Page 188 of The Dixon Rule

Footsteps approach the door. Then it swings open, and I see Gigi.

“What happened?” I say instantly. “Where is she?”

“In the shower.”

Gigi’s grim face tells me whatever happened tonight wasn’t good. I storm inside, peering past her shoulders to find Mya Bell, Gigi’s former roommate, on Diana’s couch. I give a terse nod of greeting. She flicks up her hand in a quick wave.

“Was it that fucking asshole?” I demand. “Percy?”

Gigi nods. “Yeah. He was basically, like, casing the apartment when we got here.”

“What do you mean, casing?”

“I don’t know, that’s the best way I can explain it. He wasn’t on the property, but a few yards away from the Meadow Hill sign.” Anger colors her cheeks. “Diana spotted his car. She wanted to get out and confront him.”

“I hope you didn’t fucking let her.”

“Of course not. We went right in and called the cops. They got here within three minutes, which was impressive. But I guess there’s no crime in Hastings. They were probably just sitting around waiting for something to happen. The cops questioned Diana, then went to find Percy, who denied breaking the restraining order. He asserted he was beyond the minimum distance.”

“He’s supposed to stay a hundred yards away from her. If he was parked near the entrance of the driveway, that’s not a hundred yards.”

“He claimed where he was parked in relation to Red Birch itself and this apartment is exactly one hundred and eight yards. Supposedly he measured it using satellite imagery.”

“Slimy prick.”

“Yeah, Diana was pissed. So now it’s a matter of semantics, and the restraining order is being revised to include this apartment as well as the main building. It was a whole shitshow, and Diana just had enough. Which is why I think you should leave.”

I gape at her. “Like hell I’m leaving. I’m going to be right here when she gets out of the shower.”

“Shane,” Mya says tentatively.

I glance over. “What?”

“You don’t have to put on the act anymore,” Gigi explains. “We know this isn’t a real relationship.” She gestures from me toward the bathroom beyond the hall.

“She told us everything,” Mya confirms.

“And I get it,” Gigi says quietly. “That was really nice of you to pretend to be her boyfriend while Percy was living here. And you did good, convincing her to report what happened to her. But…”

“But what?” I snap.

“But you led her on.”

My chest squeezes. “Is that what she thinks?”

“What else is she supposed to think?” Gigi’s gray eyes flash at me. “She told you she had feelings for you, and you ditched her to go see your ex-girlfriend.”

“Yeah, for closure,” I mutter.

“What closure do you need? Didn’t she dump your ass a year ago?” Mya remarks from the couch.

I scowl at her. “Can we stop with the commentary?” I scrape both hands over my scalp. “Yes, I screwed up, and I know she’s pissed off. But there’s nothing between me and Lynsey. I made it very clear to her tonight that I don’t want to get back together.”

“Regardless, I don’t know if tonight is the night to be dealing with…whatever this is. This fake relationship—”

“It isn’t fake,” I burst out. “It’s real as fuck. Do you not get that? I love her.”

Gigi blinks. “Oh. Seriously?”

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