Page 24 of Beneath the Surface

His finger jumps down and presses into my lips. “Sssh. Don’t ask questions you don’t want the answer to.”

My brows scrunch. “But Idowant the answer.”

He shakes his head. “You really don’t.”

Brushing by me, he walks inside, stopping in the middle of the living room and glancing around. “I’m here to help.”

“Helpwhat?”

“You, obviously.” He spins, his hands on his hips. “I don’t want to brag, but I think your son might be a little in love with me, and because I can’t help the charm that oozes from my pores, I guess I’ll have to stick around and keep entertaining him.”

I roll my eyes, my stomach clenching tight. Alex walks over to the couch and sits down.

“No, please, make yourself at home,” I snark.

He smiles. “Do you or do you not need someone to help take care of Chase?”

My brows furrow. “How do you—?” I shake my head. “Well, Idobut not you.”

He frowns. “Whynotme?”

My muscles tighten. “Um, because I don’t know you? Because it’s super fucking weird that you’re just showing upeverywhereI am for the past few weeks, and now suddenly you want to just watch my child? Because you’re a man who I can’t trust?”

Alex’s face turns down more with every word, and he sighs, tugging the toothpick out of his mouth. “Annabelle told me where you lived when she was leaving my room... to coveryourshift. I just thought you could use the help.”

My stomach curdles knowing that Annabelle gave up my address so easily, and a flash of them together, having pillow talk about my issues makes my insides pull.

“Oh.” My shoulders slump.

The corner of his mouth lifts. “Yeah,oh.”

My fingers scratch the inside of my wrist as I walk to the high counter that separates my tiny kitchen from the living space, grabbing a piece of cinnamon gum and popping it in my mouth. “I appreciate you stopping by Alex, but it’s fine.”

“Okay.” He nods. “So what are you planning to do tomorrow, or the next day?”

I cringe.

“Right.” He smacks his knees with his hands as he stands. “That’s what I thought. I’m here. I can do my work from anywhere. Let me help.”

My stomach muscles seize at the thought of trusting him. Of leaving this virtual stranger alone with my toddler.

I shake my head. “I don’t evenknowyou.”

“So get to know me.” His arms raise to the sides.

“What, right now?”

He shrugs. “No time like the present.”

I’m quiet, the cinnamon flavor of the gum singeing my taste buds. “Okay. Where are you from?”

“Originally? Oregon.” His mouth tightens. “Next.”

Oregon?“Where do you live now?”

He grins. “Wherever the wind takes me.”

I scoff. “See? This is my point. You don’tgiveme anything. Christ, it’s like pulling teeth trying to form a complete image of you in my head.”

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