He smiled at me as if he did know it, but was shy to admit it. “I try and stay as healthy as possible.” He ran his hand through his hair and a flash of green ribbon caught my attention.
“Healthy?” I tutted. “I’d say having an eight pack makes you a little more than just ‘healthy.’ ” I grinned at him and started playing with my own green ribbon that I’d suddenly become very aware of.
“Have you been counting?” he asked.
I shrugged. “Maybe,” I admitted, and took a step closer to the Jacuzzi.
“The water’s really good,” he said, moving over to let me in.
I stepped in. And he was right. The water was warm and felt amazing. It also felt different, thick, and softer; I guess it must have been the high concentration of the vitamins and minerals. “Can I tell you something? I’ve never told anything this before. It’s really,reallyembarrassing.”
“Yes,” he said. “I won’t judge you. I promise.”
I shook my head. “No. I think you might if you knew what I was going to say.”
“Val,” he moved closer and looked me straight in the eyes. “I would never judge you.”
“Okay.” I nodded and took a deep breath. “So . . .” I hesitated, “I once took a sexy photo of myself in my underwear and . . . I sent it to Matt by ‘accident.’ ” I gestured air commas. “Obviously it had been on purpose, but I pretended I’d meant to send it to someone else.”
Alex nodded. Showing no visible signs of judgement on his face at all. So I continued.
“I thought that maybe if he saw me differently, if he saw me as a woman looking sexy or, whatever . . . it was stupid. I feel like such an idiot when I think about that.”
“Don’t feel stupid,” he said.
“I do, though. I can’t tell you how many times I’d wished so hard that Matt would finally see what was in front of him. That he would realize that he loved me and confess it and leave Sam and chase after me, or something. It’s been my dream for so many years.”
“Matt’s just mad and blind,” Alex said.
“Is that your professional doctor opinion?” I asked.
“No. It’s just common sense.” He said this part with such sincerity in his voice, and with such a smile in his eyes, that I couldn’t help but feel a lot better.
“Thank you.” I looked at him, his gray eyes were a different color once more. They were pale and pearly, with a dark black ring around them.
“Your eyes change color, a lot,” I said.
“Funny. I was just thinking the same thing about you.”
“Really?” I felt a little warm rush in my cheeks.
He nodded. “They’re startling.”
“Startling?” I repeated the word. I couldn’t remember the last time someone told me I had startling eyes.
I smiled over at Alex. “Yours too. Startling.”
He smiled at me coyly this time, it showed off the dimple in his cheek. “You are aware that this is the perfect selfie moment, right?” he said.
“You’re right,” I agreed.
“Luckily I come prepared.” Alex reached out the Jacuzzi and grabbed his phone from inside his gown. He held it up and I moved closer to him. He started a countdown and for some reason, as the countdown reached one, I tilted my head to the side so that my cheek pressed up against his . . .smooth.So smooth.
He took a picture and held it up for us to inspect. “I’m going to send it to you and we can post it. Hashtag rock-star life,” he said with delight in his voice.
“Sounds cool,” I said, looking at the photo as he chose the different filters. “That one.” I reached down and stopped his hand.
“I was just thinking the same thing. Makes us look gorgeous as hell,” he chuckled and posted it. We both looked at the picture for a while before he put his phone down.
