Ironically, it did help whenever Alex disappeared on her, because she would throw herself into the books to keep her mind off of him. Had he been around, she would not have worked so hard at it, opting for sure to hang out with him instead.

It did make a little sense, stupid as it seemed. He should have just told her. She frowned knowing that if it was all true he chose his pride over her feelings the whole time.

She got her hopes up so many times in the past. Like now, she wanted so badly to believe him and but each time, Alex trampled her heart.

The thoughts of seeing him with that other girl at his place came flooding back, twisting her insides. She vowed never to let him hurt her again.

What if, all this simply stemmed from the fact that he really believed there was another man in her life? She always knew that was something that would drive him crazy. He had always been that way from the very beginning, jealous, almost to a fault. He even admitted it, but seemed to think it was okay because he claimed no one else brought it out of him except her.

So, what if she gave into him, yet again? What if she got rid of her make-believe boyfriend, opened up herself up to him and he did something stupid again? She didn’t know if her heart could take any more.

Valerie was glad she’d insisted on taking her own car. It wouldn’t have been a problem if she left her car overnight, but she didn’t trust herself around Alex. Even with the fear of getting hurt, he still had a way of getting her to melt in his arms and end up in his bed. It happened so many times in the past, it was embarrassing.

Isabel was getting ready to go out when she got home. Valerie smiled. Before Romero, most of Isabel’s social life consisted of tagging along with Valerie, usually at Valerie’s insistence, like at the shower.

“Where are you going?” Valerie plopped onto Isabel’s bed.

Isabel stood in front of her mirror applying lipstick. She looked really nice. Her outfits were definitely sexier now that she was dating Romero.

“My sister set me up on a stupid blind date.”

Valerie’s mouth flew open. “And you’re going? Does Romero know?”

“Are you crazy? No way. I told him I’m having dinner with my sister. She set this up before I met Romero. I forgot all about it and I haven’t told her yet about Romero. This guy’s a friend of her husband’s from the service. He’s only in town for a few days.”

“Whoa, Isabel. You sure Romero’s not gonna find out?”

Isabel looked at her through the mirror. “He shouldn’t. He’s working some concert tonight in the marina, so it kind of worked out. I wouldn’t have seen him tonight anyway.”

Valerie knew Isabel was used to well-mannered easy tempered guys like Lawrence the professor. Romero was anything but. If his reaction to her not taking the relationship as seriously as he was was any indication of how he might react to this, Isabel could be in for it.

“You better hope he doesn’t Isabel.” Valerie made herself more comfortable on Isabel’s bed, resting her chin on the pillow.

Isabel turned around and gave her a look. “I actually considered telling him the truth you know. It’s not that big a deal. I don’t even know the guy. I’m basically just doing her husband a favor.”

“So, why didn’t you?” Valerie smirked.

Isabel turned back to the mirror. “I chickened out. When he asked if I had any plans for tonight and I said yes, he wasn’t happy about even that. So, I said it was just dinner with my sis.”

Valerie nodded. “I don’t think you realize how big of a deal this really is, Izzy. But I’ll keep my fingers crossed for ya.”

Isabel stopped applying mascara for a second then took a deep breath. “So, why are you home so late?”

Valerie knew Isabel couldn’t have too much time, so she filled her in quickly on her day’s happenings including Bruce’s call and then Alex showing up at her work. Isabel was far more interested in the call than Alex. Like Valerie, she’d become pretty jaded on the whole subject of Alex.

“Maybe you should contact the police about this now, Valerie. That’s really scary.”

Valerie chewed her lip. “I get the feeling he’s all talk. He hasn’t showed up again since Alex knocked him out.”

“But that was a flat-out threat. ‘I’ll make you regret it’?”

“I know, and I’m gonna get a restraining order just as soon as I find the time.”

They mulled it over for a bit then went back to the subject of Alex.

“I wouldn’t kill the boyfriend off just yet. Alex has never gone very long without screwing up. Let him keep thinking someone else is giving you the undivided attention he never has.” Isabel turned away from the mirror to face Valerie who was really taking in everything she was saying. “Besides, if what he is saying is true, that was still pretty shitty of him to let you hurt all that time just because he was a dumb ass.”

“Hey!” Valerie sat up. “That’s mean. He’s not a dumb ass, Isabel. He runs a highly successful restaurant. Sarah says it’s been incredibly busy lately, they have more employees now than ever, they’re expanding it even more, and he’s pretty much running it all on his own!”

Isabel laughed, walked over to the bed and hugged her. “I meant he was a dumb ass for thinking that having to be tutored would matter to you.”

Valerie tried to keep the glare going but couldn’t help smirking, then shrugged. “Dumb pride.”