Chapter Five Audrey
Chapter Five
Audrey
“Move to Colorado. Sure, why not?” I muttered to myself. “Start over like I’m the title to a Chris Stapleton song expecting better luck? Who wouldn’t want that?”
I knocked my forehead against the door twice, forgetting I’d been hit on the head only last night and the pain still lingered.
“House broken into. Forced to move in with my ex. Brother’s best friend down the hall just saw me naked.” I pressed my hands next to my head by the door, trying to get a grip. “Yup, everything’s going perfect. Luck has for sure changed moving here.”
Why, God, why? I lifted my eyes to the ceiling, waiting for a response. After I was met with only silence, I remembered I still needed to dry my hair and get dressed.
But I couldn’t stop replaying our exchange, including how long it’d taken me to cover up with that towel. That was not how my fantasies ever went. The part where he stared into my eyes, though? Maybe that was.
His gaze had been as deep and as complex as my favorite piano notes that always hit the right spot. I could write a solo based on his eyes alone and how they made me feel as he looked into mine.
Of course, from his point of view, I’d probably gawked at him like he’d been the one in his birthday suit. All six-two of that man standing in my room, in all black like a groom who belonged with me in the honeymoon suite.
“And I really gotta stop talking to myself . . . she says to herself.” I laughed. At this point, why not? Why not just box this whole thing up as one funny ha ha thing, then never think about it again. Perfect. Time to move on.
Now that I was dressed and my hair mostly dry, I picked up my phone to text my best friend and give her an update.
Me: I’m still alive. But kinda wanna be dead?
Hollis: Umm, whyyyy? P.S. - Don’t say the word dead in the same sentence with yourself. The world needs you. I mean, I for sure do. You already moved to the other side of the country. Don’t leave the world too.
I plopped down on my bed and sighed.
Hollis: By the way, you tell your mom yet you’re bunking with Trevor and the reason for it?
Me: Nope. I’m not ready to talk to her. You know why.
Me: And as for the other thing, wellllll, you’ll never believe who is three doors down from me and just saw my ass. Wait, actually, he only saw my front. But saw me naked, so, you know . . . that’s great.
Hollis: Guessing you’re not talking about Chase’s dad. So it must be Romeo.
Me: I hate that name you gave him, but yeah, he’s here.
At the unexpected notification popping up, I nearly dropped my phone.
Me: “Romeo’s” texting me. I gotta go.
Hollis: Wait.
Me: Yeah?
Hollis: Be a little flirty (it won’t kill you, I promise). Try it. You might like it.
Me: Byeeee
I took a second to pull myself together, as I was feeling as though I was about to perform on American Idol instead of reading a man’s texts.
Unknown: Thought you should have my number.
Unknown: It’s Alex, by the way. Ryder gave me your digits.
I stared at his name, allowing it to unfold in my mind to his given one, Alejandro. I let it roll off my tongue, loving it far too much. Went so far as to program his number that way, too.
Me: Thank you.
This is not happening. Absolutely not. Zero feelings of any kind allowed outside the comfort and safety of my fantasies.
Alejandro: I apologize for walking into the wrong room. I can’t remember if I said that to you yet. I was a little thrown off.
Yeah, so was I.
Me: Things happen, whatcha gonna do? lol
Me: Sorry, that’s the millennial urge in me to end every uncomfortable statement with a haha or lol. You do that?
Alejandro: I identify as Gen X. Feel older than 37. I’m more of a thumbs-up kind of guy. I heard that it drives millennials crazy, though.
Me: Just a smidge. Almost as bad as a plain K for a response.
Alejandro: I’ll be sure to remember that
I smirked. Now I’m smiling at a man’s text. Not good.
Alejandro: Maybe we shouldn’t tell your brother about what happened?
Me: And if I already did?
Alejandro: I’d be dead. Ryder’s an excellent shot.
Me: All the way from Wyoming, you don’t say?
Me: I’ve already forgotten about what happened. In fact, what are you even talking about? What should I not tell Ryder?
Alejandro: I like you.
I stared at the bouncing dots as he typed, my pulse rate jumping just as much.
Alejandro: I meant you’re cool.
Me: And maybe you are Gen X. Borderline Boomer with that response. haha
Alejandro: Guilty as charged.
Alejandro: I should probably shower. After, I plan on heading to your place to have a look. I need to borrow a ride, though. My rental might do what my ex-wife tried but actually succeed.
I reread his message as those bubbles appeared again, even more furiously this time. Your ex-wife?
Alejandro: No idea why I felt you needed a play-by-play of what I’m doing . . .
