“Hey there, Mrs. Coll—I mean, Emma,” Red said, gently wrapping her arms around Mom’s frail body.
I leaned down and whispered into her ear, “Nice save, Red.” She rolled her eyes at me, but couldn’t hide the smile spreading across her face.
“I didn’t know you were coming, but I’m so glad you did. You can help me keep this one in line,” Mom said, looking up at me.
“Hey, I’m not the trouble maker in this family,” I said. “If I recall, at Rachel’s wedding, it was Aunt Jean who had one too many whiskey sours and ended the night on top of a table.”
Mom giggled. “Well, that’s true.”
“So, where is everyone?” I asked.
“Your father is at the bar.” See, smart man. “Millie and David are doing a walkthrough of the hall and the rest of the family is descending tonight. Oh, speaking of which, the hotel lost Evelyn’s reservation and now they’re full, so you and Alex will have to bunk together.”
I swallowed. Sharing a room with Red was going to seriously test my newly acquired willpower.
“I put some extra blankets and pillows in there and you can make up a pallet on the floor, Drew.” Mom met my eyes and winked at me.
“I can take the floor,” Red said. “I don’t mind.”
“No way, Red. Mom’s orders.”
She nodded.
“Well, I’m going drop our stuff and then I gotta go meet David for a tux fitting.” I looked at Red. “You going to be okay here?” She nodded again.
***
I walked into the tux rental place. David was already in his tux and the tailor was taking measurements. I laughed at the sight of a guy on his knees in front of my brother.
“I didn’t realize this was a happy endings sort of place,” I said as I approached.
David just shot me an irritated look.
“Whoa! Someone’s tense.” I held my hands up in surrender.
“This wedding is killing me. I swear to God, if it wasn’t for mom I would grab Millie and be on a plane to Vegas tonight,” David said, shaking his arms out to the side, earning him a glare from the tailor hemming his pants.
“That bad, huh?”
“You don’t know the half of it. I had no idea all the shit that goes into this. Millie is freaking out because her cousins from Arkansas said they couldn’t make it at first, but now they are coming, so she is frantically redoing the seating chart.”
The tension was rolling off of him in waves. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“It’s not funny!” He whipped his head around, glaring at me.
“It kind of is.” I chuckled and crossed my arms across my chest.
“Where’s Alex?” he asked, wincing as the tailor stuck him with a pin.
“Oh, I left her back at the house. Mom was putting her to work making some kind of tissue ball thing.”
“How is that going?” he asked, pulling at his sleeve.
“I don’t know. It looked complicated to me. I got out before they asked me to help.”
“Not the tissue thing. The Alex thing.” He scoffed.
“Oh, it’s not,” I said, pretending to inspect a rack of ties.
“Why not?”
“Because right now she needs a friend more than she needs anything else.” I sighed.
“Why can’t you be both?”
“Because I will fuck it up and then she will hate me and be on her own again.”
“You don’t know that.”
“Yeah, I do. She deserves someone so much better than me.”
“You know what mom says.”
“Yeah, I know.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
“The problem is that I want her to be happy, and right now the best way I can make that happen is to be her friend. She needs to belong to someone, to be a part of a family without the fear of it all being ripped away. So that’s what I’m going to be for her.” I leaned my shoulder against the wall and focused on my shoes.
I looked up and David was studying me, his eyes narrowed.
“What?” I asked.
He stepped down from the platform. “You really love her, don’t you?”
“Yeah, it fucking sucks.”
He dropped his head and nodded.
***
Later that night, I was getting ready for bed when Alex came into the room. She was staring at her fingers, which where stained a light blue color.
“What happened to you?” I chuckled.
“Damn tissue paper stained my hands. I can’t get it off. I scrubbed them raw in the shower and look at me,” she said, holding her hands up to me.
“You look like you gave a hand job to a Smurf.” I laughed.
She swatted at me. “It’s not funny. I have to get this off,” she said, scratching at her fingers.
“Hold that thought.” I headed into the bathroom and dug under the sink until I found some cotton balls and mom’s nail polish remover.
When I got back into the bedroom, Red was sitting on the bed, staring at her blue fingers. She looked up when she heard me coming. I took a seat next to her and wiggled the bottle at her. “Acetone,” I said.
I opened the bottle and held the cotton ball over the top, letting the purple liquid soak into it. I reached for her hand and gently wiped the cotton ball across her palm. The blue was coming off slowly, but it was coming off. I went through a few cotton balls, but it seemed to do the trick.
I reached for her other hand and she held it out to me. I could feel her staring at me, but I did my best to ignore it, focusing instead on removing the blue dye from her hand.
“Thank you,” she said, her voice quiet.
“No problem. Mom picked up a few tricks over the years. She says that raising two boys forced her to be creative.”
She laughed. “No, I mean, thank you for bringing me here.” I looked up, meeting her eyes as she continued. “It really means a lot.”
“Of course, Red.” I smiled. “I told you, we’re family and that comes with the motley Collins crew and Sean.”
Red laughed. “We can’t leave out Sean.”
“He wouldn’t stand for it,” I whispered, suddenly distracted by the light in her eyes.
