Chapter 27

Alex's POV

I truly believe that aside from the good Lord himself Ben & Jerry's ice cream is the true healer of all wounds. I sat with my pint of ice cream and began to drown my sorrows from today. Luckily, I had an idea that this was going to happen. Thanks to my self-appointed right hand woman Mia's detective work via Facebook I knew it was possible that Gloria was preggers. I just wish I hadn't had a front row seat for her big reveal. It was my fault though, if I had stuck to my guns and hadn't checked on Jose' I wouldn't have given her the platform she desperately wanted.

I was half way through my pint of sorrow relieving dessert when Mia came through the door. She stopped in her tracks and took in the scene I'd created. She didn't say anything she just dropped her things in the neighboring seat went into the kitchen and grabbed a spoon. She kicked off her pumps and got under the blanket with me.

"So what are we mourning?" She asked as she drove her spoon into my ice cream.

"I'm not mourning anything, I'm celebrating Jose's newest creation," I said with fake enthusiasm. I'd already cried for no reason. I'd already came to terms that Gloria had "won" as far as Jose' was concerned. However, seeing that shit today still hurt. Jose' and I weren't together long but I loved him. I still love him but I no longer trust him and now he was permanently connected to her … we were really finished. I felt I could start crying all over again.

"Oh so you finally broke down and became a Facebook stalker?" Mia asked and I shook my head mildly confused. It only took a second for me to realize that Gloria had already placed her good news on the internet. Why shouldn't she share her good fortune? After all she had successfully trapped her man.

"Nope, she found Jose' and I in the coffee shop, she burst in on our conversation and couldn't wait to share her amazing news," I recapped. Mia's eyes peaked with interest.

"You were at the coffee shop sitting with Jose? How'd that happen?"

"Fate. We both happened to be there at the same time I … I couldn't fight my urge to talk to him. I regret it now. So the whole thing is really my fault. Wrong place. Wrong time." I sighed as I put my now empty container on the coffee table.

"Well, how did he take the news?" Mia asked and I honestly had to think on it. I remember looking away from him once Gloria started talking about it. I was so hurt my heart felt like it fell into my stomach. I was so focused on my heart being broken all over again that I didn't focus on his reaction to the news …not completely.

"I know he was shocked and he wasn't happy. I didn't stick around very long after her announcement." Mia nodded and then took a deep breath.

"I wouldn't have either that was a lot of drama to be bombarded with," Mia agreed but there was a weird look in her eyes.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing really, I just know the Jose' from the past would deal with all this well. I hope he doesn't fall into old habits." She mused. I had almost forgotten about Jo telling me about his low moments.

"Are you talking about his alcohol abuse?" I muttered quietly as I almost didn't want to acknowledge it.

"He told you about that? The only reason I know is because Ana told me," Mia seemed shocked. I nodded there wasn't much Jose' didn't discuss with me while were together. It another thing I missed about him the verbal intimacy we shared.

"Yeah he told me a little about it," I responded. "You think he'd go back to that?"

"Hopefully not, but if ever there was for his old demons to revisit this would be the time." She huffed out a sigh and scratched her head. She dug her phone out of her purse and frowned at it for a moment.

"Maybe I'll just give him a call later to check on him." She looked over at me as if she were looking for approval. I couldn't understand why she was his friend first. She had every right to check on him. Actually, I wished she would call him so my concern would disappear and then I could try my best to just forget about him altogether.

"You should just call him now. I don't care," I tried to sound indifferent but I truly wasn't sure how I sounded. Mia gave me a weird expression it almost looked as though she were amused. However she did go ahead and make call and placed the phone on speaker. I tried to ignore how anxious I was to hear his voice. After a couple of rings Jose picked up.

"Hello," he sounded so tired and down. I'd never heard such a tone to his voice.

