Chapter 4
ALEX
It’s been almost a year since the accident. This is my third week walking without a cane. I spent the weekend working with my physical therapist and my brother, Jason. My entire family thinks I’m pushing myself too hard.
What they don’t see is that I beat the odds. I’m walking again. Maybe I won’t be able to compete, but soon, I’ll be up in the mountains going down the slopes.
I remember the first time I went skiing. My parents took us to Lake Tahoe when I was three. They registered us for ski lessons. The instructor was patient. Though, he paid more attention to Jack. He’s older and the most likely to follow the instructions.
What I gathered during his explanation was that you’re in control of your skis. Lean whichever way you want to steer. Focus on where you want to go. And most importantly—never hesitate. Once everything is in motion, there’s no turning back.
That’s all it took for me to go down the hill. My father went right behind me. He didn’t call after me or stop me. It wasn’t a big hill, but for a three-year-old, it was a scary slope. Once we reached the bottom, Dad said, “You’re a natural.”
That’s one of my proudest moments. It makes me want to go back up the hill. No matter how long it takes. A year, ten years, a lifetime. I’ll be sliding down slopes and flying through the sky again.
I’m not going to give up what I love the most. In the meantime, I keep myself busy.
More like, June’s making it impossible for me to rest. This week has been exhausting, but still, she managed to convince me to do her a favor since she’s out of town.
She was very specific about today’s task. “Start this now because sometimes it takes longer than you think.”
Of course, I ignored her warning. She can be dramatic as fuck.
How hard is it to open bags of Skittles and separate the pink and purple ones?
It’s so fucking tedious. Some of those bags don’t have more than three purples, and I have to fill two mason jars with them. This day would have gone down as the worst day of my life; except, my luck changed the moment I encountered this beauty.
Tight denim jeans molded to her hips and thighs. Dark brown curls fell from her ponytail.
Perhaps I should thank my sister because, let’s be realistic, if it wasn’t for June, I wouldn’t be here. That’s when reality slaps me. Fuck, I curse under my breath when I remember all the shit I have to do today. Well, at least, I’ll get her number for later.
It’ll be so easy. Like stealing candy from a kid. But I’m wrong because no one had prepared me for this exact moment. The one when she whirls around, and my heart thumps fast when I see her face-to-face.
I’ve heard it millions of times. Never experienced it before. Strange since I’ve been in several serious relationships. This time is different.
When I see her, I see her.
The world stops spinning. Everyone around disappears. Those brown doe eyes framed by long lashes and hiding behind a pair of sexy purple frames trap me. They bewitch me.
She’s beautiful. Perfect really, with delicately shaped features. A fine straight nose with just a tiny tilt at the tip. Her face is beguiling. There’s something about her that has me powerfully drawn to her.
And at first, I’m fucking confused. Let’s be clear, she’s not my type.
I like tall, leggy blondes.
This woman is so different. She looks nothing like a model. Yet, I want her. There’s a part of me that wishes I could pick her up and put her in my pocket, so she never leaves my side.
How crazy is it that I feel some kind of ownership toward her?
Everything about her is beautiful. Her eyes, her mouth...even her messy hair is gorgeous.
And what does she do when I sound like a fool to humor her?
She leaves me standing there. The guy behind the counter laughs at me. I pay for the bottles I grabbed and drive to the candy store. Defeated, I gave up on the fucking Skittles. I never give up, but seriously, who has the time to do that shit?
As I’m driving to June’s place, I receive a text from her, asking for my status. She wants to make sure I’m not running behind.
She can’t help herself. The control freak has been texting me since last week to make sure I don’t fail her.
“This is important,” she pressed.
Well, I hope I did enough to pacify her guilt.
Using her key card, I enter the underground garage and park right next to a purple smart car.
It’s so tiny I doubt I can fit. My mind goes immediately to the woman from the liquor store.
She could fit in there. Not that I should care much about her.
It’s over. The stupid serendipity line I used was so cliché.
But why do I feel it’s true?
Never mind. I liked her, but I wouldn’t let myself feel more than lust. She seemed young. Maybe too young for me.
Pushing her away from my thoughts, I grab the basket. Fuck, seriously, I made a gift basket.
June owes me something. I’m done with her crazy list. Only four more days and I should be done with all the shit she wants me to do.
If I’m lucky, her neighbor isn’t at home. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure she’s a pleasant person, but I seriously judge her taste in... everything.
Who needs wine, cake, cookies, and candy for her first day at work?
Sweetheart, if you don’t love your job, why apply for it in the first place?
Knocking on the door, I look at my arm, where I wrote the lines June gave me.
This is a little token to make your first day easier. Enjoy, but don’t gorge yourself. Maybe just give it a taste, not that I’d want to know. Or we can just binge a show.
Seriously, I hope she doesn’t think I’m here to binge something. Will June call her to stream something online? I should’ve asked her to explain what she meant by all this shit. She told me to keep my calendar open. Mind you, she’s the only one who adds shit to it.
I knock on the door, hoping no one will answer.
“Who is it?” I hear the voice, and it’s sweet and familiar.
“I have a delivery for Hannah Satan’s Mistress,” I say, trying not to laugh.
“Yeah?” She opens the door and looks at me—a familiar pair of big doe eyes staring back at me wide and surprised. I can’t help but smile.
“Alexander Spearman,” I say, handing her the basket. “Pisces, single, and free for the next couple of hours.”
She laughs and looks at the present I prepared for her per June’s instructions. “Save your lines, Alex. I know who you are.”
I gawk at her. “You know me?”
“Hannah,” she introduces herself. “June’s best friend and confidant.”
The last word implies so much more than I care to think. She knows me. My sister has told her more than I’d like any woman to know.
“You should give me a crash course on Hannah, so we’re on equal ground.”
She laughs. “Wouldn’t you like that?”
Her laugh is just as soft and sweet as her voice. And, God, I’m so terrified she’s going to fuck me up. But what scares me the most is the thought of never getting to touch her.
Everything is against me. This is June’s best friend, and my little sister would castrate me if I tried anything.
Hannah doesn’t look like the kind of person who just hooks up.
She doesn’t do casual. She’s a good girl.
The one who wants a wedding at a chapel, dinners with her family, and the whole white picketed fence dream.
Yes, I'd very much like to get to know you and touch you, but I won’t.
When you’re too physically and emotionally broken, you walk away from a woman like this one.
Looking at my arm, I choose June’s rage. There’s no way I’m staying for a couple of hours to keep her company if that’s what my sister expected. Hannah can rant to her parents, even to June. Not to me.
“Anything else I can help you with?” she asks. “Because I’m busy and—”
It happens within seconds. One moment, she’s kicking me out, and the next, she’s pushing me out of the way and yelling, “Draco, come back right now, you evil feline!”
I follow right behind her. I’m not sure who is faster, Hannah, or the furball she’s chasing.
“Draco Meowfoy, you better stop running, or I’ll confine you to your carrier for ten minutes!”
“Ooh, that’s harsh,” I say sarcastically.
“This is your fault!”
The cat jumps up on the railing and looks at Hannah. His face is innocent yet challenging. If he could talk, he’d say, Come and get me.
“Do not jump into that tree, Draco,” she warns him.
I swear I see him smile before he jumps to the branch and walks further away from the railing. When I burst into laughter, she turns around and pokes me in the chest. “You better get my cat back or...you’ll regret it.”