Page 28 of Pillow Talk

Chapter 12

Alexa

Deciding not to spend another day sitting inside by myself, I take off and explore the city a bit. I’ve been here over a week and have only seen places where he has had events or meetings. I don't want to wander too far by myself, he's offered me the use of a driver, but I don't want to impose on him. It’s been a week of his mood going from hot to cold…he’s giving me emotional whiplash. I can never tell what’s for real and what’s for show. Meetings, car rides, bedroom talks and I’m exhausted.

I have a job to do, and in order to do that, I pretend. I fool myself into thinking it’s all for show, but I’m really falling for him.

So I’m going to explore NYC and all it has to offer. The thing that stands out to me the most is the sound; it's so loud and busy, a constant hurry of bodies. And the smell. It's just so different from San Francisco, and I guess it takes some getting used to.

There are many things I'd like to see, I just don't know what to do first. I decide to take the short walk to Central Park and grab a hotdog from a vendor. I sit on a bench and watch people, intrigued by the eclectic mix of patrons in the bustling city.

My mind drifts to Ben, and I wonder what he’s doing. I’m sure he’s commanding a boardroom as we speak. The only time I feel like I get the real him is at night when he takes off his suit and sheds his armor. It's like what happens in that bedroom… never leaves those four walls.

There's Benjamin and Alexa, the new couple who are attending the right parties, saying and doing whatever it takes for Ben to close this deal. Smiles, laughing, drinking, dancing, holding hands, and kissing even. All for show. Or is it?

Then there are Ben and Lex, the friends who have found, between the sheets, more than just passion. Cuddling, teasing, touching, talking, honesty and smiles reserved just for each other.

Sometimes the lines are blurred. Shaking the melancholy from my mind, I make a list of the places I want to check out as I walk. First up is a tourist kiosk that sells I heart New York t-shirts. When I’m paying for my shirt, I grab a postcard to send Vince and Dottie. Thinking of them makes me smile.

I let go of all the uncertainly about what Ben and I are and aren’t, weighing on me.

*****

Ben

The sound of the door closing has me racing to the entry.

“Where have you been?” I question her, hating the way she flinches at my words.

“I was sightseeing, something you have yet to make time for,” she bites back, her face flushing red and as angry as I am. All I can think about, in this moment, is kissing her.

“I brought you with me to make my time here smoother, not to distract me from doing my job.” My mark hits the target, and I hate myself for taking out my frustration on her.

“Well, maybe you should stop changing the rules as we go!” she screams, throwing up her arms and walking to the window, her favorite spot. Her words are so spot on, I cringe.

“I left work in the middle of the day when I couldn’t reach you,” I add, softening my tone.

She has her arms wrapped around herself, and I want to go to her. But I don’t.

“I feel responsible for you when you’re here, and that includes your safety. You could have been mugged. I don’t care what you do when you’re not with me, but if you are going to wander around the city, please take a driver or, at least, your phone.”

“But responsible enough to take me and show me around?” It’s a low blow but a fair point.

“I have been buried under work but was planning on it. Honestly.” She looks over her shoulder, and I can see that incredible brain of hers working overtime, gauging how true my words are.

“Prove it.” She throws out her chin in defiance. “Stay home the rest of the day. Take me to a show or the MET or a pizza place. Anything. But don’t shut me out after our pretending at events follows us home, and then into that bedroom where we are more… Then, you wake up on the scared ass side of the bed and decide to push me away.”

Her words sting, but I can’t deny that’s what’s been happening. There is something about her that lowers my guard, and it terrifies me. I notice that we are walking towards each other. A gravitational pull.

“Okay.” I tell her.

“Okay?” Her face is shocked. Then, she smiles at me, and I don’t know why I bother trying to keep my distance. “And Netflix?” she adds. Her smile could end wars.

“Of course.” I kiss the top of her head.