“You don’t need to.”
“No, I have to. That night at Joe’s…I wasn’t in a good place. I’ve never run out on anyone like that. Hell, I’ve neverdoneanything like that.”
“I know. You had a rough day. It got intense. I get it.”
“I didn’t mean to leave you hanging. Everything overwhelmed me. I needed some air, so I went outside for a minute. Once I went out, I couldn’t go back in. I ran.”
“It’s okay. Things happen. I was just worried it was something I did or something I said.”
“No. It wasn’t you at all. In fact, in a strange way, I think you were just what I needed.”
“Okay.”
“I don’t mean to sound like I was taking advantage. I just wanted to—”
“You wanted to forget.”
“You remember?”
“I remember everything.” He took another step toward her. “As much as I’ve tried not to.”
Her lungs stopped functioning for a moment. Heavy and useless, they hung in her chest.
“Look,” he said. “There’s no need to feel badly. We can be friends, right?”
“Sure. Friends.”
“Good. As your friend, and your host for the week, I should probably ask if your suites were okay.”
“They’re beautiful. Thanks again. My sister and her friends are really happy about them.”
“I’m glad.” He paused, considering her face. “And yet you’re crying.”
“I’m not—” There was no sense lying. He’d seen through it. “It’s just been a long day.”
“Anything I can do?”
“No. If only it was that simple.”
“I’d like to try.”
“I appreciate it, but there’s nothing you can do. This is one problem that can’t be solved by bumping me to a fancier room.”
Alex stood still, gnawing on the inside of his cheek, as if he didn’t like her answer. “Is it Tommy?”
“Boy, you really do remember everything.” Unlike some men she’d known, whose eyes glazed over when she talked for more than a minute at a time.
“I pay close attention when I’m interested in something.”
Interested, right. He was probably just hoping to get lucky again. Any other man would be. Perhaps he thought he could take her for a spin in one of the Vice bathrooms too.
“I thought about you. A lot.”
“Our time at Joe’s was very nice.”
“Very nice?” He put a hand over his heart. “Wow. Are you trying to wound me?”
“I’m sorry. This is surreal.”
