5. CHAPTER FIVE - HEATED CONFESSIONS
Chapter five
CHAPTER FIVE - HEATED CONFESSIONS
T he sound of Alex’s voice pulled my attention back from staring out the window. I blinked, focusing on him again. “What did you say?” I asked.
He half-smiled and repeated. “I said it’s been a while since I enjoyed such amazing pancakes.”
My cheeks began to flush slightly. “Thank you,” I replied quickly, standing up to gather the plates and take them back to the kitchen. As I walked back into the living room, I found Alex with his phone in hand, a small scowl on his face.
“Everything okay?” I asked, genuinely curious.
He glanced up, frustration evident in his eyes. “No service. Not even a single bar.”
I pulled out my own phone, hopeful for a brief moment, but my growing smile completely disappeared when I saw the same thing. “Same here,” I said, with a sigh. “I just checked.”
Alex sighed deeply, shoving his phone back into his pocket and standing up. “What now?” I asked, feeling a bit lost.
“We do the only thing we can do,” he said, walking back to the living room. He picked up the TV remote and held it up. “See what’s on TV.”
I mulled it over, realizing it wasn’t such a bad idea. Maybe watching a movie with Alex could be a good way to pass the time and distract ourselves from the tension. I noticed Alex had already settled on the couch and was about to grab my things to move when he looked at me, puzzled.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked, eyebrows raised.
“I thought I’d move somewhere else so you could have the couch,” I explained, feeling a bit silly.
He shook his head. “No need for that. Just join me on the couch.”
My heart skipped a beat, and I hesitated. “I can’t…”
He looked at me, his expression softening. “If that’s the case, then how about we build a fort? That way we can both be comfortable.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “Are you serious?”
He grinned. “Absolutely. Come on, it’ll be fun.”
A part of me couldn’t believe what the infamous playboy of Greendale had just suggested, but another part of me was intrigued. “Alright,” I agreed sheepishly.
Alex’s grin widened, and he immediately got up from the couch, grabbing the blankets. Together, we started to build the fort. He draped the blankets over the couch and coffee table, securing them with pillows. I helped a bit, handing him the blankets and adjusting the corners.
When we were done, he looked down at me, and only then did I realize how close we were standing. “After you,” he said, gesturing to our makeshift fort.
I nodded sheepishly and crawled into the fort, the blankets creating a cozy little space. As I settled in, Alex slid in right beside me, his warmth radiating inches away from me, sending tingles through my body.
We sat in silence for a moment, only the crackling fire and the howling wind outside disturbing the quiet.
“You know,” Alex said quietly. “This kinda reminds me of the time I and Colt built that treehouse in your backyard. Remember?”
I smiled at the fleeting memory. “Yeah, I remember. You and my brother insisted on making it the coolest treehouse ever.”
“And you kept bringing us lemonade,” he added, his gaze softening. “Somehow, you were always there, even when we tried to keep you out.”
“Guess I never took no for an answer,” I replied, my voice equally soft.
Our eyes met, and my breath hitched. I looked away, the intensity of the moment almost too much to bear.
Alex picked up the remote and started flicking through the channels. “What do you want to watch?” he asked, his voice softer now.
I thought for a moment, trying to focus on something other than how close we were. “Anything light, maybe a comedy?”
“Comedy it is,” he said, stopping on a movie that looked promising. As the opening credits rolled, I couldn’t help but steal glances at him. The flickering light from the TV played across his features, highlighting the strong lines of his face.
We settled in and watched the movie. I kept stifling my laughter at the scenes, but Alex had such a wholesome laugh. The rich, deep baritone of his voice kept sending shivers down my spine, and I repeatedly had to steel myself to stop from inching even closer to him.
Suddenly, the lights went off, and the cabin immediately became dark. My heart quickened, unsure of what was happening, but Alex groaned in frustration, and he pulled out his phone from his pocket, turning the flashlight on.
“I'll go check the breaker in the back and see if I can get the lights back on,” he said, his voice calm but determined.
“Okay, just... be careful,” I replied, my voice a bit shaky, hoping he didn't notice.
