Page 8 of The Gift Rarely Given

We both turn around quickly, and my eyes widen at the sight of Alex standing there, looking just as good as he did yesterday, but now with the biggest smirk I’ve ever seen.

“Hi!” I shout, not sounding crazy at all.

“Hello, Livie. I took great pleasure in hearing all about your experience last night, but somehow you forgot to tell your friend here…” he pauses, gesturing to Hailey to say her name.

“Hailey,” she replies breathlessly.

I snort and bring my hot cocoa to my mouth, trying to hide my smile. She looks at me with a deadly stare, shooting daggers at me.

“…your friend, Hailey, about how you stole my parking spot and flipped me off before all that happened. Also, Livie, it’s not good manners to kiss and tell, you know?” Alex adds and I want the earth to swallow me whole.

It’s Hailey’s turn to snort this time, and I can’t help but smile and roll my eyes. What else am I supposed to do? I got busted big time. I take a deep breath in an attempt to gather my bearings and rest my hands on my hips as I say, “Well, Alex, I was just telling Hailey here how subpar last night was.”

He grins at me, his eyes trained on mine. He scratches his beard and replies, “Your dinner with that guy? Sure.Your dinner with me? Anything but. But you can keep lying to yourself. It was nice seeing you again, Liv.”

There it is, that nickname again. From someone I just met? I shouldn’t love it as much as I do but I do, nonetheless. He turns his body around as if he’s going to walk away from me.

“Wait!” I shout, and Alex stops dead in his tracks, turning around slowly to face me.

“Yes?” he asks, unable to hide his grin.

“Let’s try this again, shall we?” I ask and he nods. “Hey, Alex!., Sorry I was airing our dirty laundry to my best friend, but last night was fun and it deserved to be relived.”

“Nowthatsounds like the truth. And regardless, I was just giving you a hard time. Although I would suggest not talking about explicit content in public. You know, Santa’s always watching,” he teases.

I take a sip of my hot cocoa, the warmth spreading through me like a hug as I blink slowly and let the moment between us pass.

“Alright, well, now I’m definitely the third wheel. Can we move on, or do I need to go home and let you two strip each other naked with your eyes some more?” Hailey interrogates, and we both laugh.

“Sorry. Where are my manners?” I quip with an eye roll. “Alex, this is Hailey. Hailey this is?—”

I get interrupted by Hailey saying, “Alex Haddock. So nice to officially meet you. My family and I are big fans.”

Big fans? When I asked him yesterday if he was famous and he saidsomething like that,I thought he was bullshitting me. Now, Hailey seems to not only know who he is, but also she’s a big fan?

“Uh, really? I thought I lost all of those.” His flashing smile disappears as he puts his hands in his pocket. Lastnight when we first talked, he looked a little grumpy, maybe even shy. But now he seems sad after that comment.

“Why? Because the media seem to think you’re this asshole who hates everyone? That might be true, but your true fans are still out there. Especially people from your hometown,” Hailey insists, smiling at him.

He stays silent, looking at her with puzzled eyes before nodding. His shoulders relax and he turns his face to look at me.

“So, Livie, Thor of a man?” Alex asks, raising his eyebrow at me and bringing his thumb to my upper lip, sliding it softly over it. That single touch raises goosebumps all over my skin. “Just a little whipped cream,” he adds when he sees my confusion, and then he gently sucks his thumb into his mouth.

“Oh my God! Get a room,” Hailey shouts. “I’m leaving; you two have fun!”

I shake my head. “No, Hails, wait. You and I were here together. Alex can go on his merry way.”

“Nah, it’s okay. You two,” she says, looking at us both and laughing gently, “you two can continue this whole sexual tension situation without a spectator. Be safe children, be safe.” She turns on her heel and walks back to where her car is parked.

“Is she always that blunt?” Alex asks.

“Yup,” I say, popping the ‘p’ and nodding. “You should see her with people she knows—she’s obnoxiously direct.”

“You mean like you? Not obnoxious, obviously, but direct to the max.”

“I am not,” I protest, crossing my arms over my chest.

This pulls a smile from his face. “I bet you have plenty of room in that big truck of yours,” he says, mimicking my voice from last night. I’m sure now I’m blushing becausesuddenly, in the light of day, I don’t feel as bold or forward as I was last night. I can feel the heat rising up my neck to my cheeks and when he chuckles, I know he can tell.

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