Within a heartbeat, he grabs my free hand in his large palm, making mine feel so small. It feels warm. I don’t know why it makes me feel special, but it does. I’ve held his hand before, but this seems more intimate like we always hold hands.
I open the back door to the back alley, and we head out around the building.
“Keys?” Alexander grunts, coming to a stop.
“What?”
“Your car keys? Danny will take your car home. You’re riding with me tonight.”
A tall blond guy pushes off the wall, and as I dig in my purse for my car keys, Alexander tosses them to him and he takes my hand once more, leading me around the building to the street.
It’s busy, and it’s fairly warm out tonight, but the bar is not far. I’m not exactly sure what Anna’s going to do when she sees us walking in together, holding hands. But I’m too afraid to pull my hand from his. The last time I did that, my arm got strung up behind my shoulder blades.
Alexander hasn’t said a word since we left the alley, and I’m glad to be walking in silence because I have nothing to say after all that. Finally reaching the bar, Alexander opens the door, letting go of my hand as he puts his other one on the small of my back to guide me through. I can feel the heat through my shirt. It would be so easy to deceive myself that this show of affection is real. I’ve never had anyone protect me before.
I look around the room for Anna and see her in our favourite corner in the back booth. She lifts a hand and waves, only to drop it quickly when she sees Alexander step up behind me.
“This way.” I stammer, weaving my way through the tables. Anna is in complete shock and is just sitting there with her mouth open, staring. I didn’t even have time to text her to tell her he was coming. But I can explain all that later to her tonight when I call her because I am not discussing anything in front of Alex.
Alex steps aside and lets me get in first, and he slides in beside me, wrapping his arm around the back of the booth, and sitting so close to me that our thighs touch. My face is red, and Anna’s just staring in shock. No one’s saying anything. Alex is the first to speak.
“I’ll start because Isabella doesn’t seem to be able to find her tongue.” Alex extends his hand across the table, and Annashakes it. “My name is Alexander. You have to be Anna. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
Anna has said nothing yet, her mouth wide open and her eyes wide with awe. I’ve never seen Anna struggle for words before, so it’s hilarious to see her so out of her element.
“Ahh… yeah. Hi! I am Anna. I did not know you were coming this evening.” Anna looks at me like, you better do some explaining, girl.
I interject quietly, “Neither did I. It was quite a surprise when Alexander showed up at work. It seems they sent him to collect me. I guess I’ll be moving into his house this evening. Again, something I didn’t know when I left for work this morning.”
“No shit!” Anna says, looking between Alexander and me with a huge smile on her face. I’m in total shock and trying my hardest to keep my emotions in check, and she’s smiling like it’s an invitation to a sleepover. This is my life! They made decisions I’m unaware of. Like a Yo-Yo, I bounce between men who rule the kingdom I live in.
Alex chuckles and says, “Yes, well, we were all in for a surprise this morning. But it works out well for both of us.”
For who, I wonder? Because it’s not me. I’m still in shock that I got kicked out of my house within 24 hours of meeting him, and I don’t even know where all my stuff is. Did they pack my art supplies? My canvases? My stomach drops and my chest feels tight. I feel like a homeless person. Actually, I’d rather be a homeless person. At least all my shit would be in a grocery cart.
The waitress comes and we order our drinks. Anna and Alex strike up a conversation as if they’ve known each other for years. They are doing most of the talking, which is good because I don’t have anything to say.
Everything I needed to say to Anna, I’m not saying that in front of Alex. I did my research last night and I’m scared. If this is his lifestyle, I don’t think we are going to work out. His arm is stillon the back of the booth, and I can feel his fingers lightly playing with a strand of my hair.
My stomach lights up with butterflies, but I know his affection is not real, and it makes me uncomfortable. After reading what I read last night, do I even want his type of affection? I know I should get used to having this man so close to me, but it will only lead to the false hope that he might care.
I try to move away slightly and his heavy arm drops, wrapping around the back of my waist to cup my hip, pulling me to his side again. This feels like a trap, and I will pay again if I don’t go along with the false affection he is displaying for Anna.
Anna taps my hand, bringing me out of my thoughts.
“So I think that would work, wouldn’t it, Isabella?”
I shake my head because I don’t even know what they’ve been talking about.
I whisper, “I’m sorry. What were we discussing?”
Anna beams at me. “Alexander invited me over to help you move in. He says he’s leaving town on Thursday. Maybe we could hang out this weekend and get you all settled in.”
I’m shocked that he would even offer my friend to come over to his place. I lean slightly away to look at him, and for once, I look him in the eyes. My breathing stops, and my heart picks up speed. I’m not looking at the evil monster that pinned me to the bathroom wall. All I see at this moment is a handsome man. His eyes are soft and slightly crinkled as he smiles at me. That killer smile with the dimples I look at his mouth, those soft, warm lips that touched mine so quickly. I’m so stunned I just stutter, “Sure.”
This is the dangerous path I have to tread carefully on. The way he is looking at me right now? The way he touches me? It feels real? And every time he does this, a sliver of me wants it to be true. But I know that it’s not.
Alex leans in close, rubbing his nose along the top of my ear, sending a shiver down my spine. “Isabella will be more than happy to have you. She’ll need some company while I’m away.”