With that, he wriggled out of the fort and disappeared, leaving me in the darkness. I checked my phone and found out that it was barely noon. Yet, because of the snowstorm outside, the cabin was dark and empty. I glanced at the fireplace, grateful for the fire that kept us warm.
Minutes later, Alex reappeared, his flashlight casting eerie shadows on the walls.
"Looks like the power's out indefinitely," he said, sounding more frustrated than worried. "I couldn't get it back on."
"Oh, great," I muttered, trying to process the new information. "So, what do we do now?"
He paused, then a slow smile spread across his face. "I found quite a few candles in the cupboard. We could light them up for now."
"Alright," I said, not wanting to stay in the fort alone. "I'll help."
We got to work, lighting candles around the cabin. Alex handed me a box of matches, and as I struck one, the tiny flame flared and then steadied. One by one, we placed candles on every available surface—the kitchen counter, the coffee table, and the mantel.
The warm, flickering glow seemed to transform the cabin, casting everything in a soft, golden hue. The shadows danced on the walls, and the light made the wooden beams and rustic furniture look even cozier, creating an intimate ambiance that made my heart flutter.
As we placed the last candle on the mantle, I couldn't help but feel the butterflies beginning to fill my stomach. The cabin looked like something out of a romantic vacation brochure. The kind you'd see in a magazine and daydream about, never thinking you'd actually be there.
As Alex rummaged through a cupboard, his eyes lit up, and he pulled out a deck of cards. But then, as if struck by a sudden idea, he set the cards aside and turned to me with a mischievous grin.
"How about something a bit more interesting?" he suggested, eyes twinkling with excitement.
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What do you have in mind?"
"Truth or dare," he declared, the words hanging in the air between us.
I laughed, the sound echoing in the cozy cabin. "Truth or dare? Are we twelve?"
He leaned in, a playful glint in his eye. "Come on, it’ll be fun. Besides, it’s better than staring at a blank TV screen."
I considered it for a moment, then shrugged. "Alright, you're on. But no crazy dares."
He chuckled. "Deal."
We settled back down in the fort, the dim candlelight casting a faint glow over our makeshift haven. The fire crackled softly in the background, and the storm outside raged on, but inside, it was just us. Alex took a deep breath, clearly plotting his first move.
"Alright, I'll go first," he said, his voice low and teasing. "Go ahead and ask me."
“Truth or dare?” I asked, a small smile tugging at my lips.
Alex grinned, leaning forward. "Dare."
I thought for a moment, then smirked. "I dare you to... do your best dance move right here."
He laughed, the sound filling the cozy space. "Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you."
He stood up, shaking off his jacket, and started dancing in the middle of the fort. His moves were exaggerated and goofy, making me burst into laughter. He spun around, doing a silly version of the moonwalk, then ended with a dramatic pose, striking a confident stance as if he were on stage.
"Bravo! Bravo!" I clapped, my sides aching from laughter. "I think you missed your calling as a professional dancer."
He bowed with a flourish, then settled back down beside me, his face flushed with amusement. "Your turn. Truth or dare?"
I hesitated for a moment, feeling a rush of excitement. "Truth."
He leaned back, eyes locked onto mine. "What’s one thing you've never told anyone?"
I paused, caught off guard by the question. His tone was casual, but his eyes were curious and intent, making it impossible to brush off the question with a simple answer. I took a deep breath, feeling the words spill out as if they’d been waiting for this moment.
"I... I've always wanted to travel the world," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I've never had the courage to leave everything behind."
Alex's gaze softened. "That's not a small dream. Why haven't you gone for it?"
I shrugged, feeling a bit vulnerable. "I guess I've always been scared of what I'd leave behind. My family, my friends... my life here."
He nodded, his expression thoughtful. "Sometimes, the best things in life come from taking risks."
I smiled, appreciating his understanding. "Your turn. Truth or dare?"
"Dare," he said, without hesitation.
I grinned, feeling a surge of mischief. "I dare you to... tell me your most embarrassing moment."
