Weekend Prep (Alexis PoV)

“I don’t think you should go,” I said as I watched Natalie fold another piece of clothing and put it in the suitcase. “You’ve been on edge all week.”

She stopped shifting things around to look at me. “That’s exactly why I need to go.”

“But—”

“I’m horny, all the time,” she snapped. There was no mistaking the accusation in her voice. Seeing me wince, she sighed and softened her voice. “Sorry. This is why I need this. It’s just going to be me and Tommy… And four boxes of condoms,” she said, patting a portion of her suitcase I couldn’t see.

“You really think you’ll use that many?” I asked, trying to **** some humor I didn’t feel.

“Better to have too many than not enough.”

“I have a feeling the poor bastard has no idea what he’s in for.”

She sighed. “No. No he doesn’t.”

I didn’t say anything, leaning against the door frame as she continued to pack. One arm crossed over my chest, I looked down. “Why don’t you blame me? I know you do. Just say it.” I asked softly. “You have every right to be angry. I did this to you. After all you’ve done for me—”

I saw her feet enter my vision and looked up. She had a sideways grin on her face and for a moment it was like looking in a mirror—if my reflection was a few years older, dyed her hair, and wasn’t a complete fuck-up. Spreading her arms, she gestured for me to enter them. I stepped forward and she wrapped her arms around me. I felt her kiss the top of my head as she squeezed.

“I get mad at you for a lot of things, but not this. This wasn’t your fault.”

“That doesn’t mean—”

“Don’t mistake my frustration at the situation as anger at you. If there is one silver lining, I think I understand you a lot better now.” She released me. “I honestly have no idea how a human being can be so damn horny.”

“It’s not so bad. A dozen or so good sex friends and fuck buddies on rotation can keep the cravings down. Or one great boyfriend,” I added after seeing her nose wrinkle in disgust. “Are you going to tell him?”

Stepping away, she went back to packing. “I don’t know.”

“Maybe you should.”

“Hopefully, this will go away—”

“And if it doesn’t?” Natalie was quiet. I didn’t like how she wasn’t answering. “That’s why you need to talk to him.”

A humorless laugh followed. “I wish it was that easy. What am I supposed to tell him? I had a Gift accident with my sister and I’m now a nympho? Again. I’m sure that will go over well.”

My voice was soft as I rubbed at my arm. “Well… he knows about the other stuff, right? He was cool with that.”

“He was ‘cool’ with that because it was in my past. And it almost wasn’t okay.”

“He was going to break up with you because you had some fun when you were younger?”

“I didn’t just ‘have some fun.’”

“And he would have never known if you hadn’t told him.”

“I told him because I care about him. I love him, Alexis. I love him and I wanted him to know the truth about me. To understand who I am and why I am the way I am. You’ll understand once you find someone.”

I snorted, rolling my eyes. “Sorry to disappoint, but that isn’t going to happen.”

“You say that now, but are you forgetting you have a piece of me in there as well?”

My thoughts immediately went to Darius and his roommates and what I turned down. What I felt when watching Jake and Chloe.

Still can’t believe I creeped on them like that. Maybe a part of me thought seeing him with her would drive it home that there was no chance. Should have known better. All I got was horny and relight the flame I was carrying. Try as I might to deny it, my desire for Jake was stronger than it ever had been. He just… got me. No judgment at all. Being around him relaxed me.

Then there was Chloe. That was something else. Like finding a kindred spirit. She understood me too, but in another way. It felt like what Victoria and I had, yet not the same at all.

So confusing.

“I’m worried about you.”

A light chuckle brought my eyes to Natalie. She was standing with her hands on her hips. “Worrying is my job around here, thank you very much. No way am I going to have you take that from me too!” Head held high, she was grinning at me. “You don’t have anything to worry about. I can take care of myself.”

I smiled even though I didn’t feel it. She was putting on a brave face for me. I knew she was. There was no way she wasn’t scared about what was happening to us. I needed to show her that I could be relied on too. I wasn’t the helpless girl I used to be. I had grown up… somewhat. Enough that she could lean on me too when she needed to. Yeah, I hadn’t done anything to show that, but I was trying now wasn’t I? My past actions were really biting me in the ass here. Not just when it came to Natalie, but Jake as well.

Natalie finished packing and closed the suitcase. I watched as she carried it to the door. Setting it down, she turned and gave me a hug.

“Thanks for worrying about me.”

“Mm,” I said, hugging her tightly.

After a few seconds, she released me and held me at arm’s length. “I’ll be back sometime Sunday evening.” She gave me a big smile. “Please don’t host an orgy while I’m away.”

“No promises.”

She flicked my forehead. “Limit it to two guys please!” She hesitated after grabbing her suitcase as she realized her mistake. “Actually, limit it to two people.”

“Party pooper.”

Her finger pointed at me as she got a serious look on her face. “And stay off my bed. Do all that nasty stuff on your own.”

I stuck my tongue out at her. Laughing, she left and my fake smile vanished. Looking around, I suddenly found myself alone in a way I’d never experienced before. Normally, I would be on the phone inviting people over, but today…

Taking a deep breath, I nodded to myself. “Today, I’ll crash with Jake. See a movie—”

A soft thump interrupted my thoughts. My chest was heavy as I realized Chloe was probably over. Natalie was gone. Jake and Chloe were enjoying themselves.

I was alone. Really alone.

Taking my phone out, I called up the only person that could help me here.

“Hey, slut!” Hearing Victoria was exactly what I needed. Already it felt like I was me again.

“Takes one to know one,” I said with a grin. “Say, what are you up to right now?”

“At Ezra’s.”

“Alone?”

“Always room for one more…”

I glanced into the bedroom it was oddly silent now. Usually I could hear the two by now. Had they finished or…? I pushed the thought aside. It didn’t matter what they were doing. There was no room there for someone like me.

“Give me five and I’ll head over.”