Page 69 of I Knew You Were Trouble

He hangs up.

‘Ziggy’s invited us for cocktails tonight at six,’ I say.

‘Are the band gonna be there?’

‘Don’t know.’

‘If Aidan knows you’re goin’, he’ll be there. On his knees, probably.’

‘What do I do?’

Duncan contemplates my question. ‘Go. Wear a knockout dress. You have one drink then you and I go grab dinner somewhere totally different. Leave him hanging. Lover boy won’t know what to do with himself.’

In the evening, I hook Meredith up with a spy camera, using my butterfly broach. Perhaps out of spite, I’ve confessed to everything that’s happened with Aidan, and she was shocked by my admission. And to hell with the bloody moratorium.

‘I don’t know that he would do that to you on purpose,’ Meredith says as I check the position of the camera on her dress.

‘He would have known he would have had paparazzi lenses on him, right at that moment. The whole time he was on that yacht.’

‘I just don’t think Aidan is like that. Not if he was into you.’

‘That’s the point. Maybe he’s not into me. How well do you know him? How well do I really know him?’

I spent the afternoon alone in the Dubai Mall, buying an off-the-shoulder revenge party dress and a pair of bandage zip-back black suede stilettoes with a three-inch heel, before getting my hair and nails done. I switched off my phone.

I keep telling myself to be strong, but underneath the façade, I know my heart is a little bruised.

‘Are you sure about this?’ I ask her about the camera, looking down into Meredith’s innocent, wide eyes. ‘Duncan’s not so hot on the idea. I don’t want to push you into anything you don’t want to do. If at any point you feel uncomfortable, go into the nearest toilets and rip it out. Although, please bring the whole kit back to me. This thing was expensive.’

Meredith gives me a nervous laugh. ‘I’ll take good care of it, I promise.’

‘I find the best thing to do is try to forget it’s there.’

There’s a knock at the door. ‘How’d I do?’ I ask Duncan as I open it.

There’s a moment when he looks me up and down, and I think I see a hint of sadness in his eyes, perhaps because it’s not him I’m dressing for. Eventually, he says, ‘They’re gonna have to peel his tongue off the carpet.’

‘Good evening.’ I smile as Bodhi opens the door for us to the private bar on the top floor at the Atlantis, The Palm Hotel.

Bodhi grins in return. ‘May I say you’re looking very lovely tonight, Lexi,’ he says. ‘You too, Meredith.’

‘Thank you,’ Meredith and I chime in unison as Duncan follows.

‘What ’bout me, eh?’ Duncan questions, as Bodhi bursts into laughter.

I will my legs forward, nerves churning in my stomach. I squeeze Meredith’s hand. ‘Are you comfortable?’ I ask.

‘Perfectly,’ she says, as she flashes me a smile.

‘Rebel Heart alert,’ Duncan whispers in my ear as we approach the bar.

I keep my head high, though sweat breaks out on my top lip. I can see all the boys up ahead, along with some of the other musicians and tour staff. On spying me, Aidan peels away from the group. When our eyes lock, I want to look away, but I can’t. He looks nervous. Nigh on terrified.

Heat creeps up to my cheeks. I hate that he can make me flustered in this way. I hate that I’m jealous of his former girlfriend.

He moves closer, the initial helpless look on his face replaced by something duskier as his gaze travels the length of my body. I turn then, stopping at the long side of the bar, allowing myself a breath. Duncan swoops in from behind and orders a round of three cocktails.

‘Nice work,’ he whispers close to my ear. ‘You definitely got his attention.’

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