Chapter 14 #2
Alex catches my arm as I attempt to stroll past him. “Let me walk you to your car.” My heart does a little flip. Maybe I do still have a chance.
But then Savannah sidles up to Alex, linking her arm with his. “Can you give me a hand with this box? It’s so heavy.”
It’s on wheels, for fuck’s sake.
I suppress my eye roll as Alex takes the handle from her and tugs the cart along.
“So,” she says, still coiled around his bicep like a goddamn spider monkey. “Since you didn’t buy a toy, how about you buy me a drink?”
I whip my head around. Is she for real? Bitch, I am right here.
“A drink?” Alex asks.
“Yes, there’s an adorable little bar right next to my apartment.”
Fuck, she’s good. If she wasn’t going after Alex, I’d pay her as a consultant to teach me these tricks. She twirls a lock of blond hair around her manicured finger, and I stare, completely mesmerized, unable to take my eyes off her.
Which is why I don’t see the tree branch.
I hear the crack before I feel it. It’s not until my back hits the mossy ground that the excruciating pain radiates like I took a hockey puck to the forehead.
“Shit,” Alex mutters. With my eyes closed, I feel him hovering above me.
“I’m sure she’s fine.”
Oh, fuck off, Savannah.
My eyes flutter open as Alex holds his phone above my face. “Are you taking my picture?” I wrinkle my nose, and the motion sends a surge of pain to my forehead.
“No, I’m going to check your pupils.” His flashlight clicks on, and I slam my eyes shut to block out the harsh brightness. Gently, he pries my left eye open, then the right. “Pupils look good,” he says.
His hand lingers on my cheek, then Savannah says, “See? She’s fine.”
Alex slides his palm to the base of my neck, and the other around my back, tilting me into a sitting position. “Can you stand up?”
The impatient tap-tap-tap of Savannah’s red stiletto feels like a hammer driving a nail into my head, and I rub the spot above my eyebrow.
“You don’t have to stick around,” Alex says. “I’ve got her.”
Savannah squats down and pats my leg. “June, honey, we’re going to get you an Uber so you don’t have to drive home. Then Alex and I are going out, okay?” She squeezes my hand. I’m surprised she doesn’t tell me to blink twice if I understand the directive.
“I can’t tonight,” Alex says. “I’ve got an early morning.”
Despite the pain and my position on the ground, I can’t help but smile. I win.
“Really?” She curls her lush fingers around his shoulder. “I’ll make it worth your while.”
Gross.
“Not tonight,” he says, still scanning my face.
The words hit like a knockout punch, stealing the air from my lungs.
Not tonight. Definitely not the same as no.
“Another time, then.” Savannah pulls out her phone. “Let me get your number.” To my horror, Alex rattles off his digits. “I’ll text you so you have mine, too.”
His phone pings, and a piece of my heart shatters. Without a doubt, he’s interested in her. He’d be out with her right now, sifting through her magic sex trunk, if not for me banging my head.
“Call me anytime,” she says, then the clicks of her heels fade away as she strolls to her car.
I wince. “Sorry I cockblocked you.”
June, what the fuck was that? Maybe I bumped my head harder than I thought.
“Don’t worry about it.” He helps me to my feet, and I sway, mostly from the adrenaline rather than the injury. “Shit, you need to go to the ER.”
“Alex, I’m fine.” I attempt to walk away, but his arm tightens around my waist.
“You’re not fine. You hit your head. That’s serious.” He tucks a stray lock of hair behind my ear, the same way he did yesterday morning. When we were in bed together.
I cross my arms, banishing the thoughts. That was before Savannah showed up. He gave her his number. Right in front of me. Message received. “It’s really not a big deal.”
He stifles a frustrated groan. “Will you quit being stubborn and let me take care of you?”
“Fine.” I push out of his grip. “You can drive me home.” Then he can hurry up and get back to her.
I take two steps before he slips his arm back around my waist, leading me the twenty feet to his SUV. When he opens the passenger door, he makes one last bid as he helps me inside. “Please let me take you to the hospital.”
“Not necessary.”
He sighs and shuts the door, then slides into the driver’s seat and starts the engine.
We sit in silence for the duration of the car ride, but he takes me home without any further attempts to get medical attention.
“Thanks for driving me,” I say as he pulls up to my apartment.
“You think I’m dropping you off at the curb?” I shrug, and he rolls his eyes. “Stay put. I’m going to help you out.”
I slump down in the seat. Look at me, June Wells, PhD, taking orders from a man. A man who would be fucking an anything-goes sex goddess right now, but instead, he’s stuck with me. Ms. Vanilla. Not even French Vanilla. American Prude Vanilla.
