body pressing against my back. Ignoring how his mere warmth reminds me how united we always were, I try to put some distance between us and step toward her.
“I hope you don’t mind, but Jax insisted I come today.”
“Tess.” Reed’s voice is way too close.
Tossing my hair back, I say, “I wanted to wish you guys the best. I heard that you two are together.”
Reed mumbles a curse as I try to twist my arm away.
Lexi smiles, but her eyes dart to Reed’s hand. “Yes, we’re very happy.”
I almost gag. So, I lower myself to her level. Her strong flowery perfume invades my nose. God, how can Reed possibly be with her?
“Tell me, Lexi, it doesn’t bother you that he has fucked half of Manhattan?” It’s mean and immature, but I never claimed to be perfect.
Reed’s grip tightens even more. I’m almost positive I’m going to have a bruise. “Enough, Kitten,” he growls in my ear.
Lexi looks like she’s been slapped. Either I hit my mark, or Reed calling me Kitten is about to do her in.
Narrowing her eyes, she almost looks like she wants to attack me. My mouth twitches. She’s nothing to me. And since Reed has put his dick in her, he’s nothing to me. Maybe I truly am getting closure?
Lexi shakes the Advil bottle. The pills jingle like spare change.
“Reed, baby… I got you the ibuprofen you wanted.”
Baby! She calls him baby? I would start laughing if this wasn’t so traumatizing.
“He has a headache, and I know exactly how to take care of him.”
I need to walk away while I’m ahead and never come back. Maybe Brance is right. California might be the best place for us.
Holding my shoulders back, I can practically feel my mouth watering at the thought of telling them both to fuck off.
Instead I smile. “Good luck.” I pray I’m getting what Brance has because I’m not feeling so good. More than likely, it’s Lexi and her repulsive perfume. That and the visual of Reed’s dick inside her.
“Let go, Reed,” I hiss. I’m done. And if he doesn’t let me go, I may give in to my stomach issue and vomit on them both.
“Love your hair, by the way, Tess,” Lexi interrupts my attempt at freeing myself. “We could be twins, right, Reed?”
Please God, no, she is not going there! I look up at the blue sky, praying for divine intervention. I would even take an alien abduction over this.
Lexi pins me with her reptilian eyes.
I can’t help it. I back into Reed’s chest instinctively needing him. He wraps his other arm around my stomach from behind.
Lexi’s eyes narrow on us, and she taps the Advil bottle on her lips. I have to look away, willing myself to focus on the green lawn. Even the couple making out in the middle of it is better than her.
“Is that what you want, Reed?” She points at me. “You must have heard how he likes threesomes,” she sneers.
“Jesus, Lexi, what’s wrong with you?” Reed snaps into action. Lacing our fingers, he pulls me around the she lizard.
“I just want to please you. Don’t tell me you wouldn’t love it.” I can’t see his face, but she can, and she smiles at me.
“Look at her. She will never be able to keep up with you sexually.”
Reed turns around to her. “How would you even know what I need sexually?” His voice is cruel.
I can’t help but wonder if she is not right. I have no idea who this new Reed is or what his needs are. And suddenly I don’t want to know.
“Reed.” This time I do manage to free my arm. He goes to reach for me and I back away, hands up. “Don’t you dare touch me! I will make a scene none of us will live down.” Pointing at Lexi, I say, “This is your world. I neither want it nor fit into it. You said we needed to talk. Well, here it is… You are not the same boy I loved. And I need you to stay away from me.”
He steps back like I’ve stabbed him. And maybe I have if the pain in my heart is any indication of how he feels. His hand goes to his tattoo, and tears form in my eyes. I don’t know why. I can’t stand him. Everything he has become is not something I want.
“Go back to Jax. I need to talk to Lexi.” His hand drops. She slithers after him. I should feel