Page 35 of Wonderlust

“Nothing ever stopped you before. You were always begging for it.”

“You fucking asshole! I can’t believe that Ieverhad feelings for you! Wish Sarah luck for me, because she’s going to need it marrying a womanizing prick like you! Goodbye, David!” I hung up harshly, wincing when I turned back around. Diego had obviously heard everything.

“Girl, you need to tell meeverything. Who is David?” He looked way too excited, clapping his hands together.

“It’s nothing. Can we just drop it?”

“Oh, come on!”

“Diego! Just fucking leave it!” I lost my temper, storming outside. I needed some air. David had riled me up, but it was wrong to take it out on Diego like that.

Leaning against the wall outside, I looked up at the sky, watching the clouds slowly glide over the city. What was David playing at? He wasn’t supposed to keep hassling me. He had Sarah. For a split second, I wondered if he’d discovered that he cared for me, but that would be ridiculous. What man would want me over Sarah Greaves?

“Nat?” Steve’s voice pulled me from my thoughts. “Sorry, but Alex is asking for you. He’s finished with the interviews.”

“Tell him I’ll be right there. I just need a minute.” Steve nodded, leaving me to collect my thoughts. David was not going to get to me. Taking a deep breath, I squared my shoulders and walked back in.

“Where did you go?” Alex asked, slipping into his leather jacket.Men in leather…it did things to me.

“I needed some fresh air. It was getting hot in here. The car should be here soon to take us to the airport. I’ll go and check with reception.”

Touching the side of my face gently, he studied me. “Are you okay?”

“Yes, why wouldn’t I be?”

“Diego said…”

“Alex, I don’t want to discuss my personal life with you. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have work to do.”

We made it in plenty of time for our flight to London. Diego gave me the cold shoulder the whole ride over. I’d need to apologize to him later. We were on a private plane, so I couldn’t do it until we landed. I didn’t want everyone to hear our conversation.

“Do you have any chocolate left?" Alex asked, moving to sit across from me. Searching in my bag, I found a few packets of Maltesers and some Cadbury Freddo bars. “You’re a life saver.” He was such a big kid when it came to his chocolate and candy. “What?” he asked with a mouthful of chocolate.

“You, Mr. Rock Star, eating chocolate like a five year old.”

“This is good shit. It’s the one thing I’mnotashamed of being addicted to.” His words apparently stunned him. Maybe he hadn’t meant to let that slip. “Chocolate doesn’t fuck me up after I’ve had it, that’s for sure.”

“You just enjoy the sugar rush,” I grinned. “My parents used to ban chocolate and sweets after five o'clock when I was younger because I’d be too hyper before bedtime.”

“They sound like caring parents.”

“They are.” I smiled fondly, thinking about them. “They’re on a world cruise right now. They had an antiques shop in Soho, London for almost thirty years, but they’re both retired now.”

“You’re a proper Londoner then,” he smirked. “My parents split up when I was ten and I moved to the states with my mom. I wasn’t given a choice.” He opened a pack of Maltesers, offering some to me before diving into the bag himself. “I remember all the arguing before they split. Mom used to spend most nights crying. It was better once we moved to the US. Destructive love, that’s what my parents had. It’s the worst kind.”

“You wrote a song about that when you were in Steel Roses—Slay Me.” Why did I let that slip out? How did I remember all this crap? It wasyearsago. He stopped mid chew, looking quizzically at me. “I remember my best friend, Liv, telling me about the song years ago,” I rebuffed, looking toward the window to avoid his gaze.

“Did you like the song?” His voice was so tender that it made my eyes snap up toward his. It was my favorite song, but I couldn’t tell him that.

“The song is beautiful. I never get tired of listening to it.” I had to be honest. It was a work of art, like pure poetry.

“Wow! Another compliment. Easy, Straight Lace.” Blushing, I looked away. What was this man doing to me? He was breaking my damn defenses; that’s what he was doing! I liked him; I couldn’t deny that to myself anymore. His ego didn’t even seem to bother me as much as it used to. I loved our banter that came with it. “Are you excited to be going home for a few days?”

“Yeah.” Sighing, I looked out the window. I’d be more excited if David wasn’t hassling me.

“That doesn’t sound very convincing.”

“I’m just tired, sorry.” I forced a yawn and stretched. This conversation would lead to David if it carried on, and I didn’t want that.

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