“You know there’s a climbing competition up in Bellingham, today,” Mia told Zander from the door to his office.
“Excuse me?” he said looking up from his melancholy brooding, staring at nothing. He twirled the glass of water on his desk. Thanks to a heaping dose of therapy, and a supportive men’s group, he’d given up excessive drinking. He never drank at work anymore and only enjoyed a glass or two of alcohol on occasion at dinner. Often, days could go by without him drinking anything but water or juice, just like when he used to compete.
“Climbing competition,” Mia repeated. “Up in Bellingham. I know you’ve been training at Rock Nirvana again. I’ve been keeping my ears open for climbing competitions for you. I thought you might like to check out the competition.” She leaned against the door jam. Her apricot silk dress swept along her curves.
“I don’t know. Why would I want to see others compete? I’m not ever going to do that again. I just like to work out on the wall.” He glanced out the window at the clear, winter sky.
Sunlight danced like diamonds across the water far below.
“Uh huh. Well…it would be good for you to step out of the office. All you do is work.” Mia flashed him a slight smile. “When you’re not testifying against Ms. Banks.”
She sidled through the door, standing near the sofa.
“That was such a smart move to hide the gun. That’s been a key piece of evidence in clearing your name. What made you do that? Hide the gun, I mean?”
“I honestly don’t know. I’m just glad I did.” He glanced up at her, appreciating her svelte figure and well-dressed appearance—but, like a brother, and nothing more. He liked the way she dressed. But, Mia could wear a bag and look great. “You can come closer, you know. I stopped biting people months ago.” He forced his lips into a sort of smile.
“I know I can. I’m keeping an ear tuned to my desk in case the phone rings. I’m waiting for a call from our North Carolina harness company.”
“I see,” Zander said.
“It’s too bad about Kent,” Mia said, folding her arms. “I had no idea he wanted to take over the company.”
“Yeah,” he said. “Neither did I.” He leaned back in his chair and stretched. “I thought he was a friend. I never thought he’d betray me like that. Motherfucker broke my heart. But, not as bad as Effie did. She followed the contract to the letter. She even wrote me a check for most of the money, with a note saying she’ll pay the rest back someday. And, she sent back every article of clothing and jewelry I purchased for her. Ouch.” He scoffed.
“You should never have worded the contract that way,” Mia scolded. “Love can come from anywhere. How do you know she doesn’t miss you, too?”
“I know nothing,” Zander said. “And it does me no good to speculate. I tried to find where she went. She just disappeared. I’m only glad that Trisha’s going down and she can’t go after Effie again. The bitch managed to get herself parked in house arrest until the verdict and sentencing, but, that’s what the rich do, isn’t it? They bribe, and they manipulate.” He hefted the glass and took a gulp of water. “With any luck, she’ll end up in Lovelock Correctional Center, following in the footsteps of OJ Simpson.”
“You’re not like that, at least,” Mia said. “You’re one of the good guys.”
“Want to bet? I tried my hardest to get Marta to turn on Kent, but she’s as fucked up as her daughter. It’s all about image, image, image with those two.” He drained the water from his glass. “Anyway…thanks for the info but I think I’ll pass.”
“Come on, Zander. What could it hurt? It’s a gorgeous late winter day, the skies are clear…and you deserve a break.”
He thought for a minute, cocking his head to the side. He had been working a lot, when he wasn’t working out. He rarely socialized. What would be the harm of driving up to Bellingham? It might improve his mood.
“You know what? I changed my mind. I’ll go.”
Mia blew out a sigh. “Good. I’ll shoot you the details. It starts soon but you should catch the good stuff. Maybe you’ll meet someone.” She winked and twirled to dash away.
Fat chance of that. His heart had been shredded by losing Effie. And Mia was right. Maybe he’d meet someone. Only thing is, that person would always compete with Effie.
He shoved that thought away and prepared to head north.
A couple of hours later, he stood at the Rock Logick climbing gym, scoping out the climbers.
He eyed a pretty blonde woman warming up on the side-wall.
