Chapter Sixteen
Alexandre rubbed Mei’s back until her tears subsided, wishing he could say or do more to comfort her. What a weight she’d been carrying. And was still carrying.
She drew back slowly and wiped her eyes. “Well, now you know my life story.”
Before Alexandre could stop himself, he brushed a stray tear from her cheek. “It means a lot that you shared it with me.”
Mei let out a dry little laugh. “Now I just have to figure out what to do.”
“You don’t have to stay in every impossible situation just because you survived worse,” Alexandre said carefully.
Mei’s eyes welled up. She nodded, then looked away.
Shoot. Alexandre hadn’t meant to make her cry more. He touched her shoulder. “Remember what you told me a few weeks ago? About how it’s never too late to carve out a new path for yourself? That stayed with me. Maybe it’s worth considering.”
Mei groaned. “Remind me never to tell you anything.” She fiddled with her engagement ring. “Do you think it’s possible to be one hundred percent sure about someone? Or anything?”
Alexandre thought through her question. “Scientifically speaking, nothing is one hundred percent certain. And I think that’s true about everything in life.”
She sighed. “I’m not going to figure out anything today.”
“Not after Livinpalooza and a hurricane.” Alexandre wasn’t going to push her. Mei needed to decide about Joey and Livin herself.
A gust of wind made them jump.
“I should see how Ali’s doing,” Mei said. “Unless you have an update.”
Alexandre peered at his phone. “Nope. Go text her.” And Joey. The unspoken acknowledgment hung between them.
Mei retrieved her phone without meeting his eyes. “Ali and Luc are fine. They lost power, too, so they’re hunkered down like we are.” She scrolled through her texts. “Oh god, my colleague Kaden is stuck in a motel room with seven random drunk people.” She looked up. “I’m so glad I’m here with you.”
Alexandre gave her a don’t-mention-it shrug.
“Do you want some downtime?” Mei walked to his bookcase and pulled out a fantasy novel he’d recently finished. “Don’t worry about entertaining me.”
Alexandre grabbed a flashlight, settled into his desk chair, and opened his own book. For a minute, he felt odd reading while Mei was there, but she looked content curled up on his couch.
A few hours later, Alexandre glanced at the time. “I’ll get dinner together.”
Mei stood up. “I’ll help you.”
In the narrow kitchen, they moved with ease, despite the small space.
Mei arranged a platter of cheese, salami, crackers, and olives.
Alexandre plated the leftover frittata wedges.
They settled onto the couch and toasted their cans of seltzer.
Rain fell steadily outside. In the soft glow of the lantern light, they laughed and chatted until the food disappeared.
Mei stifled a yawn.
Alexandre stood up. “Ready for bed?”
Mei’s eyes widened in alarm. “Where are we sleeping?”
“You’re in the bedroom. I’ll be out here.”
“You’re too tall for the couch.”
“I’ll sleep in my sleeping bag.” For a second, Alexandre had thought about them sharing his bed but nixed the idea immediately.
“No way! You’re not sleeping on the floor of your own apartment. I can fit on the couch. See?” Mei curled up in the fetal position.
Alexandre smiled. Mei was cute when she was insistent. “Nope. The sofa is too small for you to stretch out comfortably. You were just camping in a hurricane. You get the bed.”
Mei looked like she was about to protest, but relented.
Alexandre made his bed with his softest sheets. He fluffed the pillows and stacked them in a welcoming pile. For the first time since moving in, he wished his room were bigger and brighter, and that all four walls weren’t bare. But at least his bed was comfortable.
He showed Mei to his room. Her eyes scanned the modest space, lighting up when they landed on the freshly made bed. “This looks heavenly.” She pulled him into a side hug.
In an instant, his arms were around her waist. Mei smiled up at him, her lips inches away. Alexandre touched her cheek.
They froze, then jumped apart.
Alexandre stepped back to put more space between them. “Here. You take this.” He held out the lantern.
Mei reached for it, her eyes barely meeting his.
