Chapter Seven #4
Em turned to stare at Alex. “Let me get this straight.” She scrunched her eyebrows together and pursed her lips.
“Your date consisted of a trip to the emergency room and then, when you asked him back to your place, you left him sitting in the living room and went and fell asleep with your daughter?”
“It wasn’t a date and we didn’t end up in the ER.” The declaration came out smooth and controlled. Although, she wasn’t sure who she was trying to convince. Herself or Emily. “But, if it was, would you be okay with that?”
“Mom…” Em dragged the word out, an exasperated whine that made Alex’s eye twitch.
“I’m serious, Em. Please answer the question.
” Alex’s anxiety ratcheted up a couple of thousand notches.
She and Emily had never talked about this stuff before.
Mostly because it’d never been an issue before.
Making sure her daughter had a good life despite the circumstances of her birth and Alex and Kevin’s relationship, had always been the most important thing.
Romance had been so far down on Alex’s list, it had fallen off the end some time ago. Relationships were messy and unnecessary. Since she and Kevin had split, she hadn’t been interested in anyone.
Until Nick came barging back into her life.
Em rolled her eyes—there was that sass again. So much for the sweet girl from last night. “Of course, I’m okay with it. I don’t expect you to stay a nun, you know.”
“I’m not a nun.”
“Whatever.” She snatched the remote off the table and flicked on the TV before resting her head on Alex’s shoulder.
“But, seriously, I’m totally okay with you and Nick…
you know, dating… or whatever.” The tips of Em’s ears turned pink at the whatever.
It was the cutest thing Alex had seen in a long time.
She completely understood Em’s embarrassment.
This was never a conversation Alex would ever have had with her own mother.
They’d never had an easy relationship. She was glad Em felt comfortable enough to talk about this stuff with her.
And she hoped that, after their conversation the other day, that Em would be comfortable enough to come to her with anything that may be bothering her.
“He and I knew each other when we were kids, you know.”
“What?” Em pushed herself into a sitting position, her mouth dropping open.
“We went to high school together. I was his biology tutor when he was a senior.”
Em sank back against the couch. “How come you never told me that before?”
She shrugged. “It never seemed relevant.”
“Did he remember you?”
“Nope.”
“Oh.” Em’s lips turned down into a frown. “That sucks.”
Alex snorted. “It’s not a big deal. It wasn’t like we were in some epic romance or anything back then.” She left off the part about how badly she’d wanted it to be an epic romance back then.
“So, is it this time?”
“Is it what?”
“An epic romance?”
“Ah, no.” Alex tried to keep her voice even.
“How come?”
“Sometimes, things just aren’t meant to be.” She shrugged again, even though a streak of disappointment sliced through her.
Em scrunched up her face. “So, that’s it?”
“Yup, that’s it.”
Em pursed her lips for a second. “Did you at least have sex with him?”
Alex choked, although on what, she had no idea. There is no way Em had just asked that. She thumped her hand on her chest, hoping to dislodge whatever was currently stuck in her throat. “What?”
“Did you sleep with him?”
“Geez, Emily, what kind of question is that?” She sucked in a breath. “Not that it’s any of your business, but we were sightseeing, in public, and then we had brunch together. After that, he tweaked his knee and we headed to the clinic.”
“So?”
“What did you think was going to happen at brunch in Pike Place Market?” Heat exploded in her cheeks, because no matter how much she denied it, she had almost slept with him after brunch yesterday.
And she was super disappointed she hadn’t gotten to follow through, especially since it looked like he’d changed his mind since.
Her stupid emotions must have played out on her face, because Em took a quick look at her and burst into giggles. The sound was so infectious, Alex could help but laugh, too. After the myriad of emotions she’d experienced over the last twenty-four hours, it felt good to laugh.
Once the giggles had subsided, Alex tossed the comforter off and rolled to her feet. “I’m going to have a shower.” She glanced at the clock again. “You want to go out for breakfast or something?”
Em glanced at the clock and groaned, pulling the blanket over her face. “It’s so early.”
At least that’s what Alex thought she said. The words were muffled by the layers of cotton and batting. But, after a second, Em tossed the comforter aside and slid off the sofa. She rubbed her eyes and headed for the stairs.
Alex couldn’t help smiling as she headed toward her tiny en-suite bathroom. She knew raising a teenager was going to be a challenge, she just hadn’t expected every aspect of sex and sexuality to be tossed at her over an eighteen-hour period.
But she’d survived. Meaning Nick was right, she was strong. Strong enough to survive working closely with him without giving into her hormones. She just needed to forget all about their incredible kiss on the pier and she’d be fine.
And ignore the disembodied laughter that rang though her head every time she told herself the effects of the kiss would fade over time and eventually, her craving for Nick Sadler would disappear.