London Bound: New Adult Romance (Chase Brothers)

by Malone, Nana

  Lex breathed a sigh of relief. He hadn’t been able to reach her, which was to be expected, but he was worried that she wasn’t okay. And when he’d seen the paparazzi camped on her lawn, he’d really worried. “Okay good. At least she’s not all alone in her flat with the vultures circling.”

  “Would there be any vultures, if it weren’t for you?” Jasper grumbled.

  “No, I’ll admit, I cocked this whole thing up. But there were some extenuating circumstances I couldn’t avoid.”

  “Oh, you mean like already having a fiancée?” Jasper made to stand again, but Nick shoved him back into his seat.

  “Easy, both of you. Jas has a point though. What about Gem? Have you seen her, talked to her?”

  Gemma was staying out of sight at Jacinda’s. She’d stayed with him a couple of nights, but then the press had gotten so ridiculous, she’d needed to escape. “I talked to her this morning. She’s fine.”

  Nick frowned. “What do you mean fine?”

  “I mean fine.” What the hell could he tell the three of them? That Gemma had seen it coming, that she’d apologized to him profusely again because she suspected Jacinda had gotten pissed enough about Gemma’s closeted status to call the press and force her hand? That his relationship with Gem had been a sham? He was sick of this shit. But he couldn’t really tell them with Angel here. “Look, Gemma and I have some logistics to work out, but we haven’t been really intimate for a long time.”

  “I know, that’s what you said before. But why stay with her?” Nick asked, his brows furrowing.

  Lex swiped his hair off his forehead. Habit sounded too callous. But it was the truth. Gemma probably hadn’t needed him to shield her for nearly so long, but he’d done it because he had no one in his life that he wanted to be single for. “It’s complicated.”

  Nick shook his head. “You lot are a pair. When I talked to her this morning, she seemed more concerned about you and how you were handling things with the press than she did about your relationship.”

  Lex nodded. “See, there you go, she’s fine.” He turned his attention to Angel, Max, and Jasper. “Now come on, do me a solid. I need to speak with Abbie, if I can.”

  Max merely shook his head while Jasper muttered, “Fuck no. I look like a better option if you remain a fuck up. To the victor go the spoils and all that.”

  Max slid a narrowed glance at his flat mate. “Jas, for once, give it a rest. He’s clearly already shattered.” Max turned his attention back to Lex. “Look, no can do. Sophie will kill me, and honestly Abbie looks like she needs a break. Maybe when she’s more settled.”

  Lex scrubbed his face with his hands. How the hell was he going to fix this, if he couldn’t even talk to her?

  Chapter 31

  “Lex, I’m so sorry. I didn’t intend for this to happen.”

  Lex shifted uncomfortably on the park bench. When Gemma had told him to meet her in Hyde Park, he’d been a little dubious, considering Jacinda and her penchant for calling paparazzi. “Gem, I know it’s not your fault. You wouldn’t have ever done something like this. You’re not responsible for her actions.”

  “But you got hurt because I couldn’t be an adult and accept some things about who I am, so I feel terrible.”

  He shook his head. “Still not your fault. She retaliated and that was uncalled for. Especially the way she did it.” He shoved his hands into his pockets to ward off some of the cold. “Look, I’m not telling you who to be with, but you should be with someone who doesn’t try to manipulate you into the outcome they want.”

  She rubbed her nose. “Yeah, I know.”

  “You’re far too smart for that and deserve better.”

  “You know, you’re probably the safest, healthiest relationship I’ve ever had.”

  Laughter bubbled up from his chest. “Then aren’t we a pair, because we are royally fucked up. This whole thing is fucked up.” He shook his head. “I thought I was doing you this favor, but I probably did more damage in the long run. As for me, I was just hiding from a real relationship. I’m as fucked up as Xander is with his string of women.”

  She wrinkled her nose. “You’re nothing like Xander.”

