Chapter 38 - Girlfriend

Girlfriend?!

Alex and Selena went back inside and I stood there and watched them, contemplating everything that had happened.

In the end, I managed to compose myself and went to meet Jace who was waiting outside for me.

I sat in the passenger seat of  the car, nervously tapping my fingers on my thigh as he drove away. The news about Selena and my brother, Alex, dating had shocked me.

Was this another plan of Alex?! What was he planning with Selena now? What were they doing together?!

"Jace, can we go somewhere?" I finally spoke up.

He glanced at me, his green eyes reflecting concern. "Sure, Ms Cleo. Where do you want to go?"

I hesitated for a moment, then I gave him an address. Jace was silent for several seconds before he furrowed his eyebrows.

"Isn't that your ex-fiancé's place?!" He asked and I shot him a look.

"How do you know that?!"

"Research" he shrugged.

"Is it really Michael Pritchett's place? Are you going to see him?" He persisted.

"That's none of your business, Jace," I snapped, defensive. I needed to know the truth. And I had to find a way to get Michael to tell me, surely he must know about this. He had to know about this.

Jace sighed but didn't push further. As we drove, my mind raced with thoughts, and I couldn't shake off the worry. Sensing my unease, Jace suddenly spoke up, "Well, to be honest I don't think going to your ex's place is a good idea right now."

I rolled my eyes, dismissing his concern. "I'll decide what's a good idea for myself, thank you very much Jace."

We continued down the road until Jace abruptly pulled over. "What's wrong?" I asked, as I looked around.

He scratched his head, glancing at the dashboard. "Let me check it out. Probably something wrong with the car."

I eyed him suspiciously. "You're just making that up."

"No, seriously. I want to check it out," he insisted, feigning concern.

I looked around, realizing we were on a deserted highway with no other cars in sight.

He popped the hood and began inspecting the engine. I looked at him, my eyes watching him like a Hawk and I realized that he must be stalling.

He doesn't want me to see Michael.  "Jace, this is ridiculous. I'm calling a cab," I announced, reaching for my phone.

He sighed, giving in. "Okay, okay, I can see you're in a rush. I'll get it running immediately."

He suddenly started unbuttoning his shirt and I was about to ask him why until he removed his shirt, revealing a toned physique. My jaw dropped.

Smooth, tan golden skin with lean muscles covered his entire body. I couldn't help but be distracted, up until a while ago, the only

man that I've seen shirtless right in front of me was Nicholas. But there was something about Jace. Jace, shirtless, under the hood of the car, was an unexpected sight. He looked like sin.

That ruggedly bad boy looks coupled with his tan lean muscles. His muscles glistened with sweat, and I found myself unable to look away. I couldn't tear my eyes off him as he examined the car.

I shook my head to clear my head and common sense quickly intervened. Jace only took off his shirt to distract me.

"Jace, if you don't get that car done in the next five minutes, I'm calling Nicholas to come pick me up," I said as I whipped out my phone.

Jace sighed, finally realizing that, despite all his efforts, I was still very determined to see Michael. "Okay, Ms Cleo, the car is good to go now."

Relief washed over me as he closed the hood and put his shirt back on. We finally got into the car again. Jace glanced at me, his expression a mix of frustration and concern. "You still want to go and see him?!"

I met his gaze defiantly. "Yes. Now are you going to take me there or do you want to start looking for another job?"

Jace sighed and nodded.

"Fine but I'm going with you."

..........

Standing in front of Michael's apartment, I hesitated for a moment before knocking. The situation with Alex, and his claims about the two of them saying left me with a nagging curiosity. As Michael opened the door, his surprised expression was almost comical, but he gestured for me to come in.

Jace, always lurking behind me, followed closely into Michael's apartment, much to Michael's distaste.

“Cleo what are you doing here?!”

“With him too?”

He asked as his eyes settled on Jace behind me.

“What’s going on between Selena and Alex? Is that another one of your games?”

I wasted no time and confronted him, demanding to know what games he was playing at and why Alex was adamant that he and Selena were an item.

Michael then did the funniest thing. He started laughing, "is that why you’re here?!”

