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affirmative, he said, “Yes, we’ll be here.   Go be hostess, mother.”
    She touched his arm before turning to her husband, “Come on, dear, let’s go greet the Hutchinsons.”   And with that, they both retreated from their small group.
    But not before his father gave some parting words.   “Alexander, make sure to say hello to Julia.”   And then he showed them his back.
    Recognizing the name of Alex’s ex-girlfriend, Olivia tensed and quickly looked up at Alex to gauge his reaction.   His lips were pressed tightly together as he watched his father retreating and his jaw was so strained that a muscle began to tic.
    He returned her stare a moment later and brought his hand to rest on her lower back.   Leaning down, he whispered, “I’m sorry, darling, I didn’t know she’d be here.”   Olivia realized that he was trying to comfort her .   He must think that she felt threatened by the ex’s presence, and while that may be true, she was more worried about how he would react.
    Behind them, Beth said loudly, “Well, that was awkward.”
    * * * * *
    That fucking asshole , Alex fumed silently, trying to fight the rage swimming in his veins.
    He had to calm down.
    Olivia felt uncomfortable.   He could see it plainly on her face and that was the last thing he wanted her to feel.   Yet, he couldn’t blame her.
    And Julia.   Fucking perfect.   Just what he needed.   His cheating, vindictive ex and the woman he was realizing he loved together at the same party.
    And Luke , his mind reminded.   Luke would be here any moment.   God only knew what he would do when he saw Julia.
    Feeling a massive headache come on, Alex was suddenly reminded why he never attended family functions anymore.   Seeing his mother was the highlight of his evening, but he wished they could leave now.   Immediately.   The only thing preventing him from taking Olivia and never looking back was supporting Beth and Derrick.
    But he needed a break.   Already .
    He turned back to his aunt, uncle, Beth, and Derrick.   “I’m going to give Olivia a tour.   We’ll be back before dinner starts.”   He had just enough time to register the sad expression on his aunt’s face before he turned from them, tugging on Olivia’s hand so that she fell in step next to him.
    He made a determined path to the back doors of his parents’ house, stopping only to nod and attempt to smile at people who clearly recognized him and called out their greeting.   But his only objective was to get them to his room, so he could climb out his window and try to gain back some semblance of control.   In some ways, he was no different than who he was as a child, or a teenager.
    Alex burst inside the back doors, which led into the dining room.   Past that was the kitchen and out the side door was the entrance to the foyer, where guests were continually wowed by the impressive marble staircase and the low hanging chandelier that his father had inherited from a late aunt.   Alex had always hated it.
    His heart was racing.   He tugged on Olivia’s hand more firmly as they went up the staircase to the second level.   Expensive art and a ridiculous black and white family portrait of the three of them lined the walls of one side of the landing.
    But he pushed on, not giving Olivia time to process any of it.
    “Alex,” Olivia said softly.
    He ignored her.   They were almost there.   Just one more hallway and three doors down.
    She tried again, “Alex, slow down.”   He didn’t.   His head gave a painful throb and his brow furrowed.   “Alex, stop.”
    Two doors.   A few more steps…
    Alex grappled with the doorknob of what was once his room.   He pushed it open and then flung it closed once they were both inside.   Silence.   He pinched the space between his brows, squeezing his eyes tightly together, trying to make the pain disappear.
    He finally braved a look at Olivia.   She was both pissed off and concerned.   “Alex, that was rude