Page 84 of Tell Me Pucking Lies

Lexi sits down next to me, her shoulder brushing mine.

“How is he?” Thea asks.

Lexi notices my knuckles. Fresh blood. Still wet.

I don’t bother to hide them. Let her see the monster she’s decided to be with. She just stares at my hand for a moment, then looks away.

“When can he be released?” Thea asks.

“They pumped his stomach. He could’ve died.” Lexi’s voice cracks. “Thank god for Koa, otherwise...” She gets emotional. I can see the tears building. But she shakes it off, hardens when she looks at Thea. “I have nothing else to say to you.”

“Lexi,” Thea pleads. “Come on. I didn’t mean…”

And I stop listening. My phone buzzes. I stand, walk off to the other side of the room.

Can’t deal with this emotional drama bullshit.

“Yeah?”

Oxy comes through the line and says, “Some idiot ripped off a dealer at State. I’m handling it.”

“Good. Keep me updated.”

I hang up just as Lexi walks over.

“Take me home,” she says quietly.

“What about Axel?”

She laughs bitterly. “He isn’t going to want to see me. Thea made that clear.”

I nod. “Okay.”

We get into the Charger and pull out of the parking lot.

“Can we get something to eat?” she asks.

“Sure.”

We end up at KFC. She convinces me to try a Famous Bowl—mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, chicken, cheese. I’m skeptical, but she insists.

“Trust me. It’s delicious.”

We sit in the parking lot, eating out of the containers.

“I had no idea you could drum,” she says between bites.

“Why would you?”

She smiles. “You’re really good. And the song you dedicated to me?”

I watch her eat, imagining those lips on me. “Too much?”

She shakes her head.

“Axel ruined my plans for the night. You were supposed to be stripping by now.”

She laughs. Then she looks at me, eyes glinting. We’re quiet for a moment and then she sets down her food and leans in. Her fingers graze the side of my face as she says, “Take me to your dorm and maybe I will.”