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“The girl with a single notch on her bedpost? I doubt it.”
“Aw, Lucy. You didn’t tell him that I’ve only slept with one guy, did you? Oh, that’s attractive. I’m practically a nun…”
“I didn’t. I wouldn’t. But he might blame your shameless hit and run on the booze. If you really want in there, you should tell him how you feel—sharpish.” Lucy bit into a piece of white toast slathered with marmalade. “Or miss your moment.”
“If I wasn’t drunk, I’d never have flown at him like that. God, I didn’t grab his ass…or…did I?”
Lucy chuckled into her mug of tea.
Alex swiped her phone’s screen. “I guess I could text him? But he hasn’t texted me. Is that a sign? I wonder what that means?”
“It means nothing. Mark’s terrible with texts. Drives Freddie crazy. When was the last time you texted him and got a response?
“I always get a response.” She stared at her phone as if telepathy would make him get in touch.
“You’re the only one, then.” Lucy shrugged. “Don’t tell Freddie.”
Alex began typing as Lucy crunched through a crust. “You haven’t been sending him sexy Snapchats, have you?”
“Can you chew a little quieter?” Alex held her head. “You sound like a beaver chipping away at a log.”
Lucy glared. “Did you just text him?”
“No. I was going to…but…I don’t know what to say. What should I say? Lucy, help me—”
“Never mind that.” Lucy yanked the phone out of her hand, setting it on the table. “Gimme details. The snog. How was it? Were tongues involved? Hands? Did he show any signs…you know, pitching a trouser tent?”
Alex blushed. “That kiss. I felt it everywhere. That I do remember. I wish we didn’t get interrupted, to see where it could’ve led. Imagine, greeting the morning…with him, all naked and irresistible.”
Her eyelashes fluttered closed, her eyes succumbing to visions of rumpled sheets and eager lips, his toned stomach and…
Alex’s phone buzzed, shocking her back into the room. She snatched it quickly, checked the screen and then dropped the phone in her lap.
“I was all over him, wasn’t I? He’ll think I’m a tease.”
“He won’t.” Lucy paused mid-chew. “He’ll realize you’re keen. Nothing wrong with that. Personally, I think that kiss was long overdue.”
Alex sampled the foamy water, now a murky orange colour. She stuck out her tongue and blinked. “Blech. That’s disgusting! So, guess who just sent me a friend request?”
“Go on then. Is it one of those hunky gays you were grinding against?”
“No. Devin.” A half-smile flitted across her face.
“Ugh, I would delete that sucker. Send him a clear message to piss off,” said Lucy.
“Maybe later.” Alex slid her phone into the pocket of her robe and inhaled deeply.
“What are you waiting for? Rip off that bandage. Let it hurt. Be furious. And then forget about him. He’s such a shit, showing up like that.”
“I can’t just erase him from my life.” Alex rose slowly to her feet, and gripped onto the back of her chair for balance.
“I thought you already had.” Lucy shoved her crumb-filled plate away.
“I can’t ignore what happened in the past,” said Alex. “I thought I could…coming here, putting an ocean between us. Out of sight, out of mind, right?”
She pushed her hair out of her eyes. “But that distance disappears when you hear a song you both loved or get caught up in a random memory. And then the moment fades like an old photograph, and the distance settles in again. Seeing him here, though…stirred up so many buried feelings. It brought back all the happy times—and the bad ones.”
“And that’s why I’m so pissed at him. He’s opened up all those old hurts. Doesn’t he know to leave well enough alone? I don’t get why you’re not raging at him.”
