Opposites Attract (29 page)

‘This country really is worth seeing, isn’t it?’ Alexis said, climbing back into the Lincoln. Ethan kissed her temple, starting the car. They were getting a late start for the Grand Canyon, but none of them had been in too big of a hurry to get back on the road.

‘According to the hotel clerk,’ Susan said, ‘the South Rim of the Grand Canyon is closest. We should come across some signs.’

Two hours later they were near the South Rim. The rocky terrain was covered with small cactuses. There was hardly any traffic. In fact, they’d only passed three cars during the last hour. The sky darkened to a blue-grey and it started to drizzle by the time they pulled up to see the canyon. They’d come this far and decided to hike through the unpleasant weather. Even huddled beneath Ethan’s jacket, trying to take pictures in the rain, was worth the trip. The canyon spread out before them, deep and wide as far as the eye could see. It truly was one of the greatest sights they’d seen on the trip.

They would’ve stayed longer, but the rain only got worse. It was falling full force by the time they came to the Hoover Dam on the Nevada border, making it hard to see. Traffic was backed up due to the weather and it took them several hours longer than planned to reach Las Vegas.

‘All right, guys,’ Susan announced as they drove into the brightly lit streets of the city. ‘I have coupons for hotels.’

Alexis chuckled. ‘Do you spend all your time at the brochure racks?’

‘What?’ Susan asked, laughing. ‘I’m cheap and living off my boyfriend right now. I spent my last dime in Colorado.’

Alexis frowned, sitting up to look at Ethan. She’d just been letting him carry her money and pay for things since they had that great run of tattooing luck in Iowa City. In fact, she really had no clear idea of what the trip was costing. There were the hotels, the cost to get into some of the roadside attractions they’d been to, road tolls, gas, food, souvenir T-shirts she’d started collecting along the way in each state. She just assumed Ethan would tell her when her money ran low, or tell her to get a job like in Wisconsin. Realising that she’d unintentionally let her life slip back into the old pattern of letting other people pay, she asked, ‘How much money do I have left?’

‘You’re good,’ he said. ‘No gambling, though.’

Alexis glanced back at Susan. She was looking out the window at the bright lights. Now wasn’t the time to talk to Ethan about money. She had a strange feeling he was lying to her. Had he been paying her way? Suddenly, she didn’t feel so well.

As everyone debated on hotels, Alexis stared out the window. It was strange seeing the tall buildings. After driving through the middle of the country there was a surreal sense of coming back to civilisation. Sure, they’d been through cities, but places like New York and Las Vegas were in a league of their own. They pulsed with energy. Numerous stretched limos passed by. One had a couple standing up through the sunroof. The man wore what she guessed was an Armani, or at least very close to, and the woman was in an unmistakable Nicole Miller masterpiece. The stretched black gown was gorgeous.

Alexis caught her reflection in the window. Her dark hair was a little frizzed by their hike through the rain. Her skin was pale. She needed make-up. Looking down at her clothes, she suddenly became embarrassed by the Colorado T-shirt. And, though her blue jeans were designer, one would hardly glance twice at the package she presented. She looked hideous.

Alexis pulled down her hair and combed her fingers through the length, trying to smooth it. Ethan glanced at her, a curious look on his face. He reached for her, stroking her cheek. She tried to smile, but the look was weak.

The hotel Susan picked was nice. However, Alexis’s embarrassment only grew as Susan presented her coupons at the front desk. She didn’t say anything. Ethan put the room on his credit card, furthering her suspicions that she might have become a financial burden on him. She tried not to be shallow, but being surrounded by the glamour that was Las Vegas only made her realise how much she’d lost. Ethan had put a bag on a cart. Though they had free valet parking, they had to take their own luggage up to their rooms.

The blue and gold décor in their room was so much better than the pastels they’d encountered at their other stops. The thick bedding and matching curtains were printed with a delicate leaf pattern. Ethan dropped off their bags and went to bring the luggage rack downstairs. From the window, Alexis could see the bright lights of the strip.

‘Hey, is everything all right?’ Ethan asked. Alexis jumped, not realising she had zoned out for so long on him. He wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her back along his body.

‘I’m not in the mood right now, OK.’ She moved out of his arms.

‘It’s not like I expected us to just have sex,’ he said, his words measured.

‘I’m just tired,’ she said, yawning for effect. ‘I’m going to take a shower.’

