So?" I ask as soon as we sit on her sofa, a glass of red wine in our hands.

She looks down, shaking her head. "I met a guy at work... Blake." She bites her lips. "He is not based here. He was here for just a couple of months. He is cute, flirts a lot... You know, I thought we could go out while he was here, have some fun. I've been so lonely lately that I thought it would be okay to go on a date or two, have dinner..." She shakes her head again as if trying to clear her thoughts.

"There is nothing wrong with that," I say.

"That is what I thought too, but..."

"But?" I prompt.

"We went out three times before to have dinner, and one night he invited me to his place. He said-" Her eyes water and she takes a fortifying breath before going on. "He was always so nice, so fun to be around... but then... Then he just... He tried to force me to... You know..."

"He forced you to what?" I ask, my heart racing.

"We were kissing, making out on his couch, actually. But, I was not ready to have sex yet, so when I said no, he grabbed my hands really hard and... And said I was a tease and that I wouldn't go to his place if I didn't want it."

"What the fuck, Lisa?" I stand up, ready to kill this guy.

"I tried to fight him, but he slapped my face so hard I..." She cries softly.

"Oh my God, Lisa! Did he...?"

"No, he didn't rape me," she whispers, "but I was lucky, you know? I don't know how I did it, but I kicked him in the nuts. It was all so fast... One moment he is trying to... and the other he is rolling off me and I'm running away."

"Jesus." I sit down, pulling her into a tight hug, both of us crying now.

"You should've called me. I'd be here sooner-" I start, but she interrupts me.

"I was embarrassed," she whispers. "You know I have no problem to keep things casual and that sex is just sex for me, but something was off and I just didn't feel like sleeping with him.

"What?! You have no reason to be embarrassed. What the hell, Lisa? We have the right to say no any time we want. Nobody can take away our choices, no matter what. You know that, hun. Please tell me you know that."

"I know. God, I know!" She gives a humorless chuckle. "But, it's just so hard... I feel so dirty."

"I'm here to help you feel better however you need me." I give her a small smile, my heart breaking for her.

"Thanks. I didn't know how much I needed you until now." She smiles through her tears.

"So, where does Greg enter in this story?" I bite my lips nervously.

"When I left Blake's I hailed a cab. I had left my bag at his place and I had no money or my phone with me. I asked the driver if I could borrow his phone, that it was an emergency. I think he saw it on my face that I wasn't okay. Anyway, I ended up calling Greg, and he drove here, paid the guy, and..."

"And?"

"He's been trying to talk to me since then, and last night he stopped by." She looks at me straight in the eyes.

"Okay."

"Nothing happened. We talked a little, and I gave him a vague version of the story which he obviously didn't buy since he called you, and, well, here we are."

"You were cozily sleeping together when I arrived. "

"I know... He is still in love with you," S
she whispers the last sentence and I'm taken aback.

"And what if he weren't?" I ask.

"We're friends, Alexia!" She shakes her head "Not even real friends. He was your boyfriend forever, and we always got along, but that's it. I don't know why he was the first person who came to my mind that night, but he was. He helped me when I needed. That's it." She stands up and heads to the kitchen to refill her glass.

"Alright, but why were you two cuddling when I arrived?" I ask. She is facing the counter, but I can see when her body goes stiff.

"You have nothing to worry about." She turns her body and looks at me.

I try to read the emotion in her eyes but she rushes back to the couch, turning on the TV. "I know, but you have to agree with me it was weird seeing both of you like that," I say and for a moment I'm sure now I see her flinch.

"Of course! He-" She sighs tiredly. "He is a good guy, Alexia, simple like that. He messed up with you, but at the end of the day, he is still a good guy. He saw I was still shaken up, and he comforted me, there's nothing more to it. I was crying, he said I should go to bed and try to rest, that he had called you and talked to you... the last thing I know I'm waking up beside him."

"Okay! Right! I'm sorry. Jesus! I'm so sorry! I was just shocked to see you both sleeping together. But I trust you and I know you'd never lie to me." I sit by her side on the sofa and throw my arm around her, pulling her into a hug.

"You should talk to my dad, you know? He'll know how to help you." I say after some time, hating that fact that some guy put his hands on her.

"I just want to forget it happened and move on."

"I understand that, but do you think it's safe or that he should get away this easy? Have you seen him after that night?"

"Yeah, he pretended we didn't know each other, and I was more than fine with that. But... Do you think I should worry?" She turns to me, and I hate the fear in her eyes.

"I don't know, but it's better to be safe. I really think he needs to be punished in a way."

"You're right. I'll call your dad if I feel he's acting weird. But for now, I just want to move on."

"Your call, girl." I take a sip of my wine and stare blankly at the TV, my mind still trying to process everything.

"Lexi?" Lisa nudges my feet.

"Sorry, what did you say?" I look at her.

"How long are you staying? Your boyfriend must be missing you like crazy already."

"I'll have to fly back on Sunday evening because of school on Monday, but there is no one missing me right now. Lucas broke up with me."

"What? When? Why?"

"About a week ago." I sigh and tell her the whole story.

"That's bullshit! I saw it by myself. The guy has it bad for you."

"I wish things were simpler, you know, no baggage or anything, just us building a relationship together. But... He's being carrying all this pain and guilty for so long, I'm not sure he knows how to move past it."

"You should talk to him."

"And say what? Hey Lucas, you have to be with me! "

"I don't know... but something is just not right. I mean, has something happened before you guys broke up?"

"Not that I know of," I evade and get up to get another bottle of wine and refill our glass. "I just know that I miss him so much. I miss them... us."

"Them? Us? Jesus! I wish I could fly over there and knock some sense into him. You love him and his kid and just want to be loved by them. Now, I know they love you too, so what is wrong with him?"

"No idea, hun." I give her a small smile. I've been trying to figure him out since day one and I can't. For now, I just know that no matter how much my heart hurts just thinking about him, I'm not the one able to fix us this time.

"You know what, let's get drunk and enjoy our time together because men suck, my friend!" She laughs and I sigh, knowing that even though she needs time, she'll be fine.

"I hear you, sister." I clink my glass to hers.

_____

A/N: Thanks so much for reading! 

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