Page 56 of When Alec Met Evie
Alec sits down on the bed beside me, and I open my eyes. His face is heavily shadowed in the dim light, but I can see enough to recognize the concern in his expression. He lifts his hand and wipes the tear away with the pad of his thumb, his palm lingering near my face. “You okay?”
I nod and sniff. “Just tired.” I take a slow breath, my eyes falling closed again. “Tired of doing this alone.”
Alec’s hand brushes down my cheek, and I can’t keep myself from leaning into his touch.
“You aren’t alone,” he whispers. “Now try to sleep.”
I’m already halfway there, my eyes closing as my awareness grows hazy. When I feel Alec shift and lean forward, pressing asoft kiss to my forehead, I’m not entirely sure it isn’t part of the best dream I’ve had in a very long time.
CHAPTER 14
ALEC
I gofor a run the morning after I found Evie and Juno up in the middle of the night. Normally, I would just head to the Summit and run on one of the treadmills there rather than put my knee through the stress of running on concrete, but after last night, I’m keyed up, filled with a restless energy I can’t define.
I want todo something. I just can’t figure out what.
Hitting the pavement at six AM seems like as good an option as any.
It’s cold when I step onto my front porch, cold enough that my breath fogs in front of me, and the grass is crunchy with a sparkling sheen of frost. I pull a beanie onto my head to keep my ears warm, then rub my hands together and set off down the sidewalk. The longer I run, the clearer my mind becomes, and slowly, I start to make sense of the energy pulsing through me.
Yesterday afternoon, when the bus finally pulled into the Summit parking lot, I was comfortable admitting that I like Evie. That I want to get to know her. But last night, there was something else going on too. Feeling that baby fall asleep in my arms tapped into something in my brain that I’ve neverexperienced before. Something primal. I don’t just want to date Evie, I want to protect her, take care of her. I’m talking fight her battles, kill the bad guys, rid the world of anything and anyone who might ever hurt her. And I want to do the same for Juno, which is the most foreign part of all.
I’ve always been the guy who will move my date to the inside of the sidewalk or keep a steadying hand on her whenever we pass by strangers on the street. I open doors, open jar lids, carry heavy suitcases. But all of that just feels like being a nice guy who’s aware of his surroundings.
This feels different.
I hit three miles before my knee starts to hurt, but as soon as it does, I slow to a walk. I’m happy to push through the pain on the ice, but there’s no reason to do it here. I round the bend on the cul de sac just south of my house, then walk up the hill, making a mental note of where the pain is the worst so I can mention it to Eric.
The house is still quiet when I make it back inside, but Evie should be up soon since I know today is her first day of work. I’m not sure what time, but I’m guessing whatever time it is, she could probably use some coffee sooner than later, considering her night. I take a quick shower and throw on some joggers and a t-shirt, then head to the kitchen.
While I wait for the coffee to brew, I send Megan a quick text, hoping her clinicals schedule will mean she’s up early.
Alec
How does Evie like her coffee?
Megan
SHUT UP YOU ARE TOO SWEET.
Which is exactly how she likes it. Cream and the amount of sugar you think a normal person would like, plus the same amount one more time. Dessert coffee.
Alec
Got it. Think she’s already awake?
Megan
She’s up! I already talked to her.
Alec
Perfect. Thanks.
Megan
Just for the record. I know what’s happening here. And I just want you to know I LOVE IT.
