Page 42 of Under Ground

He wants more.

I guess I knew this was coming from the way things have been going. Didn’t I?

I want more too.

I’m not sure how this will work given he’ll leave the country once his movie’s finished. Can we have a relationship long-distance? Or will it fizzle out? Am I overthinking things?

Alex: I won’t be out of here until after around seven. Want me to bring dinner over?

I let out a long breath, reading his text. That’s Alex to a tee. He’s had a long day, but still thinking of making my life easier.

Me: Sounds good. I’ll feed Casey. Maybe she’ll fall asleep early.

Alex: Are you propositioning me?

I laugh out loud. Anna turns her head and arches an eyebrow at me, but I shrug and go back to my phone.

Me: Maybe

Alex: Can’t wait

“How’s it going with Alex Stone?” Anna asks.

I look up. “Uhh, good.”

“I still can’t believe you’re dating him. He’s gorgeous.” Her eyes widen and she slams her hand over her mouth. “I didn’t mean that the way it came out. You two look so good together.”

Laughing, I put my phone back on the desk. “It’s okay. I knew what you meant.”

“What’s he like?”

I say nothing at first, but she rolls her eyes.

“Oh, you don’t even have to say anything,” she says.

“What?”

“The grin on your face says it all. That good, huh? Does he have any friends he can introduce me to?”

I lean back in my seat. “I can ask him.”

She sighs. “I liked that Reece Evans, and he was apparently in New Zealand not long ago. But he’s got a girlfriend, I hear.”

If she’s fishing for information, I’m not about to tell her I know the answer to that. Do people talk like this about Alex? My stomach churns at the thought. “I don’t really follow movie stars that much.”

“Whatever.” She laughs. “You knew who Alex Stone was before you met him, didn’t you?”

I screw up my face. “Well, yes, but only from magazines. I hadn’t actually seen him in anything.”

Her mouth falls open. “What?”

“When I was at home, my parents wouldn’t let us watch much in the way of television, and then I had a baby who wouldn’t sleep. Other priorities, I guess.”

She cocks her head. “I never thought about that. You have social media though, right?”

I nod. “Of course.” If you count the Facebook account where I have a handful of mothers from day care as friends. My sisters have nothing like that back home, and while I miss them, they’re not likely to pop up on social media any time soon unless they make the break like I did. It might happen eventually, but as for when? Who knows?

“So, you must have seen trailers? Or teasers for shows and movies?”

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