Page 69 of And Then Came You

I slide onto a barstool at the pub, eager to get a jumpstart on my nightly shenanigans. My flavors of the evening won’t be around for another hour, so I’ve got some time to kick back enough alcohol to numb my emotions.

“Look what the cat dragged in.”

I turn, forcing a smile for my buddy, Mike Simmons. He called earlier in the week, letting me know he was in town, wanting to catch up over a drink.

So, here we are.

“What’s up, man?”

Mike orders a whiskey before sliding a large envelope across the bar. “I promised you copies. They’re truly incredible, if I say so myself.”

Opening the envelope, I pull out the photos of Lexi and me. My heart races as I look through them, remembering every second of that incredible kiss. Now, it’s a memory, frozen in time and never to occur again.

I need another drink.

“How is she doing?”

I can’t breathe. Or answer. All I can do is stare at these photos. It’s so obvious from looking at them that we’re in love. That I love her, anyway.

Love apparentlyisa one-way street, at least where I’m concerned.

“Sam?”

“Yeah,” I guzzle the rest of my glass, motioning for a refill.

“How is Lexi? I’m surprised she’s not here with you. I sent her copies of the photos as well, but I haven’t heard anything.”

“You likely won’t, and she’ll probably set fire to her copies.”

“Something happen with you two?”

I shrug, downing half of my newly poured drink. “We haven’t spoken since that night.”

“Shit.”

My gaze swings to my photographer buddy. “What?”

“I feel partly responsible.”

“What did you do?”

“Lexi surprised me at the bar. She was looking for you, wondered why the shoot ran so long. I told her that the shoot had wrapped almost an hour earlier. She asked where you were, and I tried making an excuse, but she saw right through it. Hell, I was in my cups that night. Forming an intelligible sentence was a minor feat.”

My world tilts on its axis as I straighten and turn to face Mike. “What the hell are you talking about? What did you tell her?”

Mike shrugs, his face remorseful. “The truth. That you and some models from the shoot had gone to grab a drink. I didn’t know it was a secret. Hell, I halfway thought she was down there with you already. All I know is she walked to the other bar and flew back across the lobby to the elevators. I think she was crying.”

The wind whooshes from my lungs as I bury my head in my hands. “Oh, Christ.”

“Sorry, man. I didn’t know I needed to cover for you. I feel terrible that you two aren’t talking.”

My head throbs as the reality of that night becomes clear. It makes total sense now, her cold reaction, leaving without saying goodbye. She didn’t pull a one-eighty for no reason. She saw me with another woman, and not just any woman. The woman who had insulted her not three hours earlier.

Fuck, fuck, fuck. I know what she thought now. I deserted her to be with that bitch, Natalie. And Lexi, being Lexi, didn’t cause a scene. She would never embarrass me in public, even if I deserved it.

That’s why she left.

No wonder she hates me.

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