I loved it, but I hated it.
The girl inside of me who grew up with Caiden the bully hated myself for kissing him or even having desirable thoughts about him. Could I forgive him so easily? I couldn’t.
There was something irresistible about him, though. His vulnerability and pain spoke volumes to me. The tension around us lately was suffocating.
His possessive gazes and his brown eyes that melted my insides.
But Alex was sweet. Alex was pure. I liked Alex. It gave me a sick satisfaction to see Caiden squirm every time Alex got comfortable with me.
Today, though, I would focus on what I have planned.
A captivating brightness filled the air as the sun shone, its golden light sparkling on the dew-covered leaves. It was early autumn, and while a crispness hung in the air, the sun still shone with the warmth of summer.
Sabrina had mentioned going on a beach trip while the weather was still nice.
I stepped out of my vehicle and stood in the parking lot of a local restaurant. Alex and I were meeting for lunch.
The bell above the door jingled as I entered, the aroma of freshly brewed coffee and sizzling meat was a welcome distraction. Alex was already there, a bright smile illuminating his face.
He waved me over, his eyes crinkling at the corners, and for a moment, the weight on my shoulders eased.
The casual conversation flowed easily, laced by laughter, and I found myself genuinely enjoying his company.
“This food is delicious.”
My stomach hummed with joy as I ate the plate of chicken and pasta.
Alex chuckled, watching me with amusement dancing in his eyes.
“Yeah, I love this place. It’s a nice gem. I can also appreciate a girl who will scarf down pasta.”
I shrugged, twirling my fork in the food. “I’m still trying to put weight back on after starving for days, I suppose.”
He nodded, a kind softness in his eyes. “I think you look great. That must’ve been tough, though. Shane told me some about it.”
An uncomfortable weight pressed down onto me as I responded. “Yeah, but I survived thankfully. Anyways, it’s nice that we have been hanging out more. It makes me feel good.”
He smiled, a genuine warmth radiating from him. "Me too," he said, his gaze lingering for a moment before he reached for his coffee cup. “Not sure why the four of us weren’t hanging out much before. It’s nice that it has given me an opportunity to chat more often. Although I was more of Shane’s friend for a while before we all started hanging out.”
“That makes sense. I think they’re also trying to make me feel less damaged by orchestrating gatherings and activities to give me some sort of normalcy.”
His expression became serious. “You’re not damaged, not to me. But, whatever the reason, I’m thankful because I do like you.”
A blush crept onto my cheeks. The quiet hum of the cafe faded into the background as his words hung in the air, clear and sincere.
I looked down at my almost-empty plate, suddenly self-conscious under his gaze. "Thank you, Alex," I whispered, finally meeting his eyes, a hesitant smile playing on my lips.
The bell above the door jingled again, announcing another customer, but neither of us looked as we sat in each other’s comforting company.
“So, what do you have planned for the rest of the day?” He asked.
“I need to work on some writing projects that I have due. I think I mentioned that I’m a content writer. After that, I might try and paint. Unravel some things I’ve been dealing with.”
“You do art? That’s awesome. I did some myself back in school and in my free time. Haven’t done it much anymore.”
I smiled, grateful that we had some things in common. “Cool. It’s a nice hobby. I don’t do it much anymore either, but the skill never goes away. Kind of like riding a bicycle.”
He chuckled, a low rumble in his chest. "Speaking of bicycles, maybe we could go for a ride sometime? There's a great trail near the river."
