Page 53 of The Longest Wait

“I’m actually expecting you to annoy the shit out of me sometime before we get off the train, but that doesn’t change the factthat I want to be with you. Stop looking for a reason this won’twork. You either want to be with me or you don’t.”

She would never say it. She would rather have to go on a dietbefore admitting he was right. But, well, he was right. “I want tobe with you.” She did, but there was so much more to it than justbeing together. Too much at stake.

“I feel like it isn’t going to be that simple,” Alex said, not looking the least bit concerned.

“Of course not. Because I have one rule.”

“Fine, but if you’re making a rule, I want to make one too.”

“I’m going first.” She was putting it out there. “I don’t want totell anyone we’re trying to see if this is more than sexual chemistry.”

Yes, she was downplaying how she felt, but could anyoneblame her? This was the man who could break her, that power washard to give, no matter how much trust they had rebuilt.

“What?” Alex was pissed.

“Before you react, hear me out. My best friend is your sister, sobefore we tell anyone, I want to make sure we can make this work.”

Alex’s jaw tightened. “You want to keep us quiet?”

“Not forever, just until we know we can handle being together.I don’t want Lucy and our circle of friends to feel in the middle.”

I want to know you aren’t going to crush me again, she debatedadding. But again, she wasn’t going to share that.

“What’s the difference between telling anyone now or tellingthem later?” His voice was sharp.

“If this doesn’t work, no one else will be collateral damage.”

“If that’s how you feel, fine.” Alex mulled over this for a fewminutes. “My rule is that I’m not giving you a lot of time to thinkthis over this. I won’t keep our relationship a secret.”

Sofia heard his warning. “How long?”

Alex’s eyes were a mixture of hurt and anger. A mix she didn’tlike, but it was too late now. His answer was crisp. “Not long.”

His stern gaze let her know he wasn’t going to budge. Sheagreed, but secretly wished he did his rule first. She bet he would’veasked for sex whenever he wanted and that was something shecould agree to. But not long? That wasn’t even a time frame. Sheneeded more time. Like enough to know he wasn’t going to breakher heart again. Was there even a time frame for that?

Chapter 16

ten Years ago

EVERYONE WITH A dick was hitting on Sofia, vying for her attention. The Fourth of July celebration of freedom turned into a prisonsentence for him. He should be grateful his little sister’s best friend wasentertained. He should be grateful she wasn’t behaving like a brat anddemanding to go home.

Should was the operative word and it meant nothing toAlex’s patience.

If Sofia laughed at one more lame joke one of his asshole friendstold her, he was going to flip out. He was moody and sat on the deck,clutching his beer, giving anyone and everyone a death stare. He hadto get her to leave so he could have some fun. His plan was to take herhome, and then come back.

That way he could actually enjoy himself.

In his head, it was a peaceful plan she shouldn’t object to. Hisdelivery was off though. He stomped over to her, ready to drag her awaywhile she was making googly eyes at someone else. She was smiling atMelvin, his friend’s mentor from law school, and hanging on his everyword like he was telling her how to stop world hunger. Melvin wasintoxicated by her attention and enjoyed every minute, not botheringto mask the way he drooled over Sofia.

The Longest Wait

“Mind if I join.” Alex didn’t wait for either of them to respondwhen he sat next to Sofia. The happiness left her face as she tossed anannoyed look at Alex.

“I might.” Sofia was nothing but attitude.

Was she actually into Melvin? No fucking way. Alex was stoppingthat bus from driving any farther. “Melvin, has Sofia told you all ofher fascinating stories of college?”

Melvin, poor guy, looked confused.