Page 56 of Not Your Little Girl Anymore

I watch him scroll through his phone before I look down. “I’m not hungry,” I mumble.

“Yeah, well, your stomach says otherwise. You need to eat. No exceptions. Now, what do you want?”

I roll my eyes. Even though I barely have an appetite, I don’t bother to argue because he won’t take no for an answer. “I guess I’ll have a Chicken Parmesan grinder.”

He smirks and types something into his phone. When he finds what he’s looking for, he holds up one finger for me to wait here before bringing the phone to his ear and heading into the kitchen. I can hear him place the order, but my mind drifts off.

When he comes back, I snuggle into his arms again, twirling the hem of his dark blue shirt.

“Hey, Alec?”

“Hmm?”

“Why do you call me sunshine?” I can feel his muscles move under the touch of my finger as I trace lines across his chest. I can tell he’s smiling without looking at him.

“Would you rather I call you babe?”

My head shoots to him in near disgust. “Ew, that’s so cliche. Plus, we’re not even dating.”

He shifts beneath me, thinking. “You bring light into my world, and I lost most of the light in my world a hell of a long time ago.”

I crane my neck, looking into his gray eyes. They’re so captivating. His words hug around my heart tight and the longer I stare at him, the more mesmerized I become.

His eyes fall to my lips, and at this moment I’m mentally begging him to kiss me. I want him to. I nearly melt as soon as I see his arm come up to my face, gently gripping my chin. He pulls my chin closer, and I lean in simultaneously. My mouth parts, ready to feel his lips against mine.

There’s a knock on the door right before our lips meet. I pull away at the same time Alec lets out a frustrated breath.

With a small tug of the corner of his lip, he says, “Let’s go eat.”

Eating is the last thing I want to do, but I get up anyway and let him drag me along into the kitchen. He pulls out a stool for me to sit on before he opens the door and grabs the subs from the delivery man. I stare into space in the meantime. My mind is still pondering back to his question from before.

How am I going to get the proof I need to prove that my father is behind my mother’s murder?

Alec plops down on the stool next to me, the brown paper bag crimping as he sticks his tattooed arm into the bag and pulls out one sub at a time, sliding mine over to me.

“Eat.”

I wish I could say I’m getting tired of his demands, but I’m not. I think it’s rather sweet that he actually cares if I eat or not.

“Yes, boss.”

He raises a brow at me, and I roll my eyes, sighing. After I unwrap my sandwich, I stare at it for a few moments. It looks delicious. Smells delightful. But I don’t want it.

Is this what happens when you’re depressed?

“Thank you, Alec.” I pick up my sub and take a tiny bite to make him happy.

“For what?”

The way he stuffs his food into the corner of his mouth has me laughing.

I look at my sandwich as if there is something wrong with it. I move it from side to side and upside down before placing it back onto the wrapper.

“I’m thankful for all of this. Everything you’ve done. Even by just being here for me. It’s been nice.”

I can feel his stare. “Anyone would be crazy not to want to be there for you.” His thumb comes in contact with my chin, giving a slight squeeze. “Would you like something to drink?”

I’ve never been a big drinker. Not caring for the taste, but honestly a drink sounds damn good after everything I’ve been through lately.

---