I tug my fingers from his grasp. “Mark. Stop.”
He stills, watching me with wide eyes.
“I’m not sleeping with you, okay?”
His eyes grow impossibly larger. “What?”
“Listen. It’s over. And in the future, you should probably be clear with whoever you want to mess around with that it’s meaningless sex and nothing serious. It’s not fair to give people the wrong idea. I’m human too. I have wants and needs, and I need more than a quick bang in a closet.”
His mouth hangs open, eyes so wide they might pop out of his skull.
“Look. I get it. You want an escape, a good time, all that, and that’s fine. You do you. But if you’re not up front about your intentions, people get hurt. And maybe all of that could have been prevented with one honest conversation. Is that so much to ask?”
His mouth opens and closes like a fish. “Um, I, you, I don’t know—”
“Mark. It’s fine.” I pat him on the shoulder. “It’s okay to grieve.”
“Grieve? Who said anything about—”
“And it’s okay to feel guilty. It’s okay to feel however you feel, but don’t lead other people on. Maybe talk to someone about it. Oh, here.” I reach into my briefcase for the card I’ve been carrying to work every day—and having to recreate every day. “It’s a list of grief counselors. Think about it. Okay?”
I walk away, and I don’t look back.
“How did it go?” Presley stops me in the communal area.
“Fantastic. I quit.”
A startled laugh bubbles out of her. “That’s fantastic?”
“Oh yeah.”
“Wow. I have no idea what to say. Congratulations?”
“That works. Hey, want to celebrate later? I’m going to watch Alex’s band play at the Saloon. I’ll be there around eight. You should come.”
A crease forms between her brows. “Alex? Alex Chambers, our client Alex?”
“The very one.” I grin. “Not my client though. Not anymore.”
She stares at me, eyes narrowed. “You sure you want a tagalong to that?”
“You wouldn’t be tagging along. I’m bringing other friends. You could meet them, since you’re new in town. Unless you don’t want to?”
She blinks. “Oh, no. I mean, yes, I absolutely would love to come. That would be great.” She beams at me.
“Great. I gotta run. I’ll see you later.”
Outside, footsteps slap the pavement behind me.
“Hey, Jane. You okay?”
I spin around. “I’m great. How are you?”
He blinks, baffled.
I smile. He’s so adorable when he’s confused.
He rubs the back of his neck. “Are you leaving? You never take a day off.”
“I’m not taking a day off. I quit. I don’t work here anymore.”
His mouth pops open. “Oh. Okay. And this is a good thing, it seems?”
“It’s great. I’m going to design clothes.”
He barks out a laugh. “That is . . . incredibly amazing.”
I nod. “Yeah. I think so too.”
We’re both smiling, looking at each other, and then Alex shoves his hands in his pockets and his gaze drops to the ground between us.
He takes a breath and meets my eyes. “Hey, listen, I’m in a band. We have a gig tonight. I mean, it’s not a big thing, we’re the opening act and it’s at the Saloon, but you should come. I’ll buy you a drink. To celebrate, I guess.”
“I’ll be there.”
We grin at each other like two idiots for a few long seconds, and I hold on to this moment, keeping it in my heart like a prayer. “Oh.” I glance down at my watch. Right. I have places to be. “I gotta run. Hugo needs me. But I’ll see you later, for sure.” On a whim, I lean up and kiss him on the cheek. Then I turn to leave, but he stops me with a hand on my arm.
“Wait, Jane.” His eyes devour me, and then a crease forms between his brows. “Who is Hugo?”
“A friend. He’s got an audition for a drag show and his partner is going to bail. I have to bring him a costume.”
His head tilts and one side of his mouth tips up. “What is with you today? You seem so different.” He rubs his chin. “No. That’s not right, you still seem like yourself, but—”
“I’m still me. I’m just more me.”
He nods slowly. “Right.”
I back away. I need to get back. “I’ll see you later.”
“Yeah, see you,” he calls out, but I’m already running to the pay phone.
“Eloise?”
I make it to my building just in time. I had to rush back to Emeryville after watching Dolly audition and hanging out with the queens and inviting them to Alex’s show later.
Eloise is walking out the front entrance, her gaze is lowered, and she’s deep in thought so when I say her name, she startles and looks up.
“Oh, hey.” She gives me a tremulous smile, her eyes darting to the ground before landing on my face. “I thought you were at work and I left a note and I—”
“It’s okay. Listen, I want to apologize. I’ve been terrible and you didn’t deserve it. Can you come upstairs so we can talk?”
Her mouth opens and closes. “Yes. Yes, of course.”
We go upstairs and have our conversation and after that’s done, again, I give her the dress I’ve been working on for a while now. Of course, she doesn’t know that.
“Here. I made this for you.” I hand her the dress. It’s a simple design, strapless, tight around the bust, and the skirt is an asymmetrical ruffle. But the colors are vibrant, varying shades of red and purple and white.
“Jane, it’s gorgeous. When did you make this?” She takes it into my room to hold it up in front of the mirror.
“Oh you know.” I shrug, leaning against the doorframe while she examines it. “I had some spare time and I’ve been playing around.”
“Playing around?” She spins to face me, her eyes wide. “This is incredible.”
“Good. I’m glad you approve.” I also knew she would approve since we discussed the design and I measured her for it a week ago, but she doesn’t remember that. I glance at the clock. “Oh we
