Chapter 24
T here was a knock at my door the next morning as Lex and I were sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee. I got up and opened it to find Garrett standing there. He looked at me briefly before his eyes moved to Lex, who had walked up behind me with his rumpled hair and naked torso, looking like morning-after sex. He was leaning against the wall, casually sipping coffee while staring down Garrett.
“I just came to say goodbye,” he said to me, refusing to acknowledge the man hovering just behind me.
“Okay," I said, feeling unbelievably awkward. "Goodbye, Garrett."
His expression faltered, disappointment crossing his features, as if he expected more. “I still have a few of your things at my place. Do you want me to send them to you?”
I didn’t remember leaving anything there. “What is it?”
“Just some of the things you wore on our trip to Cancun—a couple of dresses, some shoes… that red bikini.” He stared down Lex. “You know, the one with the all the strings.”
Lex fell right into the trap. I watched his expression darken with anger as he took a step toward Garrett.
I put my arm out to block him. “No, I’m good. Thanks,” I said quickly.
He cocked his head. “You sure?” he asked, still eyeing Lex. “I remember you telling me that night in the hot tub that it was your favorite.”
Lex’s jaw flexed. “I’d be happy to help wipe that from your memory.”
I put my whole body in front of Lex as he took anotherthreatening step forward.
A smug expression came over Garrett’s face, knowing he’d succeeded in getting a rise out of Lex.
“I think it’s time for you to leave, Garrett,” I said.
Garrett grinned. “Alright, I’m going.” He pulled the handle up on his luggage. “Once you get back to New York, you should give me a call. Maybe we could try to be friends again. I know Sophie misses you.”
I felt Lex stiffen. “Yeah, maybe,” I said, trying to hurry this along.
Garrett gazed at me with a torn expression. “I never thought this is how things would turn out for us.” His eyes flicked to Lex momentarily before settling back on me. “I guess I just have to accept that this is what makes you happy now.”
“It does,” I confirmed.
He nodded. “I’m sorry that I couldn’t.”
The look of hurt on his face had my stomach clenching. I never meant to hurt Garrett.
Lex curled his hand gently around my waist, pulling me into his chest. Garrett took the hint and turned to leave. I exhaled a long breath as he closed the door behind him.
He ran his hand down my arm soothingly. “You alright?”
“I’m fine,” I said. “I just hate hurting people. I didn’t love him, but I still cared about him.”
“I know,” Lex said, and I was grateful for his understanding.
"Are you okay?" I asked, wondering if he was still annoyed at Garrett for bringing up our history.
"Yes... feeling pretty good, actually, now that he's finally gone and I won't have to hear about any more bikini-clad trips the two of you took."
I sighed. "He just said that to get a rise out of you."
"Oh, I know," he said with a smile. "Sorry if I was a jerk. I was struggling to muster any of the empathy I once had for him."
I shook my head. "I need some coffee," I said, wanting to move past this whole Garrett thing. "I'm dragging a bit this morning... Any idea why that might be?" I asked innocently as I wrapped my arms around his neck.
A slow, knowing smile spread across his face. "Can’t say that I do," he replied, his hands sliding down my backside. "Though, for the record, I’m feeling pretty energized this morning."
"Oh, really?" I brushed my lips along his jawline, the feel of his scruff grazing against my mouth in the most tantalizing way. "Got any specific plans for how you’re going to burn off all that extra energy?"
"I can think of a few things," he said roughly as I traced my tongue along his throat.
He pulled my mouth up to meet his, but just as he started tugging at my clothes, there was a loud knock at the door. Lex let out a noise of irritation as I pulled away, chuckling. I went to the door, opening it to find exactly who I thought would be there.
“Well, that was an interesting night,” Stuart said, chuckling as he walked in and made himself at home on my couch. “Your ex-lover and I stayed up late talking and playing video games. Lex never plays video games with me.” He shot Lex an annoyed look. “I even let him cry on my shoulder over this whole mess. I think I’ve finally found a replacement best friend.”
I smirked. “Is that so?”
“Yep,” he said. “Although it got a little awkward when he asked how serious things were between the two of you.”
Lex fixed him with a look that said he was clearly not in the mood.
“Chill! I told him he needed to give up. I said you guys have a nickname and everything.”
I sighed. “You told him you call us Halex?”
“It’s going to catch on like wildfire. You’ll see.” Stuart winked.
“God, I hope not,” Lex grumbled.
“To answer your question Hadley—yes. He’s always this grouchy in the morning."
I laughed and kissed my grouch on the cheek before going into the kitchen to fix Stuart and I a cup of coffee.
When I came back, they were arguing.
“Hadley, tell Lex you’ll come over tonight. The guys want to have a Spitzer tournament, and we’re one player short,” he whined, frowning at Lex.
I handed him his coffee. “What’s Spitzer?”
“It’s a card game. But you have to play in teams of four and we only have eleven. Lex is the last piece of the puzzle.”
“You don’t want to go?” I asked Lex.
“I want to be with you,” he said, unabashed. “I don’t care where we are.”
“It’s settled then,” Stuart piped in. “You’ll come, right Hadley? Especially since your very good friend Stuart, who took care of your weeping ex-boyfriend last night, is asking so very nicely.”
D idn’t need that reminder .
“Sure,” I agreed. “I’m going to my mom’s for dinner tonight, but I’ll come over after.”
“Yes!” Stuart shouted before I had finished the sentence. “I’m going to tell Pete the tournament’s on.” He shot to his feet and ran out the door toward Peter’s house. I locked the door behind him, and Lex laughed.
“We don’t have to go, you know,” he said, pulling me into his lap. “I’d rather have you all to myself anyway.”
He tilted his head up at me. I kissed those perfect lips that had touched every part of my body last night and whispered, “Greedy,” against his mouth. He smiled at me before resuming the kiss. It started out innocent enough, but the fire was licking through my veins in no time. He grabbed my hips and lifted me onto the table, yanking my clothes off before making love to me right there on the dining room table.