The door opens and he leans in, sliding one arm under my legs and the other around my back.
“What are you doing?” My body tenses in the seat, and I press a hand to his chest. “You’re not going to carry me, are you?”
He freezes, hunched over me. “I was planning on it.”
“Please don’t. I can walk.”
His eyes narrow. “Up all those steps?”
I match his stare. “Yup.”
He mutters something under his breath, then offers me his hand instead. I take it, but I’m determined to show him I can walk on my own. I don’t need him. And I’m damn sure not going to be his charity project.
“I’m good, Alex. See?” I take three perfect steps, all by myself.
“Thank you again, but I’ll be fine.” Now go fuck your sex goddess.
I flick my hair over my shoulder and glance at the mountain of stairs.
Have there always been this many? Doesn’t matter.
It’ll be fine. Fine, fine, fine. “Have a good night.”
“Cool, sleep tight,” he calls.
Sleep tight?
That’s fine. This is fine. It’s what I wanted. I can do this on my own. The way I always do. Besides, it’s not like he wants me. He wants Savannah. Millie had me convinced he wanted me when this stupid crush has been completely one-sided. Again.
I’m not going to turn around.
He’s going to leave, and I’m going to walk up these steps. All five thousand of them. Then I’m going to face-plant into bed and call it a night.
Yes. Solid plan.
A car door thuds behind me and the engine roars to life.
My shoulders slump. He wasn’t bluffing. He’s really leaving.
Part of me thought he was doing that thing parents do when their kids won’t leave the playground—Okay, see you later!
—and then they stop because the kids know it’s bullshit. But Alex really is leaving.
I grip the railing, squeezing the metal until the sharpness bites into my palm and my knuckles turn white. Maybe he’s watching me. Waiting to see if I turn around and beg him to stay. Well, he’ll be waiting all night because that’s not happening.
But I can’t ignore the other part of me screaming that he hasn’t left yet. He’s just idling with the motor running. I still have time.
Maybe it’s not the worst thing to ask for his help. Just up the stairs. There are a lot.
With a deep exhale, I swallow my pride, ready to turn and call out to him.
But before I get the chance, the tires screech as the car pulls away from the curb, taking my heart with it.
I missed my chance.
My breath shudders as the first tear breaks free. He’s really gone.
It’s fine. I’m fine. I don’t need him. I don’t need anyone. Then I hear Gram. “Your books aren’t going to keep you warm at night.” Oh, god. Tonight Alex will be keeping Savannah warm. And I drove him right into her arms. A sob catches in my throat as I lift my foot to take the first step.
“So goddamn stubborn.”
I whip around. “Alex?”
His car is still parked on the curb. It must have been someone else who left.
A well of emotion floods me, and before I can stop myself, I throw my arms around his neck. “Thank you.”
He sighs, a blissful sound rumbling in his chest. “I’ve got you.”
He’s got me. I’m not alone.
Step by step, he guides me up the stairs until we reach the top, then he walks me down the cement path to my apartment.
“Thanks again,” I say, fiddling with the key and unlocking the door. “Have a good night, Alex.”
“I’m not going anywhere, June.” He leans against the doorframe, and I furrow my brow. “You shouldn’t be alone.” He grasps my jaw, tilting my chin up. “Even if you’re fine.”
He brushes past me and into the apartment, heading straight for the kitchen. By the time I get the door locked, he has an ice pack wrapped in a dishcloth and presses it to my forehead.
“Where do you keep the Tylenol?”
I point to the cupboard next to the sink, and he grasps my hand, lifting it to hold the cold block in place. He shakes two pills out of the bottle, then fills a glass of water from the Brita pitcher.
I swallow the tablets, studying the concern in his eyes. He really is taking care of me.
“You should probably lie down,” he tells me. “Be sure to leave the ice on your head to minimize the swelling.”
I nod but don’t move. I can’t remember the last time someone took care of me like this, let alone Alex. All I want to do is wrap my arms around his torso and lay my head on his chest.
His brow creases. “Do you need help?”
I shake my head, and a burst of pain throbs behind my eye. “What about you?” I say through a wince.
“I’ll stay for a while to make sure you’re okay. I’ll lock up before I leave.”
“Okay.” I turn and head toward the bedroom, wondering how on earth I’m going to sleep with Alex Cardoso five feet away from me.
“June,” he calls, and I pivot back to face him. “Leave the door open.” Confusion must be written all over my face because he lifts his hands and says, “In case something happens. If you need help, I want to be able to hear you.”
Right. Duh. That’s the only reason he’s here. “Door open. Got it.”
He gives me a lopsided smile, then heads to the couch. “Sweet dreams.”
Yeah. Like I’ll be able to sleep.