Page 37 of Something Like That

Alex snorted. “It’s not a big deal. It wasn’t like we were in some epic romance or anything back then.” She left off the part about how badly she’d wanted it to be an epic romance back then.

“So, is it this time?”

“Is it what?”

“An epic romance?”

“Ah, no.” Alex tried to keep her voice even.

“How come?”

“Sometimes, things just aren’t meant to be.” She shrugged again, even though a streak of disappointment sliced through her.

Em scrunched up her face. “So, that’s it?”

“Yup, that’s it.”

Em pursed her lips for a second. “Did you at least have sex with him?”

Alex choked, although on what, she had no idea. There is no way Em had just asked that. She thumped her hand on her chest, hoping to dislodge whatever was currently stuck in her throat. “What?”

“Did you sleep with him?”

“Geez, Emily, what kind of question is that?” She sucked in a breath. “Not that it’s any of your business, but we were sightseeing, in public, and then we had brunch together. After that, he tweaked his knee and we headed to the clinic.”

“So?”

“What did you think was going to happen at brunch in Pike Place Market?” Heat exploded in her cheeks, because no matter how much she denied it, she had almost slept with him after brunch yesterday. And she was super disappointed she hadn’t gotten to follow through, especially since it looked like he’d changed his mind since.

Her stupid emotions must have played out on her face, because Em took a quick look at her and burst into giggles. The sound was so infectious, Alex could help but laugh, too. After the myriad of emotions she’d experienced over the last twenty-four hours, it felt good to laugh.

Once the giggles had subsided, Alex tossed the comforter off and rolled to her feet. “I’m going to have a shower.” She glanced at the clock again. “You want to go out for breakfast or something?”

Em glanced at the clock and groaned, pulling the blanket over her face. “It’s so early.”

At least that’s what Alex thought she said. The words were muffled by the layers of cotton and batting. But, after a second, Em tossed the comforter aside and slid off the sofa. She rubbed her eyes and headed for the stairs.

Alex couldn’t help smiling as she headed toward her tiny en-suite bathroom. She knew raising a teenager was going to be a challenge, she just hadn’t expected every aspect of sex and sexuality to be tossed at her over an eighteen-hour period.

But she’d survived. Meaning Nick was right, she was strong. Strong enough to survive working closely with him without giving into her hormones. She just needed to forget all about their incredible kiss on the pier and she’d be fine.

And ignore the disembodied laughter that rang though her head every time she told herself the effects of the kiss would fade over time and eventually, her craving for Nick Sadler would disappear.

Chapter Eight

Nick felt like a fucking coward, which was ridiculous. He wasn’t a coward, he was practical.

So what if he’d run away from Alex’s house in the middle of the night? Okay, it hadn’t been the middle of the night. It had barely been nine o’clock. But still.

The fact he’d avoided her for the last week and a half was irrelevant, too. The doctor he saw on Saturday had told him to take it easy, so that’s what he’d done. And taking it easy did not include an intense ass workout with a strength and conditioning coach, now did it? So, he’d called and cancelled his appointments with Alex all last week, and then again on Monday and Wednesday this week.

But now it was Friday morning, and he was sitting in a cab, parked down the street from her clinic. Like a fucking stalker.

He’d watched as she’d headed inside about fifteen minutes prior. Which meant he had about fifteen minutes until his session started.

And he was not pussying out today.

He tossed a bunch of cash at the driver, grabbed his gym bag and climbed out of the cab. Why the hell did it feel like he was walking to his execution? Was facing Alex, after he’d been such a dick, that big a deal?