Jose's POV

"Hey, I was just checking in. I feel like I haven't talked to you in forever. You okay, you sound a little weird?" I scoffed, first Ana, then Kate, and now Mia was calling me. Gloria and facebook are very dangerous combination together.

"I'm terrific! Just Jim Dandy!" I exclaimed giving a way over dramatic response. I took another swig of my beer. I knew they were checking up on me to make sure I was drinking. Honestly, I could use something a little stronger than this beer but I was behaving. Falling into old habits wasn't going to make this situation any easier.

"That's good," Mia mumbled and I snorted. She didn't know what to say. Why did she even call? This was the emptiest conversation I'd had all night. Maybe I could use her as a sounding off board. I was frustrated and needed to vent. Mia was a good person for that type of thing.

"It looks like everyone got what they wanted. Everyone around me is happy. Plus, look at me I got this brand new shiny insta-family because my assistant took it upon herself to declare we were perfect for one another and once more she can't work anymore! The doctor said that her blood pressure is too high and she needed to cut down some of the factors contributing to her stress so she requested to only work part time. She also asked to move in so that I can help her with her pregnancy! MOVE IN MIA! You know how I am about my space. I don't really like to let people in my space. I feel nothing but … whatever my life is over anyway Gloria might as well have the corpse," I said blandly.

I know thing seem bad right now but things will get better," Mia cooed. I shook my head and took another swig of my beer.

"I dunno about that. Everything is on a downward spiral all my dreams have been threatened. Everything I really want slips through my fingers." I froze for moment as I thought of Alexandria and how I knew she was truly gone for good. What young adult with all of her life ahead of her wanted to be tied down and trapped by a middle aged man with baggage? Gloria had put the final nail in any attempt I had to win Alex back.

"Stop feeling sorry for yourself." It was Alex! She had been listening the whole time now I felt really small. She had whispered her small message I wasn't sure I was even supposed to hear her.

"Alex?" I sounded so lame and meek I wish I had some base in my voice but I was confused and curious. She was with Mia and I was sure she knew Mia was about to call me. Maybe she was worried about me too! Maybe she still cared.

"Jo, you don't have time for this pity party. The reality is you made this bed now you have to lie in it. I know it sucks but you have no choice," she spoke with a firm sort of sympathy. She was right I had done this damage I had no one else I could really blame.

"And no more talk about your corpse either! You're not dead and as best we can predict the future you're not dying anytime soon. Your life is just beginning because you have this new life to look after."

"But what about what I wanted," I snapped and was about to be brutally honest. "I thought with time, maybe you would heal, and we could try again. This baby changes so much," I confessed.

"Jose'," she started and I stopped her.

"Doesn't it? I mean, before this it might have been possible for us to try again. Now would ever want to? Being with me would age you so much!"

"Jose stop! I should be the least of your concerns …. I'm … I'm seeing someone else. So any ideas you might have had about us working it out were dead anyway. You need to focus on what really matters and that's your baby and Gloria!"

"You're seeing someone else? Is it Marcus?" I asked even though it really didn't matter. My heart had been shattered into a million pieces.

"Does it really matter who the guy is? Just know you were right I did find someone closer to my age. Now put me out of your mind and handle your business," she said in the same firm yet kind tone.

"I don't want you out of my mind," I whispered. After a few moments of silence.

"Hey Jo, Alex she left the room," Mia advised and I nodded even though she couldn't see me. I didn't want to speak. I knew the emotion I was feeling would have crept into my voice.

"Okay," I said as quietly as I could.

"Look, and I know I shouldn't tell you this but she really isn't seeing anyone. I just don't want you to be devastated over that. She just wants you to focus on doing the right thing. I agree with her on that. So man up Josie," Mia said the last part playfully.

"Don't," I blurted out. "Don't call me Josie … it's not my name. Look, I've get some rest today has been draining. Tell Alexandria that I appreciate her advice." We said our goodbyes and I felt completely empty. Alex felt she had to lie to me so I could see we had no future. I got her message loud and clear.