“Daddy, I love you so much.”

“Darlin’, I love you, and I’m so damn thankful you’re my daughter. Come on, let’s get home. You leave tomorrow, and I know your mother wants to spend some time with you.”

We made our way back to the house as we talked about everything and anything.

“Daddy, what should I do about Will?”

“Alex, I suggest you go to A&M and talk to Will face-to-face. I also think you should take your car to school with you, so you don’t feel stuck in Austin.”

I loved Will, and I would do whatever I needed to prove that to him.

Two weeks had passed since Thanksgiving break, and we were getting closer to winter break. I’d finally broken down and called my parents the Monday after Thanksgiving. I’d never heard my mother so angry before in my life. She hadn’t even cared that I had gone to Oklahoma to help rebuild houses. After both my father and mother had lit into me, they had told me to call Lex.

I wasn’t ready to talk to Lex yet. She had been calling and texting me at least ten times a day. When I’d sent her a text back, saying I needed time to think, she had begged me to take her call. I just couldn’t get what she’d said out of my head. If she was confused about us, then she also needed to take the time to figure things out.

“I talked to Grace earlier,” Luke said.

“Oh, yeah? How’s she doing?” I asked as I continued to act like I was studying.

“She’s good. She said Alex is a mess. She told that Blake guy to take a hike when he kept coming by. Grace said Blake seemed to be stalking Alex, but she thinks he got the hint when Alex told him that she loved you and only you.”

I glanced up and looked at Luke. “Is that so? She should have told him that before.”

Luke let out a sigh. “Listen, I agree with you on that one. At the same time, Will, I can’t say I blame Alex for being confused. I think she was mixing up her emotions of missing you and wanting you, and she was using this guy as a type of replacement.”

I shut my book. “Really? So, in other words, when I get horny, I should just go find a study buddy, dance all close to her, and spend my free time with her. Don’t fuck her, but just lead her on. Do I have that right?”

“Um…well, shit, when you say it like that, dude…”

I stood up. “If she was so fucking lonely and horny, she shouldn’t have run to some guy. It should have been me she wanted and waited for.”

“Jesus, Will, she didn’t cheat on you.”

“No, but she thought about it, Luke.”

“You don’t know that.”

I slammed my hand down on the table. “I heard her! I heard her tell that fucker that she had feelings for him. I. Heard. Her.” I turned and grabbed my wallet and phone.

“Will, wait. Where are you going?”

“Out. I need to forget about Alex for a while.”

I opened the door and slammed it behind me. I made my way out of our building. I had no idea where I was going. All I knew was I wanted to get as far away from anything or anyone who reminded me of Lex.

I found myself wandering around before I heard Joe calling my name. I turned to see him running up.

“Hayes! Why in the hell are you walking around outside? It’s freezing!”

“Trying to clear my head.”

He grinned and nodded his head. “You need a drink, my boy.”

“Hell yes.”

“Come on, I’m heading to my friend’s house. Let’s knock a few back, shall we?”

I spent the next three hours downing beer after beer as some girl named Lucy flirted with me. I had zero interest in her even though she was hot as hell, but she couldn’t hold a candle to Lex.

No one will ever compare to Lex.

When Lucy moved and made her way next to me, I knew it was time for me to head back to my room. When I stood up, I could feel the effects of the alcohol. I wasn’t drunk, but I was feeling good.

Lucy stood up and grabbed my arm. “You interested in heading back to my apartment?”

I looked her up and down. Nothing. As much as I wanted to have sex, I didn’t want to have sex with Lucy.

I shook my head. “Sorry, not interested.”

She sat back down and pouted.

I walked around and thanked everyone for letting me join in on the fun. I’d found out that most of these people would go on mission trips with Joe and Callie. I would be spending more time with them soon. I hadn’t told Joe or Callie that I was planning on spending my winter break with them in Oklahoma.