Reunited with My Lawyer Ex

Chapter 8 Jerk

Ten minutes later, I was in Alexander's car, sitting in the passenger seat in awkward silence.

He started the engine, and I finally worked up the courage to speak, "Where are we going?"

"Dinner. I'm starving."

We ate in silence, picking at our food, neither of us willing to break the tension.

At 6:30, I pushed my plate away, ready to leave. "I need to go home."

"I found a doctor and a private room for your mom. There's a nurse to take care of her meals and meds. If you leave her be, she'll be fully recovered in about a month," he said, wiping his mouth with a napkin, his tone casual like he was talking about the weather.

I wasn't surprised he knew—lawyers at his level had connections everywhere, strings they could pull without breaking a sweat.

He stood up, taking my hand. "Come on. I want you to meet someone."

He drove me to a sleek, upscale bar, pushing open a private room door to reveal a familiar figure.

A woman jumped up and threw her arms around me, nearly knocking me off my feet. "Vivian!"

"Seraphina?" I couldn't believe my eyes.

Seraphina Rhodes had been my college roommate and my best friend—until she'd had to drop out in her sophomore year due to illness and move back home with her parents.

I'd changed my number after moving to Merilica, and we'd lost touch completely.

"Alexander told me you were back—I rushed over as soon as I could!" she said, pulling me to a couch.

I glanced over at Alexander, who was leaning against the wall with a drink in his hand, a faint smirk on his face, as if he was saying, "You're welcome."

The rest of the room was filled with college classmates—some I hadn't seen in years, but all familiar.

I'd spent three years in Merilica alone, no one to lean on, no one who knew the real me, and the feeling of being surrounded by people who cared hit me hard, my eyes stinging with tears.

No one mentioned Alexander and me—we just talked like old friends, catching up on jobs, lives, even kids for some.

Seraphina and I talked for hours, from our freshman year antics to my time in Merilica, and her eyes teared up when I mentioned how lonely it had been, how scared I'd felt at times.

"You must've been so alone over there," she said, squeezing my hand.

I laughed it off, but the alcohol was hitting me—I'd forgotten how little I could drink, how quickly it went to my head.

By the time the party wound down, I was passed out on the couch.

I woke up to the sound of the door opening, Alexander walking in, his shoes quiet on the floor. "Where's Seraphina?" I mumbled, trying to stand, my legs wobbly.

My legs gave out, and I fell into his arms.

He chuckled, steadying me, his hands warm on my waist. "Looking for Seraphina, but you're throwing yourself at me?"

The alcohol clouded my judgment, and I found myself pinching his cheeks, slapping them lightly, my words slurring.

"Jerk! You're such a jerk, Alexander!" I leaned against him for support, my head spinning.

His Adam's apple bobbed, his voice low and rough, like he was holding back something. "Why am I a jerk?"

"You're a player! You can't keep away from other women!" I pushed him, then leaned in again, my fingers fisting his shirt. "And you didn't answer my call! You never answered!"

"What call?"

Tears welled up in my eyes, memories flooding back—dark, terrifying memories. "Two years ago… someone broke into my apartment. I was almost… almost raped."

His eyes widened, his face turning pale, his hands gripping my arms tightly. "What did you say?"

I whispered, my voice shaking, "I called you automatically. But a woman answered. She said you were in the shower…"

Alexander's expression turned grave. "When? What year, month, and day, exactly?"

I trailed off, my gaze drifting to his lips. "You have nice lips, you know."

He rolled his eyes, but there was no anger in his voice, only something soft. "You wanna kiss them?"

I nodded, suddenly shy, the alcohol making me bolder than I ever was sober.

"Can I?"

Before he could answer, I leaned in and kissed him.