Page 63 of (Un)Expected

Alex dragged me across the living room, finding Marta and Curt in the large, open kitchen. It had the same vibe as the rest of the house and put me instantly at ease. The I reminded me a lot of my parents’ home back in Texas.

The thought made my face fall, and I suddenly missed my family with an unbearable ache. Alex must have noticed, because she moved closer, squeezing my hand a little tighter.

Oblivious to the shift in my mood, Marta came over, taking the pie dish from my hand as she smiled tightly at Alex. “Darling, you didn’t have to bring anything.”

“I swear, it’s edible.”

Marta just good-heartedly chuckled, offering us both glasses of wine before ushering us into the dining room. I declined, going for a soda instead as Alex grabbed a glass of red, finding the spot at my side.

Once we were in our chairs, I looked around the room. Family photos covered the walls, evidence of a well-lived life. Almost all of them had a boy between Curt and Marta, who looked at him like he hung the whole moon.

I nodded toward the picture. “Their son?”

Alex followed my line of sight. “Oh! That’s Grayson, or Gray to most people. He’s a couple of years older than me. I’ve only met him a handful of times. He’s Calla’s ex. They dated all through high school.”

“What happened?”

“I don’t know all the details.” She shrugged. “I think it fizzled out naturally. Gray went to Seattle to play college baseball and got drafted into the MLB right after. He barely has time to come home because he’s so busy. I don’t think he has time for anything other than baseball.”

I squinted at the picture, studying the man a little closer. “Holy fuck, that’s Gray Anders!”

“Shh,” Alex said, putting her hand over my mouth. “Do not make a big deal out of it.”

“Are you serious?” I said, shifting her hand away. “I am sitting in the dining room of a living legend. The man’s stats–”

“Are not what this dinner is about.” Alex gave me a stern look. “Marta and Curt are unbelievably proud of Gray, but they also have a rule about baseball talk in their house. They want this to be a place where Gray can escape, not having to worry about people asking him about his season. So please, do not mention it.”

Our conversation stopped when Marta and Curt entered the dining room, and I stood, taking the plate from Marta so she could take a seat. She gave me a grateful smile as she took her place across from Alex.

“I hope you like chicken, son,” Curt said as he passed the tray to me.

The rest of the night flowed in comfortable conversation; it was great to get to hang out with Alex without any expectations or hidden agendas. She was more at ease with Curt and Marta than anyone else I had seen so far, and I enjoyed getting to know them better, opening up more than I expected.

“So you’ve been in California for the past few years,” Curt said. “Where were you before then?”

I swallowed slowly, debating if I should deflect the question. These people shared parts of their lives tonight, and I wanted to do the same—not because I was obligated, but because I wanted to share a piece of myself with them.

Especially Alex.

“I grew up in East Texas. My father was a career military man, but he retired right after my sister and I were born.”

“Commendable,” Marta murmured.

“It is,” I continued. “I wanted to be just like him growing up. Seeing his medals and knowing what he had done for our country, I admired it. Signed up for the military the moment I turned eighteen.”

Alex’s head whipped toward me. This was a story I didn’t share with many people, and maybe it was the coward’s way out, telling herwhen she couldn’t give her honest reactions, but I couldn’t hold back a moment longer.

“I went to basic right after high school, and then I was deployed for a nine-month stint. I planned on making the army into my career, but I, uh.” My voice shook a little, and I swallowed to try to cover it. “I was injured three months in. Honorably discharged.” I sucked in a sharp breath, hating where this story led. “I had a rough time when I got home. I was angry for a long time and didn’t handle it well. It took a lot to get me back on the right track. Now that I’m on the other side, I’m determined to keep going, to find a new path.” I turned slightly, taking in Alex’s wonder-filled stare. “I like to think I’m starting to find my way.”

The restof the night went by quickly, our stomachs filled to the brim by the time dessert came around. All four of us poked at Alex’s apple pie, silently daring each other to take the first bite. Curt took one for the team, but the grimace on his face didn’t inspire much confidence. Even Alex pushed hers away, not wanting to risk possible food poisoning.

As I walked her home, she was still shaking her head. “I followed the damn thing word for word. It should not be this difficult.”

“You know, my mom used to make pies every Sunday. I might be able to help you out, teach you some of the tricks I know.”

She smiled at me. “I’d love that.”

Tonight, something seemed to have shifted between us. The walls weren’t as impossible, Alex’s smiles more effortless, much like when we hung out alone. As much as I wanted to pull her into my arms and show all the ways I wanted her, tonight was already a win in my book.

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