Me: Probably so I wouldn’t accidentally walk in on you too.
Me: And do you really think you’re going to just blow past that rental car comment on me like that?
Alejandro: The rental’s dangerous. It’ll kill me.
I stood and had to do another slow reread.
What’d that mean, about his ex-wife? And I thought my baggage was heavy.
I had no clue what to say, and I highly doubted he was looking to talk about his ex any more than I’d be interested in talking about either of mine, so I swerved around that conversation and maneuvered back to the original comment.
Me: Can I come with you?
Alejandro: In the shower or to your house?
Alejandro: Kidding, kidding. No way are you coming with me to your house.
Alejandro:
Yup, I’m in trouble.
Me: Funny, are you?
Alejandro: I try.
Me: Well, I haven’t been to my house since last night. I’d like to look around. Get a few more things since Trevor packed for me.
He didn’t respond, and no bouncing dots indicated he was typing.
I returned to the bed, wondering if he’d bailed on me.
Of course, I had just basically alluded to the fact Trevor had packed my underwear as casually as he’d shared that his ex-wife tried to kill him. I think I need Hollis to walk me through how to flirt. Because that was not it.
Alejandro: We’ll have to take that up with Trevor. I doubt he’ll want you leaving until we know for sure the break-in was random.
I flinched at the vibration, at the fact he was back with me again. Then I went into defense mode after reading his text.
Me: He’s not the boss of me.
Alejandro: . . .
Me: Those dots mean?
Alejandro: You know exactly what they mean.
Me: He may think he’s the boss. There’s a difference.
Alejandro: Mmhm.
Me: Meet-and-greet with Trevor go that well, I take it?
Alejandro: Only slightly better than it did with you.
Alejandro: Just so we’re clear, I’m relieved it was you I saw naked and not him. I’d be traumatized for life.
Alejandro: That’s another one of those kinds of texts I should have reread first and most definitely not sent.
Another? Like the ex-wife-wanting-to-kill-you text? I almost asked him that, and I applauded myself for refraining.
Me: Anyway, take that shower so we can go. Trevor can stay here with Chase to keep an eye on him. I’ll ensure T understands I’m safe with you.
Alejandro: You are safe with me, that I can promise you both.
Alejandro: But before we go, I’d like to see Chase. I miss him
Of all the things he could possibly say to me . . .
I swallowed, working that lump back down my throat since it had no business being there in the first place.
Me: He’s probably seconds away from finding you and “pulling an Alex” and walking in on you too. Be sure to keep your head on a swivel.
Alejandro: Yes, ma’am. Will do my best
I let go of my phone, dropping it next to me on the bed as I stared up at the ceiling, releasing a heavy breath along with it.
I replayed our exchange, trying to make sense of it. I wasn’t sure how long I’d been lost in my thoughts, but the knock a few minutes later had me bolting upright.
“It’s me! Why’s your door locked?”
My little dude. I hurried over, not about to tell Chase that my new friend had walked in on me naked, so that lock was very much needed.
I opened up, not expecting to see Alex standing alongside him.
Chase quietly pointed to Alex as if I couldn’t see him.
It was easier to talk through text than have a conversation with him eye to eye and pretend the naked thing and borderline flirty banter over the phone hadn’t happened.
I smiled at my son, then gave myself a quick second (or five) to appreciate Alex for what I told myself would be the last time.
Broad shoulders strained against his clothes. A white cotton long-sleeved shirt hugged his hard frame, and his long legs were covered by dark jeans. Bare feet were planted solidly on the hardwood.
Muscles I bet were carved more by his job than by morning dates with the gym couldn’t be masked by cotton and denim.
But it was his eyes that truly stole my attention—dark and deep, wrecking me. There was a look in them, like he craved the sun breaking through the clouds but refused to trust anyone enough to be that anchor for him.
Those eyes were laser focused on me now as if trying to get a read on me. Sharp and unblinking beneath thick lashes a woman would kill for.
I’d probably been staring too long, because he subtly cleared his throat while dragging his fingers through his inky-black hair. I couldn’t help but follow the movement of his big hand over every unruly strand that refused to obey.
The left side of his mouth dipped slightly, a half smirk, half warning for us both.
Yeah, yeah.
Protector. Protected.
Best friend. Best friend’s sister.
Veteran. Widow to a decorated war hero.
We were on the opposite sides of a few too many coins, and I doubted even the most skilled magician could make both sides work together.
Okay, I’m done. No more strange feelings of desire for this man, boxed up and ready to be shipped off to Siberia and never be seen or found again. Well, outside my fantasies, which maybe I should even stop having, too.