"Me? No," I said.
"Why not?" Alex asked. "Do you want to go?"
"No," I quickly said. "I'm not really a prom kinda girl." The thought of dancing and socializing like that made me ill. I just never fit in that way.
"I'll take you if you want to go." He smiled, and I thought he was so sweet. The thought of seeing him in a tux almost made me want to go.
"Alex," Julia said. "Don't you think you're a little old to be going to a prom? I'm sure Jocelyn could find someone her own age to take her, and you could hang out with someone a little more your speed."
Brenna giggled and rolled her eyes.
"Actually," Alex said, as he pulled me closer to him. "I like the company I'm keeping just fine."
I smiled at him as he squeezed my hand.
"Hmm." Julia looked me over.
"Come on, Jocelyn." He pulled me up from the couch.
"You don't have to leave on our account," Brenna said. "Ryan's on his way, and he's bringing beer."
"You have to be twenty-one to drink it, though." Julia laughed.
I really hate this twit!
"Thanks," Alex said. "But Jocelyn and I want to be alone. We'll be in my bedroom if you need me."
Julia's jaw practically hit the floor when Alex pulled me toward the stairs.
"See you later." I waved.
He's mine, you stupid bitch, was what I wanted to say, but I was a guest in Alex's home, and I didn't want to be rude. Plus, Brenna could make my life miserable if she really wanted to.
Alex led me to his room and slammed the door behind us, clearly upset. "I'm sorry," he said. "I didn't know they were coming home. Julia can be a bitch."
"It's not your fault." I sat on the bed. "How serious were you two?"
"Not very," he said, obviously trying to brush off my question. "You want to stay here? Or we can go out for coffee."
"If you want me to hang out here and put up with her, then I need to know what went down between the two of you." I needed the whole story if I was going to defend myself. Everyone else around here knew what had gone on between Alex and Julia. "It's obvious she’s hung up on you."
"We went out a few times," he said. "Mostly with Brenna and Ryan."
"But not always?"
He shook his head. "Before I left for Yale, we dated that summer. It didn't work out. She was still in high school, and I was ready to move on."
"She's been holding out hope for five years?" I asked.
Either he's that good, or she's that desperate. Maybe it was a combination of both?
"When I come home, we usually get together, but just to hang out with Brenna and Ry." He hurried to assure me. "I haven't been with Julia in over a year."
"So, you've had sex with her too?" I held up my hand. "You know what, I don't want to know. It's none of my business."
He sat on the bed next to me. "I'll tell you whatever you want to know. I don't want to keep secrets."
"I don't need to know all about your past," I said. "But, I don't want you to hurt me, either." Evan had told me a lot about Alex and his past relationships.
