Just One Touch: A Black Alcove Novel (The Black Alcove Series Book 3) (19 page)

Alex

Logan is upset with
Conner, and I feel guilty enjoying what it feels like to have an
overprotective brother. Ever since I told Sara what happened she’s
invited me around more. I honestly think she would have even if
Conner and I were still together. Seeing as how he lives across from
me and comes into the gym almost every night I work, the distraction
has been nice.

“Did he knock on your
door today?” Logan asks as he takes a seat on his sofa between Sara
and Beth. We were going to have a girl’s lunch, but Kelsey wasn’t
feeling up to it. I don’t blame her, considering her due date was
yesterday.

“He did.” The same
way he has every day since I broke things off between us.

“And you still didn’t
answer?” Beth asks.

“What am I going to
say to him, honestly?”

“Honestly,” Logan
clears his throat. “It’s not your choice to make for him. If he
wants to be with you rather than her, then let it happen.”

“Logan!” Sara
exclaims. “I thought you were against them being together.”

He shrugs and pulls out
his phone. “I used to feel that way. And mainly because I didn’t
want Alex to get hurt. I always wanted her to be happy, though.”

“I agree with Logan,”
Beth says.

I eye each of them as I
decide what I want to say. Whether or not I want to, it seems like
I’m doing something wrong if I forgive him so easily.

“Look, I know how it
sounds, and yeah, I’m sure I’m one of the last people you would
want to be taking advice from, but you have to go with the flow,”
Logan says, surprising me.

“Seriously, that’s
your big brother advice? You’ve waited this many years to tell her
that?” Sara rolls her eyes but is smiling at the same time.

“No, I’ve waited
this many years to see my sister living a life where she is happy and
has what she wants. What I see: messy hair, jeans, and hoodie. This
doesn’t look like you’re happy.”

I sigh. He’s right.
I’m not happy, but I can’t take back what I said and I don’t
want to. I refuse to be the other woman. And I might not even be
that. But it doesn’t change the fact that Conner kept Heather and
her suggestion they be a family from me. He had plenty of moments to
tell me about it and explain his side of the story, but he never did.
It stings to think that maybe he never said a word because he doesn’t
trust me. Or maybe he wasn’t really as into me as I was him. Maybe
I was just someone to help pass the time or get out one last hurrah
before he made the family commitment.

“If you ask me, I
think you two just need to talk it out.” Sara grins at me before
she reaches over to rub Logan’s back. The way she looks at Logan,
with love, hits me right in the heart. I don’t think I was ever in
love with Conner, but it was something fiercely close.

“Do you remember how
you lacked a lot of communication? Maybe it’s something that runs
in the family,” Sara says.

“It’s not the lack
of communication as much as we don’t want to face the fact that
someone might not want us, would reject us the way our parents did,”
Logan says with such a straight face. Then he kisses his wife on the
top of her head and stands. “I’ve voiced my opinion. I’ll let
you ladies talk it out from here. But, Alexis, I’m serious. When
you fall in love, you can’t control what it does to you. How it
makes you feel. You should embrace it. Conner isn’t leaving Jake
behind by being with you. He’s still being the father we never had
with or without you. I have a feeling he’d rather do it with you.”

I open my mouth, but to
say what I’m not sure. I’m starting to think that Logan hogged
all the smart genes when he was born. He winks at Sara before he
exits the room. His experience is what has made him so wise. I hope
mine will do the same.

“Personally, I
think—” Beth begins but is cut off by Logan barging back into the
room.

“Kelsey is having the
baby!”

“What?” Sara says
with excitement.

“Finally.” Beth
says.

“Ethan says it’s
going fast; let’s go.” Logan grabs his keys and Sara’s purse
from near the door.

“Why do we need to be
there?” I ask, not moving from the couch.

All three of them pause
to stare at me.

“Why wouldn’t we
go? Our best friend is having a baby and we want to be there for her.
This is what we do. This is how our group works. Now I know you like
Kelsey, too, so if you’re part of our group then you best get your
ass off that couch and suck up the nerves or whatever else you are
going to have when you see Conner.” Beth barely finishes her mini
speech before she’s out the door. Sara, who is just starting her
fifth month, is right behind her.

Beth is right. All of
these people have welcomed me into their lives even after knowing I
kept my relation to Logan a secret. They didn’t hesitate to make me
feel like I’ve found more than just friends. This is my new
family—they were there for me and now it’s my turn to repay the
favor.

I stand.