I shook my head and finished cleaning her hand. “There, you’re all set.”
She held up her hands and smiled. “I’m gonna brush my teeth. Be right back.”
While she was in the bathroom, I finished making up my bed on the floor. When she came back in, she looked down at my makeshift bed with a frown. “I feel bad making you sleep on the floor.”
“It’s not a big deal, Red. I don’t mind. Besides, what kind of gentleman would I be if I made you sleep on the floor?”
“Well, we can just share the bed.” She shrugged.
I raised my eyebrows at her. “You sure?”
“Yeah, I mean it’s not a big deal. It’s not like anything would happen.” She pulled back the covers. “Unless you want to sleep on the floor?”
“No, I’m just…” I wasn’t sure what to do. The idea of spending the night with Red curled up beside me was definitely appealing, but very, very dangerous. “Okay then, but I have to warn you. I like to cuddle,” I joked. Well, sort of joked. “Wouldn’t want you to get the wrong idea.” I raised my eyebrows at her.
She just laughed. “I think I can handle it.”
I just hoped that I could handle it.
I grabbed my pillow from the floor and walked around to the other side of the bed. I pulled back the covers and climbed in next to her. She settled under the covers, facing me. I relaxed onto my back and looked up at the ceiling.
“Good night, Drew,” she said. She already sounded sleepy.
“Night, Red.”
“You’re my best friend, you know that?” she whispered, her eyes closed. I could feel her body beginning to relax next to me.
“Yeah, I know.” I chuckled.
“I love you, Drew.”
I tensed. I knew she meant as a friend, but hearing
her say the words was hard. I looked at her lying next to me, so peaceful and beautiful, her hair spread across the pillow, her face relaxed.
“I love you too, Alex,” I whispered. I wish I could tell her just how much.
Chapter 20
Alex (Now)
On Monday, work was pretty crazy. We were scrambling to put the finishing touches on a proposal for a new client meeting set up for tomorrow morning. Madeline was flying to New York and leaving me in charge of all our current projects in her absence. I was catching up on some e-mails when I heard a Ping, ping.
Drew: What are you wearing?
I smiled and sent a quick reply.
Alex: Nothing. I’m at work.
Drew: Really, nothing? Must be cold. I could come warm you up.
It was a little surreal to be flirting with Drew like this. Don’t get me wrong, I loved it, but it just seemed to fuel the burning questions I had about what, exactly, we were doing. I sent him a quick lol.
Drew: I can’t stop thinking about you.
I didn’t know how to respond to that. Was he just being flirty, or was he trying to tell me something? Damn, I was doing it again. I needed to stop analyzing things. He hasn’t said anything about how he feels about me. I was afraid to assume anything and find out later I was way off base.
Drew: Can I see you tonight?
Alex: I’m working late, but I can stop by when I get off.
Drew: Can’t wait to get you off.
I blushed. I couldn’t help myself from day dreaming about how many ways he could do just that.
“Someone is happy today.” I looked up just as Wiley came through the door. I must have been smiling like an idiot.
“Uh, yeah.” I cleared my throat. “I had a nice weekend.” Understatement of the century!
She perched on the end of my desk. “Really?”
“Yeah, it was fun. Went to the park and had brunch at Millie’s. It was nice.” I focused on my computer screen. I knew if I looked up at her, Wiley would see the truth written all over my face.
“Was Drew there?”
“Yes.” Too late. She was already hot on the trail.
“So, you are talking again?”
“Yeah, we’re good.” I bit my lip, trying to hide the huge smile threatening to spread across my lips.
She narrowed her eyes and studied my face. “Good,” she said. She turned to leave, walking slowly out of my office, waiting for me to break.
“Fine.” I broke down. I needed to tell someone or I would burst and Wiley was my only option at the moment.
She squealed. “I knew it! So?” She waved her hands excitedly, encouraging me to go on.
“I went over to find out why he had been avoiding me and he said he was just doing what I asked and giving me time.” She nodded. “He seemed really angry and I thought, this is it, his official rejection, but instead he kissed me.”
“Really? Oh my God, Alex, that’s awesome!”
“Yeah, it was like someone lit a match we just couldn’t stop. We spent the whole weekend together.”
“So, are you guys together?”
“Well,” I dragged out the word in an attempt to stall. I took a deep breath. “I have no idea.”
Wiley got to her feet. “So, did you guys talk at all?”
I shook my head. She let out a long breath and then got to her feet. “You need to talk to him, Alex,” she said. “You need to define what it is you two are doing. You can’t have casual sex with your best friend.”
I dropped my head into my hands. “I know.” She was right. I needed to know what this was, what he wanted this to be.
***
I was leaving work when my phone made that all too familiar ping, ping noise.
Drew: Papa Jack called. He needs help unloading a truck. It won’t take long. Key is under the mat. Wait for me?
Alex: I can just see you tomorrow.
Drew: No, I left you something. I promise, won’t take long.
Alex: Ok.
The key was right where he said it’d be. I flipped the lock and headed in. The apartment was dark except for a candle that flickered from the table by the door. I set down my bag and headed deeper into the apartment. I was curious to see what he left for me.