“You’ve been telling me to get out of your sight for weeks and now you’re here because you think Selena and your brother are together?!”

“So?!”

I said as I folded my arms.

“Well, Selena can do whatever she wants with her love life."

I wasn't buying it. He was lying. They were all up to something and I could tell.

“Oh Don't give me that, Michael. I know you better than that. What are you all up to?!”

Michael raised an eyebrow, feigning innocence, "And what will I be up to?! Shouldn't you be more concerned about your marriage than this?! Is your love life really that bad? You know you can always come back to me right?"

I cut through the deflections, refusing to be sidetracked. "Stop with the lies. Stop with everything. I know you and Selena have been together for six years, why would she suddenly get together with Alex and you’d be fine with it? Don't think I'm naïve enough to believe whatever game you’re playing.”

Michael looked shocked at my statement. Of course, he didn’t expect that I would know about that. "Cleo, I've told you, it's not true. Those photos were doctored. Selena and I are related, I would never do that."

My eyes narrowed, disbelief etched across my face. So he was still maintaining that lie then. If I didn’t know better I would have believed him. If I didn’t catch the two of them in bed together before I reset the timeline I would have actually fallen for it.

“I'm not buying it. Why Alex?! She could have anybody else.”

"Why are you so bothered by Selena's love life anyway? She's a grown woman; she can make her own choices. And your brother is a grown man, if they choose to get together it’s not a problem to me. In fact I think they make a really cute couple," Michael retorted, his tone becoming defensive.

I crossed my arms, not ready to let him off the hook. "That’s the thing. I don’t believe you. I’m going to find out what’s going on, and I won't be played for a fool."

Michael sighed again, a mix of irritation and resignation. "Fine, then. Do whatever you want. But I genuinely don't care who Selena dates and I don’t see why you should. It’s not like you particularly care for the two of them.”

I was watching him, analyzing every word he was saying, looking for a clue. Michael could see that, he could see me calculating, a small smirk appeared on his face, I could tell he was enjoying himself. Watching me riled up and wondering what they got planned next.

He liked it. He liked all of it. "You're enjoying this, aren't you? You're thrilled that I'm bothered by all this."

A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips, "Maybe I am. Maybe I’m not. There’s really nothing you can do about it. Now that Alex knows that the thought of him with Selena makes you sick, I’m sure you’re going to see her around a lot more often.”

“Sucks right?! Well I guess you get to feel a fraction of what I feel everyday when I see you with that guy.”

His words stung, and I couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to the story than he was letting on. As my anger bubbled within me, I couldn't stay in that apartment any longer. I turned on my heels and stormed toward the door.

“Satisfied now?!”

Jace asked when we were finally out of the apartment.

I shook my head wearily.

“It makes no sense. Why would Michael be okay with Selena being with Alex?! The two of them were together for years, they told me themselves.”

“I caught them in bed together.”

I sighed in frustration.

“In the former timeline?”

Jace asked and I nodded.

I just couldn’t wrap my head around it.

“Well you’re the only one who knows they’ve been secretly together for years. You’re also the only one who caught them together.”

Jace provided as we walked into the elevator.

I nodded.

“You’re right.”

“And wouldn’t it benefit Michael if Selena was with Alex?”

“How so?”

I asked and Jace shrugged.

“Michael has realized winning you back is a fruitless task. Mabel and Lisa mentioned that Alex and Michael had a fight a few days ago and Alex told him to leave the house. It’s clear Alex doesn’t really find him useful anymore.”

“Where are you going with this?”

I asked and Jace shrugged.

“Selena and Michael know what they’re doing. They want your brother fully on their side.”

Of course!

It just dawned on me.

“You’re right.”

“The two of them are opportunists. And Alex doesn’t realize just how far they’ll go. Michael must have pushed Selena to Alex’s arms. She’ll make sure he favors Michael.”

“And Alex, well he’s a fool. He’s probably never dated anyone like Selena McKinney before and he thinks he’s just hit the jackpot.”

Oh what a fool he was.

My phone started beeping and I removed it from my purse.

It was Nicholas.

I picked it up.

“Cleo. I found your uncle. He’s really alive.”