Chapter Twenty-Six #2
I turned down the little street that Novel Tea was on, the cobbles round and smooth under me. The sign hanging above the door waved gently in the breeze like a beacon, welcoming me home. Silently, I prayed Alex was still there and that he’d give me a chance. I didn’t even know what time it was.
Somewhere, the church clock struck one and the chimes echoed around me, loud and bright and somehow joyful.
Through the window of Novel Tea, I could see it was packed and I realised they’d be right in the middle of the lunch rush. I didn’t know whether that was the best or worst timing ever.
The door opened and two men stepped out holding sandwiches and takeaway cups.
I realised it was Theo and Laurie. “Is Alex inside?” I asked, careening to a stop in front of them and trying to remember how to breathe between the words.
Now I’d stopped running, I felt a stitch burning in my side.
That would teach me to stop doing cardio.
“Yeah, he is,” Theo said, looking at me with a pinched expression. He was dressed in black, which seemed unusual for him, and I wondered if he and Laurie had come from a funeral. “He’s not happy, though. Did something happen between you?”
“Yeah, I was a fucking idiot,” I said.
“Are you going to apologise?” Laurie asked, levelling me with a hard stare. “Because if you’re not, I’d strongly advise you don’t go in. I won’t let you hurt him.”
“Me neither,” Theo said. “Alex can be an asshole, but he’s our asshole and we love him.”
“I do too,” I said. “And I need to tell him that before I can’t. I fucked up today, but I need to make it right because I don’t want a life without Alex in it.”
Theo smiled at me serenely and reached for the door handle. “Good, that’s what I was hoping you’d say. In you go, we’ll be right behind you.”
“Theo—” Laurie started as I walked through the door.
“Oh, come on,” I heard Theo say. “I’m not missing this.”
Novel Tea was filled to the brim, with every table occupied and a queue of people waiting at the counter.
The smell of fresh coffee filled my nose, and all I could hear was the loud hum of chatter and laughter, the hiss of the milk frother, and the clatter of crockery.
I couldn’t see Alex anywhere, but then I couldn’t see much of anything.
A few people turned to look at me, and I knew I must look like a right banana standing there in sandy bare feet with flushed cheeks and a heaving chest, since I still hadn’t caught my breath, and holding a pair of trainers.
I froze, wondering what the hell I should do. Did I need to join the queue? Could I go straight up to the counter? I didn’t want to draw attention to myself but it was a bit late for that.
Someone in front of me moved, and for a moment I got a clear view of the space behind the counter. Alex was there, facing away from me and making cups of coffee as if nothing else in the world existed.
Cleo spotted me and she smiled, nudging Alex with her elbow as she walked past and muttering something I couldn’t catch.
He turned and my feet carried me to the end of the counter, sliding into a spot between people waiting for coffee. Everyone moved and the noise seemed to dim, but I didn’t know if people had stopped talking or I’d just blotted it out.
Alex’s eyes were slightly red like he’d been crying, and he’d clearly run his hand through his hair multiple times because it stuck up at odd angles. He looked just as gorgeous as the first time I’d ever laid eyes on him, and my heart swelled.
“Alex,” I said. “You were right.”
“What about?” he asked as he put two coffees on the counter.
“I shouldn’t have asked you to leave Heather Bay for me.
That was selfish and wrong, and I shouldn’t have asked you to give up your entire life because I get so damn lonely I can’t stand it.
In these last few months, you’ve given me something I’d never thought was possible—hope.
” Alex was staring at me, and he wasn’t the only one.
But I didn’t care. They could all watch.
Alex was the only one that mattered, and I needed to tell him the truth before it was too late.
“The truth is I never thought I’d get to be loved.
I didn’t think it was possible. And then I met you.
You were rude, snarky, and saw right through me, and I’d never seen anyone more gorgeous.
I know I won’t always get things right, that I’ll be impossible, and ridiculous, and won’t think half the things I do through.
But if you’ll have me, then I’ll spend every day trying to be worthy of you. I love you, Alex, and I want to stay.”
“Love, huh?” he said, the corner of his mouth twitching. “That’s a big word.”
“I know.” I took half a step forward until I was pressed up against the counter. “But I mean it, all four letters.”
“I love you too,” Alex said as he reached across the counter and grabbed the front of my T-shirt, pulling me forwards and crashing his lips against mine. “Don’t ever fucking scare me like that again, asshole.”
I grinned and kissed him again. “Only if you keep calling me out on my shit.”
“Deal.”