Page 111 of All We Need

A soft touch stalls my inner conflict.Iturn to find a set of calming, blue eyes watching me carefully.

Give him a chance,his face says.

SoIdo.

I twist to faceMartin, shoulders pulled back. “Okay.Butif they don’t want to know me, just say it.Don’tindulge me or try to protect my feelings.”

He nods once.

Expecting this interaction to be over,Imake for my escape just as he murmurs behind me. “I’dlike to know you,Alessandra.Ifthat’s okay.”

With a single glance over my shoulder, my dying hope clutched close to my chest,Icatch his shoulders collapse.Onlyto lift at my response.

“Friday morning, at ten o’clock.Wecan meet at the bakery beforeIhead to the restaurant.”

I don’t wait for his reply.I’maware of my unpleasant, surly attitude, and he’s likely second-guessing his request to know me.That’shis choice.

Mine is to get out of this room.Thishouse.

The secondIstep outside,Ifinally breathe, gulping down the blistering cold air until solid arms encompass me.

“You did it.Youdid so good.I’mso proud of you.”Booth’swarm breath coasts over my cheek.

I don’t trust myself to talk.Thetight hold he has on me keeps me upright.

But it shouldn’t.

Relying on him is foolish.Ourtime is almost up.Hewon’t be there to pick up the pieces when it ultimately falls apart; fractured by more disappointment.That’smy job.Noone else’s.

It’s about timeIremember that.

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

booth

Still waters run deep.

To most,AlessandraArgirosis calm, controlled, composed.Herwaters glassy and undisturbed.ButIsee her.Theraging river that she is.Whitewaters crash along the banks as she carves out a path in the world.She’spowerful, her inner strength running deeper than she knows.

Small ripples in her composed demeanor reveal themselves.Hardlynoticeable unless you look close enough.I’moverly aware of everything to do with her.Theway her lips pinch tight when she’s concentrating.Theslow lift of her right brow whenIsay something amusing—or stupid.Thesmall curls framing her face that refuse to be tamed after a long, tiring day.

And the way she stares into space, distracted by her thoughts when she thinks no one is looking.

It’s been three days since the tense meeting withMartin.Shehasn’t brought it up, butIknow it sits heavily on her mind.

Do either of them realize how similar they are?Howthe towering walls they’ve built over the years can’t hide their obstinate nature.Martin’sstubbornness is subtle throughhis silence and pride, whereasAly’sis more obvious through her smart mouth and immoveable opinions.

I want to ask howIcan help, but thenIrisk unraveling everything we’ve overcome.Soinstead, we throw ourselves into our work.Aly’shas demanded her attention for the last two days, and the restaurant has been surprisingly busy for mid-January.I’mexhausted after my shifts, and whileIdon’t believe she’s avoiding me, we haven’t seen one another outside ofOurPlacesince the meeting withMartin.

Our time should be spent entangled in her bedsheets or making out on my sofa like two horny teenagers.Butinstead,I’mdrafting up new prices for the menu as perAly’srequest.

“You almost finished here?”Patrickcalls from the other side of the restaurant.Heflips over the last of the chairs before walking to whereI’mtrying and failing to concentrate.Sometimeswhen we’re working a late shift together,Ifinish up on the restaurant floor rather than the office.I’mquickly regretting my choice today.

“No,”Igroan as my head thuds against the large wooden table.

The chair creaks beneath his weight as he sits opposite me. “Ladytrouble?”

“Fuck off.”

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