Page 20 of It Started with a Kiss
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I unlocked the door to my apartment and closed it carefully behind me, trying not to alert Alec to my presence. I had no clue if he was even home.
‘So... she finally returns.’ I closed my eyes and dropped my head at the acidic tone of Alec’s voice. He suddenly appeared in front of me. ‘Where the hell have you been? I’ve been worried sick, you silly cow.’ He pulled me into his arms and hugged me fiercely.
‘I’m sorry, Al. I didn’t mean to worry you.’
He pulled away and peered into my eyes. ‘Worry me? It’s a wonder I’ve any hair left. And I wouldnotlook good bald.’
I cringed. ‘My phone died.’ It was both an excuse and an explanation. But it was the truth. I’d realised it after Fin handed it back to me.
‘Well, thank goodness it’s just the bloody phone that’s dead and notyou. What the hell were you thinking? Where have you been? This is all so out of character for you.’
I rolled my eyes. ‘Jeez, hold off with the Spanish Inquisition,Dad.’ I did actually sound like an errant teenager, and my choice of words made Alec laugh.
‘Come on, Twinkle. Spill it.’ Alec’s pet name for me had stuck ever since I met him and he decided he couldn’t call me Star; apparently because it would make him sound too camp. After the length of time I’d known him, he’d become so in-tune with me and my emotions that it scared me sometimes.
‘I... oh God... I ended up going back with the hunky blonde guy to his apartment.’
He folded his arms over his chest and pursed his lips. ‘You slept with him, didn’t you?’
I gasped. ‘I don’t know what you mean!’
He raised his manicured eyebrows. ‘It was a one night stand, love. I know that look. Seen it many times on many friends faces. Don’t kid a kidder.’
I exhaled a long breath and hoped the regret would leave with the air from my lungs. ‘I didn’t mean for it to happen, but he poured his heart out to me over some shit in his life and I just... I don’t know... I felt for him.’
Alec’s face crumpled. ‘A pity shag? Really? Come on, Twinkle. That’s not like you.’
I held up my hands defensively. ‘No, no. It wasn’t like that. I really,reallylike the guy. I mean, what’s not to like? He’s drop dead gorgeous and he has that throaty Scottish accent thing going on. But he seemed different.’
‘And this morning? Why are you not sticking around for round two?’ I felt my cheeks heat and I closed my eyes. Alec whistled. ‘Ooh, you alreadyhad round two! So now what? Are you seeing him again?’
I dropped my bag and placed my phone on the coffee table before slumping onto the couch. ‘I don’t think so. This morning... you know,afterward... he seemed to close down on me. He said, and I quote, “You seem like a nice girl.”’
I heard Alec’s sharp intake of breath and he covered his heart with his hand. ‘Ouch.’
Nodding my head in agreement, I didn’t need to speak. I rubbed my hands over my face and flopped back to gaze up at my best friend. ‘What an idiot, huh?’
He came round and sat beside me, taking my hand in his. ‘Not at all, darling. I think you just followed your desires and stepped out of your comfort zone for a while. Did you enjoy yourself?’ My cheeks heated again as I was momentarily transported back to the passionate scene of the night before, and I pulled my lips in to try and stifle the grin threatening to give me away.
He nudged me with his shoulder. ‘I’m guessing from the look in your eyes and the colour of your cheeks that it was good.’
Sadness washed over me. ‘I’ve never experienced anything like it before.’
He grappled me into a hug and kissed the top of my head. ‘Oh, that’s shitty. So, so bloody shitty. If it’d been crap you could’ve just forgotten about him and moved on. Chalked it up to experience.’
‘Not much chance of the forgetting part, but the moving on part is a given. I don’t appear to have any choice.’
‘He may see sense yet, Twinkle. Just wait and see.’
Filled with doubt, I shrugged. ‘After the way I handled his brush off, I won’t hold my breath.’
After squeezing me to him once again, Alec stood and walked towards the kitchen. ‘Go take a shower, darling, and I’ll make you some breakfast.’
I didn’t bother to tell him that ‘round two’ had taken placeinthe shower and decided another one would do no harm. I could still smell Fin’s woodsy shower gel on my skin, and it wasn’t at all helping me to rid myself of the memories he had helped me create. With very little enthusiasm or energy, I pulled myself to my feet and made my way to the bathroom.
As I stared at my reflection in the bathroom cabinet mirror, I couldn’t help but think I’d somehow changed. Not physically, that would be crazy. But something in me had shifted. Regardless of the fact that I had only just met him officially, Fin had affected me for a very long time and this had only made it worse. I wasn’t too happy about the fact. It’s like that situation where you dream of something for so long and then you get it, only to be greatly disappointed that it wasn’t anywhere near as great as you expected. Except in my case, it was way better than I ever could have dreamed until it was over. And then it reallywasover. I would never have it again which was probably worse than never having it at all.