Ethan stepped out of the hotel suite and took a deep breath. Something was definitely up with Alexis. He couldn’t explain it, but he felt like he was losing her. Did he even really have her? He’d known what would most likely happen when they got to the end of the trip, only he hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. California was still one state away.

Susan came out of her room. Seeing Ethan, she blinked in surprise. ‘Oh, hey, what are you doing out here?’

‘Taking a breather,’ Ethan said. ‘You?’

‘Um, actually, I was just going to see if you guys wanted to go out to eat with us tonight,’ Susan said.

‘Alexis is in the shower,’ he said. ‘She says she’s tired.’

‘Oh.’ Susan turned to go back into her suite.

‘Wait, Susan,’ Ethan said. He glanced at the hotel door. He opened his mouth, wanting to ask her so many questions and unsure where to start. They’d become friends over the course of the trip, not so close as she was with Alexis, but he’d like to think of them as friends.

‘You want to know about Alexis?’ Susan prompted. Ethan nodded. ‘I’m afraid the fairy tale might be ending. I feared this, Ethan. I didn’t want to see either of you hurt. In the middle of nowhere, it is so easy to forget who you are. That’s the beauty of going on vacation. You can have fun, forget yourself. But, as the vacation ends, you realise you’re the same person you were with the same problems. Alexis has been to this city many times with her mother. I imagine that reality is coming back a little bit.’

‘I don’t fit into that reality, do I?’ Ethan felt as if he’d been beaten. His shoulders slumped and he was suddenly very tired.

‘I don’t know,’ Susan said. She placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing lightly. ‘I’d like to think so, but the truth is I don’t know. Maybe if you met her mother you’d understand. That woman is a piece of work and she really pulled a number on Alexis growing up.’

‘So I’ve heard,’ Ethan said.

‘Well, I’ll see you tomorrow.’

‘Good night.’

‘Night, Ethan.’

Ethan took a walk around the hotel to think. By the time he got back to the room, Alexis was already in bed. He took his shower and climbed quietly into bed next to her. Lying awake, he waited for her to come to him. She didn’t. Taking a deep breath, he rolled over on his side, wrapped his body around her and held her as he went to sleep.

‘My gawd, it’s true!’

Alexis shot up in bed, disorientated. The room was light, the curtains drawn. She frowned, seeing the shapely silhouette of a woman in front of the window. Lifting her hand, she tried to block the light.

‘What the . . .?’ Ethan said. Alexis felt the bed move.

‘Alexis Samantha!’

‘Mother?’ Alexis asked weakly. She shook violently. It couldn’t be. ‘What . . . ah?’ Alexis grabbed her head, trying to make sense of what was happening. ‘What are you doing here?’

‘I should think to ask you the same thing,’ Francine Grant said, her voice clipped. ‘Haven’t you been watching the news? Haven’t you cared what happens to me? I’ve been acquitted of those fictitious charges and I’ve come to take you home.’

‘Acquitted?’ Alexis repeated, as if in a daze. Wait. If her mother was acquitted that meant she had her life back – her clothes, her apartment, the money.

Francine stepped out of the harsh light, coming closer to Alexis on the bed. She was a slender woman, more so now after her time behind bars. She wore a grey and white pinstripe suit with curved lapels and two decorative buttons. The grey slacks were matching. The suit looked like it belonged in the boardroom. Alexis shivered. If her mother was dressed for business that meant she was in her barracuda mood. It was best not to start a fight. Her short dark hair was the same colour as Alexis’s. It was cut up above the ears and only an inch and a half on top.

‘I like your haircut,’ Alexis said.

Her mother actually started to smile, moving to touch her shorn locks. Her face fell. ‘Don’t change the subject.’

‘Alexis?’ Ethan asked, touching her arm. Francine’s eyes narrowed on Ethan.

Alexis turned to look at him. He was so handsome. She took in his face, his dishevelled hair. He’d cut the red off, leaving soft brown waves. Then she saw his tattoos, knowing what they’d look like to her mother.

‘Alexis,’ her mother said, ‘I’m waiting.’

‘Mother, I’ll meet you downstairs.’

‘No, you’ll be joining me now,’ Francine said.

Alexis knew that tone. She closed her eyes briefly. ‘Ethan, I’m sorry. I have to go.’

‘Wait, no, that’s –’ Ethan began.

