Fallacy (Apprehensive Duet Book 1) by Kimberly Bracco Page B

moments before, but it went from here and there to every waking moment.
    She woke up and went to bed a bitch. Now, the anger has faded, but it’s still there more so with Tanner than me. She can finally say something to me that’s not laced with hate. I can have a conversation with her that isn’t all insults. But poor Tanner never got the same luxury.
    Alex has been my rock through this whole thing even though he has had every reason to run. This has been an emotional few months while I’ve been consumed with Ashley and her care. My life has practically revolved around it. Alex never complained. Not when I was hurt and needed his shoulder to cry. Not when I had to cancel plans because Ashley needed me. Not when I was too tired to pay attention to him.
    He listened to me bitch over and over about how fucked she is. He even went as far as to take over her physical therapy to help her body heal faster and correctly. I know he did it for me more than her. But he has developed a real friendship with her, so he sees a different side of her. He sees the motivated side of her and doesn’t get backlash from her like I do.
    “Well, now she knows how you feel. I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself, angel,” he praises me. “This has been brewing inside you for a while. I’ve seen the explosion coming. I just didn’t know what it would be over. Ashley needed to hear your feelings, and if you hadn’t spoken up, she would’ve kept using you as a punching bag. She needs someone to stand up to her and tell her the way she’s been acting is not an acceptable outlet. Honestly, I think you should’ve said something months ago. Do you think you finally got through to her?”
    “I have no idea if she even processed any of what I said to her,” I sigh, frustrated. “She didn’t acknowledge a thing I said; she just stared at me.”
    “I heard you,” Ashley says behind me, scaring the shit out of me. I guess I didn’t close the door in my rush to get to the phone. “That Alex?” she questions nodding to my phone.
    “Yeah, it’s Alex,” I reply, not sure why she’s asking.
    “Can I talk to him, please?” she asks extending her hand for the phone.
    I hand the phone over and listen as she asks Alex a bunch of questions about the foundation and for Melissa’s address.
    She hands me back the phone and says, “Thank you for pulling my head out of my ass.” Then she hugs me and leaves.
    “Holy shit,” I gasp as I raise the phone to my ear.
    “Whatever you did worked, angel.” I can hear his smile through the phone.
    “I can’t believe what just happened,” I admit, still shocked.
    “She seemed to wake up and see the light, so it had to be something she needed to hear to give her the final push.”
    “Thank you,” I say when I feel the weight lift off my chest. “I wouldn’t have made it this far without you. I know this hasn’t been easy for you.”
    “I didn’t do anything I wouldn’t normally do,” he argues.
    I know he’s just trying to make light of his support through this, but it was more than that. He showed me true friendship and commitment. One thing I’ve learned from this shitty experience is that Alex cares about me regardless of sex. He never pushed me for sex when it started to dwindle. He’s never pushed me ever. He still calls. We still talk. We still hang out. He’s showing me he cares about me as a person. I’m not just a warm body for him to fill. And it freaks me the fuck out because I think it’s the shove my brain needed to fully give in to this with Alex.

Alex
     
    I WATCH ASHLEY do her final reps of the day, and I can’t help but smile. She’s worked hard these last few months to get here.
    I’ve seen a real drive in her to get herself better in the last four months since she and Tanner worked things out. She’s an entirely different person than she was. I’m thrilled to have been able to help her through her healing.
    We’ve been meeting twice a week working on