I know Alex and Nate will be at the gallery today, so I’m going to go down there and see if I can fix this. Nate can hold down the fort while I talk to her for a bit. Gathering my keys and wallet, I head to my car, wondering if I should take a bunch of flowers,but I decide not to. Just in case she wants to be friends, which would only confuse the situation further. I don’t even really know what I want, or what I’m going to talk to her about. Going in blind is probably stupid, but at least I’m making an effort to sort this shit out.
On the ride over, I think about what I’m going to say, but everything seems wrong. I honestly have no idea what I’m going to do or say when I see her. The more I think about this and my lack of plans, the more I question everything.
Is going to talk to her at her place of work the right thing to do?
What is she going to say when she sees me?
Fuck, I should have gotten her flowers.
I’m an ass!
Parking my car, I get out and walk up to the gallery. It reminds me of the first time I visited and saw her, all those months ago, when I thought she was supposed to be a man. I smile at the memory and clear my throat as I approach, wiping my sweaty palms on my jeans. Taking a deep breath, I walk inside, and the door dings, letting them know someone is here. I’m happy to see no one else is browsing, giving me space to be with Alex. She rounds the corner and stops when she sees me.
She’s dressed in her usual business attire that doesn’t suit her, but her aqua hair is pulled back in a messy bun, and her makeup is done but not to her usual standard.
She looks tired.
Absolutely beautiful, but tired.
I watch as she lets out a long breath, like the sight of me has taken her breath away. Exhaling, I take her in completely.
I guess I’ve never really looked at her.
Truly looked at her.
This woman is utterly stunning.
“Alex,” I murmur.
“Matt,” she whispers back, standing steadfast in the doorway, so I decide to move. After I take a few steps, her eyes bug out like she’s shocked that I’m rushing toward her, but also like she’s stunned to the spot.
I breathe harshly through my nose as I get closer and stand right in front of her, looking into her eyes. Her usual sparkling brown eyes stare at me like she isn’t sure what to do or say.
“I’m sorry,” I admit, and she slumps with a frown.
“For?” she asks.
“Fucking everything up.”
Alex nods and looks down at the floor.
Crap! She looks broken. I hate it.
“I shouldn’t have asked you back to my place on Saturday night,” I say, and her head snaps up, and her eyes glisten like she’s trying to fight back the tears.
Shit! Jesus! I needed to word that differently.
“No, I mean we shouldn’t have slept together.”
She lets out a bemused laugh, takes a step back, and looks away from me.
Shit! Even worse. Fuck, Matt!
“What I mean is… I don’t want to lose what we have, Alex, and I feel like us being together might have fucked everything up.”
Her nostrils flare, and her eyes are still downturned. “So you regret it?”
Shit!
