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“Alright,” I say, opening the driver’s door. “We have to get going now. I have things to do in the office.”
They both nod and head for their respective seats. Back at the factory, Chris quickly disappears, but Bella lingers, asking me unwanted questions.
“How are you and Liv doing? Still together?” she asks, fishing for information.
I raise an eyebrow, ready to run away from the subject. “Yes, Bella. I wouldn’t think you would care enough to ask.”
“Well, I do,” she shrugs. “If she is going to break your heart, I think it is of my concern.”
I sigh. “Bella, my life, my concern. Your life is yours. You don’t hear me asking about your life at every waking hour, do you?”
We’re in the elevator lobby. We’ll both stop on the third floor, but she’ll go in one direction, and me, to another.
“Alex, you don’t seem to understand, I don’t think she is ready for anything serious with you and—”
“I just asked her to be my girlfriend,” I say, seriously.
She seems to be taken by surprise. “Really?” she asks in disbelief. “And what did she say?”
The elevator arrives, but I hold it for a second so we can keep on talking. “Normally, I would say that is none of your business, but since you apparently need reassurance, I will tell you that she said yes.”
I look at my sister and wait for a reaction, but none comes — she’s apparently mulling over the information and thinking of something sassy to say.
Bella follows me inside the elevator, still in silence. “Are you happy now?” I ask, but she just looks at me with a half-defiant smile.
“How do you know it’s the truth? That she’s not saying that just to please you?” she asks, sounding incredulous.
“I don’t, Bella,” I say. “But I trust her intentions.”
The elevator arrives on the third floor, and we step out, avoiding eye contact.
“Alex, you need to consider Harlan in all this,” Bella says, fixing a lock of her hair behind her ear. “He’ll get attached to her, and what if it doesn’t work out?”
“I appreciate the concern, sis,” I say, placing my hands on her shoulders. “But if that happens, it will be a chance to teach him about that part of life. Don’t you think?”
The last bit comes across as more insecure than I wished for.
“You asked me not to meddle with your life, so I won’t, Alex,” Bella says, looking at me with a crooked stare. “But you take care of yourself; I’m Harlan’s godmother, and I will look out for him.”
I sigh once again. “As you wish, Bella. As you wish.”
She leaves but glances over her shoulder, as if marking me for a future conversation.
Chapter Twenty-One
LIV
“Readytogo?”Marthacomes to my desk, all smiles.
She’s been the reporter I work with ever since Bella left the office, and we’re getting along just fine. The biggest difference between them is that while Bella uses a recorder, Martha uses a notebook and pen. She always gets exasperatedly lost with her notes, until finally finding her way and delivering pure gold.
“Yeah, I’m done here!” I get my camera case and sling it over my shoulder. “Did Gail get you a car?”
“Yup!” She shakes the keys, full of energy.
We get going. From the elevator to the parking lot, she talks excitedly about the assignment, and once we get to the car, she goes on full throttle.
“That piece about Alex Winters you and Bella did got so much buzz. I hear it’s going to be published soon. I’m glad we’re getting to work on another piece about him.”
