Page 28 of (Un)Expected

“Because, sweetheart,” I said, “you make it so easy.”

ELEVEN

Alex barely said two words to me after we dropped Calla off at the hotel. A thick tension had grown between us, a visceral wall erected across the console. It had been easier on the drive over with Calla. She was happy to fill the silence, telling her entire life story during the ten-minute drive. She grew up in the city, but her family moved here when her grandfather passed away and her mother inherited the hotel. Her father still lived in Manhattan, a named partner in one of the best law firms in the country, with her two older sisters following in his footsteps. She was the only one who chose to stay here, living in one of the suites in the hotel with her mother.

I’d never met someone who spoke so much in such a short amount of time, but now that Calla was gone, I almost missed the constant stream of words. At least it broke up the tension between Alex and me.

“You know, you’re going to have to talk to me eventually,” I said as we crossed over the bridge into town.

“Not necessarily.”

“Unless you want to spend the whole night driving around,you’re going to have to give some kind of directions.” I smirked back at her. “Your choice, sweetheart.”

She groaned loudly. “Turn right at the end of the bridge,” she muttered before turning to glare at me. “What is with that stupid nickname?”

“What—sweetheart?”

“Yes,” she said. “I don’t get why you can’t call me by my name like everyone else.”

I slowed down to make the turn, taking the moment to turn and steal a look at her. She crossed her arms around her chest and scowled at me. It was adorable.

“I don’t know,” I answered honestly. “It’s not something I usually do. It kind of slipped out the first time, and then you flipped out and were so damn funny, I wanted to do it again.”

Her brow furrowed. “That seems like a dumb reason.”

“Maybe.” I shrugged. “But I don’t have a lot of other things going on right now, so I’ll take whatever entertainment I can get.”

“Is that why you were wandering around town like a lost puppy?”

“Not exactly,” I said, not wanting to share the entire reason I was in town. “Adam was meeting with his agent, so I got out of there for a bit.” Alex turned to study me curiously, so I continued. “It’s complicated. Adam and I have been friends for a long time, and I want the best for him. All these people…” I shook my head, cutting off my words. “Forget it.”

“You can tell me. I…I’d like to know more,” Alex whispered, her voice a little shaky. “How long have you and Adam been friends?”

“Since the third grade. I was the new kid, and he helped me out. It was weird—we just clicked. We’ve been best friends ever since.”

“That’s amazing.” Alex pointed toward a side street, and I hit the blinker. “To still be friends after all that time, especially with Adam’s career.”

As we turned, I said, “I can’t lie and say things aren’t different. When it’s Adam and me, it’s like nothing has changed. He’s still the same guy I grew up with. But when he’s around everyone else...” Ishook my head, struggling to put my feelings into words. How did you say you loved your friend but hated the person he’s becoming without sounding like a dick? “His team…They make him doubt everything, make him act like someone he’s not. It’s too much bullshit, and he barely ever says anything. I can’t keep my mouth shut, though, so when they meet, I make myself scarce. I want as little to do with that part of his life as possible.”

Alex shifted in her seat, turning to face me more. “So then why do you stay?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, that’sAdam’slife. His choices, his career. What about you?” She stared at me, her blue eyes wide with curiosity. “Don’t take this the wrong way, but it seems like you’re more concerned with his life than yours.”

“Ouch,” I chuckled, trying to hide how close to home her comment struck.

She rolled her eyes. “That’s not what I meant. I’m just wondering why you stick around If you hate what’s happening so much?”

I sighed, weighing her question. I’d be lying if I said it wasn’t something I thought about.Often. There were many reasons why I stayed with Adam, even when I didn’t like the path he chose.

But too many of those reasons led to questions, ones I wasn’t willing to discuss with anyone, much less with a girl I barely knew.

“I owe him a lot,” I answered honestly. “The best way I can repay him is by being there now. He needs someone who knows him, who’s looking out for his best interests instead of the bottom line. So, as long as he needs me, I’m gonna be there.”

“Sounds like he’s lucky to have you,” Alex said as she tucked herself into the seat a little more. “Maybe you’re not as much of an ass as I thought.”

“Thanks,sweetheart.”

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