  A cold fist of ice wrapped around his gut. After the hell they’d gone through as kids, neither one of them had ever learned to fully trust anyone. And God knew how fucked up their love lives were. What would she think if she realized he was more like Xander than he could ever admit? Worse, what would Abbie say? “He’s my brother. He’s part of me and vice versa.”

  “I wish you wouldn’t say that. You go through life separate from people and you’re secretive. You act like no one could ever love you, and I just hope you find someone who can, because you deserve it.”

  He swallowed around the lump in his throat. I want Abbie. Yeah, well, no amount of wanting her was going to make her manifest in front of him. His only chance at a real human connection in the last five years, and he’d fucked it up. “Maybe one day.”

  “I still think you should let me talk to her.”

  “No dice, Gemma. It was my fuck up. You don’t have to clean up my mess for me.”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You mean, like you’ve been cleaning up my messes for me? Without you, I might not have survived the last five years, and I’m well aware of it. You’ve been my rock, and you’ve kept me sane and made me feel loved. It’s the least I can do.”

  “And I said no.”

  She pursed her lips and turned to face the lawn. He knew that look, she was stewing. But let her stew. Abbie wanted to be left alone; he wouldn’t have his life intrude on hers. He cleared his throat. “So I guess we should officially do this then.”

  She sniffled. “Yeah, it’s about that time.”

  He took her hand out of habit, like he always did when he wanted to tell her something serious. “Gemma, I love you, but it’s time for us to break up.”

  Chapter 32

  It had been exactly three days, nine hours, and fifty-seven minutes since Abbie’s London life imploded. And now she had to deal with this shit. She scowled at the brunette beauty in the foyer. When Jasper had told her someone had come to see her, she expected Ilani. Not Gemma.

  “If you’re here to shiv me, I think Lex already beat you to the punch.”

  Gemma glanced around. “I’ve never actually been back here before. Max has tons of parties, but I never managed to accompany Lex to one.”

  Abbie stood and raised an eyebrow. “Are we going to talk home and garden, or are you going to tell me what you’re doing out here? I know South London is a bit out of the way from posh Mayfair, or wherever it is you live.”

  Gemma blew out a breath. “I’m not here to bother you, I swear.”

  “Then you’re failing, because I’m bothered. I don’t want to listen to any more apologies from him. I’m done with listening to his voicemails and reading his emails and his personally delivered messages. There’s nothing he can say to make me forget what he did to me, humiliating me like that.”

  Gemma blew out a breath then rocked back on her heels. “I’m actually to blame for it all. This had nothing to do with Lex.”

  “I’m not sure what you’re talking about, but I don’t—I can’t…” She tried again and reined her emotions in. Her heart screamed that she needed to listen to Gemma, but her brain silenced the voice of dissent. “You and him and your screwed up relationship is none of my business. Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to go before more of your paparazzo friends see us talking and decide to splash me on some more magazines.”

  “Look, I wasn’t followed. I just wanted to talk to you for a minute.”

  Abbie crossed her arms. “You’re minute is ticking.”

  “Wow, you’re tough. I can see why he likes you.”

  She didn’t need Alexi’s fiancée patronizing her. “You’ve got forty-five seconds.”

  “I’m a lesbian.”

  Abbie shook her head to make sure she heard correctly. “Excuse me?”

  “I’m a
lesbian.”

  Abbie still wasn’t sure she’d hear correctly. “Wow, I’m not an expert in coming out, but I get the impression this is a very awkward version of it.”

  Gemma chuckled. “It’s the first time I’ve said it out loud since I first told Lex.”

  What the hell was she supposed to say? There was no follow up to that, except, uh okay. “I’m not sure why I need to know this.”

  “It’s important because, back in Uni, Lex agreed to be my sometimes boyfriend to keep my parents off my back. At first, it was just this thing we did when we were out. Next thing, it was like we were really going out, except for all the sex stuff. He has been protecting me for years. Keeping my secret.”

  “This can’t be real.”

