Page 41 of Silver Foxed

A smile tugs at my lips as silence envelops us. I think we’re both unsure of how to start.

Eventually, Alex lets out a small sigh. “I didn’t tell my mom anything, if that’s what you’re thinking.”

“I’m not thinking that,” I assure her.

“Well, she said we were looking at each other funny. And you didn’t help matters with that wine comment. I think my dad got suspicious, too, if you didn’t notice. But Elijah, I don’t know what we’re supposed to do now. My mom obviously knows something happened between us. I could ask her not to say anything, but I don’t feel comfortable doing that. And what were you thinking telling that bartender I’m your wife? Anyone could have heard you!”

Alex’s words spill out of her so fast I hardly have time to take them all in. When my brain catches up, I grasp her biceps and get her to look at me.

“Take a breath, Alex. Everything is going to be okay.”

She scoffs and narrows her eyes at me. “What are you talking about? My dad is going to find out something happened between us, the very thing we wanted to avoid! Especially you.”

“You’re right. It was.”

“You should’ve thought about that before you called me your wife in public and kept staring at me like you could see me without my clothes on!”

I can’t help but smirk at her outburst. But then, her head cocks to the side as she registers my previous words.

“Wait, it was?” she asks. “What do you mean ‘it was’?”

“When I heard you were going to be here tonight, I asked Oliver if I could still get a ticket. He thought it was to support him, which it was. I did and do always want to support him. But I wanted to see you.”

“Um, what?” she asks, blinking up at me.

I release her arms and take a step forward, testing the boundaries between us. When she doesn’t try to get away, I place my hands on the railing on either side of her, caging her in so our bodies meld together. A gentle gasp leaves her mouth, and I instantly feel as if my body has found its home again.

I inhale her rose scent and smile, our faces only inches apart. “Ever since we left the lake house, I can’t stop thinking about you. I was an idiot to leave you that way. I was so caught up in what us being together would mean for my relationship with Oliver and my work that I didn’t think of your feelings. Or my feelings, for that matter. I love Oliver like a brother, but I can’t deny that what we have, Alex—it’s special. It’s not something I ever should’ve walked away from. It’s been eating me up inside.”

Her chest rises and falls in choppy movements. That red flush I love so much blooms up from the neckline of her dress and over her freckled chest.

“But Stephanie said you were doing well, that you took on more creative projects at work. That Dad thinks you should go to the lake house more often because of how different you were when you came back.”

I stroke my knuckle down the side of her face. “You inspired me to start living my life the way I want, Alex. But it’s not complete without you.”

“Then why haven’t you called or tried to contact me?”

“Because I’m a coward. And if I’m being honest, I thought you wouldn’t want me after how we left things. But then Oliver brought you up, and I knew this was my chance to see you again. To talk with you, if you’d let me.”

She swallows, her features tense. “And now, after calling me your wife and a few longing glances, you think I do want you?”

My heart thuds in my chest, and I drop my hand from her face. She’s right. Just because I finally grew a pair doesn’t entitle me to her. I was a fool to think that she’d simply walk back into my arms again after I explained myself. Maybe after we left, she realized the weekend was just a fun break from reality like we had originally planned it to be.

“Alex,” I murmur. “I’m sorry for hurting you. And if you want me to walk away from this, I will. But I need you to know that if you still want to try to make this work, I’ll walk in and tell Oliver right now that I’m in love with you.”

Her green eyes go impossibly wide, and her mouth parts at my declaration. But I’m telling the truth. I know now that I loved her the first time I saw her. The last month away has only solidified my feelings. That time showed me that I wasn’t just searching for what life had to offer me. I was searching for Alex.

“You love me?” she asks, her eyes glassy.

I dare to cup her cheek, my body relaxing when she leans into my touch. “I don’t care if it sounds crazy, but I love you, Alex Martin. And I don’t give a fuck if people don’t like it.”

“But your job?”

“I can always get a new job, Alex.”

“And my dad?”

I step closer to her so our bodies are once again melded together. Then I speak very clearly to be certain she understands me. “If your dad loves either of us, he’ll understand.”

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