Page 52 of Love You Like That (Excess All Areas 4)

He was probably a banker.

Or worked in a shoe shop that sold proper fucking shoes. Bet they sold belts too.

The bartender placed the glass down on the bar, and Alex snatched it to his lips. Spinning on the stool, he surveyed the bar. A woman near the slot machine gave him the eye. But she was too…everything.

A guy playing pool scowled when Alex checked him out.

Suddenly he was fed up with bars. Of tour buses. Hotels. Of not knowing where he was with Zoe.

“Mark asked me to go to the Chinese place next door and grab some food,” Zoe said. “Will you be okay if I go?”

Would he be okay if she went?

Fucking hell. “Yeah. Sure. I’ll be in here.” He glanced over to where Mark was slipping his jacket on. Of course it was a suit jacket. Prick. He lowered his voice. “In case he turns out to be weird.”

There was a look in her eyes, and he couldn’t decode it. Like she was daring him to tell her to stay. Unless that was just wishful thinking. “I doubt he’s that. Thanks, Alex.”

Words. Shouldn’t he have them? Pep talk. Go get ‘em.You’re welcome. “Yeah.”

Yeah?What the fuck?

“Have fun,” he managed. Not stay.

His pulse raced, so much he wondered what the warning signs of a heart attack were.

She stood in front of him for a moment, as if searching for an answer to a question she hadn’t asked.

Permission.

That’s what it must be. She’d feel weird leaving him alone. “Honestly. I’m good. If you’re not back in half an hour, I’ll make my own plans.” He looked over to the pool area again. If he couldn’t find a hookup, maybe he’d find a fight.

Something to take the uncomfortable edge off.

“Okay,” Zoe said with a sigh. “See you at the hotel.”

Half an hour later, after watching back-to-back sign language videos on YouTube, Alex looked over at the door and realised she wasn’t coming back.

He’d lost her.

She wasn’t even his to lose.

Fuck it.

He grabbed his jacket from the back of the chair and flung it over his shoulder. He’d walk back to the hotel and call someone who cared.

“Hey, Nan,” he said, as he walked through Newcastle city centre to the hotel when her face appeared. She was in her dressing gown, the wall of her bedroom behind her.

“Alex, my little terror. You woke me up. How is the tour going? Where are you?”

Where was he? It took him a moment to remember. “Sorry, Nan. Newcastle.”

“Oh, that was one of your grandad’s favourite sayings. It’s like taking coals to Newcastle. Are you eating properly and getting sleep? Especially Jase. You know how cranky he is when he gets sleep deprived. Are you all behaving yourselves?”

“We are. Listen. Nan. Can I talk to you about something?”

“Anything, lad. What’s on your mind?”

“Why do you think Mum insists on staying with Dad?”

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