Page 49 of Wild Tangled Hearts

He’s sitting at a corner table, a smile playing on his lips when our gazes meet. My heart flutters as I approach him.

"Hey," he says, rising from his seat to greet me with a warm hug. His muscles press against me as he leans in, and I can't help but notice how strong he feels.

"Hi," I reply, my voice a tad too breathless. Alex has that effect on me – effortlessly making my heart race.

He gestures to the seat opposite him, and I slide into it. He's already ordered my favorite – a caramel macchiato, and as I take my first sip, the familiar blend of sweet and bitter washes over my taste buds, soothing my nerves. I glance over at him, and he's watching me with those captivating dimples that make me smile.

"Thanks for the coffee," I say, trying to keep my voice steady.

His dimples deepen. “Thanks for meeting me.”

His woodsy and masculine scent wraps around me, making me feel safe and strangely connected.

"I wanted to thank you again for helping me the other night," I say.

"I'm just glad you're feeling better," he replies sincerely.

"I was shocked to see you at the stag and doe," I admit, curiosity tugging at me.

“Hal and I went to school together,” he says.

“Oh, that makes sense. I met Kimmy in college. They seem to be happy.”

“Yeah.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I never thought he was the settling down type. But he’s head over heels for her.”

Silence hangs between us, and I take another sip of my coffee.

“Alex–”

“Bella–”

We say in unison, then laugh nervously.

“You go first,” I tell him.

He drags his fingers through his sun-kissed hair and lets out a heavy breath. "I need to explain something about my past. It’s why I’ve been struggling with us. And I know it isn’t fair to you...” There’s a war in his eyes as if he's battling his inner demons before laying his history bare before me.

I reach across the table and take his hand, and his calloused fingers tighten around mine.

“You know I was in a long-term relationship, which ended badly.”

“With the woman at the Stag and Doe?”

He nods. “Angie. We were together for years, since high school. There was a group of us. Me, her, Hal, and Sawyer. We were inseparable.”

“That’s a long time to be with someone.” And I can’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy.

“Looking back, I think we stayed together because it was familiar. Safe. I don’t know. I guess I thought I loved her. And in a way, I did. But not the way I should. Does that make sense?”

I nod. “Why did you break up?”

He laughs, but there’s no humor in the sound, only a bitter undertone that hangs in the air. “I knew Sawyer and her were close. But it wasn’t until I found them in her bed that I realized how close they’d gotten.”

“She cheated on you.”

“They both did. He was my best friend. And I’m still not sure who I was angrier at. Found out that it had been going on for years.”

“I’m so sorry, Alex. I know how hard that is. To trust someone and have them betray you like that is one of the most painful things in the world." I pause, my heart aching for him.

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