His reaction made my head tilt. I put my water ss back down.


    “What’s wrong?” I immediately regretted my question as soon as it was out of my mouth.


    “I’m frustrated with myself,” he admitted and put down his fork and knife. “I shouldn’t have tried to kiss you. I know that it was wrong, but I did it anyway. I’m selfish.”


    My eyes widened. I couldn’t believe that he was being so candid with me. “You’re not selfish, Alexander. I mean, it’s not entirely your fault because I’m sure that…I’ve been giving you mixed signals.” My cheeks heated, “Honestly, you’re a much more decent person than 99% of the male poption.”


    I was hoping that my joking would snap him out of his bad mood, but it didn’t do the trick.


    Alexander shrugged. “I think that the person I’m interested in doesn’t share the same interest in me.” He sighed again. “And I think that’s because they think I’m selfish.”


    I opened my mouth, but I wasn’t sure how to respond. I had no idea who he was talking about. Also, he had used the gender neutral term ‘they‘ so he could even be talking about a guy, and I would never know.


    For the rest of the dinner, we ate in silence. Mostly, I pushed around the food on my te because my stomach was too full of nerves to eat.


    “I should go,” I said after we finished our strange dinner. “A… will be lonely.


    <i>” </i>


    12:11 U


    <b>I </b>didn’t mention the fact that she had nned to order room service with her brother <i>and </i>Richard


    “What about me?” Alexander asked, looking up at me from his eyshes, something that would usually make any girl putty in his hands. “Don’t you think that I’ll get bored without you here<i>? </i>


    I crossed my arms, beyond annoyed by his <b>mind </b>games.


    “Why don’t you get Gai to keep youpany<i>?</i><i>” </i>I snapped.


    Alexander’s lips twitch. “You’re feisty tonight. I like <b>it</b>.”


    We stood from the table and he came to my side. “Why <b>don’t </b>I walk you back to your room?<i>” </i>he suggested and put his warm hand on the small of my back.


    I ignored the way my stomach swooped and stepped away from him. “T m perfectly capable of finding my room all by myself, thank <b>you</b><b>. </b>Goodnight, Alexander.”


    Then, without looking at him, I rushed away from him before he could lure me back using his deep voice and charms.


    But just as I reached for the doorknob, someone knocked on the door. <i>I </i>looked back at Alexander, who strode forward and grabbed my <i>hand</i>.


    He pulled me into the living room where I would be out of sight from the door.


    “Stay quiet,” he whispered to me with a serious expression.


    Cold fear went through me. Who was at his door?


    But then I saw a wicked glint in his eyes. “I bet you that it’s ! the door,” he said. “How much money do you want to wager about


    an at


    whether or not it’s your <b>ex</b>–husband?”


    *Olivia<b>* </b>


    I hesitated. Not sure how best to respond. Was it smart to make a <b>silly </b>bet when it came to my ex–husband? Would it appear rude even though there wasn’t anyone around to judge me?


    But then I remembered how many times he had wronged me, and my doubts went out the window. Ethan didn’t deserve my kindness.


    Alexander seemed to sense that I was all for his game because he leaned toward me with an excited grin. “If you win the bet, I’ll tell you where Kelly’s grandma actually is.”


    I sucked in a sharp breath, our silly betpletely forgotten. “You mean that old woman that Kelly introduced us to who served us milk and cookies wasn’t her real grandma?”


    Alexander merely shrugged, and his smile widened.


    A swoop of surprise went through me. I guessed I shouldn’t be so shocked because Kelly had turned out to be a disturbed young woman just like Chloe and Kelly ended up turning against us, even attempting to drug us. But I hadn’t expected her to lie to us about something so personal.