Page 40 of The Artist

She huffed out a laugh.“That was the last time I wore the dress.I burned it after that.I wanted no reminders.”Finding a parking lot a few blocks from downtown, she pulled in and noted the stall number.“I thought my mother was going to kill me.Instead, she made me pay for the dress I burned.It took me six weeks working part-time after school to pay her back but to me, it was worth it.”

Peter reached over and placed a hand on her knee.“I’m sorry that happened to you.That jerk didn’t know how awesome you would become.”

“Thanks, I appreciate it.It all worked out as it was supposed to.If I’d have stayed with Paul, I never would have met and married Jim.I’ll never regret that.He was the best thing that ever happened to me.”

He gave her a small smile and wrapped an arm around her shoulders and squeezing lightly.“It’s nice you had someone like that in your life.Not everyone gets that kind of love even once.”

She heard longing, perhaps regret, in his voice and risked a glance at him.

But he was already opening his door to get out.

Alexis grabbed her purse, locked the car with the fob and pocketed the keys.She was going to drive the car for as long as possible and didn’t plan on giving them back unless Peter insisted on driving.