I sniff. "Thank you. Me… me too."
We stay locked in our embrace for way longer than I know should be normal, but it doesn'tfeelabnormal. Hugging Alexander feels like the best thing that's ever happened to me. And that's odd, because he's a stranger. I clear my throat, hating I blush so visibly, and reluctantly pull away. He's just as reluctant, it seems, because his fingers tighten briefly before falling away.
His obviously respectful demeanor shifts my sad thoughts to this morning, to how he had his arms around me.
I feel guilty.
"Uhm…" I tuck a lock of hair behind my ear self-consciously. Really wondering if I should tell him how he was wrapped around me. As a man though, maybe he wouldn't care as much. Am I making this a big deal? Probably. I'll keep it to myself. "I have an apartment showing at three, if you could take me to my car?" I ask hesitantly. "It’s still at your office.”
Alexander tilts his head, his eyes like a blue abyss. “It’s not at the office anymore. Your friends Frick and Frack have already driven it here, but I’m afraid I'm going to insist on you not driving today. I can take you on the apartment tour. Come on, sit at the breakfast table with me. I didn’t know what you liked,soI figured pancakes would be a safe choice. I wasn’t sure if you were vegetarian,” he says, startling me with the admission.
I was about to comment on his nickname for my friends, but his last words take me aback, causing me to frown slightly, tilting my head to the side, mirroring him.
“Why would you think I’m vegetarian?” I enquire.
He smiles a teasing smile and takes my hand gently, pulling me next to him. I turn my head to look up at him as I take a seat at a small buffet table tucked away in the corner of the kitchen next to a bay window that overlooks a beautiful backyard with a small koi pond tucked amongst some beautiful landscaping.
The birds fly around, catching my attention.
Alexander goes back to the island before coming back over with the food and a few plates, setting it all down efficiently. The pancakes look fluffy with slightly crisp edges, just like I like them; albeit, I don’t let myself eat pancakes very often, having a love-hate relationship with carbs. But it's a free breakfast and one that another person cooked for me, so I won't be complaining.
“It’s just that Indians are oftentimes vegetarian, and I didn’t want to assume. I would have made eggs too, but I ran out and didn’t realize,” he says easily as he slides in across the seat from me.
Surprised, I let out a giggle, placing my hand over my mouth.
“What is it?” Alexander says as he throws me a slight smile, placing some pancakes on my plate.
I'm so hungry I can't answer him right away. He watches me with interest as I reach forward and snag a piece of bacon and chew on it. Moaning as my hunger hits hard.
“Oh myGod. Thank you so much. I didn’t get a chance to eat atallyesterday." I snag another piece of bacon, and before I know it, I've eaten four pieces before he's even put food on his plate. He’d been busy staring at me with a rather amused expression on his face.
Gosh, he's so handsome. It's almost nerve-wracking.
No, it is. It's so nerve-wracking how handsome he is. And those eyes! My God, I can barely hold his eye contact because they're so striking.
“So,nota vegetarian, then?” Alexander asks, his eyes crinkling with humor.
I shake my head. “No, and I’m not Indian either. Dotorfeather,” I say absentmindedly.
He barks out a laugh. “Did you just say that?” He asks incredulously.
His laughter warms me, and I grin back, choosing to not ream him about the faux pas of him assuming my race so blatantly.
“Yeah, just like you just said what you said," I tease him with a giggle. "Which one did you think I was? It wasn’tspecified.” I crack a little diagnosis joke, cutting into my dry pancakes and placing a bite into my mouth. I lean my head back, biting back a moan because it's so good.
Alexander clears his throat and pointedly glances at my plate.“You don’t like syrup?”he asks, rather accusatory.
“I don’t eat a lot of stuff. And yet, Istillcan’t get this fupa to go away,” I say, putting another bite of pancake into my mouth.
To my surprise Alexander chokes, beating his hand to his chest, making me throw my silverware down, prepared to do the Heimlich.
Who am I kidding? I don't know the Heimlich. I could try, though.
Again, who am I kidding? I don't think I could wrap my arms around his broad frame. Thankfully, he gets it together, and I don't have to intervene. I push his water towards him. The best I can do right now.
“What? What's that?” he asks, his brow arching.
“Yeah, I have this place on my tummy that I can’t spot reduce for anything. I perform at a nearby lounge and there are so many pretty dresses I want to wear, but I can’t because everyone wants a super flat stomach, and I can’t seem to get it, so...whyam I even telling you this? I’m sorry,” I whisper, horrified at my rambling.
