Page 45 of Fall I Want
“I’ve tried texting you since the beginning of the month.” Sebastian’s voice softens. “Did you change your number?”
“I blocked you,” she snaps. “The dayyouended it.”
“That’s what I’d like to discuss with you,” he says with sad eyes, nearly pleading.
“Holmes.” I bark out his last name in the same way I used to when we were on the slopes together. Autumn tenses, realizing I know her ex. The thought of her ever being with him makes me sick to my goddamn stomach. “I don’t like the way you’re speaking to my fuckinggirlfriend.”
His jaw clenches tight and I glare at him.
She interlocks her fingers with mine and I kiss her knuckles, smelling her sweet perfume that smells like the flowers I picked. “You let me go, Bastian. You didn’t expect me to wait for you, did you? That’s ridiculous.”
I have to admit, it was harsh as fuck.
His mouth opens and closes, then he narrows his eyes at me before walking away.
“Do you two know each other?” She’s pissed.
“Yes,” I say, picking up my water and taking a sip. Fuck him for ruining my perfect night with her.
“Zane Alexander?”
“Shh. Not too loud,” I whisper.
“I’m confused.”
“That’s my name.” I hold out my hand toward her and she takes it. “Most call me Alexander. You call me Alex.”
“Nice to officially meet you,Zane fucking Alexander.” She lets me go. “Why did you lie to me?”
“To protect myself.”
“From who?”
“The public,” I say. “Do you know who I am?”
“No,” she says, and she tries to scoot out of the booth, but I wrap my arm around her hip, keeping her next to me. “I have no reason to lie to you. I planned to tell you tonight so you could fully understand who you’re hanging out with. You deserve the truth.”
Relief washes over me when she relaxes.
“My name is highly recognizable if you’re into celebrity gossip.”
“I’m not.” She shrugs, still completely unimpressed by me, and I fucking love it.
“My family owns the resort on the mountain and many others across the world.”
“Oh,” she says, and makes a face.
“Tell me why you had that reaction.”
“I just don’t agree with everything they do.”
I pick up my water and take a sip. “Something we can agree on. I’m here on vacation, but I’m willing to listen to any of your suggestions.”
That makes her smile.
“I didn’t want our friendship to be built on a lie or for you to be blindsided. I can see I failed and I’m sorry about that.”
“I get it.”
