CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR
Second Thoughts
Thankfully, Carly had finally left. The sound of her footsteps going away from him and down the stairs was a welcome noise. Sonny exhaled slowly, trying to control the rage that had gripped his entire body while dealing with Carly. When would she learn that he'd finally had enough of her lies and enough of her betrayals. He just couldn't take it any more. And her unbelievable arrogant assumption that all she had to do was flaunt her body in front of him for him to just take her back, one more time. Did she really think that was all she had to do and she could bring him to his knees… and forget all about Alexis at the same time?
He'd much rather think about Alexis, even though he knew that there was trouble waiting for him there…tonight had created another roadblock. What was Alexis thinking now? Sonny thought miserably. Was she even thinking of him? Or had she put him from her mind? This was not the evening that he thought he'd be having. If only Carly hadn't decided to show up. If only….
**
Alexis returned to the apartment, this time not even looking at Johnny as she let herself back into her apartment. She headed straight upstairs and began running her bath. While the tub was filling, she returned to her bedroom and began laying out her bedclothes. Alexis was determined to pamper herself…so where were her favorite silk pajamas? Where was her comfiest robe? She was in the mood for something soft and silky and her new robe, brought back from the islands, was exactly what she needed. That was what she wanted to wear. She had to think for a moment before she remembered; she'd never unpacked after her trip to the island. She pulled out her travel bag from her closet, and began rummaging through it.It had nothing at all to do with Sonny, she told herself. It had been a present from Marisol on the island. And she had every right to wear it if she chose.
Something unfamiliar fell out of the suitcase, catching her eye. Alexis reached down and even as she picked it up, she recognized it as Sonny's shirt. In response. her legs weakened unexpectedly and she sank down to sit on the bed. She remembered that on the plane, she'd blindly stuffed her clothes into her bag when they had both changed on the way back to Port Charles. Somehow, his shirt must have gotten mixed up with hers. She couldn't help herself, Alexis held the shirt close to her, bringing it to her face. Alexis closed her eyes. Yes, she could still smell a trace of him in the fabric. The scent of sand and sea and Sonny; it was a powerful combination. But she put it away from her. Even though she was choosing for the moment, not to deal with the present, better not to dwell on the past, either. Despite her best intentions, one hand reached out to caress Sonny's shirt briefly, before she turned away and walked into the bathroom. If only Carly hadn't hadn't pushed her way into the penthouse. If only…
**
Sonny walked to the edge of the bed and just let himself fall backwards across it. One hand came up to cover his eyes wearily. He exhaled. Alexis leaving, Carly coming. His thoughts were all in a jumble and he couldn't get them back under control. Sonny hated that; he hated anything that made him feel out of control. Frustrated, he flung his hand away from his eyes. And felt a sudden sharp pain in his hand an instant later.
"Damn!" he swore aloud as his hand came in contact with something hard. It hurt. A lot. "What the devil!!…" he shouted angrily, swinging his body back up to a sitting position while nursing his injured hand.
Sonny looked down at the side of the bed and saw the suitcase he brought back from his island trip with Alexis. That might as well have happened a lifetime ago. He'd seen the look in Alexis' eyes just before she'd walked out the door tonight. More than likely, the trip wasn't even in her mind; it might have never have happened. Carly, as only Carly could, has managed to destroy another thing, without even trying.
With that thought, his temper flared into rage. Sonny snatched the handle of the suitcase and hurled it across the room. It crashed into the wall, exploded open, and spilled its contents to the floor. A soft spill of crimson floated to the floor to land in the middle of the jumble of his own clothing.
Just as quickly as it had come, his anger fell away. Sonny crossed the room to pick up the filmy fabric. Alexis' shawl. It must have still been on the plane, and gotten packed into his suitcase by his people instead of hers somehow. He held the fabric between his fingers, feeling the fragility of it, and remembering how fragile all this was for them. And then he thought of Alexis and her last words to him before she walked out the door. All his patience had been destroyed in a single stroke - thanks to his ex-wife. And despite the coolness of her actions, he knew that Alexis' emotions were as fragile as the fabric in his hands.
