Once the circus cleared out, I grabbed my groceries and headed to the house across from the old Hamilton house.
Inside, Joshua Judd was deep in a conference call.
The second he saw me, he muted the call and smiled, taking the grocery basket out of my hands.
“I told you to wait so we could go together. Aren’t you tired?”
I shook my head and trailed him into the kitchen. “I grabbed groceries and snagged some footage for my videos. You cook, I buy—seems fair.”
Joshua suddenly stopped short, and I bumped straight into his back.
He turned, bent down a little, and gave my nose a quick pinch. “You little troublemaker. Since when do you make the meals around here? I heard some noise outside—what happened?”
I pursed my lips, thinking back. “Lex showed up. Said he came to take me back, but I let him have it.”
Joshua’s frown was instant. “Still as thoughtless as ever. Not a bad idea, though—that kid needs a reminder of where he stands.”
I raised a brow. That’s all he had to say?
Joshua just grinned. Before I could react, he scooped me up into his arms and carried me straight toward the bedroom.
“I know all about your past with him,” he said, voice low. “Maybe I’m a little jealous. But what matters is that you’re here with me now.”
Then his lips were on mine—warm, steady, and absolutely consuming. I didn’t even stand a chance.
***
I saw Lex again a month later at Gigi Gomez’s engagement party.
She was my best friend and had driven all the way to the countryside to invite me, practically begging. How could I say no?
Seeing Lex and Ivana there didn’t exactly shock me.
The second Gigi spotted them, she pulled me behind her like a hen shielding her chick and flagged down Waylon Arnold—her fiancé and, unfortunately, one of Lex’s friends—to deal with it.
Meanwhile, Gigi dragged me to a quiet corner.
“Addie, I’m so sorry. I totally spaced on the fact they might show up.”
I smiled, shaking my head. After years tangled up with the Hamiltons, it wasn’t a shock we still moved in the same circles.
“It’s fine. I stopped caring a long time ago,” I said, keeping my tone easy. “Besides, I’m married now.”
Gigi’s jaw dropped. “You’re what? Married? How did I not know this?!”
“Six months ago.”
She stared for a beat, then cracked up, laughing so loud heads turned. “I knew it! A girl like you wouldn’t waste her life on someone like Lex. This is exactly how it should be. We don’t need guys like him.”
But as she laughed, her eyes turned red. I knew she was happy for me.
Back when Ivana first showed up, Gigi had tried to knock some sense into me, but I wouldn’t hear it. I was dead set on running full speed into that train wreck, no matter how bad it hurt.
Now, I’d finally let go.
