Page 156 of Dream On

“His sparkling reputation may have been compromised, but nothing too damaging.” Rudy finally turns to me, frowning when he takes in the state of my face. “Jesus. Speaking of getting hurt.”

“Oh…it’s nothing. There was a run-in with a paparazzo this morning outside the complex,” I say, looking away. “I tripped on the sidewalk and ate concrete instead of bagels.”

“Damn. Sorry to hear.”

I blink back over at Lex, my heart sinking as I watch him collapse across the sofa and slam a pillow over his face. “Did…um…anything happen tonight?”

Rudy glances at me again. “Elaborate.”

“You know…” I wave a hand around, my cheeks heating. “With anyone?”

His eyes slant, right before awareness dawns. “Oh. Shit. No, nothing like that.” He slips his hands into his pockets. “On the contrary, actually. The women were hounding him at the club, but he told them to fuck right off and have a Disney World day. Direct quote.”

My chest deflates. “Okay. Thank you.”

“You got it from here?”

“Yeah. I’ll get him to his room.”

“I’ve never seen him like this,” Rudy says, gaze softening as he glances at Lex. “He’s not a drinker. Did something happen between you two?”

I chew on my bruised lip, unable to keep the flush from breaking out across my collarbone.

My eyes dart away.

Rudy connects the dots—he doesn’t need me to elaborate this time. “Got it.”

My arms cross at my chest, chin dipping. “We had an argument last night. Things got a little heated and we…” I glance back up at Rudy.

“Still got it.”

“Then I had that altercation while getting breakfast. The guy grabbed me…and I fell.” I gesture to my bandaged chin, memories carving caverns in my chest. “Lex just kind of shut down after that. He thinks it’s his fault.” Sighing, I rub my lips together. “Everything is confusing. I don’t know what’s real, what’s not. What he needs from me.”

Rudy blows out a breath, adjusting a pair of fashion-forward glasses on the bridge of his nose. “He doesn’t think you’re cut out for this world. Thinks you’ll fall into the same traps he fell into. And that will wreck him.”

Heart shrinking, I glance at his profile as he studies Lex through narrowed eyes. “What if he’s right?”

“He could be. This life isn’t for everyone. Some are born into it, and they don’t know anything else. And some are just visitors. They come in, get dazzled by the lights, but eventually they leave before the lights get too bright,too blinding.” He blinks, peering over at me. “That’s what he’s afraid of. You realizing it’s not worth it. That he’s not worth it.”

My stomach tightens. “This wasn’t supposed to be anything more than a temporary arrangement. I was always meant to be a visitor.”

He shakes his head. “It was always more. Trust me.”

I swallow, fumbling for words, my thoughts in a tailspin. “You think that’s what he wants?”

“He’s too stubborn and stone-walled to admit it, but yeah, that’s exactly what he wants. Someone who won’t walk away, who sees all the messed-up, ugly things he’s buried himself in and keeps fighting. It’s why I stick around despite how much he annoys the shit out of me—deep down, he needs me to. And for some preposterous reason, I really fucking like the guy.”

A smile twitches. “You’re a good friend.”

“Let’s not get carried away.” He takes a step back, sliding me a wink, then gestures at Lex. “Let him see the real you, Stevie,” he says. “Give him all you’ve got, whatever that might be. And that’ll force him to see the real him.”

The door opens, shuts.

Silence sounds, and I twist back to Lex, who is half-asleep on the couch. Blinking back tears, I stroll into the kitchen to fetch a glass of water and two over-the-counter pills to counteract the hangover. When I take a seat beside him, pressing against his hip, he makes a grumbling noise.

“Hey,” I murmur. “Drink some water.”

The pillow slides off his face. Lex squints at me, his head lolling to the side. “Where’d you come from?” he slurs.