He groaned, rolling his eyes. "You really went there, huh?"
I laughed, nodding. "Absolutely."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "Alright. Back in high school, I had this huge crush on a girl. One day, I decided to write her a love letter. But instead of giving it to her, I accidentally handed it to my math teacher."
I gasped, covering my mouth to stifle my laughter. "No way!"
He nodded, his cheeks tinged pink. "Yep. She read it out loud to the entire class. I wanted to disappear right then and there."
I laughed, the image of a younger Alex squirming in his seat flashing in my mind. "That’s priceless."
He shrugged, a sheepish grin on his face. "It was mortifying at the time, but I can laugh about it now. Your turn. Truth or dare?"
"Truth," I said, still catching my breath.
"Alright," he said, his tone serious now. "What’s your biggest regret?"
I hesitated, the weight of the question pressing down on me. "I regret not standing up for myself sooner. For so long, I let other people decide my life for me. Opening the bookstore was the first time I did something just for me."
“So, what made you decide to open a bookstore, Lily? I mean, it’s a big change from accounting.”
I took a deep breath, setting my card down. “Honestly? It’s the only decision I’ve ever made for myself.”
Alex’s brows furrowed in confusion, so I continued, feeling the words spill out as if they’d been waiting for this moment.
“All my life, my decisions have always been influenced by my parents and Colton. They had this clear vision for what my life should look like, and I felt trapped, like I could never really be myself.”
Alex nodded, urging me to go on with his unwavering gaze. It made me feel strangely safe, like I could tell him anything.
“Opening the bookstore,” I continued, “was practically the only decision I made on my own. It was terrifying and liberating all at once. I wanted to create a space that was mine. Where I could be myself without anyone’s expectations hanging over my head.”
Alex's gaze softened. “That’s brave. It’s not easy going against what everyone expects of you.”
I smiled, appreciating his understanding. “It wasn’t. Especially with Colton. He didn’t exactly approve of me opening my store. He thought I was throwing away my career, that I was making a huge mistake, and it ended up causing a rift between us. I mean, he didn’t even bother coming to the grand opening.”
Alex frowned, tapping his fingers on the table. “You know, you should cut Colton some slack. I’m sure he obviously still cares about you. He’s just being a bit stubborn.”
I shook my head, frustration bubbling up. “He didn’t even show up, Alex. How can he care and still not support the one thing I’ve done for myself?”
Alex sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair. “I never said Colton wasn’t an idiot. But give him a little time. He’ll find his way back. Trust me on this—I’ve known him forever.”
I looked at Alex, really looked at him. His eyes were sincere, and his voice held a quiet confidence. Alex’s friendship with Colton was something I’d always known about but never fully appreciated. Seeing him defend Colton, even while acknowledging his flaws, made me look at Alex in a new light.
“You really believe that?” I asked, my voice softer now.
“I do,” he said firmly. “Colton can be a stubborn ass, but he loves you. He’ll come around. And in the meantime, you should be proud of what you’ve accomplished. Your bookstore is amazing, Lily.”
His words made something inside me unclench. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear that. “Thank you, Alex,” I said, my voice barely above a whisper.
He smiled, that boyish, charming grin that had always made my heart skip a beat. “Anytime.”
For the first time, I saw beyond the fa?ade of the heartless heartbreaker that everyone painted Alex as. He was compassionate and thoughtful, and this made me reconsider my image of him.
“You’re surprisingly insightful,” I said softly, a smile tugging at my lips.
He chuckled, leaning forward again. “I have my moments.”
The candlelight flickered between us, casting a dim glow on Alex’s face. I felt a strange mix of emotions—gratitude, relief, and something deeper, something that made my heart race. Talking to him felt easy, natural. He made me feel understood, and that was a rare gift.
We continued our game, but the atmosphere had shifted. He had actually managed to make me feel good. It was impossible to even think about, and yet it happened. It made me believe that Alex could actually be a proper human being and not the heartless heartbreaker everyone in Greendale had thought him to be.
Maybe, just maybe, there was more to Alex Sinclair than met the eye.