Page 7 of Inked Beasts

I sputter. “We can’t just go off and?—”

“Why not?”

LEXY

The audacity of the question short-circuits my brain for a moment. Before I can come up with a reasonable-sounding response, Scott reappears. He tries to tug me away from Kai, his face contorted in a way I’ve never seen before.

“Come, Alexandra. We’re leaving.”

I stare at him. “What do you mean, leaving?”

“I changed our flight home. We’re getting out of this disgusting city. Tonight.”

“Take your hands off her,” Kai growls.

Scott makes a sound that’s almost like a growl himself. “You stay out of this,” he orders Kai.

“Listen, asshole?—”

People are looking. I try desperately to avert the train wreck I can see bearing down on us. “Both of you, stop it.”

Scott grabs at my arm again. I pull away at the same time that Kai plants one big hand on Scott’s chest and shoves. Not that hard, but it’s enough to send my boyfriend stumbling back a few feet.

Scott recovers and comes at Kai with crazed eyes, taking a huge swing at him. Kai easily avoids it, and then his fist connects with Scott’s face and sends him sprawling to the floor.

The music stops. A couple of men help Scott to his feet. He shakes them off and glares at me. “Are you coming with me or not?”

I’m embarrassed, and angry at both of them. But more than that, I can’t leave now. I need to continue this reunion, even if it’s only for the closure I never got back then. “Scott …”

“Either you leave with me, right now, or we’re through.”

Everyone is watching. I’m not sure there’s any way I could explain to Scott what my childhood friends mean to me, and I certainly can’t do it here and now. “You’re not being reasonable. Can we please talk about this?”

He folds his arms. “There’s nothing to discuss. Now, Alexandra.”

Ugh.I’m about to break up with my boyfriend in front of a whole crowd of people. “I can’t.”

The look he sends me should make me shrivel up inside, but my inner twelve-year-old is cheering. Seeing my old friends has given her so much more power. She doesn’t care what Scott thinks.

But he’s not done with me yet. “Very well. I’m checking out. You’d better go up and pack your things so you can move them to a different room.”

He turns to leave, then sends a parting shot over his shoulder. “You’ll need a new job when you get back. Don’t expect a reference.”

I watch him go, dismayed, but not for the reasons he’d want. I’m more concerned with the damage Scott could do to my professional reputation than the loss of our relationship.

Which tells me everything I need to know about the future I thought we had.

Kai’s hand lands on my shoulder. I whirl on him, and he holds up both hands. “Lexy, the guy was a loser. You’re better off without him.”

I shake my head. “I can’t deal with you right now.” I cross to where Gage and Thorn still stand. Their eyes are sympathetic, which soothes my feelings a bit. “I need to go up to my room and pack.”

“I’ll go with you,” Kai says. Because of course he’s followed me, silently despite his size.

I glare at him. “No, you will not. I’ve had enough of your help for a while.”

“Come on, Lexy. Let me make amends.”

I snort. “Whatever. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

---