Page 48 of Finally Loved

Charlie had a partner, presumably had friends and colleagues outside of their apartment, but the first sign of Neve befriending someone and she resorted to anger, control, and comments no friend should ever be saying to someone they supposedly cared about? Did she expect Neve to live a life isolated from everyone else? Even if it was simply concern that Alba was trying to date Neve and would then break up with her just like Roxanne, the whole thing felt like a massive overreaction, like there had to be something deeper to it. Alba just couldn’t figure out what.

Though, she didn’t think she’d ever be able to figure out what motivated someone to tell their best friend that nobody would ever care about them for who they are.

Neve didn’t seem to have any insights on the cause either, and that just made the whole thing even weirder. Whatever was going on was entirely one-sided but Charlie had destroyed Neve and their friendship for it—whatever it was.

Alba pulled off the main road and onto an unassuming, quiet road that was hard to spot if you didn’t know it existed. They wound up it, passing nobody else on their way.

It was only once they reached the top and Alba parked the car that Neve seemed to really take in her surroundings.

“Where are we?” she asked, staring out the window at the view.

Alba smiled softly, watching Neve’s mesmerized expression. Today might suck, but at least this moment was good. She grabbed the bag of food from the back. “I don’t actually know what it’s called, but I found it by accident once, and now I like to come here when I need a little… distance.”

In truth, she mostly came here when she needed to work through things or celebrate things she wasn’t ready to tell other people about yet. There was something about looking out at the city, miles away and lit up at night, that just made everything better.

“Shall we?” Alba offered her hand to Neve even though she would definitely need to let go of it to get out of the car.

Neve took it, glancing for only a moment at Alba before looking back out at the view and nodding but not moving.

Bringing her to this lookout had probably been the best idea of Alba’s life.

After a long moment, Neve let go of Alba’s hand and led the way out of the car.

Alba joined her, slipping the car keys into her own pocket, and feeling an odd spark of delight at doing so. It wasn’t the time, the place, or the relationship for it, but there was something so intimate about it. Well, maybe there wasn’t, but, for Alba, it felt like there was. Probably just because it was Neve, though. She’d never felt the same way putting Zainab’s keys in her pocket. Which, actually, didn’t happen all that often, but probably had once or twice.

Alba caught up with Neve and led her over to a picnic bench. In the daylight, especially at weekends, it was a battle to get a spot here, but, at night, Alba had never had to fight for it. Shewas planning to be civil because Neve was with her, but was impressed when Neve, without hesitation, clambered up on top of the table. It was the exact spot Alba always found herself sitting in, always desperate for just a little more height, just a little more view of the valley beyond that spread out until it met the city.

Attempting to hide her soft smile, she climbed up next to Neve and set about handing her food just for something to do other than staring at her in amazement.

Neve held the box against her knee for a moment, still looking out at the view, before she looked down at it. “You really didn’t have to come at all, let alone bring me food.”

“I know. I wanted to.”

“If you’d asked me half an hour ago, I’d have told you I was in no mood to eat.”

Alba watched her. “And now?”

A sad smile flickered across her face. “I think I should eat something.”

“You only have to eat what you want to. No more, no less.”

She nodded, taking a deep breath before she opened the container and stared at it. “How did you—?”

Alba’s chest expanded triumphantly. She’d chosen well. “Just a lucky guess.”

“I’d just assumed it was going to be fries. Which, don’t get me wrong, that would have been amazing too, but…” She looked at Alba, her eyes wide and mystified.

“Hey, I paid attention. What can I say?”

Neve’s breath caught around a sob and Alba watched her fight back tears. She was certain she’d never made someone cry over food before, but she knew it really wasn’t about the food. Even Alba was insightful enough to know it was the feeling of being seen and understood by someone, right when Neve needed it the most.

“Bon appétit,” Alba said, smiling.

“Do you speak French?”

“Uh, no. Sorry. Not really. I did a little bit in school, but, generally, no.” She laughed. “I was just… being fancy.”

Neve breathed a laugh. “I think the view’s already bringing the fancy for you.”

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