He glanced at the clock. Close to midnight; it was later than he thought. Maybe in the morning, he'd bring her coffee and pastries and he'd just tell her how it was. Sonny sat back down on the edge of the bed again. But then he remembered who he was dealing with. Right now, Alexis was in her apartment. probably busy convincing herself that she was mistaken about him, about them. Give her 'til daybreak and the lawyer in her would have built a case against him ..against them, that no amount of talk would convince her that she was wrong. She was adorably stubborn that way. Sonny smiled, a little bit brighter this time. Time to get to Alexis before she got to herself. Before she hurt herself and him. And it had to be Sonny to the rescue.
He headed for the stairs.
**
Thankfully, except for Johnny, the hallway was empty; Sonny had half-expected to see Carly still there, waiting to pounce on him. His eyes went to door across the hall. Then he looked at Johnny, who, as usual, was showing no emotion on his face. Well almost nothing this time. Their was a glint in the bodyguard's eyes that Sonny couldn't quite read. Was it disapproval at Carly's appearance? Or concern and sympathy for Alexis? Sonny knew that Johnny had a high regard for her. Had ever since Alexis had become his attorney. If it came down to a choice between his ex-wife and his present attorney, Alexis would win hands down.
"That all went well." Sonny said, after a long moment.
"About what I expected." Johnny replied.
Sonny turned his gaze from the elevator doors to the apartment door across the hall and back again. But he hadn't moved. Now that he was standing there, Sonny realized that he was reluctant to face Alexis. He was afraid. He had no idea what he was going to say to her; he wasn't a man used to giving explanations to anybody about anything. Harder still was the thought that what if she wouldn't accept any explanation he tried to give. He didn't want to argue with her, but what if that happened? That had him scared, admit it, he thought to himself. Alexis could cut someone to shreds with that sharp tongue of hers when she chose. He'd been on the receiving end of it a few times, and he knew she'd been easy on him, compared to what he'd seen when she used her sharp wit against others. He did not want to deal with that this time. If she was willing to speak with him at all, she was going to ask some hard questions, and he didn't know if he could answer them. He was afraid. That was the bottom line. That admission of self-realization didn't make it any easier to cross that little expanse of hall between his door and hers.
"Time for round two?" Johnny asked; his tone just a shade too innocent.
Smart-Ass. Sonny thought. "Maybe I should have had you drive Carly home."
"Was there a hazard pay bonus involved?"
Sonny turned around to look Johnny in the eye. The bodyguard's expression never changed. Part of his charm.
"That's why I keep you around, Johnny. Purely for the entertainment value."
"Nice to know I'm appreciated, Boss."
Okay, it was obvious that he wasn't going to win this one. Sonny stared at the door across the hall again.
"It isn't going to open itself, you know." Johnny commented.
"Especially if it's locked."
"It isn't." When Sonny looked at him again, Johnny allowed himself a tiny smile. "I guess Ms. Davis had too many other things on her mind. She only closed it behind her; she didn't lock it."
"You're sure about that?"
"Besides the entertainment value, listening closely is one of my skills."
"I knew there was another reason why I've kept you around so long., Johnny-boy."
"Nice to know I'm appreciated for that too." Johnny paused. "Now that you're no longer distracted…" Johnny's innocent - wasn't it? - but co-incidental use of the same words Alexis had used regarding Carly was an unpleasant jolt in Sonny's stomach. His stomach tangled itself up into nervous knots as Johnny continued on, unaware of the effect his words had had on his boss… "Shouldn't you not keep the lady"… and he stressed the word ".. waiting any longer?"
Sonny drew a deep breath and let it out slowly. "You're absolutely right, Johnny."
"So, what you waiting for?"
