Page 41 of Fall I Want
“We’rejustfriends.” I sit at the desk and drop my head against my arms as a chill runs up my spine. “Strangers, if I’m honest.”
“That’s how most relationships start,” Blaire says.
“I’m doomed, aren’t I?”
“Or maybe you’re destined,” Julie offers as we leave together.
As soon as our feet hit the pavement, I take the lead in front of them. I round the corner of the building, and crash into a brick wall. Or so I thought. When I turn my focus forward, strong hands are steadying me. I meet his blue eyes and my mouth falls open as he smiles.
“Alex,” I whisper.
“Sorry,” he mutters. “I was trying to catch you after your shift. Not literally, though.”
“We’ll see you two later,” Julie says, pulling Blaire away. They’re giggling like teenagers as they turn in the opposite direction.
“Sorry,” I say, noticing how close we are with his firm grasp still on me.
“Don’t be.” He lets me go. “Will you join me for dinner at Bookers at eight?”
I laugh. “Tonight?”
“Yes. If you’re busy—”
“I’m not.” I smile. “It would be fun.”
He glances down at his watch, the one that costs a quarter of a million dollars, then his phone rings.
“I’m sorry, but I’ve got to take this. I’ve been avoiding this call all day. I’ll see you tonight?” His voice is honey.
“Perfect.”
He grins and answers. I walk away, but before he’s out of sight, I turn and glance back at him. As he crosses the street, he turns his head and our eyes meet. I tuck my lips inside my mouth and continue forward toward my place.
Did he catch me or was it the other way around?
When I get home, I eat a quick turkey wrap then unbox the new phone, powering on my old one. I put on the screen protector and case, hoping it will make it last longer than three months. The pumpkin case was a nice touch considering I have a feeling it’s now become my new nickname. I’m not complaining though. Secretly, he can call me Pumpkin any day of the week.
As my data transfers over, I move to my closet and skim over my clothes.
I slide a dress from the hanger and decide against it, then pull out a purple slouchy sweater and a pair of jeans. This is dinner with a friend, not a date. The last thing I want to do is give off the wrong impression. But I do want to solve him like a puzzle, even if he’s already three steps ahead of me.
I grab my poem book and write. Lately, I’ve been jotting themdown as soon as he comes to mind. Alex has me feeling things I haven’t felt in years.
There you are again
Thoughts of you keep haunting me.
How can you be real?
As I breathe out, I replay the moment we crashed together and how close his lips were to my mouth. I wonder how they would feel pressed against mine.
The new phone dings and it snaps me back to reality. I swipe through my photos to ensure I’m not missing anything. I scroll back a few years and stop at a photo of me and Sebastian at the resort. He’s smiling wide and one of his gloved hands gives a thumbs-up while the other is wrapped around me. The year prior, we met on the lifts and I thought it was love—maybe more like lust—at first sight.
When things were good with us, they werereallygood. The highest of highs came with the lowest of lows.
A notification pops up at the top of the screen. When I see Alex’s name, I grin and click on it.
Alex
