Page 19

“You’re sure about this, Lexy? You know how I feel about him.” Summer’s voice travels through my laptop speaker as I get ready for my coffee date with Dayton in my UNYC apartment.

“I know. You aren’t a fan of Dayton. This is just catching up, nothing more, Sum. He’s making a name for himself in finance and didn’t you say it’s always good to network?”

“If that’s what it is. I guess.”

They say distance really tests a relationship, and the same goes for friendships as well.

Our calls have dwindled from several times a week to monthly, if I’m lucky.

In classic Ivy League fashion, there are mixers and secret handshakes with the movers and shakers in society, and she, being one to never say no to networking, is eating it all up.

Perhaps Keeper inspired something in me, because I want to make it on my own without the Vaughn name as well.

Didn’t Ethan used to say he wanted his name to mean something?

I want the same thing too.

But at my college, we don’t have the same opportunities Summer has, so I’ll just have to work harder and hustle.

But at least now, I know what I want to do—work in marketing and design groundbreaking campaigns.

“I didn’t like how he treated you before. ”

“I know what I’m doing, Sum. It’s different now. I’m no longer the lost girl at Broadbent.” I finish my simple makeup look—eyeliner, mascara, tinted moisturizer—with a coat of pink lip gloss.

Squaring my shoulders, I face the camera.

“Trust me, Sum. You’re looking at the new badass Alexis Vaughn, ready to take on the world.”

Keeper always believed me—ah, stop it, Lexy.

Keeper is your imagination and Ethan Anderson, an infuriating asshole, is the reality.

“Fine. You win. You do you. Just don’t make me say ‘I told you so’ later on. Well, I think you’re—”

The doorbell rings and I frown.

“Someone’s at the door. Got to go.”

We hang up and I walk through my colorful living room filled with National Geographic and Travel Leisure photo prints of places I want to see and experiences I want to try out—all part of my meticulous Twenty by Forty plan—not every item makes it onto the master list.

The doorbell blares loudly again.

Who the hell is it? I’m not expecting anyone, and the doorman holds the packages.

Someone pounds on the door now and my hackles rise.

I scurry to the foyer and peek through the peephole, finding Ethan tugging his hair and pacing back and forth in the hallway.

Huh? Quickly, I open the door.

“Ethan? What are you doing here and how do you know where I—”

“You’re seeing him, aren’t you?” His voice is hushed.

Urgent. He looks like he ran all the way from his place in Manhattan to see me.

“What?”

“Dayton. Your ex. You’re dressed like that to see him, right?” He clenches the doorframe, his biceps bulging inside his dark blue Henley.

He throws an accusatory glare at my outfit.

“It’s none of your business, right? I’m just a college student you’re tutoring as a favor, remember?”

“Answer me.”

I roll my eyes and close the door—I have no time for this bullshit.

He shoves his foot in .

“Go away, Ethan. Come back when you grow a pair.” I kick his boot, trying to dislodge it from the threshold.

“He’s not good for you. Didn’t you used to say he never listened to you? He didn’t understand you? He was hiding things from you? Wake up, Lexy. Don’t throw yourself at men because you don’t want to be alone!”

My mouth drops open as fury shoots up my spine.

I fling the door open, and it crashes against the wall in a loud bang.

Ethan stands there, his arms crossed over his chest, his lips curving in an annoying smirk.

“That’s low, Ethan. I never thought Delaney would have this ugly side to him, but like you’re implying, I have horrible taste in men, so what do I know?”

Lips twitching, I can barely see straight.

I march up to him and stand on my tiptoes.

He arches a damn elegant brow, appearing completely unfazed.

“You know what? I was going to catch up with Dayton because he’s a friend. But then, I’m a believer of fate and second chances. He just so happened to call me when you started pissing me off. That’s got to be a sign, right? And it’s been a while, so maybe he’s changed. So fuck off. You’re not my keeper.”

The sneer slips off his face, and a muscle twitches in his jaw.

His eyes darken, a blistering fire brewing inside them.

You started it, asshole.

I lean in closer, our faces inches apart.

“Don’t mind me, I’m only a silly teenager, desperate for love, right? Maybe I’ll even let him fuck me tonight.”

Ethan’s body stills—his fingers dig into the doorframe, a slight tremble in his arms betraying his coiled strength.

His chest stops moving, like he’s forgotten how to breathe.

It’s then I know.

I may have pushed him too far, unleashing the animal caged inside him.

A sudden awareness seizes me, and I realize now is the time for me to escape from the beast who may pounce on me at any second .

My heart shoots up to my throat and I step back to shove the door closed.

But before I hear the telltale click of the latch engaging, the door flings back open and I jump back just in time.

Everything is a blur, and before I know it, he’s inside the apartment and the door is shut behind him.

I back up, my lungs raking in quick inhales, my legs tripping over the carpet.

My eyes never leaving him.

Ethan’s prowling toward me in measured steps, a forceful energy rolling off his towering frame.

Strength. Power. Passion.

The inferno burning inside my sensitive poet.

“What. Did. You. Say?”