Page 32 of Love You Like That (Excess All Areas 4)

Alex put his arm over the back of the sofa and squeezed her shoulder gently, then looked straight at her. “I’m pretty sure she still is an incredible percussionist.”

Zoe smiled at him. “Thank you,” she signed, knowing full well her parents had never bothered to learn. It was part of the reason for the headache, all the lipreading and focus over a noisy dining room.

Alex tapped the side of his forefinger to his cheeks then placed his palms facing upwards to shrug.

Zoe burst out laughing. “Did you just ask me where the toilets are?”

“It was a nice moment, but I didn’t know how to sign “you’re welcome.” So, it was where are the toilets or what time is it. And I knew if I asked you the time, you’d actually answer me.” He cupped the back of her neck and squeezed once before removing his hand.

“Some of the band are taking the time to learn sign, which is super supportive of them,” she said, looking straight at her mum.

“Well, they’re lucky you can lipread and have hearing aids to help while they learn. I think we’ve always believed it would be better if you learned the skills to stand on your own two feet because not everyone you meet will be able to sign. We just wanted to help you be independent.”

There were days when she wished her mum wasn’t one of the easiest people to lipread. Deep down, she knew her mum meant for the best. She wanted Zoe to live up to her potential. Be independent. But while some parents would cosset their kids, her mum was more of a “throw the child into a river fully dressed so they learn how to save themselves” parent.

When she was little, she’d nearly set fire to the kitchen after her mum told her to figure out how to make her own toast. And there had been the stitches to her forehead when her mum had removed her stabilisers but offered no support to learn how to cycle without them.

“Rich is sick,” Alex pronounced. “I know your mum and dad are here, but I wondered if you could come help me out at sound check.”

Zoe glanced at the clock on the wall over her mum’s head. It was way too early for the band to do a sound check.

“N-o-t r-e-a-l-l-y,” he fingerspelled, then winked in a way her parents couldn’t see.

“I’m sorry, Mum, Dad. I know you came all this way to hang out, but do you think I could catch up with you later for the concert.”

“Of course,” her dad said. “You go. We’ll see you later.”

Alex stood and offered Zoe his hand. It was a strong grip, confident. And felt way too good. The fact he’d offered her a way out made her feel slightly gooey inside. He didn’t let go of it until they were on the second floor of the hotel where their rooms were down the hall from one another.

Without overthinking it, Zoe threw her arms around Alex and hugged him. “Thank you,” she muttered against his shoulder. His muscular arms slipped around her and squeezed her tightly. It felt safe, pressed up against his firm chest. Secure. And she relaxed in his arms.

What she’d intended to be a simple act of gratitude suddenly felt like so much more. And beneath the confusion of what it meant, she knew one thing.

That right now, she didn’t want to let go.

And the strange thing was, Alex didn’t let go either.

They just stood. Quietly. In the hotel hallway.

It wasn’t awkward, nor was it totally normal.

It had been like this since he’d massaged her shoulders and tucked her in bed. A familiarity. A comfort. It felt as though something had shifted. Deeper friendship? Something more?

Until a door slammed shut along the corridor and she stepped away from him. They stared at each other intently. She was certain her cheeks were flushed, but the pulse in Alex’s neck beat quickly too. He reached for her, then fisted his hands and dropped them back by his sides.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “Your mum is pretty blunt.”

Zoe leaned back against the corridor wall. “She means well. And it’s just about all that stops me from killing her.”

Alex mirrored her position. “You’re being generous.”

She looked down at the royal blue and gold pattern on the carpet. “Maybe.”

Silence settled between them.

“I don’t know who I am right now, Alex.”

The words came out quieter than she’d intended. She’d meant it more of a statement rather than admission. She glanced up to face him.

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