Page 48 of Hot Girl Summer

“I will be. I’m just heading to Alex’s. I need to blow off some steam.”

I contemplate reaching out to Danny, but I’m not ready to face him yet.

“I can take you through some breath work?”

“Thanks, but I’ve tried that already. A Nidra won’t work this time. I just need some space, okay?”

“I know I’m not your favourite person right now, but I love you. Be safe.”

“I will. I love you, too.”

When I approach Alex’s apartment complex, I dismount my bike and lock it up outside. I haven’t had a call or reply back since my earlier text, and I’m starting to think it’s a risky move to show up unannounced, especially given our last conversation. But this itch won’t scratch itself, and my own hands won’t provide the relief I crave. I need the intimacy of another person’s skin on mine. I need to forget the shit show that is my life right now, and I need to visit my good friend, external validation, to help me get there.

I bypass Lilura, and go straight to his apartment. Luke opens the door wearing nothing but a pair of grey sweat shorts and a raised eyebrow.

My eyes widen as I give him a quick once-over, hoping that he doesn’t notice.

Thanks to his gym selfies on Instagram, his thick-set, muscular physique is no secret, but I can’t help but marvel at his hard work every time I catch him with his shirt off. I’m starting to realise that I most definitely am a pervert.

“Hey. What are you doing here?” he asks.

“Is Alex here?” I ask, sliding past him.

I don’t care if I seem rude, now is not the time for pleasantries.

“Come in,” he mutters under his breath.

I drop my helmet and backpack by the door, and head into the living room.

“Peroni?”

“I’d love one.”

Only the best.

He fetches the drinks while I kick off my shoes and make myself comfortable on the sofa. When he returns, he hands me a bottle, and sits beside me. Leaning against the armrest with my legs tucked beneath me, I take a sip, instantly relaxing as the first drop of icy liquid hits the back of my throat.

“Alex is gone.”

“What do you mean, gone?”

“He moved back to London.”

I sit there awhile, silent and shocked. “Wow.”

How many more times can I stand to be let down?

“I’m sorry, I thought you knew.”

“I mean, I know we were having fun, but I thought he might have had the decency to say goodbye.”

“I think it was pretty sudden. I’m not excusing his behaviour, but he booked a huge modelling campaign, and couldn’t turn it down. He wasn’t supposed to stay here permanently, anyway. I’m sure he’ll be back for graduation.”

“Well, I won’t be waiting around.”

“Come on. I don’t think that’s fair. I think he really liked you.”

“Oh, don’t give me that bullshit, Luke. Even if I felt like that—which, for the record, I don’t and never did—I could never trust him. He was constantly screwing around.”

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