Having Mr Alcott

EIGHT

Lizzie’s POV

Relief washed over me in an instant, and I let out a breath I didn’t realize I was holding.

"Thank you," I murmured, meeting his gaze.

Reed nodded.

"You must be worried sick."

"I was," I admitted, my fingers nervously tracing the edge of the plate.

"But I feel a bit better now."

He pulled out a stool opposite me and sat down.

"He’s a tough guy. He'll get through this," he said like he knew it.

I picked up my fork, trying to focus on the food.

"I hope so," I said, eyes down on my plate.

As I took a bite, the eggs were perfect, but I barely tasted them.

Reed hadn’t brought up the very topic I hoped he’d address.

Not that I wanted him to talk about it but if he did, maybe I’d find a little consolation that I wasn’t the only one replaying what happened between us last night.

Reed watched me, but he didn’t say a word. The words were at the tip of my tongue, but he spoke first.

“Izzie, about last night...” he began, with a sharp intake of breath.

Finally.

“I’m sorry. You’re so young, and I shouldn’t have taken advantage of you like that. We had something to drink, and I lost control of my desires. I didn’t realize I was crossing a boundary. I should have known better.” He let out a bitter laugh, and I gaped at him, stunned.

Did he think he took advantage of me?

“Doing something John would certainly kill me for. f**k,” he muttered, running a hand through his hair. “Taking advantage of his little girl.”

I frowned at those words. I wasn’t so little anymore, and he should know that.

“I wanted it, Reed,” I said firmly, cutting through his self-reproach.

“You have no idea what you’re saying, Bits. I’m too old for you. Last night was wrong; it shouldn’t have happened.”

“Taking advantage of you is wrong on my part. You’re my responsibility.”

My heart sank at his words. I knew what responsibility meant: carrying a burden despite not wanting it.

Reed didn’t want me the way I wanted him. I was just a responsibility to him.

“Bits, it will never happen again. It was a...” He hesitated.

“A mistake?” I spat.

“C’mon, say it, Reed.” My eyes bored into his, shooting daggers.

How I could hate and want this man at the same time escapes me.

He stayed silent, the thick line of his jaw working.

I smiled at him, as sweetly as possible.

“You know what? I can’t understand why you’d decide to talk about this.”

“Nothing happened between us,” I deadpanned, sliding off my stool.

“And I’ll certainly let your girlfriend know.”

I didn’t wait for his final words before escaping to my room. I had a flight to catch soon anyway.

Reaching for my phone on the side of the bed, I dialed Evie’s number, stat.

She answered on the third ring.

"Hey, Eves," I said.

"Liz, what’s going on? You sound off," she replied.

"I need you to do me a favor," I blurted out without thinking of an appropriate way to ask her.

"Can you ask Drey to come pick me up and take me home? I’ll text you the address."

"Whoa, slow down. What happened?" she asked.

"I just... I need to get out of here."

"Why do you want to leave all of a sudden?"

"I’ll explain later," I said, my frustration finally creeping into my voice.

"Can you just get Drey to come get me, please?"

"Okay, okay, calm down," she said.

"I’ll tell Drey to head over. But seriously, what happened?"

"It’s a mess, Eves," I said, rubbing my forehead.

"Reed and I... we had a moment, and now he’s all 'I took advantage of you' and 'it was a mistake.' I can’t stay here."

"Oh my God," Evie said, her voice dropping to a whisper.

"He said that?"

"Yes," I snapped, then immediately regretted it.

"Sorry, I just... I need to get out of here before I lose it."

"I get it," she said.

"I’ll get Drey to pick you up. Text me the address, and hang in there, okay?"

"Thanks, Eves," I said."I owe you one."

"You owe me a detailed story later," she teased.

"Text me the address now, and we’ll get you out of there."

"Will do," I said.

"Talk soon."

I ended the call and quickly sent Evie the address. The sooner I got out of here, the better.

In the span of thirty minutes, I had managed to book the next available flight to Michigan. Drey’s text popped up on my screen, informing me that he was parked outside Reed’s gate.

Still clad in my pajamas, I left the bedroom, making a beeline for the hallway. As I passed through the living room, Reed’s gruff voice cut me halfway through.

“Where are you rushing off to?”

I sighed, rolling my eyes, my back still facing him.

“I’m leaving.”

“What?” Reed sounded bewildered.

“Leaving? Just like that?”

I turned around to face him, my expression blankly feigned.

“Yes, just like that. Wouldn’t want to mess things up for you.”

“Fuck.” He pinched the bridge of his nose.

“Bits, what the f**k are you saying?” His voice was strained and I wanted nothing more than to kiss him.

I ignored him, heading for the door.

“You f*****g stay here, Lizzie!” he growled out, which only made me laugh internally.

I was hitting off his edge.

Reed knew me well enough.

I was stubborn, and there was no way I was backing down now, not from him, not from anyone. I had to leave his goddamn lavish house.

“You f*****g watch me,” I spat, throwing my words over my shoulder as I walked through the door, the cold morning air hitting me like a slap in the thin fabric I called pajamas.

Drey’s car was right where he said, just outside the gate. I hurried towards it, not daring to look back, fearing that if I did, I might run back to him.

I always did, I would tell myself I hated Reed but that was barely the truth.

“Hey, you okay?” Drey asked as I slid into the passenger seat.

“Just drive,” I said, my voice barely holding steady. “Get me out of here.”

He nodded obediently, and the car roared to life.

As we drove away, I stole one last glance at Reed’s house.

Fuck Reed.