“Maybe you just want to keep an eye onScarlett,” I said, unable to keep the blatant jealousy out of my tone.
His eyes grew wide. “How do you know that name?”
“Oh, I have my ways.”
He stared at me for a moment before his lips slowly curved.
My mouth fell open. “Are you...laughingat me?”
Nick pursed his lips as he shook his head. “Nope.”
“You are!” I tugged off one of my Uggs and tossed it at his head before doing the same with the other one.
“Hey!” he said, blocking both of my boots with his arms. “What the hell, Alexis?”
I clenched my fists as equal parts anger and heartache raged in my chest. “Why are you avoiding me? Didn’t it mean...” I trailed off as I struggled not to cry. “Didn’t it mean anything to you?”
“Don’t do that,” he said, his face contorting with regret as he slowly approached me. “Please, sweetheart,” he whispered, closing the distance between us and cupping my cheeks. “Don’t cry. I wasn’t laughing at you.”
“Yes, you were,” I said, sniffling as he grinned.
“I wasn’t. You’re just so cute right now, and it made me smile...”
“I’m not cute,” I said, lifting my chin. “I’m sexy and hot...and whatever else Scarlett and all the other dancers are. I can be like that if you want me to be.”
He gazed at me reverently, his thumbs caressing my cheeks as he shook his head. “I don’t want you to be anyone but you.”
My throat clogged with emotion as I struggled to speak. “Why are you ignoring me? What did I do?”
His warm breath washed over my face as he studied me, his expression becoming more serious. “You didn’t do anything. I’m trying to do what’s best for you.”
Anger welled in my chest as I pulled away. “Excuse me, but I can decide what’s best for my own damn life, thank you very much.”
Sighing, he looked toward the ceiling and muttered, “Lord, give me strength.”
“Oh, the lord’s not here right now,” I said with thinly veiled sarcasm. “Just you and me, and you’re done hiding.” I inhaled a deep breath to release some of the anger, forcing my shoulders to relax. “I miss seeing you,” I said, annoyed that I sounded like alovesick teenager, but unable to hide the emotion in my voice. “I got used to being around you, and then you were just...gone.”
He rubbed his arm, looking contrite as he studied me. “I felt a clean break was best. We became...attached...and that’s not conducive to you moving on and building the life you want.”
My lips curved. “Did you become attached to me?”
He shot me a droll look. “Of course, I did.”
I gnawed my lip as we warily assessed each other. “I don’t want to be separated from you. You’re one of the only people I actuallylikebeing with.”
Breathing a laugh, he nodded. “Same here. But it’s not smart since we have no future. I’d rather rip the band-aid off rather than drag it out.”
“Oh, so you just get to decide everything, hmm?”
“Not everything, but this...” He ran a hand through his hair. “I don’t want to make it harder to let you go. I’m trying not to be a selfish bastard.”
It wasn’t Shakespeare, but the words were heartfelt, proving he at least feltsomething.
“And why can’t we be together?” I asked softly.
“Alexis,” he said, his voice tinged with frustration.
“What?” I lifted my arms. “I’m just asking.”