  “It’s the truth, Abbie. My parents will disown me when I tell them, and I was terrified of being left without family or a support system, or I would have cut him loose years ago. Truth is, I used him. I knew I was being unfair and did it anyway. I needed him. I didn’t care that he only had these half relationships with women. That he never got close to anyone. I suspect there’s a reason he never wanted a relationship, but he’s never told me.”

  Sucking in shaky breath, Abbie said, “I’m still not sure what I’m supposed to do with this information.”

  “I don’t know, go be with him. However this is supposed to end in the romantic comedy. Girl gets the guy.”

  “Look, Gemma, I appreciate you coming to talk to me, but that doesn’t change anything. He still lied to me.”

  “Only to protect me. He didn’t want to betray my trust.”

  “I know you see it that way, but he still lied. He never had to betray your trust. All he had to say was I have a fiancée. It was that simple. But he never said that. Not once. That’s why I’m still angry. Then he put me in the situation to get caught and have the paparazzo on my ass twenty-four-seven.”

  “I concede that he might have lied, but he had a good reason. I’m really sorry you got caught in the crosshairs.” Gemma turned to leave, but halted and her smile was sad. “He’s my crutch. I secretly hoped one day I could love him the way I should. As if I could grow those feelings like a fungus. I wanted to love him. I just couldn’t.”

  “Apparently controlling the heart isn’t an easy task,” Abbie muttered.

  Chapter 33

  By day seven of the media frenzy, Abbie was ready to climb the walls. She couldn’t stay hidden anymore and she had an assignment to complete. Besides, she also had a meeting with a graphics company who wanted to use some of her photos. So she couldn’t ignore potential income just because of a broken heart…or a hoard of paparazzi on the front steps.

  As Abbie packed her camera bags, Sophie came in with her sad-and-concerned face plastered on. “Abbie, the press is still all over the flat and probably your school. I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to be running around on your own.”

  Abbie rolled her eyes. “Look. I know. I’m fine. I’m going to wear a disguise while I’m out and about. But I’m in need of some serious alone time. You guys have been great and more gracious than I deserve, but honestly, it’s time.”

  She held up the paper boy hat, sunglasses, and orange and red scarf. “Besides working will keep my mind off of things. And I want to do some more research on Xander’s past work. I want to get a better understanding of what he’s looking for from us when he gives us assignments. I don’t plan to ever fail again, so as much as I appreciate the concern, I don’t have time for another ‘Are you really okay’ conversation.”

  Sophie raised her eyebrows. “Fine, but I wasn’t going to ask you if you were okay.”

  Abbie cocked her head. “So then why did you come in here with the creased brow, worried eyes, and chewing on your bottom lip?”

  Sophie laughed. “Okay, a little concerned.”

  “And like I said, I’m fine. Well not exactly fine, but I’ll get there. Working will help.” She dragged on her olive green coat with the high collar. The paps might be up and about, but they’d have a hell of a time getting an easy shot of her.

  Sophie frowned again. “Listen. I didn’t want to say anything in front of Tams, but about Lex, I think you should know—”

  Abbie huffed out a breath. “Know what, that he’s an asshole? Check. That he’s a liar? Check. That I need to stay very far away from him? I promise you that’s the plan.”

  Sophie chewed her lip again, then her features smoothed out. “You’re right. You’re a big girl.” She grabbed the kettle and started prepping tea. “Speaking of big girl, I heard Jasper come in late last night or early this morning rather. Where did he sleep?”

  Abbie’s skin went hot and prickly. “Uh, he slept in his bed. Just slept.”

  Sophie grinned. “Uh huh. You know that poor man has a serious crush on you.”

  Oh, she knew. Especially after last night she knew. “You’re ridiculous. Nothing happened.”

  “If you say so.”

  Abbie laughed and slung her bag over her shoulder. The familiar weight of her equipment soothed her. Maybe, just maybe, the dark gray clouds of the whole week would start to lift.

