“Okay,” I whisper, my palm cradling the back of her head while my other hand strokes her back. “I’m here. I have you.”
We stand on the sidewalk like this for a while. I just comfort her while she has her little break-down moment, a thousand questions scrambling my brain, though I won’t ask any of them. If Alex wants to tell me what’s going on, I think she knows she can. I’ll make sure to let her know, in case she doesn’t. But that’s all I’ll do for right now.
I won’t accuse her. I won’t bombard her with all the shit that’s pile driving my mind. I won’t look at her with sympathy or pity. Because I don’t pity her.
I like her. I like her and I want her to be alright.
So I’ll just keep comforting her for as long as she’ll let me.
When I feel her shiver in more of a cold way than a sadness way, I pull back to look down at her, keeping my arms securely around petite shoulders, shielding her from the cold. I’m happy to do this for her, unlike with the girl I just ditched. Why, I’m not entirely sure. But I’m thinking maybe it’s because Alex is different to me.
She’s more important, and again, I don’t know why, or how it is that a girl I only hung out with once for a few hours is suddenly bringing out these new behaviors, but I can’t think about that right now.
She finally raises her head to gaze up at me, no longer attempting to hide her face, because the jig is up. I saw the bruise, and she knows I see it. Her wide eyes set on mine and they twinkle with guilt and shame, two things I absolutely do not want her feeling when she’s with me.
“We should get out of the cold,” I tell her, lifting my hand to brush her hair away from her face. She’s so blindingly gorgeous, I’m surprised I can even speak when she’s looking at me.
“Noah, you really don’t have to do this,” she creaks, sniffling and trying to hide it. “Go back to your date. I’m fine.”
“My date wasn’t a date, and it doesn’t matter,” I explain, keeping my voice easy. “I want to hang out with you. In case I didn’t make that clear the other day.”
A breathy laugh escapes her as she tugs her lower lip between her teeth. This sight always seems to make my dick pop up to say hi, but I internally remind him to back off. She’s mine right now.
“Well, I came here because I had a hankering for the white chocolate macadamia…” she grins, nodding her head down to block to the cookie shop we just bolted from.
“Funny, I had the same idea,” I chuckle, then finally release her, taking her hand in mine. “Come on. Let’s satisfy that sweet tooth of yours.”
She laughs softly again, shaking her head up at me while giving me a look I can’t read. But I think I see a hint of gratefulness in her eyes. I wink at her, and we walk, hand-in-hand, back to Insomnia for some cookie action.
“More milk, Mrs. Mackenzie?”
“Please, Mr. Richards.”
I pour milk into a champagne glass and hand it to Alex. She accepts it graciously, chomping off another huge bite of delicious cookie. She’s chewing with purpose, and it’s totally adorable.
“Oh, and it’s actually Ms. Mackenize,” she murmurs, lapping at some chocolate on her lip. “Mackenzie is my name. I kept it.”
I swallow and use extreme effort not to gape at her like I want to. I’m trying not to make her feel any type of way that will have her itching to leave, so instead I just peer at her casually, watching as she sips her milk.
She kept her name?? There are so many questions I want to ask right now. God, I’m so curious. But let’s just remain quietly grateful, because I like her name. I’m really glad it doesn’t belong to her abusive fuckwad of a husband.
“Good to know,” I mutter, and finish off the last of the peanut butter.
We’re sitting in the backseat of the Navigator eating our cookies and drinking our milk, and this is definitely the strangest, most amazing date I’ve ever been on in my life.
“This isn’t a date, Noah,” Alex grumbles to my right and my head pivots in her direction. What the hell?? I didn’t say that out loud, did I? “I’m just making that clear.” Her eyes flick toward me and she glares, cocking her sexy little eyebrow with a warning.
“No, no. Of course not,” I hum, grinning nonchalantly at her, though still internally shaken that she can actively read my mind. My thoughts aren’t safe. Quick! Stop thinking about her tits!
“We’re just friends,” she adds.
She sets her glass down in the cupholder, leaning back against the seat, and I can’t help but watch. Each new small factoid I learn about her is fascinating, and I’m itching for more glimpses into the world of Alex Mackenzie. She’s tossing me scraps, and like the dog I am, I keep snatching them up faster than she can dole them out.
I can do friends. It’s not something I’ve explored before, but I feel confident I could at least attempt to swing it. Naked friends is probably something I’m more equipped to handle, but I’m fully aware that’s not going to happen. So I’ll take what I can get.
After all, if the alternative is not having her around, then I’ll get myself on board with the friend thing stat.
“Well then, as your friend, I feel obligated to tell you that you can talk to me about anything,” I speak cautiously. “You don’t have to. Of course you know that. But if there is anything you need to talk about, I’m here. As your friend.”
Her neck rolls and she aims her gaze at me once again. I’m waiting for her to scoff at me, but she doesn’t. Instead she just stares, the contours of her face shadowed from the dim interior lights of the vehicle. Her eyes are giving off some serious emotions, and I keep my face even, so as not to show her how much I really want her to talk to me about what’s going on.
Finally she breathes out slowly and says, “Thanks, Noah. I appreciate it.”
I nod definitively. “Don’t mention it.”
Then I lift my champagne glass filled with ice cold milk, signaling for her to do the same. She grins and picks hers up.
“Here for you, girl,” I rasp, then clink my glass on hers.
“You rock,” she says before taking a sip.
We sit in silence for a few more minutes before either of us speaks again. She does first.
“You know, you didn’t have to end your night to hang out with me…” her voice trails. “I was just going to grab some of my favorite cookies and go home. I bet your original plans would have been much more satisfying.”
I give her a look. “Alex, there is nothing more satisfying than having cookies and milk in the backseat of a vehicle.”
She giggles. “Yea, but you were going to take that girl home. You’re forcing me to be a cock-block, which is not something I want to be, especially to my friends.”
Wow, she really has no idea how much I’d rather be hanging out with her doing anything than banging some annoying girl who only wants to sleep with me so she can say she did.
“You’re not blocking my cock, Alex,” I crumple a napkin in my fist. “He’s just fine. I mean, he appreciates the attention, but let’s not encourage him. He’s got a big enough head as it is.” I wink at her and she bursts out laughing.