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“I am.”

“You’re not.” Freddie waved Mark closer and lowered his voice. “The American bloke? Her ex. The one I told you about?”

Mark’s eyes widened. “Oh, bollocks! Let me get you a drink.”

Alex crossed her arms as Mark walked to the bar.

“You’ll feel better if you tell me what happened.” Freddie tousled his hair for a few seconds, then removed his glasses. “Does he want you back?” He rubbed his eyes so hard with his index finger that they watered.

“No! Maybe…I don’t know.”

“What are you going to do now?”

Alex tapped her foot against the leg of the chair, the heel of her shoe slipping off further and further with each strike. “Well, I’m not going to lock myself in my room with a pint of Ben & Jerry’s, and Adele on a loop if that’s what you’re worried about. Where the hell’s that drink?”

“So, you’re not pining for him, then? Seeing an ex out of the blue can bring back all sorts of crazy feels—don’t I know it,” said Freddie. “Spotting mine in Manchester…Christ, I didn’t last in that bar more than twenty seconds.”

“It’s complicated.” Alex covered her mouth with her hand. “I’ll always have a soft spot for him.”

She caught Mark approaching with her drink and a pint for Freddie, and sat up straight.

“Jack and Coke? How’d you know?”

“Just a hunch.” Mark smiled kindly. “It’s on me.”

“Thank you.” Alex offered a slight grin.

“Nice. I’m here slogging away in the trenches, and Keegs gets the smile? Well, at least we’re making progress.” Freddie nodded at Mark as he reluctantly returned to the bar.

“I hate that Devin got the last word.”

“Why, what did he say? Gimme details.”

“He apologized. Several times. And told me his version of events with Taylor. My wild imagination can finally rest.” Alex took a long gulp of her drink. She closed her eyes and shook her head as it prickled down her throat.

“Was it…incredibly dirty?”

“Freddie!”

“Sorry. Had to ask. So, do you feel any better about it?”

“No. It feels like I’ve been stabbed in the heart all over again. Seeing him was weird. It’s stirred stuff up.”

“Give yourself time. And booze…getting legless will definitely help.” Freddie picked up his pint. “So would a careless snog with a handsome devil, but maybe that’s just me.”

Lucy pulled up a chair beside Alex. “Hiya. Sorry I’m late. Jubilee line insanity.” She dumped her satchel on the floor.

“You’ll never guess who was on my train—Dominic West.” She caught Freddie’s frown. “Not that it matters…you okay, honey? I couldn’t believe my eyes when I got Freddie’s text. How did he ever find you?” She snatched the pint out of Freddie’s hand and took a long sip.

Alex sneered. “Olivia. Devin called Harry’s flat.

“God, is there no end to her meddling? Conniving twat. So…what did he say?” Lucy swigged the pint again.

“He told me what happened. Apologized. He also said I’m ‘inspiring’, apparently. Shame my inspiration didn’t motivate him to steer clear of Taylor’s vagina.”

Freddie snickered. Lucy spluttered on the pint.

“Too much?” Alex swallowed another large mouthful of her drink and winced. “Did you say hi to Dominic? I loved his dancing in Pride.”