  She left Camberwell and hopped the bus to the west end. After several hours of pounding the pavement in Covent Garden and hitting up Oxford Street, somehow managing to refrain from buying anything, she hopped on the tube to school. No one seemed to recognize her. There was the occasional odd look in her direction, but given her complete stealth attire, they probably thought she was one of the East Enders actresses or something. Some school boy actually came up to her and asked if she’d been on the telly. Maybe she should opt for the undercover look more often. For all her covert movements, there wasn’t a single pap in sight. Maybe they’d gotten bored by now.

  Once she got to campus, the tension rolled out of her shoulders. Here, nobody would give a shit who she was. Everyone was too busy working or studying to care. She rounded the building for the photography labs and froze.

  “You know, you’re a very hard woman to get a hold of,” Alexi said as he pushed himself up from the stairs of the lab.

  Abbie tamped down the joy that bubbled in her chest at the sight of him. Instead, she nurtured cold fury. “I don’t have time to talk to you right now, Alexi.”

  “Abbie, please. Look, I know I fucked up, but please hear me out.”

  She whirled on him. “Just what exactly am I supposed to hear out? The part about how you completely lied about who you were? Or how about the part where you had a freaking fiancée? Or maybe the part about when you said you cared about me and kept lying to me?”

  A few students milled about and darted glances in their direction, so she snapped her jaw shut. Picking up her pace, she nearly ran for the printing lab.

  He followed on her heels. “Look, it wasn’t like that. I really fell for you.”

  “Oh, really? Then when the hell were you going to tell me who you were?”

  His lips flattened. “Abbie, I was going to tell you. I just liked the idea of you not knowing who I was. I liked being normal with you.”

  “Okay, then, how about this question. Just when were you planning on actually breaking up with Gemma?”

  Again silence.

  “It’s complicated, Abbie.”

  “I’m not sure what you’re here to discuss, Lex,” Abbie said as she unlocked the door to the photo lab and the familiar smell of chemicals assailed her. She froze when she dropped her bag on the light table. It was difficult not to remember their first time in here, clawing at each other. Unable to keep their hands off one another.

  “I should have told you.” His voice was soft, pained, and a little hoarse. “I opened my mouth a dozen times to tell you. But when I met you, you didn’t seem to have any idea who I was, and I liked that. To you, I was just some bloke you met in the street. I really wanted you to like me for me.”

  She whirled on him. “I did like you. But that’s because I thought I was dealing with a real person. You’re not real. You’re this shinier version of
the guy I was starting to fall for.”

  He winced, but that didn’t stop her. All the anger and frustration and sadness from the last week bubbled up to the surface. “I don’t know anything about you. Though I suppose if I want to learn, I could just look it up on the Internet.”

  “Abbie, I’m so sorry. I never intended for anything like this to happen.” He shoved his hands into his pockets.

  “I’m a private person, Lex. I don’t need people poking around in my life. Do you know that the paparazzi were camped on my doorstep, waiting to ambush me? If it hadn’t been for Tamsin and Sophie, I’d still be a prisoner in my house.”

  “I didn’t know I had paparazzi on my tail until you pulled back from that kiss, then I saw him in the shadows and I saw the flash of his camera.”

  Her whole body deflated, and her shoulders sagged. “That’s why you got us out of there?”

  He shoved his hand through his hair. “Yes. I didn’t want all that shit following us around. From the moment I rescued you from that car, I felt completely connected to you. I couldn’t believe my luck when you walked into my party. Then you started to talk to me. You were smart, and funny, and you had no idea who I was. You just thought I was me. I didn’t want who I was to break us. I have never been happier than that weekend we spent at your place. And the week after.”

  Abbie straightened her back, even though she could feel her heart melting. “That still doesn’t account for the fact that I know nothing about you. But you know everything about me. You know what I’m afraid of? You know why I ran away from home, and you know what my dreams are. You won’t, or can’t, tell me any of those things about yourself.”

  “I want to, Abbie, I want to. It’s just complicated. I can’t tell you everything.”

  Even as her heart warmed, the tiny fissures started to tear again. He still wasn’t going to come clean. “Then we don’t have anything to talk about.”