I clench the steering wheel, trying to steer my mind back onto traffic. It’s a long drive back to Alex’s place and this time we’re both quiet, lost in our thoughts.
I park my car in the open spot next to Alex’s.
“I’m on the third floor,” he says. “And there isn’t an elevator. Do you need help with your luggage?”
“I’ve got it.” All I have is one suitcase, a backpack, and my laptop. Alex fidgets restlessly, eyeing the bags, and I change my mind. “Actually, it’s a little cumbersome to carry the backpack and the laptop together.”
He instantly holds out his hands, and I offer him the backpack. When I let go and he receives the whole weight of it, he grunts in surprise. “How much did you stuff in here?”
“I pack efficiently,” I reply dryly, then close the trunk.
He slips his arms into the backpack’s straps, then grabs both of our bags from the shop. The logo is innocuous enough that unless someone is already familiar with the store, they won’t know what’s inside, but Alex still folds them over and clutches them to his chest to hide all evidence of how he spent his afternoon.
“I have a two bedroom,” Alex explains over his shoulder as we climb the stairs, “so you can stay in the guest bedroom. Well, slash office. Slash storage space.” When we reach his door, he shifts the bags around in his arms so he can pull his keys out of his pockets. “Shit, should I give you a key?”
“I would appreciate it,” I reply as I follow him in. “You have work the rest of the week, right?”
“Yeah, I’m a typical eight-to-fiver.”
“Remote,” I reply, holding up my laptop. “I’ll probably go to a café to work during the day so you don’t have to worry about me in your space.”
Alex blinks, like he hadn’t considered what I would do while he was at work. “Oh, good point. There’s also a public library down the street—” he cuts himself off with a grimace. “Though you probably don’t want to go there if it’s where Nick works.”
“Actually, he works at a college.”
Alex stares at me for a long moment before he asks, voice faint, “He what?”
I set my luggage off to the side and begin taking off my shoes. Still looking a little lightheaded, Alex gestures to the bench next to the door, so I sit down to make the task easier. “He’s a librarian at a community college.”
“Shit.”
Startled, I glance up at him.
He rubs the back of his neck, eyes locked on the ceiling as he explains, “I also work at the college.”
My brow furrows. “I thought you were a Purchasing Manager.”
“I am. Colleges have accounting offices,” he mumbles almost defensively. “I didn’t realize you were talking about Nicholas Lynwood this whole time.”
It’s a good thing I’m already sitting down when I find out my husband is my ex-boyfriend’s coworker. I lean againstthe wall and look up at Alex, taking in his obvious guilt, not anticipating this connection. “Is he a friend of yours?”
“Not exactly. We’re on different levels; he’s faculty, I’m admin. We mingle at college-wide meetings and that’s about it. I rarely see him.”
“Well, at least I haven’t been maligning your friend this whole time.”
Alex scowls. “He wouldn’t be my friend for long after the shit he pulled with you.”
I chuckle and take his hand, squeezing it. I should drop it, let him go, but he doesn’t pull away or seem uncomfortable with the contact, so I hold on for a little longer. To test his reaction, I brush my thumb over his knuckles. He shudders slightly and we let go at the same time. “Thank you for defending me, but if you were his friend first, you’d probably be more inclined to defend or agree with him.”
Alex looks skeptical but before he can argue further, his stomach growls. “Shit, we forgot to eat lunch. We should have grabbed something while we were out. I can make an early dinner while you set up.” His gaze trails reluctantly to the kitchen, as if cooking is the last thing on his mind after a long day. “Or we could order a pizza?”
“Pizza would be great.”
“Alright, I’ll show you to your room then put the order in.”
The apartment is nice though sparsely furnished. The front room is open concept—kitchen, dining room, sitting room all combined—and then a separate hallway leads to the two bedrooms and a bathroom at the back.
“This one is mine,” Alex says, knocking on the first closed door. “The other one is the guest room.”
