Page 41 of All The Happily Ever Afters

I roll my eyes and try not to groan at the thought. This is worse than a walk of shame. I didn’t even get to have sex.

As I turn the corner headed toward the kitchen, I spot my suitcase in an instant. The faded blue and bulky casing stands out like a sore thumb on the window seat.

I cast a furtive glance at Alec, hoping I can sneak in and grab it, but it’s no use. He looks up at me from his laptop and says easily, “Good morning.”

My grip on the dress shirt tightens as I try to swallow.

“Morning,” I mutter and glance at my suitcase, desperate to change and try to collect myself.

“Drew brought it over this morning.” Alec closes the laptop and leans back in his seat, his eyes assessing me. “I thought about bringing it up to you, but I didn’t want to wake you.”

My throat’s tight as I answer, “Thank you.”

“How did you sleep?” he asks. I wonder if this is normal for him, to have random women in his clothes parading through his house half-naked on the weekends.

The thought makes me angry and fuels me to walk toward my suitcase.

Last night was a mistake.

“Fine, thank you,” I answer him brusquely although I can’t look him in the eyes. I stop when he asks me, “Is something wrong?”

“Just feeling out of sorts.” I hope he’ll just accept it and let me go about my way. I’m a fool for getting drunk last night.

“Do you need help with that?” he offers and rises from his seat.

I shake my head so fast that my hair swishes against my shoulders.

“Are you being shy?” he asks me, walking around the counter to a coffee maker. The sight is instantly accompanied by the smell of coffee, and that alone is enough to tempt me to stay just a bit longer.

Shy? Not quite the right word. I clear my throat. “Just a bit embarrassed about last night,” I admit, feeling anxiety creep through me.

“Nothing to be embarrassed about,” Alec says as he takes a mug out and pours a cup of black coffee. I note that he doesn’t add either creamer or sugar as he takes a sip.

He stares at the coffee and then across the room to look at me as he says, “I enjoyed last night.”

The way he says it makes me question if we did have sex. We didn’t though. I distinctly remember coming on to him and being denied.

I hesitate to come up with a response, and he smiles at my frustration. “It was fun having someone to talk to. I really enjoy your company, Lila,” he says with his voice full of sincerity.

I nod my head once. “It was… fun,” I finally say.

A deep rough chuckle fills the room. “Is that why you seem to be in a hurry to leave?” he asks, and it makes me feel like shit. I don’t want to be obvious, but really, what did he expect? Maybe it would have been different had I woken up in his bed in the morning, but then again, it probably would have made me feel even more like shit.

“I just don’t do this,” I say and gesture between us.

“I don’t either,” he’s quick to reply and then takes another sip of his coffee. He gives me a tight smile as he says, “You’re the first person to stay here since my brother’s left.”

His admission catches me off guard. I’m not that naïve. I narrow my eyes at him, but he only shakes his head. “I wouldn’t lie, Lila.” He reaches into the cabinet, turning away from me and picking up a mug. The ceramic clinks against another cup before he sets it down on the counter.

“Would you like a cup? Maybe some coffee and a hot shower will have you feeling better?” he offers.

The thought of both a hot shower and fresh cup of coffee makes me relax almost instantly.

Yes, that’s just what I need. “Please,” I answer and walk toward the island. I’m acutely aware I’m only in Alec’s dress shirt and my underwear, but he doesn’t seem to mind in the least. His reaction is surprising, in the best of ways. “When I came downhere, I wasn’t sure what to expect,” I tell him and watch for his response.

“And?” he asks me.

“And what?”

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