Alexis sat across the table from James staring with disbelief.
"I still can't believe you're really here," she told him.
"What's not to believe, you needed me, here I am."
"You're a great guy, you know that."
"Why couldn't you have figured that out all those years ago?"
"I did, I just didn't think I was a great girl."
"Alexis..."
"No, come on James, we had this discussion a long time ago. We never would have worked in the long term and we both knew it. We've managed to remain friends and things worked out for the best."
"Did they?" James asked sadly. Alexis watched him carefully. Something was obviously bothering him and she was determined to find out what it was, and help if she could.
"You didn't just come here to help me out, did you? What's wrong? Is it Drew?"
"No he's fine, well as close to fine as a teenager can get I suppose."
"I haven't seen him in so long, I've missed him so much."
"He told me about the e-mails you've been exchanging, I'm glad you've kept in touch."
"With him you mean. I know I haven't called you as often as I should..."
"Alexis I didn't mean it that way. I just meant that I'm glad Andrew has someone to talk to. It's hard for him I think, without a mother." He saw the guilt in Alexis' eyes and regretted his words at once. "I didn't mean... Alexis he's a wonderful boy and he's had a wonderful life. You have nothing to feel guilty about." Except that it's my fault he doesn't have a mother. She thought. "Come now, this is not why we're here."
"Then why are we here?"
"I told you I've come to help you with your Sonny problem."
"And just how do you plan to do that?" Alexis asked doubtfully.
"By making him jealous of course."
"First of all Sonny would not be jealous if he saw me having sex on the sidewalk with Tom Cruise." Alexis noticed the odd glances she was getting from the people nearby and lowered her voice as she continued. "Secondly even if I did believe I could make Sonny jealous I wouldn't. Sonny and I don't play games." James struggled unsuccessfully not to laugh for about three seconds before giving in. "What the hell are you laughing at?" Alexis demanded.
"You and Sonny don't play games? Alexis, you and Sonny are in the midst of the most elaborate mating game I've ever witnessed. It's like some weird mismatch of emotional hide and seek and strip poker." He ignored Alexis' look of outrage and continued. "Besides which it's already working, did you not notice Sonny's reluctance to leave us alone?"
"That's just Sonny being Sonny." Alexis replied.
"Sure. Alexis the man practically challenged me to a dual."
"James you're being ridiculous, Sonny couldn't care less where I am tonight or whom I'm with." Just then Alexis' cell phone rang. "Hello."
"Have you finished dinner?"
"Sonny?"
"Have you?"
"Yes, why?"
"Cause I know how cranky you get when you're hungry." He replied laughing.
"That's it, I specifically told you not to call me unless you'd been arrested so unless you're sitting in the police station right now watching Taggert make a mockery of the judicial system, I'm hanging up."
"Alexis wait."
"What?" She sighed impatiently.
"I have been."
"You have been what?"
"I've been arrested."
"Don't say anything I'll be right there. I've got to go." She told James as she hung up the phone.
"So I heard, come on, I'll drive you." James smiled as he walked Alexis out of the restaurant. "Let the games begin."