‘Alexis,’ Francine interrupted, walking to the end of the bed. It didn’t seem to faze her at all that her daughter was half-dressed, that Ethan’s chest was bare and that he was potentially naked under the covers. She refused to speak to Ethan directly and Alexis knew her mother was purposefully slighting him. ‘Tell this young man that it’s over. You had your little fling. It’s time to come home.’

‘Ethan, I have to go,’ Alexis said. ‘I’ll come find you later today.’

‘You have no right breaking into my room,’ Ethan said to Francine. He flung off his covers, standing up in his boxer shorts. ‘I’m calling security.’

Francine gasped dramatically like he was going to attack her. She threw up her hands and called, ‘Tony!’

Francine’s seven-foot bodyguard came lumbering into the room. Tony folded his arms over his chest and looked down at Ethan. Alexis got out of bed. Tony was huge. If Ethan even tried to fight him, he’d lose.

‘Mother, I know you don’t care who sees you naked, but could you have Tony turn around?’ Alexis asked.

Francine nodded at Tony. Tony backed away towards the door. Alexis slipped on a pair of jeans and a designer shirt. Her mother waited silently, eyeing Ethan.

‘Alexis, you don’t have to go. We need to talk,’ Ethan said.

‘Actually, we need to talk,’ Francine said. ‘Tony, escort my daughter outside.’

Alexis looked at Ethan, trying to relate with her eyes what she was feeling. He opened his mouth, but what could he say? Francine was standing right there. As Tony firmly escorted her out the door, Ethan yelled, ‘Alexis!’

Once outside the suite, Alexis looked at Tony. ‘How’d she find me?’

‘She’s had a private detective on your tail since you left New York. They’ve been following Mr James’s credit-card purchases. She tried to meet up with you in Colorado, but you disappeared. When Mr James used his card in New Mexico, the detective deduced you were heading this way.’ Tony didn’t look at her as he spoke. It wasn’t the first time he clued her in to her mother’s doings and he knew she’d keep her mouth shut about it to Francine.

‘Let me guess. Smelly, sweaty man in a grey car?’ Alexis asked.

Tony’s lip twitched. She had her answer. She hadn’t been crazy. That man was following them. She should’ve known her mother would do something like that.

‘Let me say goodbye to Susan and Ted?’

Tony nodded. ‘Make it fast.’

Alexis knocked on Susan’s door. It didn’t take long for Susan to answer. She smiled brightly. ‘Hey, I was waiting for you to get up. Guess what? Ted and I have decided to get married here in Vegas. I want you to stand up for me . . . Alexis? What’s wrong?’

Alexis glanced at Tony.

‘Hi, Tony,’ Susan said.

‘Ms Susan,’ Tony answered.

‘She’s here?’ Susan asked. ‘How?’

‘Acquitted,’ Alexis whispered.

‘Where?’

Alexis looked at her room.

‘With Ethan?’ Susan gasped. ‘But . . .? You know how she is, Lexy. You can’t –’

‘Tell Ethan I’m sorry. Tell him to take . . .’

The door opened. Francine stepped out. ‘Come, Alexis.’

‘Ms Grant,’ Susan said to the woman.

‘Susan, you can see to Alexis’s bags, can’t you?’ Francine asked.

Susan nodded.

‘Bye,’ Alexis said quietly, moving to follow her mother. Part of her wanted to rebel, but knew if she caused a scene right now then it would only make it worse for everyone. She needed to get her mother alone first and then she could reason with her.

Glancing at her mother, Alexis said, ‘You’re looking well, Mother.’

It was the truth. Francine looked great for her age. Her skin was smooth, thanks to the magical workings of her plastic surgeon’s micro-lifts over the years. Her make-up was flawless, as was her hair.

‘I can’t say the same for you, Alexis.’ Francine stepped into the elevator. ‘And quit calling me Mother. It makes me sound old.’

Ethan stared at the envelope in disbelief. He thought stuff like this only happened in movies, but apparently not. Francine Grant was paying him to go away. Though by the way Alexis just left without a fight, it was obvious she was done with him.

A soft knock sounded on the door. His heart leapt, but he knew it wasn’t her. Alexis had left him without a goodbye.

Ethan pulled on his jeans. The knock sounded again. Susan and Ted were at the door.

‘Hey,’ Susan said. ‘We just saw Alexis.’

Ethan’s jaw tightened. He didn’t answer.