“And so what if it is? Why can’t I be sexy? Why can’t I wear what I want? Sing what I want?” I don’t know where I found the energy to argue with Jake. Every muscle in my body was sore and I wasn’t sure my clit wasn’t still vibrating. “Hang out with bad boys if I want?” I was definitely pushing it now.
Luke was everything I thought he would be and more. Last night was still seeping through my body, lingering on my clothes, painted on my swollen lips.
“You, sexy? Come on. That was never the plan. You are the sweetheart. The good girl. The role model every parent wants for their child.”
“I wasn’t when you met me.” I eyed him. “I never asked to be a role model.”
He raised his hand. “Shut up, Lex.”
“Yesterday you threw it in my face, but now we can’t talk about it?”
He closed his eyes. “I shouldn’t have said anything.”
I took my glass of juice with me and walked into the bathroom. “I’m going to shower. I’ll be ready to go to the hospital soon.”
“We’re not done with this conversation,” he warned.
“We are.” I closed the door in his face and turned for the shower.
At some point Jake would corner me again. There would be a time when we’d have to come to an understanding about the future of Lexi Wilde.
But that time wasn’t today. I had drinks planned with Luke later, and that was about all I could think about right now. I needed one more look in those green eyes before I left Texas. It was stupid and irresponsible. It was exactly the kind of thing Jake said was forbidden for my brand. But after last night, I didn’t care about my brand. Maybe Lexi Wilde needed a new brand.
***
I closed the door to room 214 behind me. I had played the little girl’s favorite song, “Hearts and Tears.” Some of the children were here for short-term treatment, but others, like the one I had just visited would be spending months under this roof.
I clung to my guitar and moved to the next room. I knocked lightly and pushed the door open.
“Hey, there.”
“Oh my, gosh,” the little girl squealed. “Is this for real? Are you really here?”
I walked over to her bed, careful not to touch any of the wires or tubes running into her arm.
“I’m Lexi. What’s your name?” I leaned in for a hug.
“Grace.” She was maybe eight.
“Well, Grace. I wanted to play a song for you. How does that sound?”
The giggling started and I didn’t know if she could stop long enough for me to get a song request from her.
“Can you play ‘Hearts and Tears’?” she asked.
“Of course.” I smiled. It was the fourth time I had played it this morning, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t the one sitting in a hospital bed. I was healthy and strong, living my dream.
By the time I played a few songs for Grace, Jake was tapping on the glass window, motioning for me to wrap it up. I gave her a hug and waved good-bye.
“What is it?” I asked. “I was in the middle of talking to that little girl.” I was annoyed that even when I was doing what he wanted, it wasn’t enough. Jake pushed. He pushed too much.
He turned toward the nurses’ station and I saw what he was worried about.
My heart stopped. My breath caught in my throat. For a second, I didn’t think I could talk. I clutched my strings, making an awkward squeaking sound with my guitar.
“Shit,” I muttered.
The six five sex-on-a-stick that had licked me until I came last night was walking my way.