Page 8 of At My Worst

“Really?”

He nods. “Yes, I can call my friend if you want.”

I sit back and turn, looking out the window at the waves. I wasn’t planning on staying here, but I have no reason not to. This place is gorgeous and peaceful. Maybe staying here for alittle bit before moving on wouldn’t be such a bad thing. I turn and look at Alexander and nod.

I take a sip of my coffee, watch him smile, and grab his phone from his pocket.

I don’t know if I will stay long, but getting a therapist job should be easy enough, or at least I am hoping it is, and I can start writing wherever. Maybe taking a few weeks to figure out a solid plan before I move on is the smart thing.

“Are you okay with a week-by-week agreement?” He asks, looking up from his phone.

“Yes, that would be great,” I respond, watching him.

He nods and sends a text. I shouldn’t be looking at him like this or at all, really, but damn, he is sexy as fuck.

“He can come by with the keys in a few hours,” Alexander confirms.

“Wow, that was fast,” I say with amusement and surprise.

Alexander puts his phone in his pocket and leans over, pouring himself a cup of coffee. “I know a lot of people. It is not a problem.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem,” Alexander says, pushing off the counter and returning to the kitchen.

I lean forward and start picking apart the breakfast in front of me. I know I should look at my phone, but I am not ready yet. I don’t know if I will ever be ready if I am being honest with myself. But I will have to face the music sometime.

Alexander and I followed his friend down the sidewalk. He wasn’t kidding when he said it was down the street, three houses, to be exact.

Josh introduced himself and showed me the house. It is a small one-bedroom, one-bath, right on the beach. Now that it is just me, I don’t need much room.

“If you need anything, I live two houses down that way,” Josh says with a smile as he hands me the keys and points down toward the direction of his house.

“Thank you again.”

He nods and walks down the three steps to the sidewalk. I make my way onto the deck and lean forward, resting my forearms on the railing as I look out at the ocean. I have always wanted to live in a small town on the beach, but it has never been something I could have done.

I take a deep breath as Alexander comes to my side, leaning against the railing. He crosses his arms over his chest and looks at the waves with me.

“I’m glad you are staying,” he says softly.

I look at him, and at the same time, he turns and looks at me.

His eyes are so green. They are breathtaking. “Me too,” I say softly.

He makes me nervous. All of this makes me nervous, but having a place to figure shit out is probably the best thing.

“I will be at the tavern if you need me,” he offers.

“Thank you.”

“No problem, Bianca,” he says, pushing off the railing. He gently touches my lower back as he walks by, taking his salty smell with him.

I am in so much trouble.

4

Alexander

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