London Has Your Eyes

Chapter 68. Daniel

As soon as we leave the club, Alex unleashes her fury on me.

- What the fuck happened back there, Daniel? - She screams.

- Nothing happened there, don't be so dramatic, - I reply, a little nervously.

- Yeah, she practically climbed on top of you. I saw her from the other end of the club stroking you and bending over. If I hadn't come over, she would have had time to suck on you, right? - Alex adds volume with each word.

- You're delusional, - I cut off. - We were just talking. You're jealous, Alex.

- I'm jealous? I'M JEALOUS?! No, I'm not jealous! It just pisses me off that your ex-girlfriend rubs up against you and you let her!

She abruptly quiets down, turns away and takes a deep breath. When she turns her head towards me, tears are streaming down her cheeks.

- Do you still have feelings for her? Don't lie to me. Say it straight to my eyes. Do you still have feelings for her?

- I... I... - I don't know what to say. I mean, I know what she wants to hear. But I don't want to lie to her. Alex sees that I'm hesitating. She comes up to me.

- Daniel, deal with it. Close your past. Figure out for yourself what you need. Until you deal with it, we can't move on.

A taxi pulls up. When we get in the car, Alex turns away to the window and doesn't say another word to me. I try to take her hand, but she pushes it up. Shit. The image of Kaitlin is in my mind's eye, and all the memories associated with her caravan through my head. They come rushing out of my mind in the smallest detail. I've literally never felt so lousy before.

We get out of the taxi. Alex heads for the lift, but halfway through, she abruptly turns around and reaches between us and says:

- Deal with it!

The lift doors open and she and the other guests enter the cabin. We stare at each other in silence as the doors slowly close.

I go into the lobby, order myself a whisky and sit down in a dark corner. As I pull out my phone, I fumble for the piece of paper Kaitlin gave me. I unfold it. The room number is 317. She's staying at our hotel. Is there such a thing as a coincidence? Well, on the other hand, how could she know where we're going?

I have to talk to her. We have so many unresolved issues. And most importantly, it pisses me off that her appearance causes me strange uncontrolled emotions. And it all threatens my relationship with Alex.

I type Alex's message "I'm sorry" and she reads it but doesn't reply. Then I open a chat with another number and text, "What time?"

Kaitlin replies almost immediately, "I'll be in the room in 20 minutes, don't be late."

How could things get so complicated in an instant? And Alex had offered to stay in bed and not go anywhere, I should have said yes. Why was I so hooked on meeting Kaitlin? Yes, her leaving and her betrayal had been too painful, but time had passed. There had been all sorts of women after her, and I'd forgotten her.

"Alex, don't leave me," I write. "Remember that I love you. I need you." She reads again and doesn't reply. Whatever. The important thing is that she sees my words. I finish my glass and ask for another. It's a meeting like this that needs to be prepared for. The alcohol was supposed to make me feel brave and calm, but hell no.

And so I find myself at the door of Kaitlin's room. I put my hand to the door, but I still hesitate to knock. Max's room is on this floor, and I have no idea if he's even in the hotel or where. It'll be weird if he sees me now. I knock.