The blonde’s score wasn’t that good—an eighty-two had flashed on the reader board when the next round of competitors had been announced. The final event—the timed climb—would send her higher to place or drop her into the bye-bye zone.
Her movements weren’t as precise as Effie’s. She didn’t possess the same grace. But, if she wanted to bang him, he’d be down with it. He may as well get out there again, playing the field, doing something besides spanking his own dick every night, lost in fantasies of Effie.
Standing in the front of the crowd of onlookers, clinging to the railing on the viewing platform, he glanced back at the blonde, who now waited in place for the speed climb.
Her competitor was a lithe, sable-haired woman, wearing a determined expression.
Ropes were affixed to their harnesses, the bell rang, and then they were off.
Sable-hair scrambled ahead.
The blonde slipped and lost any chance of placing in the competition. A disgusted, lip-curled look marred her features as she let herself be lowered to the padded floor. She looked up at the crowd and her gaze caught Zander’s. She maintained eye contact for a few seconds.
A surge of excitement sparked in Zander. Is she interested? She looks interested. Maybe she’s interested.
As she exited the climbing area, she slowed, letting her slim hips roll seductively.
Zander knew he had a fish on the line. He studied her and licked his lips. But, in truth, nothing about her appealed. Her edges seemed sharper than Effie’s. Her severely made-up eyebrows looked like battle symbols. And, hell, she simply wasn’t Effie. He turned his attention back to the competition, doing his version of a catch and release maneuver.
His heart began to jackhammer when the next contestant came into view.
Effie.
Desire flamed through his veins like a fire-tornado, scorching away the last six months.
As the announcer yammered on about the contestants, she pushed through the crowd with a puppy dog of a guy at her heels. They were laughing, and the puppy dog dick-head patted her on the back, over and over, like a submissive mutt licking its master.
Jealousy made a sudden, sickening surge through his belly. Effie’s moved on? I’m the idiot hanging on, and she’s already found someone? And, I’ve been replaced by that guy? The room began to spin. His fingers clutched the railing.
Puppy-boy patted her some more on the back, said something that seemed encouraging, and backed away.
Effie’s competitor—an apple-cheeked woman with brown-sugar colored hair—stepped into position. She nodded at Effie, and then let the Rock Logick team affix the rope to her harness.
Once they both stood before the wall, secured to ropes, the bell rang. They began their climb.
Zander got lost in watching Effie.
Her grace on the wall had only increased. She scrambled up the holds, neck-and-neck with Brown Sugar.
Brown Sugar inched ahead, tapping the bell at the top milliseconds before Effie.
Their scores flashed on the reader-board, along with the other contestants.
Brown Sugar had a ninety-seven and placed first. Another gal placed second. And his Effie— his ex, Effie—had placed third.
Zander couldn’t help but feel proud.
Both women were lowered to the ground.
Puppy-boy raced toward Effie and resumed his stupid patting.
Zander’s vision turned red. He whirled and shoved his way through the crowd, needing to get some air. He scrambled down the stairs, hitting the landing and rounding the corner when he nearly collided with the blonde.
He pulled up short. “Pardon me.”
“No problem,” she said, a coy smile on her face. She twirled a lock of her long hair around her finger, eyelashes fluttering, pulse racing through the vein in her neck. “I’m Stephanie.” She released her hair and stuck out her hand.
Without hesitating at revealing his disfigurement—one of the gifts Effie had given him—he stuck out his high-tech hand. “Zander King.”
She glanced between his face and his hand, then met his eyes.
He smiled at her.
She gripped his bio-hand and shook it. “That Zander King? The God of the Wall?”
A sliver of satisfaction thrummed through his veins. “Also, hashtag Scandal Master, if you read the Tweets from a few months back.”
“I don’t pay much attention to that bullshit.” She waved her hand. “But I saw something about it, yeah.”
The corners of her mouth quirked upward.
Zander placed his palm against the wall, right next to Stephanie’s head. If Effie could move on so easily, so could he.
She didn’t back away. Instead, she rested her hip against the wall, a mere foot away from his.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of Effie. And, suddenly, time came to an abrupt stop.