Page 79 of Get Lost

He looked back at Renee, shaking his head. “What iswrongwith you?”

She scowled, her lips puckering into an asshole, but he turned and rushed after Kelsey before Renee could retort.

He hurried inside the villa, stopping as Nessa stepped into his path. The little spitfire looked up at him with a dare in her eyes, then crossed her arms over her chest. “Where are you going?”

Alex’s gaze flicked past her. “To my room?”

“Kelsey’s in there.”

“Yeah,” he said slowly, “we’re roommates this weekend, remember?”

“Actually, she’s getting her stuff so she can sleep with me. You’ll be sharing a room with Lucky. My boyfriend.” She said boyfriend like the word implied he could kick Alex’s ass.

“Look, I know she’s pissed at me—”

The girl scoffed.

“And she has every right to be.”

“Yep.”

“But I want to explain. Apologize.”

Nessa’s eyes narrowed. “She won’t want to hear it.”

He laughed sadly. “Don’t I know it.”

“Why should you even be allowed to apologize?” She tapped her tiny foot.

Alex brought his gaze back up to hers and went with honesty. “Because I fucked up. And everyone deserves a second chance.”

Nessa sighed, then watched him for a while.

“And I think I’ve been in love with her since the first grade.”

Her eyes widened, then she smiled slowly and stepped aside. Alex started to pass, but she grabbed his arm. “Wait. If you’ve had feelings for her all this time, why do you always antagonize her?”

Alex’s shoulders rose and fell on a deep breath, and again, he went with the truth. “Because she likes it.”

Nessa squinted, looking up at the ceiling, then she shrugged. “You’re right. She does. I don’t understand it, but… she does.” She dropped her hand. “You better make your apologyreallygood,” she advised. “I’ve never seen her this pissed off over some random guy.”

Alex smiled at Nessa and said, “That’s because I’m not some random guy.”

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