After pouring myself a large glass with shaky hands, I quickly changed into sweats before sitting down with my laptop, camera and turning on a DVR’d episode of Eastenders. But I wasn’t in the mood to attempt to look through any of the pictures I’d taken.

But Faith was in Dublin with Liam, and Sophie was off to Jersey with Max, so I was all alone for the first time since I’d come to London. It gave me too much time to think, and my brain replayed the scenario from the afternoon over and over and over again. Had I done the right thing? Yes. Should I have gone with some back up? Probably.

It had been foolish, but I was glad to have been able to get that poor woman away, even if it was just for the rest of the party. She’d have to make her own choices when she got home. Adrenaline still coursed through my body, making my hands shake, and I very deliberately took a big gulp of wine.

The front door buzzer sounded, and I dragged myself from the relative comfort of the couch. With wooden legs, I trudged over to the answer box and pressed the buzzer. “Who is it?”

“Abbie, it's Lex.”

Shit. What the hell was he doing there? I didn’t want to see that look on his face again. The fury and disbelief I wouldn’t soon forget. “Now's not a good time.”

“Abbie, I want to talk. Please let me up. I need to see that you’re okay.”

Oh, really? He hadn’t been too concerned about my well-being a few hours ago. At that point, he’d been more interested in keeping secret the fact that his close family friend was a wife beater. I depressed the buzzer again. “It's okay, honestly. I’m fine.”

Lex's smooth voice came over the speaker again. “Abbie, I’m begging you, just hear me out. Just for a minute? I'd rather not have this conversation out here for the whole world to hear.”

I’d rather not have it at all. But the truth was I wanted to hear him out. Wanted to hear some explanation that would make up for what he’d done. Needed to hear that he believed me.

I buzzed him in and opened the door before taking back my post on the couch.

When he strode inside, the air left my lungs. Every time I left him, I literally forgot just how beautiful he was. And then, when I saw him again, it all came crashing into me. “What do you want, Alexi?” For the most part, I ignored him, only catching his exploration of my flat from the corner of my eye.