Chapter 97

The mothers have prepared a feast for dinner, a spread fit for my friends and family. They certainly know how to cook a meal. We all gather inside as rain begins to fall just before dinner is ready.

I fill my plate with salad, chicken, and rice. I take a seat at the head of the table, swirling my whiskey neat in a clear glass, watching as raindrops slide down the windowpane.

The encroaching darkness outside feels ominous. I catch Knox’s eye from across the table, Lauren by his side. He offers me a small smile, which I return before looking back down at my food.

~Just breathe, Alex.~ Ben is sitting next to me, Andy on my other side. I try to stay present, to not zone out amidst the chatter of everyone around me.

Ben is engrossed in a conversation about Google and its operations with my brothers, but I can’t focus. I’m just so tired.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Eden’s little head bobbing up and down as she walks over to Knox, a piece of paper in her hand.

She hands it to him, his smile sending her into a fit of giggles as she runs off into the living room. The way they look at each other makes my heart melt.

“Oooooh... baby! She drew you a picture!” Lauren gushes, but her words send a chill down my spine. I freeze, my fork suspended mid-air. Her voice... why does it sound so familiar?

***

After a few minutes of replaying her words in my head, trying to figure it all out, it hits me.

Those words.

I feel the blood drain from my face, as if I’ve been stabbed by a thousand needles.

“Shiiiit Andrew! Right... there!... mmmm right there baby,” the memory from that night echoes in my mind.

I gasp, my gaze snapping to Lauren. Images from that night flood my mind.

~Holy shit.~

She’s the girl.

She’s the girl I walked in on with Drew.

Her voice was so similar. How did I not recognize it? That’s why her moans were so familiar. That’s where I know them from. She fucked Drew.

My grip tightens around my fork, the metal bending under the force. Rage courses through me, and I’m ready to launch myself at her.

“Alex? Are you alright?” Ben asks, grabbing my arm, but everyone is staring at me, confused.

The way she said Drew’s name was identical to how she said it now. Same tone, same voice. The same with ‘baby’. Identical.

I feel the words rising in my throat, and I can’t hold them back.

“You—” I point my fork at her, and she gives me a bored expression. “You’re the girl!” I stand, my palms flat on the table to steady myself. My chest is heaving. I can’t even finish my thought, the pieces are falling into place too quickly. That’s how she has the pictures of me. Drew must’ve taken some of me naked and given them to her.

“I have no idea what your stupid ass is talkin—”

“You’re the girl I walked in on fucking my ex-boyfriend! It was you!” Her eyes widen a fraction, confirming my accusation. “Oh my god! It was you! You fucking bitch!”

I reach for the glass in front of me, screaming at her as Ben lifts me up and carries me out of the room, away from her. He drags me upstairs, my arms and legs flailing as I try to get at her.

He brings me to my room and locks the door, positioning himself in front of it so I’d have to go through him to leave. I pace the floor, frustrated at how I figured it all out.

“She’s the girl, Ben! SHE’S THE FUCKING GIRL! Her of all people! How did I not link this sooner? Why was I so slow with it all?... Holy shit! She’s the girl!” I repeat, nearly pulling out my hair.

My hands are gesturing to nothing, trying to connect the dots. I grab my phone and dial his number. It rings out, so I call again. After several attempts, I text him.

She’s the blonde that was on Drew’s dick when I walked in. I was too focused on his face to realize it was her. But thinking about it now, I’m positive it was her.

***

“Alex, look at me! Hey! Look at me, I’m here for yo—” A knock interrupts Ben, and he leans back to unlock the door.

Delilah and my mom stand in the doorway, their faces etched with irritation.

“She’s no longer welcome in this house,” my mom grits out. “Or mine,” Delilah agrees.

They enter my room as I’m on the verge of throwing up from the excitement and the food I’ve just eaten. I’m pacing the same pattern on the floor, stress coursing through me. I need answers.

“Did you know she has pictures of me? Naked ones. I didn’t take any naked ones. Drew must’ve sent them—” My phone begins to ring, Drew’s name flashing across the screen. I spring onto my bed to answer it.

“Hey, Alex... what’s going on?” Drew’s voice sounds off. He knows. He must know.

“Don’t play dumb with me, you piece of shit! It was Lauren? Fucking Lauren!! You cheated on—” My voice breaks as I start to unravel over the phone.

“Alex, I’m so sorry, baby,” he says, his voice choked with emotion. I can hear a sniffle from his end. “I hate to hear you cry when you’re so far away.

She used me to get to you. It was her. I regret it every day, baby,” he stammers out.

