“How did you know they were done?” David asked.
“I’m still on the email lists as your PA,” Lexi admitted.
He would have to get that fixed today.
“Can you afford it?” was his next question.
“No. I’ve had to put my condo on the market because I didn’t save any money, and without a job … let’s just say that I’m not moving back home.”
“What are you going to do for money?” David asked.
“I guess I’ll have to find a job.”
“And what do I get out of all this?” David asked.
“You always said that I was the best PA you ever had. I can do that remotely for you. In return, you let me live in your condo and maybe give me some money to live on until I can figure everything out,” Lexi proposed.
“If I agree—and I’m not yet saying I do—all the shenanigans stop. No more sending crazy girl or Fiona after me,” David added.
Lexi smiled because she knew she had him, and David knew it, too.
“I would be working for you, not against you,” Lexi agreed.
David saw the benefit of having Lexi so far away but still being able to utilize her considerable skills. He could use her as a foil for Crystal and have her act as a devil’s advocate when it came to his dealings with Crystal’s dad,
Kendrick. She might also help Crystal help Chloe become an Internet influencer.
“Do you want to do anything formally, like a contract?”
David asked.
“No. I trust you, and I still have the debit card you gave me. How about you just make sure it has money available?”
‘Fucking fuckwits!’ David fumed. When Lexi was no longer his PA, his people—and he included himself on that list, which was why he was pissed—should have taken that away from her. Then again, she must not have touched it, or Megan and his dad would have said something. Mouse, aka Megan, constantly harassed him when he spent money on frivolous stuff. She also accounted for everything everyone spent and sent his dad reports.
David planned to call his dad and talk about what should be done when someone with Lexi’s access left his team.
“The only question I have is, do you think we can keep this professional? A lot has happened over the last few months,” David said.
“I can if you can,” Lexi countered.
David had to think about that for a minute. He would have flatly refused if she’d come to him during the summer.
Having Crystal in his life had been a help in getting over Lexi. Lexi was right, too: she was by far the best PA he’d ever had. That part he really missed at times because she was someone who knew the ins and outs of the entertainment industry.
One area he hoped Lexi could help him with was his new agent. He still wasn’t sure he trusted Kendrick.
“Let’s do this on a six-month trial basis. Call Megan, and she’ll book you a flight. You’ll have to put up with my mom and Cindy decorating. I think that’s long enough for us to see if this will work or not,” David decided.
“You have no idea how much this means to me. Thank you,” Lexi said.
“Just don’t make me regret this,” David said and softened it with a chuckle.
They said their goodbyes because he had to get to his first class of the day.
◊◊◊
Crystal was in his dorm room when he got done with his day.
“Taylor sent me to make sure you made it to rush,” she explained.
Alex sauntered in.
“I read this book before I fell asleep last night, and it was about this idiot boy who hooked up with his evil ex.”
“I would tell you to quit reading before falling asleep, but we both know you can’t read,” David fired back.
“What are you two babbling about?” Crystal asked.
“Nothing,” they said simultaneously.
“I don’t have time for this. Take me to your cafeteria, and then I’ll drive you to the house.”
Crystal had discovered that their dorm had the best food on campus, so she ate dinner with David a couple of days a week now. Kirk stuck his head out of his door as they started for the elevator.
“Lindsey, Jamie, and Lauren are joining me for dinner.”
David hadn’t had time for his friends, so he talked Crystal into going with the group. Tonight, they had a taco bar, and David made himself a plate of fish tacos and a big salad.
“I’d never really given any thought to how much people take for granted. You know, the everyday occurrences that happen in our lives, like cereal for breakfast or knowing that MTV won’t really be playing music,” Lindsey said when David joined them.
“What’s she talking about now?” David asked.
“She went to a party on Saturday, and a drunk guy made a pass at her,” Kirk explained.
“And?” David asked.
“He couldn’t perform when the time came,” Jamie explained.
“Crystal, does that ever happen with David?” Lindsey asked.
“All the time. He gets drunk, and next thing you know, he’s worthless.”
“That’s why I got a strap-on. That way, my lady is never disappointed,” David said with a straight face.
“Really?!” Lindsey asked.
Everyone began to laugh.
“Linds. When have you ever seen David drunk?” Jamie asked.
“Oh. But is that really a thing? Do guys need strap-ons?”
“All the time,” Kirk said. “Jamie is too much woman for me, so I’m breaking mine out in hour nine when we have one of our twelve-hour sessions.”
“Really?!”
David had tears in his eyes, he laughed so hard. Kirk only wished he could go for nine hours straight.
“Linds,” Jamie said, shaking her head at how gullible the girl was.
David missed hanging out with these guys.
◊◊◊
Taylor grabbed David as soon as he walked into the sorority and showed him where the bar was. He’d decided on making three mocktails: Virgin Mojito, Planter’s Punch, and Virgin Sangria.
The Virgin Mojito was made with fresh lime juice and mint leaves, sweetened with honey syrup, and topped with club soda. Planter’s Punch had been a high school favorite.
It normally had rum, but they’d opted for Everclear. This
one had orange, pineapple, and lemon juices, and he sweetened the mix with grenadine. Virgin Sangria was a combination of red and white grape juices used to replace the wine and finished off with sparkling apple cider.
As David got to work, Taylor received a call.
“Fuck him, fuck that, and fuck you!” she screamed into her phone.
David guessed it wasn’t good news. Crystal heard the commotion and hurried to her friend’s side.
“The Sig Eps are out,” Taylor told Crystal, hanging up the call.
Her red hair was usually kept well controlled in a ponytail. Some had escaped, so she had to blow a few strands out of her eyes and sighed, infuriated.
“Sig Eps out of what?” David asked. “Out of their minds?
Out of drugs? Out of condoms? Help me out here.”
Sweet, funny Taylor didn’t find it amusing when Crystal laughed.
“They were going to be our eye-candy waiters for the evening,” Crystal explained.
“How many do you need?” David asked.
“Five,” Taylor said.
“Would you consider using football players?”
Taylor’s eyes lit up.
“They would have to wear the sexy vests.”
“Show them to me,” David said.
Taylor pulled out a bag from behind the bar. The vests looked like something a male stripper would wear, which put an evil smirk on his face.