Page 56 of Shattered

Backing away, I gestured for him to enter.Once he was inside, I gave Alexa a wink and headed for my bedroom so they could have some privacy.

I must have fallen asleep because when I got up to use the bathroom, I heard them making up in her room.I hurried up with what I had to do and ran back to my room, closing the door to try and muffle the sounds.

Honestly, all it did was make me miss Alek even more.

I hoped the next day would bring about a resolution for us.With a heavy heart, I drifted off to sleep, welcoming the passing minutes which would bring me closer to a new day.

~30~

Sara

There was still no communication from Alek.With a somber mood, I made my way toward the bathroom to take a shower and prepare for my day.

I wasn’t the least bit thrilled I had allowed a man to weave his way deep into the recesses of my being.I didn’t like the feeling of the constant want that was forever plaguing my every thought.I prided myself on being independent to a fault, which also included my emotional state.But the more the weeks ticked by, and the more time I spent with Alek, the less control I had over my emotions.

I came to the quick conclusion there wasn’t a damn thing I could do about it.Not anymore.

I arrived to work early to start organizing my day.I was happy to have any distraction; even the most mundane task was welcome.Matt arrived an hour after I did.He looked a bit down, and I wondered if it had anything to do with his friend who he’d been hanging around with lately.

“Matt, you okay?” I asked, filing away some of the older invoices.

“Yeah, I’m fine.Just tired, I think.”He tried to pull off aloof but failed miserably.I knew when there was something weighing on his mind, and I was going to try and be the friend he needed.

I reached out to touch his arm, halting his escape into the back room.“Matt, you know if there’s something bothering you, you can talk to me, right?”

“Yeah, I know, Sara, and I appreciate it more than you know.I’m not really ready to open up about it right now.But rest assured, when I am, you’ll be the first person I go to.”He tried his best at a genuine smile before proceeding toward the back of the shop.It seemed he needed a distraction as well.

It was just past three in the afternoon when the bell over the front door sounded.I was busy helping a customer when I heard a familiar voice.Looking up, I came face to face with Cameron, Alek’s cousin.

What the hell is he doing here?This is all I need.

It took me some time to even comprehend it was actually him. How did he know where I worked?Was it merely a coincidence?

Something in my gut told me no.

“What are you doing here?” I nervously asked.Oh, God, if Alek walked in and saw him, all hell would break loose.

“Nice to see you, too, Sara.” He quickly smiled then looked around the shop, diverting his attention, probably rethinking his ambushing me at work.

“Sorry.You were just the last person I expected to see.What can I do for you?”I was seriously hoping he was there to buy flowers, but the more he stood there, biding his time, the more I knew he wanted something from me.

Cameron kept his gaze on me, glancing from my eyes to my lips, then back again.There was something in his stare which unnerved me.He was calculating, but not enough for me to be fully alarmed.

Yet.

“I was wondering if you were free for lunch.There’s a great little café over on Culver Street that serves the best sandwiches.”When he sensed I was going to decline, he brought out the big guns.“Sara, I need to talk to you about Alek.You obviously know we’re not the closest, but I’m still worried about him and I wanted to run my concerns by you.You know, to see if they’re even valid.I need your opinion.I’ll only take up a short amount of your time, and then I’ll never bother you again.”He held up his hand in a boy scout-like salute.“I promise.”

I knew it was a bad idea, but if Alek was in trouble, in any way, I wanted to help.

After much hesitation on my part, I gave in.“Fine, meet me there in five minutes.”

“Great, see you soon,” he responded as he left the shop.

~~~~

I wasn’t even paying attention to my surroundings, focused solely on getting our meeting over and done with as soon as possible.The entire situation made me uncomfortable, as if I was betraying Alek on some level.

I saw Cameron as soon as I walked into the café.He was seated in the back corner.He stood as I approached the table, waiting for me to sit before he took his seat again.At least he was being gentlemanly.His actions helped to put me at ease, for the time being.

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