Page 8 of Alex
Alexgrins at me when I plop onto the couch beside him. “No screeching from thatone.”
“Nope,she’s quiet and kinky. Awesome combination.” Leaning back, I open my laptop andsort through my personal emails. It’s mostly spam and crap, but my heartconstricts at the sight of a message from Noah Winters.
Ona whim a few months ago, I hired Mr. Winters to locate my birth parents. I knownothing about my biological family. I can’t imagine they are the best peoplesince they abandoned me. All the state would tell me was I was left at a firestation when I was four years old along with my birth certificate and a ratty stuffedturtle.
Mybirth certificate lists only a mother named Lola Turner. I don’t know why afterall these years I want to know who she is. Maybe curiosity is just getting thebest of me, but I want to know who she is and whether I have siblings she diddeem worth keeping.
“Ian?What is it?” Alex asks, as my fingers hover over the keyboard, debating whetherto open the email. “You look like someone grabbed your nuts.”
Itkind of feels that way. “The P.I. must’ve found something.”
“Aboutyour parents? What does it say?”
“Ihaven’t read it yet.”
Alex’sexpression is compassionate. “Do you still want to know?” I nod, and he says,“Then open it. Pull off the band aid.”
He’sright. I have to read the message three times before the words set in. “Mymother died a month before I was abandoned. Car accident. He’s sent the addressof her mother…my grandmother. She lives in Hawaii.”
Alexlays a hand on my arm. “I’m sorry about your mother.”
“Don’tbe. I didn’t know her,” I snap, getting to my feet.
“Well,I’m sorry you won’t get the chance. Would you like to meet your grandmother?”
Goodquestion. “I don’t know. I guess I need to think about it.”
“Shemay know who your father is.”
“Yeah.”I scrub my face with my palms. “I’m going to crash.”
“Showerfirst. You smell like perfume and ass,” Alex taunts, changing the subject.
“Iwill, after I wallow in your bed.”
ChapterTwo
Alex
Everyinch of my body aches when I drag myself out of bed. First workout in threemonths kicked my ass and I need a hot shower before I head back today. Ipromised Mason I’d teach an extra children’s class at our MMA gym today sincethe schools are still out for the holidays.
Ianbarely grunts at me before leaving for work. He must’ve missed out on somebeauty sleep. He’s always a grouch when he’s tired. I’ve been sleeping betterthe past few nights, ever since Cooper came to visit.
Idon’t mean I was visited by his ghost or anything crazy like that. It was adream, one I was so damn disappointed to wake up from.
“That’senough, now, Alex,” Cooper said, tugging me into his lap. God, I loved it whenhe held me. For the first minute all I could do was burrow into him and breathein his scent. When I looked around, we were back in his apartment, like thathorrible day never happened. “That’s enough now, Alex,” he repeated.
“Enoughwhat, Coop? I missed you so much.” Tears dripped down my face as his eyes metmine.
“Enoughmourning. I know you loved me, but it’s time to move on. Let me go.”
“No!”My arms tightened around him. “Don’t go. I love you.”
Hispalms cup my face. “And I love you. But I’m gone and you have your whole lifeahead of you. Get off your ass and live it.”
Thesound of the garbage collectors banging down the street woke me, and afterbawling into my pillow for a few minutes, I thought about what Cooper said. Iknew it wasn’t really him, but I also knew it was exactly what he would say,what he would want. So I dragged my ass out of bed and went to the gym.
Now,I’m paying for it, but I also feel lighter. Like I’ve been buried under a pileof heavy blankets and one by one they’ve been removed.
