I slide off my seat and make my way to Alex’s booth. I’m not sure why she makes me so nervous. It’s not like I don’t talk to women. I do. She just feels different, I guess. Like it could be more.
Their conversation screeches to a halt when I approach the table, three sets of eyes swinging towards me. “Sorry to interrupt, ladies.” I turn and Alex’s deep brown gaze locks me in place, like she can see through my soul. Her hair is piled in a bun on top of her head with tiny hairs escaping. “Alex, what are you ladies up to?”Smooth, real smooth.I’d kick myself if it wouldn’t make things more awkward.
Her hand fiddles with her loose strands as she tries to tame them, to no avail. “Just taking a break from girls’ day. What uh…”
“Oh! You should join us. I see the rest of your crew is here too!” Her friend Ashlynn is craning her neck to look at the guys behind me.
I try to tame my smirk, but it’s no use. The universe is yanking us towards each other and I want nothing more than to launch into Alex’s life, but I have a lot going on right now. It wouldn’t be fair for her.
I watch as panic flashes through Alex’s eyes, but the next moment it’s gone and a shield is up as she forces a smile.
“I’m sorry,” I say. “We would, but we are just getting a quick lunch before we have to go back to work. Next time.”
I don’t need to rush this, she obviously needs more time after everything with her ex, and I need to get my personal life in order. I can wait for her.
“Have a nice evening ladies. I’ll see you soon, Alex.” I wink at her.
Fuck, why did I wink? That’s such a douchy thing to do. Fuck.
Thankfully the food is already at our table when I return, so I proceed to inhale my portion and throw a hundred on the table before bailing for work. I ignore Ryder’s protests as Alester drags him out of the building and away from Alex and her friends.
Thank fuck for him, or Ryder would ruin every possible relationship I could have with his loud mouth and lack of filter.
CHAPTER 10
Alexandra
“I can’t believeJames came to the pizza place too. Seems like you have a stalker.” Ashlynn slides onto the new sofa and picks up her phone.
I try not to roll my eyes, but I’m pretty sure I fail.What a laugh, me? Have a stalker? Yeah right. I can’t even get a man to be faithful.
“It’s the best place for pizza. You know that, it’s not that weird.” I fiddle with my shirt, regretting my panic. I should have invited him to sit with us. I saw the hurt flash across his eyes before he hid it. Just like me, he doesn’t show his pain. Two peas in a pod. I wonder what wounds he has hidden inside. Maybe he will tell me one day.
No! No men for me until I figure out my job situation. Idiot.
“Not to take you off subject, but if you really do planto leave us for the weekend or whatever, you should probably leave soon.” Jaz shoves her phone in my face. She has the radar of Minnesota pulled up. I grab it from her hands and take in the large blue and purple blob making its way towards us a lot sooner than they initially said.
I scroll to the top and look at the hourly.Shit.It looks like it’s going to get nasty, and quick. If I don’t want to be stuck here in my apartment, I need to get out of here.
My phone dings from the table.
Annabel: Have a great trip! I would be jealous if there was actual civilization there, but have fun none the less. Love you! Don’t get murdered! Mwaaaaaa.
She’s a dork. I grab my purse and open it, so I can start chucking my charger and snacks inside. “I better get everything loaded. I don’t want to be stuck here and end up permanently jobless!”
I rush around grabbing my other bags. Jaz and Ashlyn help me carry everything to my car.
We hug goodbye before I get in the car to drive north.
Two hours into my four-hour drive, the snow is really starting to pick up. My little Toyota Camry is sliding everywhere. I’ve been meaning to upgrade to an all-wheel drive vehicle, but unfortunately my job doesn’t pay enough for that upgrade. Well, I guess I should say didn’t pay since now I’m jobless andreallydon’t make any money. I’ve been trying to get promotions every year since being there, but it just never worked out.
I grip the wheel tighter and strain to see the lines as the snow covers more of the roadway. Every time I feel my tires sliding, I let off the gas and wait.
I can’t wait to get to the cabin, this is utterly exhausting.
The radio is playing at a low volume as they interrupt for the weather announcement. “This highly anticipated storm is just starting. Travel is not advised at this time. We’ve got back-to-back storms hitting over the next few days and it will take time for plows to clean up the major interstates and even longer for residential roads…”
I about jump out of my skin when my phone’sringtone blares through the low voices of the weatherman on max volume. I quickly hit Answer on my steering wheel, not taking my eyes off the snowy road.
