Page 112 of Just This Once

“That sounds disgusting,” Alec argued with a grimace. “I heard caviar tastes like fishyoceanwater. You could just go to the beach and drink a cup of the Gulf for free instead of paying?—”

He broke off abruptly when we reached the top of the stairs because, from the couch, Xander had turned to watch us pass through.

Jarring to a halt, Alec gaped at her, obviously having forgotten that she lived on that couch now, even though we’d literally seen her there ten minutes earlier. We’d even cringed at each other and stopped talking in order to tiptoe toward the stairs so she wouldn’t notice us.

“O-oh,” he stuttered, forcing a smile and waving in greeting. “Hey.” Then, motioning between me and himself, he said, “We were just going out to eat. Do you—uh—do you want to come?”

I lifted my brows curiously at the fumbling invitation, and when he sent me ahelpexpression, I jumped in to support him.“Yeah,” I told Xander. “It might feel nice for you to get out into some fresh air and stretch your legs a little.”

Xander blinked at me. Her eyes were red and bloodshot as if she’d just been crying. After I glanced atHope Floatsthat she had paused on the television behind her, I knew she’d been watching the scene where the poor daughter had gotten rejected by her dad, the prick.

“I—I guess,” Xander finally answered, making me whirl back to her in surprise.

Alec straightened in alarm. “Really?” he blurted, only to flush. “I mean—” He shook his head and forced a smile. “That’d be great. Yeah. Thank you.”

Thank you?

I furrowed my brows in question, and he glanced at me helplessly as if askingmewhy he’d just said that.

Gah, but he was so adorable when he got flustered. I squeezed his arm in support while Xander glanced down at the stained shirt and sweat shorts she was wearing.

“Can I go change first?” she asked.

“Uh—sure,” Alec rushed to say. “Yeah. Whatever you want. Anything.”

It probably wouldn’t kill her to run a brush through her hair either. Not that either my brother or I mentioned as much.

“Okay,” she answered with more certainty as she rose to her feet. “Give me five minutes.”

She appeared to be more alert and human than I’d seen her look in the past week as she made her way around the couch before ascending the stairs to the upper level.

As soon as we heard her bedroom door close, Alec turned to me, petrified. “What did I just do?”

“You invited her to supper,” I told him the obvious and then jostled his arm teasingly. “And she said yes.”

“But w-w-why did she say yes?” he demanded, appearing to be in shock. “I totally did not expect her to say yes. I was just trying to be nice and make her feel included. Oh my God, what if I can’t afford whatever meal she orders?”

I made a face. “Why would you have to pay for her meal?”

“Because Iinvitedher?” he hissed, widening his eyes at me dramatically.

“Okay,breathe,” I instructed calmly. “First of all, you do not have to pay for her meal. This is not a date, and she knows that. I mean, you’re bringing your sister and freaking mother along.”

“Oh my God, mymom,” he remembered, his eyes widening with horror. “I just invited her to eat with my mother.”

“It’ll be fine,” I assured, slugging his arm to buck him up. “Your mom’s the best. Besides, I’m going to be there, next to you, the entire time. I’ll help keep the conversation flowing and the awkwardness to a minimum.”

For him, I’d do anything.

“You better,” he warned with an insistent hiss. “Don’t even leave me to go to the bathroom, or I swear to God—hey, are you ready?” he asked smoothly, interrupting himself with a ready smile when Xander appeared at the top of the short stairway.

She’d changed into a white supper dress with ivory flowers embroidered into the hem, and her hair looked glossy and sleek as if she hadn’t just had it full of rats and stray food for the past week.

Her eyes still looked hollow and dark as if she hadn’t slept in a month, but the damn girl was still too gorgeous for her own good. I could practically hear Alec swallowing his tongue as his new roommate nodded mutely and started down the steps toward us.

I nudged him to get him to stop gawking, and he turned to me with wide, frightened eyes, whispering, “Why can’t I stop sweating?”

I smiled, glad I was getting to see him like this. Alec had never really shown romantic interest in anyone before. I’d been worried that I might never see him fall in love. But I’d definitely settle for watching him flustered and stuttering over a crush. He looked so very alive at that moment, and it made me happy.

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