“Well, I’ll be out there if you need anything.” Alexandre pointed to the living room, unsure of what to do with himself.
Mei waved awkwardly. “See you in the morning.”
· · ·
Alexandre couldn’t sleep. And not because he was in a sleeping bag on his living room floor.
The scene in his bedroom doorway looped through his mind.
Was he going to kiss Mei? Was she going to kiss him?
How did his hands get to Mei’s waist? It happened so quickly Alexandre couldn’t figure it out.
Would everything be weird now? Holidays and family get-togethers were going to be a blast. He eventually fell into a fitful sleep.
Sunlight and chipper birdsong roused him the next morning. Alexandre shuffled to the window. Leaves and tree branches littered the parking lot. The grass glistened. Otherwise, Hurricane Theo had left no trace.
The power was still out, so Alexandre showered and shaved in the low light filtering through the bathroom window. He emerged in the same T-shirt and shorts he’d slept in as Mei stepped out of his bedroom.
She gave him a shy smile. “Did you sleep well?” Her wavy brown hair was flattened on one side, and she hid a yawn behind one hand. Still, she looked beautiful.
“I did,” Alexandre lied. “How about you?”
“Like a log, even though I felt bad about you sleeping on the floor.”
Their exchange felt normal. Alexandre headed to the kitchen, relieved.
As Mei showered, he set out bread, jam, granola, and cold brew on the coffee table. A feeling of melancholy threatened to roll in. This might be his last meal with Mei.
She smiled gratefully when she appeared in the living room and saw the breakfast spread. “I texted Ali,” she said as she spooned strawberry preserves onto a slice of bread. “Their power is back, but their yard is a mess.” She picked up her phone. “I should check the train schedule.”
Alexandre looked away to hide his disappointment.
“The trains aren’t running. There’s too much storm debris on the tracks. Joey already left for Virginia. His exam is still on.”
Alexandre perked up. “I can drive you.”
“No way. I’ll ask Ali.”
“She’s cleaning her yard and her car has a flat. I’d just be sitting here with no power.”
“Okay.” Mei reached over to touch his arm, then seemed to think better of it. “Thank you.”
· · ·
On the drive down to the city, they stopped at Ali and Luc’s. As Alexandre parked, he spotted Ali raking leaves, Luc dragging tree limbs into a pile, and Kaia gathering twigs.
Ali ran over and threw her arms around Mei. “You survived Livinpalooza! And Hurricane Theo.”
“With this guy’s help.” Mei smiled up at Alexandre. He grinned back at her.
The five of them settled onto the patio. Ali and Luc set out chips and salsa.
“Good thing this wasn’t two weeks from now,” Ali said. “You would’ve had to postpone your wedding and bachelor/bachelorette.”
Now that Alexandre knew about Mei’s conflicted feelings, he didn’t dare glance her way. “It’s a joint bachelor and bachelorette party?” he asked Ali. “What are you planning?”
“Korean barbecue at this amazing place in K-town. Then karaoke.”
“Nice.” Alexandre hadn’t been invited. He wasn’t invited to the wedding, either, which was fine with him. But the bachelor/bachelorette actually sounded fun. A wisp of envy snaked into his chest. Mei, Ali, and his brother would be having a big night out while he sat at home.
Everyone seemed to have the same thought.
“You should come!” Mei and Ali exclaimed in unison. They looked at each other and burst out laughing.
“I was going to invite you,” Ali said. “I’m sending out the details this week.”
“You really should come,” Mei said.
Alexandre shot Mei a quizzical look. Had he imagined her saying she had doubts about Joey? Then he saw the hope and trepidation in her eyes. Ah. Until she made up her mind about Joey, she was going along with the plans and praying for the best.
Ali and Luc didn’t have a clue about her doubts. He was the only one.
Well, he knew a thing or two about putting on a brave face. Mei’s shining eyes told Alexandre she wanted him there, despite the potential awkwardness. He felt the exact same way.
Alexandre smiled. “I wouldn’t miss it.”