Page 28 of We Never Kissed

About to check the kitchen, I caught sight of Alex heading upstairs, and I followed him. He hadn’t made it as far as his old bedroom. Instead, he was standing in the hallway, looking at some pictures hanging on the wall.

“How are you holding up?” It was all I could think to say, but it sounded lame to my own ears. I put my hand on his back and felt him tense.

Alex was quiet for long moments, then said, “I think this was the only time he was proud of me.” He gestured with his head to a baseball team photo.

“Was that CIF championship?” I grinned, seeing a young Alex so happy in the moment.

He nodded.

“I think you’re wrong. Maybe your father wasn’t the most demonstrative person, but he loved you, and he was proud of you.” My words felt useless because the truth was, Alex needed his father’s love. He needed it to make up for not having his mother. It wasn’t the time to point out the fact that my parents had done all they could to make up for that.

When he only shook his head, I took a chance andmoved in between him and the photos. “What can I do, Alex?”

“Nothing. There’s nothing anyone can do. You can go back to Mark now.”

Ignoring his words and his cold tone, I said, “I’m not leaving you.”

His jaw clenched as he finally looked me in the eye. “Ava… Don’t, okay?” His breathing grew heavy, but I didn’t back down. “I don’t want to do this. I—can’t. This is part of life, and I’ll get through it.”

His last words, delivered so robotically, broke my heart, but I still didn’t budge. If there was anyone in his life that made him vulnerable, I knew it was me. He put up even more of a front with Sammy. “I’m here,” I whispered, fighting back my own tears.

Alex grabbed me by my arms in a firm grip, his face twisted in anger and pain, and I hoped I wasn’t making a mistake, forcing him to address these feelings. “Dammit, Ava…” Then he pulled me into his arms, tucked his head into the crook of my neck, and sobbed as I held him tightly.

Chapter 16

Alex

Present Day

When I walked into the house that was my second home for as long as I could remember, I felt an unexpected hesitation. Sue and Denny had given me a key in high school and firmly told me they better not ever answer the door to me again. But now that Ava was there…and her buddy Gunnar…I almost worried I’d see something that wouldn’t sit well with me.

And that was exactly what happened. The soft music playing should have been my first clue.What the actual fuck is going on here? Okay, it took me a second to figure it out, but that didn’t mean I wanted to see a shirtless Gunnar lying on his back, his tanned pecs glistening as heheld Ava up by her ankles while she balanced herself holding his ankles. They were like human goddamn bunkbeds! If I wasn’t instantly annoyed by the scene, I might have been impressed by their form and strength, two straight-as-arrows fit bodies holding a push-up pose.

Thankfully, they hadn’t noticed me, which gave me time to pull my more rational self into place. Because the last time I saw someone touching Ava, I’d overreacted; that would only piss her off.

They’re just friends, I reminded myself. And apparently doing couples yoga. And touching each other.Lucky bastard!I took a few deep breaths and belted out, “Honey, I’m home!”

They both turned their heads in my direction, still frozen in their poses.

“Alex?” The way Ava said it told me she was not expecting me.

“Hey, bro,” Gunnar said with a smirk. The wordbrosounded foreign coming from his mouth. Gunnar slowly lowered his arms until Ava’s lower half was resting on top of him, so she had no choice but to do the same. Those few seconds before she rolled off him, their bodies pressed together, felt like someone ripping a hangnail off of my thumb, while Gunnar clearly enjoyed the whole scene.

Popping quickly to her feet, Ava said in a panicked tone, “What are you doing here?” She darted her eyestoward the kitchen where her mother likely was—if the delicious smell of garlic bread was any indication.

“I’m here for dinner,” I said, holding up the bottle of wine I’d brought.

She mouthed the wordfuck, and I tried not to take it personally.

Gunnar came up behind her. “We’re glad you’re here, aren’t we, Ava honey?”

I rolled my eyes, but before either of us could respond, Gunnar said, “Well, I’m going to hit the shower.” He got two steps before, he shot a look over his shoulder. “Unless anyone wants to join me…”

Ava and I both glared at him.

“I’m kidding. Geez.” As he walked down the hall, I heard him mumble, “Someone needs to get some.”

When Ava turned back to me, I lifted my brows, as if to say I could accommodate that request for her.

---