I hung up and immediately rolled onto my side, bringing my knees to my chest and wrapping my arms around them. Hot tears rolled down my cheeks as shudders wracked my body. I’d let this happen. The first time he’d touched me, I should have run fast and far and reported it. Instead, I’d been so desperate to be loved that I’d stayed.

Now I could see the desperation for what it had been. But I was a different person now. There was no way I was going to let him ruin everything. I didn’t want him in the same country as me, let alone the same city.

23

Lex…

She hadn’t called me back. Nor had she texted. Not like I was keeping track or stalking her… exactly. Max had invited me to the monthly movie night in celebration of her arrival. I’d been coming to these things off and on for years, but that night it was going to be strictly American iconic movies. Since it was in Abbie’s honor, I knew she would be here. Yeah, it was official... I was a stalker.

Jasper eyed me from across the kitchen. “What's the matter with you, Lex? You look jumpy.”

“Nothing.” I crossed my arms and tried for nonchalance. Abbie had wanted some time to figure everything out, and Lord knew I needed time to sort out Gemma before our friends clocked onto the fact that we couldn’t keep our hands off each other.

Or rather that I couldn’t keep my hands off her.

Jas narrowed his eyes, and I wondered if he could smell the anticipation on me. “Things okay with you and Gem?”

I gnashed my teeth. Sometimes I hated having such a close-knit group of friends. One of them couldn’t sneeze without everyone knowing that person had a cold.

“Yeah, fine. Why do you ask?”

Jasper cocked his head with a slightly evil gleam in his eyes. “Oh, you know. Just that we don’t normally see you around so often. I just assumed that with Gemma planning the annual Aids Foundation Benefit, you'd be helping her out.”

And I had helped her out. But as we weren’t really dating, I wasn’t obligated to shadow her at every turn. “What can I say? I love Top Gun.”

“Yeah, mate. As if you're here for Top Gun. I have a feeling a certain blonde is the reason you’re hanging around more. Let’s face it. You weren’t exactly undercover when you called and asked for her flat address.”

Wait, what? Jasper thought I had a thing for Faith? Fine with me. Until Abbie and I figured things out, let Jasper believe whatever the hell he wanted.