Chapter 54 CHAPTER 54

Chapter 54 CHAPTER 54
My phone buzzed I fished for it under my pillow and the screen lit up blue with Alex’s  name. 

I decided to take it, I need someone to console me during this difficult time. I answered on the second ring.

“Hey,” he said, wind rustled in the background. “Hey.” I said back.

“I’m outside. Can you come out so I can see you?” I sighed in irritation, why would he drive all the way at night for me to seat out on the car with him.

“It’s in the middle of the night, why would you do that though? Drive all the way here at this hour?” I said seating up on the bed.

I intently listened for any movements in the house even though I know I won’t hear anything. 

Selena locked herself in her room and hasn’t come out since she confessed few hours ago.

“You gave me no choice, you weren’t picking up my calls.” He said with a sigh, boy don’t sigh at me.

“Who even gave you this address?” I said getting up from the bed to look out the window. I immediately noticed the third vehicle on the driveway.

“Does it matter? Please come outside.” I rolled my eyes, already know the answer to my question. “It does matter, that means there are people I can’t trust in my circle.”

“It was your mother.” I nodded, I already knew that. She’s a backstabber, liar, and likes to poke her nose where it doesn’t belong.

“Just come inside, I will text you the code to the door.” I said and it was followed by a long pause then the soft click of him ending the call. 

A minute later the front door opened and shut with a careful hush. His shoes made almost no sound on the carpet, his scared of Selena. 

As he should you never know what to expect from that woman. I met him at the top of the stairs. 

He wore the navy hoodie that made his blue eyes stand out and without a word he stepped in and wrapped his arms around me.

My cheek pressed to his chest. The fabric smelled like his cologne—sandalwood and mint. 

His heartbeat thumped steady under my ear. We stayed like that, breathing together, his hand moving slow circles between my shoulder blades. 

I pulled back first I took his hand. We moved down the hall on quiet feet, avoiding the loose board near the bathroom. 

My bedroom door clicked shut behind us. I turned on the small lamp by the bed just to get enough light to see each other not to let anyone from outside know the light is on.

I sat on the bed and he followed, he’s knees brushing against mine. He looked at me, eyes searching. “Why have you been avoiding me?”

I picked at a loose thread on the quilt, trying to not think about Selena. “I don’t know how to deal with any of this.” The words tasted heavy, like I am telling a lie to myself.

“It’s too much.” This is not the only thing that is heavy, my whole life is just too much for me.

“Have you seen her?” I asked.

He shook his head. Dark hair fell across his forehead. “No. But she’s shown up at my work twice, she showed up unannounced. I didn’t speak to her, didn’t know what to say.”

“Okay, what did you do then when she showed up? And that means she was discharged from the hospital.” I can’t even ask her how she’s doing.

“I had to get security walk her out.” His fingers flexed on his thigh. “That’s a bit extreme, don’t you think?”

“No.” He said flatly. I let out a long breath. “I don’t know what to do.”

He reached over and laced our fingers. His palm was warm, calluses rough against mine. “I get it. But we have a wedding in a month. You need to get your priorities straight.” His voice stayed low. 

“The gifting ceremony is on Saturday and it’s already Thursday. My mom’s already planned everything two hundred people, caterers. She’s been calling florists all week. I’m not canceling on that many guests.”

I stared at our joined hands. The ring on my finger caught the lamplight.

“Whatever this is,” he continued, “Let’s be strong for one day. We’ll figure the rest out after the ceremony.”

Silence stretched between us, but it wasn’t the same for my mind. I couldn’t get Selena and Uncle Jon off my mind. I squeezed his hand once. 

“I want to go home with you, one last time as an unmarried couple.” I said smiling up to him even though being close to him felt like I am betraying my best friend.

He smiled back, mischievous smile and stood, helped me up. “Let me grab a jacket before we go.” I said opening my walk in closet and taking out my coat.

We slipped out the back door. The night air cooled my cheeks. 

When we got to his car in my driveway, he opened the passenger door for me, I stepped in feeling like a princess.

The leather seat was just a bit cold due to the night air. I buckled in while he rounded the hood.

The drive was nice and quiet. Headlights swept over empty streets. Only the sound of tires on asphalt and the occasional tick of the blinker.

His hand rested on the gear shift, close enough that I could reach over and touch it if I wanted. But I can’t, no.

I watched the passing houses blur, I couldn’t wait to get to his place and doze off. Only then will I stop thinking about Selena.

We pulled into his driveway, we went inside and everything had looked clean and untouched like the first time I came here.

“Do you want me to make you something to eat?”He asked turning on the kitchen light, I shook my head softly. “No, baby. I just want you to hold me.”

Alex looked up. His gaze moved slowly across my face, then lower.

I felt the air shift as he stood. He crossed the room in two steps, boots quiet on the rug. His fingers brushed my hair aside, knuckles grazing my jaw. 

The touch stayed light, almost careful. Cool night air from the cracked window raised goosebumps along my neck where his breath followed.

The mark has been healing the past two days, but tonight it seemed awake like it could feel that Alex is near. 

A shape curved just below my ear, like two interlocking lines forming a subtle, unbroken knot, our symbol.

His thumb hovered near it, not quite touching. Warm air from his exhale brushed the sensitive skin. 

He leaned closer, lips near the mark but not kissing it. “Are you ready for bed?” I nodded unable to utter words.

His bedroom was the same as always dark sheets, one pillow on the floor, the faint scent of his detergent.

We climbed into bed fully clothed. He switched off the lamp, darkness wrapped comfortably around us. I turned on my side aware that I can’t fall asleep facing him.

He shifted closer until his chest brushed my back, one arm draping over my waist. His breath stirred my hair, slow and even.