Page 42 of Adoration: Isn't What It Seems (Love Isn't What It Seems 2)

“We’ll figure it out.” His calm voice soothed.

I was a mess, my life was a mess. I wasn’t sure what to do to make sure Brandon was taken care of. Lena and I were supposed to grow old together. We were supposed to have kids together and see them grow up. She wasn’t supposed to die so young. Larry wasn’t supposed to die.

Alexander took my chin under his fingers and lifted my face to his.

“It will be okay,” he promised as he wiped my wet face with his fingers.

I nodded although I didn’t quite believe it.

“I’m sorry,” I murmured, ashamed now that I broke down like that. Aware of my arms around him, I let go and instantly felt like I lost another precious thing.

“Don’t be.” He pulled out a handkerchief and gently tapped my face dry. “C’mon, have some tea. It will help.”

He pulled out the seat for me, and I sat down, sniffling, trying hard to calm down. It took me a few minutes, my face still felt wet.

“Tell me what you need,” he said calmly, like I didn’t just lose my shit and bawl all over him.

I stared at him in silence. He had been the first one to ask what I needed since all this happened. I had no idea what he was thinking, but for some reason, I was grateful he was here. I kept watching him under my lashes, and finally, I decided I needed to swallow my pride, stop my dreams and get a grip. Brandon needed me. I’d figure out what I needed after Brandon was taken care of. There would be no better moment than this.

“Mr. Caldwell,” I started.

“Alexander,” he corrected me. “Call me Alexander.”

“I know I said I didn’t want to work for you,” I said, and I cringed on our last two weeks. If I only knew then how it was all going to end. I met his eyes. “I, well things have changed, and I wanted to ask if you’d keep me on. Full-time.”

I brushed my hair out of my face, my fingers shaking. I did not sound convincing at all and was doing a poor job of selling myself.

“I won’t be,” I chewed my lip, trying to decide the best way to say this delicately. “I won’t be cranky.”

I mentally facepalmed myself.Cranky, did I really just say cranky?

“Ok,” he replied and my eyes shot up to his.

“Seriously?” I asked, not daring to believe it was that easy. Just like that. I felt so vulnerable at that simple grant by him that tears pooled in my eyes again.

“I don’t tend to joke around,” he told me in his calm voice. He was right about that; he was not the joking type at all. “Is that all you need?”

No, but the problem was that I couldn’t gather my thoughts enough to figure out what I needed. I was so clueless that I didn’t even know what I needed at this very moment.

So I just nodded.

“Thank you,” I whispered and wrapped my fingers around my tea mug to hide the shaking.

Maybe things would work out after all.

“Are you going to be alright?” His question had me raising my eyes to his blue gaze.

“Yes, thank you very much.” My voice was a soft whisper through a stuffy nose. “This week has been a shock, but we’ll be alright.”

We watched each other, and for some reason, I felt naked under his watchful eye. Like he could see all my scars, insecurities, and worries. I wanted to tell him that I had no idea what Lena and Larry were thinking to assign me as Brandon’s guardian, that I was scared to death, that my life was a mess without a child in it, but instead I said nothing. I was drowning in the blue pool of his eyes.

Suddenly, he stood up and I followed the movement.

“I should go and let you two get some rest,” he commented, watching me as if he was looking for something and I didn’t know how to give it to him. “Can I have your cell phone, please?” he asked.

Completely out of it, I reached for it and handed it to him without even questioning why. He typed something in it.

“I added my cell number to your contacts,” he told me. “I sent myself a text so I’ll know it’s you. If you need anything, text me or call me.”

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