While she talked, I tried to work my brain around the fact that Easton thought I’d let him stay there. Was he that clueless? Had he not seen how close I was to snapping?

“Okay, sure. Fine, Akos, send over the agreements. I'll pick one and send it back to you. Listen, I have to go. I need to call Easton.”

Akosua paused and studied me. “You look tired, Abbie. When are you going to give up this bullshit dream and just come home already where we can take care of you?”

“I don’t need taking care of.”

“Look, so you weren’t happy. It's fine. We all need a change sometimes. But why not get that change in a new city here? Maybe you and Easton can—”

“Let it go.” I had to get off with my sister before I lost the fight for civility and control. “Sorry, Akos. I hear Faith calling. Check you later.” I hung up on her mid-stream.

Cracking my neck, I moaned. I'd need a whole lot more liquor if I was to have more conversations with my family.

Faith popped her head into my room, brandishing my cell phone. “It's rung twice since you've been in here.”

“Who was it?”

“Just a number showed on the display. UK mobile, if that makes you feel any better.”

I frowned, then realized it must be Lex. “Um, thanks. Maybe one of my classmates.”

“Uh-huh.” Faith raised an eyebrow and hovered in the doorway. “You sure about that? Because just now you had a look of elation about you. Is it a bloke?”

“Faith, when would I have had time for a guy?”

“You do spend quite a few hours at school and on your little jaunts about London. You could be having some secret tryst I don’t know about. Are you dating Daniel Craig, and you didn’t tell me? I mean, I can understand why you wouldn’t tell me, because, let’s face it, I might kill you for him, but honestly, Abena, you should learn to share.” She grinned.

“I'm not having secret trysts. I've been too busy working and avoiding my family and Easton. No secret boys to speak of.” I lied smoothly. It wasn’t like I could claim Alexi as my boyfriend or anything.

“Come on. I've been man deprived for weeks. Just tell me who it is. Is it Xander? I knew you were going to try to sleep with him. I just knew it. Now you two are carrying on some secret love affair.”

I giggled. “You're crazy. I'm not shagging my teacher. I promise. I get my A’s the old-fashioned way.”

“Sure, sure. But can you do me a favor and bring him by one of these nights so I can ogle him?”