Page 53 of Wild Tangled Hearts

Alex

MORNING OF RESOLUTIONS

With a groan of appreciation, I step into the warm embrace of Alex's shower, letting the water cascade over me. It's as if each droplet carries away the remnants of last night's misery. My head continues to throb, and my stomach protests the mistreatment it endured. Nevertheless, I feel a hundred times better as I wrap myself in one of Alex's plush towels.

I appreciate Alex's gesture in washing my dress, but as I ease into it, the desire for something more comfortable tugs at me. Hoping he won't take offense, I venture into his closet, searching for an alternative. My eyes land on a soft, grey hoodie, and without hesitation, I slip into its cozy embrace. The hoodie carries the faint, woodsy undertones of his masculine scent, wrapping around me like a warm, comforting hug.

“Hope you don’t mind if I borrow your sweatshirt,” I say, walking into the kitchen where Alex is scrambling eggs.

He glances over his shoulder at me and gives a dimpled grin. “Looks way better on you than me. Keep it as long as you want.”

“Thanks.” I sit down at the table, appreciating the effort he’s gone to.

Crispy bacon, fresh-cut fruit, and fluffy waffles sit in the center. I’m surprised that my stomach doesn’t revolt — instead, my mouth waters in anticipation.

"You didn’t have to do all this," I say, genuinely touched by his efforts.

“I didn’t know what you’d want, so I figured I’d make everything.” He sets a plate of perfectly scrambled eggs on the table, then pours me a cup of coffee.

I take a bite of the crispy bacon and wink at him. "If you keep cooking like this, I might never leave."

He chuckles. "Well, that's not necessarily a bad thing, is it?"

I can't help but wonder if he's being sincere. Moments like these leave me baffled by the mixed signals he sends. His smile is genuine, his actions thoughtful, yet a part of me hesitates, questioning the depth of his intentions.

"I was shocked to see you at the stag and doe," I say, changing the subject.

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

“Oh, that makes sense. I met Kimmy in college.” I scoop some eggs on my plate and take a small bite. “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 a sip of my coffee. So many unsaid words linger between us, and I need answers. I like him. But I don’t want to play games, especially if he’s still hung up on his ex.

“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. There are things that I’m dealing with. Shit, that has my head pretty fucked up right now. 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,” he says.

“With the woman at the Stag and Doe?”

“Angie.” His eyes twitch, and his breathing changes. “We were together for years. We started dating in high school. That’s why she was at the Stag and Doe. There was a group of us. Me, her, Hal, and Sawyer.”

“That’s a long time to date 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?”

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