Page 33 of Love You Like That (Excess All Areas 4)

“I know.” He pressed off the wall and walked over to her. “Can you understand me okay?”

Zoe nodded.

“You don’t need to know. You don’t have to have it all figured out. I know what it feels like to not know who you are. I know what it feels like when who you are feels like it’s not good enough for others. Just focus on loving yourself.”

Her eyes stung with tears. For Alex, and the journey he’d been through. “I’m sorry someone made you feel like that. Because you’re growing on me, Alex King.”

Alex smiled and ran a thumb along her cheek. “Yeah, well, I’m sorry people are making you doubt yourself. Because you’re growing on me too.”

They stared at each other for a moment longer, but the corridor began to feel as if it was closing in on her. And she was suddenly so emotionally overwhelmed that if she took a step forward, she’d probably do something stupid…like kiss him…or pass out from the throbbing at her temple.

“I gave you an out from your parents. You want to get out of here and take a walk? We can’t let your parents see us for the next few hours.”

Zoe patted the room key in her pocket. “I’ve had a headache for the last hour,” she said, pulling off her hearing aids. “I’m going to go take a nap.”

Alex studied her for a long moment. “You sure?”

“I am. Thanks for saving me today.”

“You’re welcome.”

Zoe pointed at him, then turned her palms to the ceiling and repeatedly curled her fingers as if calling him toward her.

“What’s that?” he asked.

“You’re welcome. Seeing it’s the second time you’ve said it today.”

Alex nodded once, repeated the sign, and then waved goodbye.

He turned and walked down the corridor to his room, and she watched every step until his door closed behind him.

Despite the headache and conversation, she entered her own room with a smile on her face.

Alex let the door to his room close behind him and began to pace.

What the fuck had just happened in the hallway?

One minute, he’d seen Zoe in the sitting room of the hotel looking like she’d just been hit with the wrong end of a shovel and…bang. Next thing, he was in a hallway getting definite kiss-me vibes from her and please-let-me vibes from his dick.

But it was more than sexual spark. It was…fuck. It was the first time she’d really needed him. Not like the thing in the bar with Amit when she could clearly have dealt with him by herself. Or with Rich, when he’d stepped in, even though she was handling herself.

She’d needed his help. He’d offered it. She’d taken it. And thanked him for it. And it was a spectacular thing to be needed by Zoe Atkins.

Which meant he seriously needed to think about what happened next. Because no matter how she looked at him and no matter how fucking good he felt inside right now, it couldn’t last.

It wouldn’t last.

Even if he kissed her, even if he wooed her, she’d wake up one morning and it would be all over.

For all he’d bet Zoe he could hook her up, he knew it was always a step to finding someone to settle down with. And he’d proven that people always found a reason to leave him. Plus, it would fuck up so many friendships. It would affect Jase and Cerys and Zoe’s ability to hang with them as a four. And he was pretty sure she needed him as a friend right now way more than she needed a boost to her sex life.

No.

He needed to shake off what had just happened and get back on hooking her up with a stranger.

Even if the idea bit like it had teeth.

He flopped onto the bed and scrolled through his phone, looking for music to take the edge off his thoughts. But everything felt too…wrong. Too fast. Too edgy. Too chill. Too slow. Too raw. Too smooth.

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