“Don’t you dare call me baby. I’m not your girlfriend anymore, you don’t have the right to call me that. Explain to me why her? For how long has this been happening?”

I’m seething, on the verge of hurling my phone at the wall in frustration. He chose her over me. How could he? So did Knox, Alex. What’s so special about her?

“Alex, I love you. I always have and I always will. She approached me at Eric’s gala when we were in New York. She flirted with me, I flirted back when I knew I shouldn’t have.

I thought I was invincible with Miss USA flirting with me. We exchanged numbers after her insisting on numerous occasions.

We started to text and call each other, I was so caught up in this and she would fly into Cali for events and we would meet up. I slept with her after a month of getting to know her.

You were busy with assignments and reports, I got lonely—”

“Don’t fucking put this on me! I tried to keep you happy, Drew. I’m in college for a reason, nobody gets in the way of my education.” I cut him off.

“I know, Alex, I know. It was wrong of me. But I need you to listen to me. She has pictures of you that I took of you when you were sleeping with me in bed. You’re not clothed by any means.

I took them because I thought you looked beautiful and not to use them against you. I promise you.

You’re sleeping in some of them, and there’s one when you’re standing in front of a mirror doing your hair and makeup, you can see everything, Alex. We’re cuddling in some like when we used to.

I don’t know how she got them from my phone but she has them. I didn’t give them to her, baby she’s not right in the head.

Be careful with her. She wants to take you down, I don’t know what she has against you. But there’s something there with her.” As I process all of this, I pace back and forth, letting him continue.

“I know I’ve messed things up with you, Alex. I’m regretting everything I’ve done with her. She used me to get to you, but you need to think about what your next move is very carefully.

I want you to know, I’m sorry for all the hurt I’ve caused you, Alex. She manipulated me and I let her. I don’t know what else to say other than I’m sorry.” Hearing the hurt in his voice, I can tell he really is sorry.

He’s crying on the phone to me. I’m crying down the line to him. This is all too much.

“Drew, you had sex with her... in your bed. You destroyed my heart that night. You broke it. You broke me.

I’m sorry she manipulated you but like you said; you let her... I’m going to call you back later. Please answer. I’ll text you before I do. I need to calm down a bit more and get more level-headed. Bye, Drew.”

“Bye, Alex,” he replies before I end the call.

I feel the bed dip beside me, knowing it’s my mom, while Ben and Delilah stand opposite us, watching me closely. I wipe the tears that have fallen. I feel so hurt by everything.

I scratch my forehead and stare at Ben, defeated. I bury my head in my hands and start to cry again.

“Alex, I’m here for you,” Ben crouches down to my level, taking my arms in his. This all feels so fast. So sudden. Sitting there, allowing my mind to race and overthink everything.

“I thought I was done with all of this, Ben.” Hearing footsteps enter my room, I don’t want to look up to see who it is.

“Sis?” Hearing Kyle’s voice makes the tears roll down faster, dropping onto my floor and skin. “She’s left the house. Knox kicked her out,” he continues after a few moments.

He kicked her out? I thought he would’ve left with her.

“Where is he now?” Delilah asks, slightly worried about her own son. Her brows furrowed, hoping he ended it with her.

“He left alone in his car. He left his phone here. I don’t know where he’s gone.” This shocks me a little and I raise my head to meet my brother looking at Delilah.

She has a worried look written all over her face. She walks over to the window to see if his car has left.

A few hours have passed and everyone is sitting in the living room waiting for Knox to come back. We’ve put on a movie, but I guarantee none of us are fully watching it.

After that movie finished, we put on another to pass the time. But it feels like it’s dragging on. Watching the window for any movement.

An hour later.

Two.

Three.

Four.

Five.

It was the early hours of the morning and there was no sign of him coming back. I was getting curious as to where he is? Where did he go to think? To be alone? I was exhausted and couldn’t stay awake for him.

Exhaustion claimed me last night, a result of the restless hours spent thinking about him. I found myself succumbing to sleep in the living room, cradled in someone's arms.

I was gently lifted, carried through the quiet house and into my room. The cool, crisp sheets enveloped me, guided by a pair of unseen hands.

My head sank into the plush pillow, and I drew the covers up to my chin. I felt the mattress dip as a body settled next to me.

“Goodnight, sweetheart,” a voice murmured. I responded with a sleepy mumble, feeling a tender kiss on my lips and forehead. It was Wes. But oh, how I wished it was him.

The low hum of the air conditioner filled the room, a soothing lullaby that lulled me into a deep sleep. It was a respite I had been yearning for over the past few days.