Page 6 of The Secrets that Surround Us

Chapter four

Alex

“Ugh.” I throw my arm over my face, trying to block out the sun coming in through the window.Why does it always have to be so bright? I guess we forgot to pull the shades down before falling asleep. Speaking of last night. I roll over and sleepily feel around for the sexy woman. When I come up empty, I pat the space next to me with my hand.

What the fuck?Where could she be? There’s no way she left without saying goodbye, right?

Sitting up I search around the room to see where she could be. Maybe she’s in the bathroom? Standing, I head over to the bathroom, but no one’s in there. No light on. It doesn’t even look like anyone has been in there except for me when I was getting ready for Dexter’s wedding. Moving through my room, I check to see if her clothes are still on the floor and they’re all gone. My shoulders sag a bit. She really left me in the middle of the night.Fuck, this must be what it’s like for the women I’m with and leave after. Okay, I hear you karma. Thanks for giving me what I deserved.

I let out a sigh. I thought last night would be a little different. I really liked her. I’ve never felt electricity with someone like I did with her. There goes my plan of convincing her to have breakfast with me in the morning, then giving me her number.

Honestly, it’s nothing new. My brothers think I’m the guy who is only down for a good time, but in reality, I’m the guy who everyone forgets about. What most don’t realize is that I make jokes, hoping that someone will remember me for anything other than being the last Hernandez brother. Anyone.

I’m the youngest brother, whose mom died when he was six. Dad might as well have died that day, too. From what Mateo has said over the years, my dad spiraled out of control drinking, and when he lost his job, he started working with the mafia. Which left Mateo to have to take care of us. Now that we’re older, he’s gone from ignoring all three of us to just ignoring me.

He’s always trying to get my brothers to do these outlandish things for him. Yes, they’re illegal things and my brothers hate it. But at least he reaches out to them. He hasn’t spoken more than five words to me since I was six.

But that doesn’t matter when I’ve got my brothers and all my friends whom I love to spend time with. Of course, most of my friends are women, but that doesn’t matter when I’m the one they remember. Besides, everyone knows the score, so no one gets upset. Heading toward my dresser, I pull my sweatpants on and go to the kitchen to make a cup of coffee.

I pull out the pods for the coffeepot from a drawer and place one in the maker when a knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. I check myself in the mirror to make sure I don’t look like a total slob, hoping that it’s Fiona coming back after realizing I’m the best lover she’ll ever have. Letting out a small chuckle, I shake my head; I crack myself up. I’m the funniest person I know.

When I open the front door, my jaw drops. What the hell is this? It’s not Fiona, that’s for sure. A blonde who I know I’ve never seen before is standing on my porch in a lacy black dress that might as well be lingerie. Curling up my lip, I finally find my voice. “Can I help you?”

Nothing about this situation seems to faze this woman. As she looks me up and down, she licks her lips, trying to seduce me. In any normal circumstance, I might’ve thought that move was sexy, but right now I just want to be left alone and drink my coffee. She pushes her breasts toward me, and in a breathless voice that I’m sure she thinks is sexy says, “Are you Alex?”

Not answering her, I narrow my eyes at her. Is this some kind of joke? This has to be a joke. My brothers must’ve put her up to this, right? I look her up and down, but she doesn’t even compare to the gorgeous woman from last night. “Did my brothers put you up to this?”

“Uggh…what?” she stutters out, as if she’s surprised by my question.

My jaw clenches, and I grit out, “You heard me. Did my brothers put you up to this?”

Her eyes go wide when I snap at her and she automatically takes a step back, then mutters, “I…I was told you could help me sell my house?”

She still hasn’t answered my question about whether she’s here because of my brothers and their interference. “So, you thought you would show up here, and I would what? Fall all over you?”

“Well…Dexter said you were into blondes?”

Aha! I knew it. One of my brothers did put her up to this, and now I’m certain this is a damn prank. This would be a great prank and I would laugh my ass off if it weren’t so desperate. Tilting my head to the side, I take her in I guess in the past I would’ve fallen for something like this, but after last night I just can’t. Now that I know what it could be like, Fiona is the only one I want.

“If you want me to sell your house, fine. Call my office and make an appointment. But I’m not open to other services, no matter what my brother said,” I reiterate as I start to close the door on her.

“I’m so sorry and embarrassed. But I really do need someone to help me sell my house.”

Her eyes gloss over with unshed tears as she apologizes, and guilt hits me right in the chest. Softening my stance, I relax my shoulders. “Listen, I’m sorry for being harsh, but I don’t want this. And I bet neither do you. If you really need my help, just call my office.”

Thankfully, she takes the hint and turns away as I shut the door. Heading straight to the counter, I reach for my phone and call Dexter. The phone rings a few times but goes straight to voicemail. Glancing at the clock, I kill the line and place my phone back down. He already left for his honeymoon. I guess I’ll have to wait to give him give him a piece of my mind.

“You know what? No, I will not wait. He’s going to get a piece of my mind as soon as he lands,” I mutter out loud to myself.

Reaching for my phone once again, I redial his number. When his voicemail picks up this time, I leave a message. “Thanks for the gift, you ass, but I don’t need it. I’m perfectly capable of picking up my own blondes. Have a great honeymoon, jerkoff, and stay out of my love life. But really, congratulations. See you two when you get home.”

Returning to the coffeemaker, I resume making my cup. The smell of coffee fills the kitchen, which leads me to thinking about Fiona. I really wish she had stayed. Making pancakes and bacon for her would’ve been the highlight of my day. But now I have to figure out if I’m going to ask Hazel for her number.

Dexter returns from his honeymoon in two weeks. They took an extra-long one since, in his words, “We have a lot to make up for.” Something tells me he will milk that for a really long time.

Poor Hazel.

Chapter five

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