heel and marching towards her own car.