I saw another flicker of light down the hall. There was another candle lit on the kitchen counter and another on the table by the sofa. They formed a trail leading me to the bedroom. I followed the trail and pushed the door open.
The room was dark, except for the light from the street coming in through the window. I was a little disappointed and then I noticed another flicker coming from the bathroom. I followed the light, pushed open the door, and gasped.
He’d lit the entire room with candles. I was always jealous of Drew’s bathroom. It was huge with a standalone shower and the most amazing deep Jacuzzi bath. Drew had already drawn me a bath and the jets were running. The entire room smelled like my favorite passion fruit bubble bath. He had an MP3 player and a playlist of some of my favorite songs playing low set up with a small speaker by the sink.
It was insane. I was so overwhelmed that I felt lightheaded and had to grip the door handle. I never understood the concept of swooning. I thought it always made women seem weak, but it was oh so clear to me now.
I walked to the tub and dragged my fingers through the water. It was still deliciously warm. Next to the tub sat a bottle of my favorite wine with a glass and a note.
I thought this would keep you warm till I get back.
–Drew
I pressed the note to my chest and closed my eyes. God, I loved this man. I quickly undressed, poured a glass of wine, and sank down into the warm, soapy water. It felt amazing. I had been working hard all day and this was exactly what I needed.
I soaked for a while until my fingers were wrinkled. Drew still wasn’t back, so I got out and dried off. After blowing out the candles and putting away the wine, I crawled into bed to wait for Drew. I was so relaxed from the bath and the smell of his sheets that I quickly fell fast asleep.
I woke when I felt a kiss on the small of my back. Drew continued to kiss his way up my body. He tasted my skin with his tongue. I sighed as my body ignited. He kissed the sweet spot behind my ear and whispered, “Wake up, sleepy head.”
I turned on my side to face him. He ran his hand down my ribs, then rested them on my hip.
“Hey,” I said in a soft, sleepy voice.
He leaned in and softly touched his lips to mine. “You smell amazing. Can I come home to you like this every night?” He ran his nose softly up my cheek.
I seized the opportunity to get some answers. “Would you really want that?” I asked, searching his eyes for any doubt.
“Every. Single. Day.” He punctuated each word with a slow savory kiss to my neck. I wanted to give in. I really did. I wanted to just give myself over to the indescribable feeling of his hands, his skin, and my God, those lips, but I had to be strong. I had to keep him talking. I needed to know if this was real, or just sex.
I wanted it to be real. I wanted it to be real so desperately. I closed my eyes and willed myself to stop him. I sat up and pulled the sheet up to cover my chest. I needed him to focus and being naked was not going to help with that.
“Please, don’t say things like that if you don’t mean it.”
“Who said I didn’t mean it?” He smiled and leaned in to kiss me again.
I turned my face and he stopped short. “Hey.” He turned my chin so our eyes met. “What’s going on?”
“A lot has happened between us and we never really talked.”
He dropped his hand and looked down at the bed. “I know.”
I put my hand over his and he looked up at me. “When this first started, I wanted it so badly that I didn’t really think about what it would mean for us. I’m not trying to rush into anything. I just want to know if this is just sex, or…”
“Or. It is definitely or,” he said, cutting me off. “I don’t know what we are doing
, Red. This is just as new for me. All I can say is that I want to see what happens. I don’t want to stop.” He reached up and cupped my cheek. “You could never be just anything.”
He kissed me, his tongue pushing into my mouth. This time I didn’t pull away or argue. I got lost in the sweet taste of him. He broke the kiss and leaned his forehead against mine.
“So, are we…dating?” I asked breathlessly.
He laughed. “Yeah, I guess that’s a good place to start.” He pulled away from me and jumped up from the bed. “Be right back.”
He headed into the living room. What was he doing? Ping, ping. I picked up my phone.
Drew: Have dinner with me?
I laughed. He was texting me from the living room to ask me to dinner.
Alex: When?
Drew: Tomorrow night?
Alex: I don’t know. I might have plans.
Drew: I know you do, with me. Pick you up at 7?
I giggled and typed okay.
I heard Drew coming back down the hall. “Looks like I have a date tomorrow.”
He smirked and lifted his eyebrows. “Really? Is he good-looking?”
“Oh yeah. One might even say ruggedly sexy.” I got to my knees, letting the sheet slip from my body, and crawled my way over to the edge of the bed.
“Ruggedly sexy, huh?” He gripped my hips and pulled me tight against his chest.
“Yeah, I just hope he’s not the kind of guy who thinks I put out on the first date.” I ran a finger down the center of his chest.
He pulled off his t-shirt and threw it to the floor.
“Well,” he said as he undid his belt and stepped out of his shoes. “I guess we will just have to get it out of your system tonight then, won’t we. Just so you won’t be tempted.”
He slipped off his jeans and crawled up the bed, pulling me under him and giving me a deep, breathtaking kiss. I felt better. It wasn’t a declaration by any means, but now there was at least hope.
Somewhere In Between (Madison Square Book 1) Page 21
