“I’m hanging in there.”
My heart aches for him, for all of them. I loved his family like he loved mine. We were all this funky amazing blended family. So many barbeques and lake days spent together. Holiday gatherings, birthdays. To think that they’ve been gone for months and I didn’t even know. Grief strikes me hard and true, accompanied by a deep amount of empathy. What must he have felt like to wake up in the hospital and realize that his parents were gone? That he was the only one to survive? Then just a few months later, move back across the country to take care of his dying grandmother? The fact that he’s even hanging on at all is a literal miracle.
“Alec…I wish I would have known.”
He shakes his head and shrugs.
“I kinda kept to myself after the funeral, it was probably best that I lost your number. You would have had my drunk and depressed ass calling you at two in the morning every night,” he laughs dryly.
“I would have answered,” I say, causing his laughter to die as his heavy eyes look to me. “Every time. If you would have called, I would have answered.”
I watch as his throat moves like he’s swallowing before he nods.
“I know,” he rasps, his hand twisting beneath my own before lacing our fingers together.
I give him a soft smile that he matches before letting out a heavy breath.
“Jesus, what a way to start a date.”
My smile widens but I shake my head and roll with his obvious need to switch topics.
“I mean, screw breakfast. I’m wet and ready to go.”
His look of appreciation flashes before it’s gone in the next minute, a suggestive smirk touching his mouth as he leans forward once more.
“Oh really? Well, in that case. I’ll meet you in the bathroom?”
A surprised laugh rips through me, echoing inside the restaurant as I shake my head.
“Not on your fucking life, buddy. I don’t even want to know what we’d catch getting naked in there.”
He frowns in mock disappointment but nods. “Fair enough. Honestly, I’m just impressed my game is strong enough to have you talking about getting naked two minutes into a date.”
I roll my eyes and shake my head at him as he laughs. From there, the topics stay a lot lighter and a lot more flirty. Our lovely waitress brings us our food and we eat while catching up. He tells me about a few friends of his back in New York and I talk to him about Arianna and Naomi. He was shocked to find out that we are still friends, honestly, I don’t get why. We have been friends for so long, we are in it for the long haul. Until we’re old and grey.
After our nearly three hour breakfast date, the waitress finally came right out and said it was time for us to leave, which honestly had us cracking up. Alec quickly paid the tab and though Ioffered to pay my own meal, he just rolled his eyes and told the waitress she could keep the massive tip. Her eyes widened out of her head and for the first time since we were there, she looked almost kind, softened. She said thank you under her breath and quickly rushed into the back.
Alec smiled after her before standing up and offering his hand for me. I took it easily and together we made our way back to his bike. The drive back to my house went by faster than I anticipated. I closed my eyes as I rest my head onto his back and when I opened them again, we were there.
Pushing myself away from him, I step off the bike, taking the helmet he gave me off before handing it to him. He pushes his helmet off as well, running a hand through his blond hair before swinging a leg over so he’s just leaning against the bike.
“Thank you for breakfast, or maybe it’s now considered lunch?” I laugh.
He smiles as he reaches for my hand, pulling it up to his lips before placing a gentle kiss against my knuckles.
“It was my pleasure.”
I feel soft butterflies flutter inside me as I look at him. Our eyes stay on one another for so long, you’d think it would be awkward. It’s not, though. Nothing is with him. Everything is easy, simple. Comfortable. Like riding a bike, we have picked up practically right where we left off.
His hand tugs on mine gently, and I know what he wants without his having to speak. I close to the distance, coming to stand between his legs as his hands come to my hips, holding me in place.
Mindlessly, I wrap my arms around his neck as I smile at him. Even leaning down like this he’s still at perfect eye level with me, which means I can see the way his eyes dart down to my mouth before back to my eyes. A silent ask of permission. I was always the dominant one in this relationship, though, and it looks like some things never change.
Leaning forward, I press my lips against his as one of his hands lift to the back of my head. He holds me tenderly as his lips move against mine, his tongue licking the seam of my lips before I part for him. He twirls his tongue against my own, letting out a soft groan as he does. I feel myself wanting to be closer and closer to him as I hold him tighter when he roughly tears himself away, letting out an almost pained groan.
“If we weren’t in your parent’s driveway in broad daylight, I’d bend you over this bike and show you just how much I’ve fucking missed you.”
“If you knew how to have fun, I’d let you,” I tease against his lips.
