Page 21 of A Moment for Us
“He came to see the floors,” I answer Alex.
“I was picking something up.” Josh speaks at the same time.
“Which is it?” Alex prods.
I can feel Josh’s anger radiating, and I’m sure everyone else can too. He doesn’t like to be questioned, and he definitely doesn’t like lying, so this situation is going to come to a head very quickly if I don’t defuse it.
“Odette!” I call her name, waving at her. “I wanted to ask you something.”
She comes over, smiling at everyone. “Of course, what can I help with?”
“It’s a decorating thing, actually,” I say quickly. “I was telling Josh the other day about how I’m going to be remodeling my cabin soon.”
“Oh! That’s wonderful.”
I smile. “Yes, I’m really excited. Josh was saying I should do the kitchen, but it’s a huge undertaking. Grayson is going to do the floors in just one room for me, right, Gray?” I shift to him.
“Yeah, this week.” He looks to Josh. “Are you helping too?”
“Yes. I told Delia when I took her home after the cake debacle that I would.”
I release a heavy sigh. The mood and discussion changes as the brothers start talking about the best way to rip up the floor and lay the new one. I couldn’t care less if they talk about this for hours because it means they’re not discussing me or Josh.
Just then, Alex turns to us. “Okay, we have a plan.”
“Oh? Should I be scared?”
“Don’t worry. We’ve got this. Josh is going to stop by tonight to re-measure since Grayson is known to be a bit of a dumbass when it comes to writing things down, and then we’ll get to work.”
“This all sounds promising,” I say with a smile.
“It is. Take a walk with me?” Alex asks with his hand extended.
“Umm . . . okay.” I follow him out, walking toward the bar area. “Is everything okay?” I ask.
“I’m not sure, Deals.”
Alex has always been hard to read. He’s not like his siblings in so many ways. Josh is the protector, always looking for ways to help everyone. Grayson is the provider, who ensures things run smoothly. Stella is the manager in every freaking way, and Oliver is the playful one. He makes sure that everyone remembers to relax a little, but Alex, well, he’s serious and a little broken.
“Just start at the beginning and go from there.”
Alex runs his fingers through his dark hair. “Being back in this town is like a fucking time warp. Do you ever feel that way?”
I laugh. “Yes. I think everyone here does.”
“I love my siblings, but . . .”
“But?”
He sighs, looking out at the trees. “I don’t belong here.”
“What about the resort?” I ask.
He shrugs. “I’m not going to leave, but I hate this damn town. I hate having to see my mother and worry about running into my father. But it’s like nothing has changed, and yet, everything has . . .”
His eyes move over to where Winnie stands. A long time ago, Alex had feelings for Winnie, but he never acted on them.
“Still?” I ask.