Twenty minutes later
I’m sitting in the hospital waiting room with Beth, Sara, Logan,
and Kelsey’s parents. Clara is fast asleep in her grandmother’s
arms. I want to ask where Ethan’s parents are, but no one seems to
be concerned about it, so I decide it’s best not to bring it up. I
expected Conner to be here already, but he isn’t. I really want to
ask about that because a part of me is actually looking forward to
seeing him. I miss his touch and the way he gives me this half grin
thing that creates one dimple on the right side of his smile just
before he kisses me.

I lean back in my chair
the moment I hear Jake. He zooms into the room and right to his
grandparents. Who, I might add, have had the biggest smiles I’ve
ever seen on their faces. Today is happy day for them, too.

“Alex!” he yells
the moment his eyes catch mine over his grandfather’s shoulder mid
hug. Jake scrambles down to his feet and runs over to me, wrapping
his arms around my neck as I lean over the chair into his embrace.

“Dad said you’ve
been real busy this week. So busy you can’t even play chalk with
me.” Big, sad eyes look up at me. I see Conner in them and it
crushes my heart even more.

“Yeah, I have. But
how about next time you’re staying at your dad’s, I’ll meet you
outside for a chalk date.”

“Yes! Dad, did you
hear her?”

My gaze remains glued
to the floor as I feel Conner looking at me. If I look up, I can’t
promise I won’t break into tears. I don’t know what has gotten
into me. I’ve only known him a few months. This shouldn’t be the
way I feel after such a short amount of time.

“Yeah, I heard her,
bud.” His voice sends welcomed shivers through my body, waking
parts of me that have a desire only for him. His arm brushes against
mine as he takes the seat next to me. Jake is now chatting Sara and
Logan’s ears off on the other side of the room.

“I’ve been trying
to talk to you,” he says quietly.

“I know.”

“Can you give me the
chance to explain myself? I never thought I would meet someone like
you, and everything got complicated so fast. I was so caught up in
what we had that I got scared.”

“Conner, I don’t
think this is the place to talk.”

“I disagree. I told
myself that the next time I saw you, I wouldn’t waste another
minute missing my chance to talk to you. Waiting for the right moment
is what put me in this spot to begin with. I miss you, Alex. And I’m
so incredibly sorry.”

“Conner, please,” I
beg, swiping a tear away. These rush of emotions are new for me and I
don’t really feel like crying in public.

“Alex, I can’t be
with her when I’m in love with you.”

I rise, ready to dash
out of the room when Ethan steps in, smiling like a proud new father.

“Kelsey is doing
great and out newest addition, Cassie, is just as beautiful as her
mother. You should be able to see her soon.”

Everyone takes their
turn giving hugs and congratulating him. I do my part and excuse
myself.

I can’t stick around
here. Not while Conner is here and not while my heart shatters just
by looking at him.

Conner

Two weeks. That’s how
long it’s been since I saw Alex in the hospital and that’s how
long she’s been avoiding me. My sister, Beth, and Sara all said to
give her space and she will come around. I’ve been doing my best,
but right now, I really wish I hadn’t listened to them. I don’t
think she needs more time.

She’s going on a
date. I saw him walk up to the building with flowers in hand. At
first I hoped it was the grandson of the woman who lives above me,
but when I heard her laugh coming from the hall I knew what was going
on. I don’t like it at all.

I swing my door open
just as Alex is locking hers.

“Hey there,” I say
to the guy, who is staring at her ass. I lean against my doorframe
and smile when she turns around with a warning written all over her
face. I can’t really confirm what kind of warning it is though; it
almost looks as though she’s trying not to smile. Then her date
turns to look at me, too, and I push of the wall. Fucking Pete.

“Where are you two
headed?” I ask, flashing her the grin I know she loves.

“That’s none of
your business,” she says, stepping toward the door. I take a step,
too, stopping in front of her to block her from leaving.

“As your neighbor,
I’m looking out for you. Plus, Logan may have asked me to keep an
eye on you.”

“He did not.” She
rolls her eyes.

“Maybe, but then
again, no one needs to ask me to make sure you stay safe.”

“I’m sorry,” Pete
interrupts. “Did you two spilt up, or is there still something
going on?”

“He’s just my
neighbor.”

“Ouch.” I put my
hand over my heart for fun. “I may be her ex, but I guarantee you
won’t get far enough to get even that title.”

Pete’s eyes go wide.

“Correction, you were
never my boyfriend. A relationship with titles requires trust.
Something you were clearly lacking.” She moves for the door and I
stop her, again.

“I hate that our
relationship is still raw on your heart, and if I remember right, you
kept something from me too.”

Her eyes lock onto mine
and we’re suddenly in a staring contest.

“Maybe I should go?”
Pete asks.

“No, Pete, Conner is
going back inside his apartment so we can go on our date.”

“I was actually
thinking of seeing you off. You know, make sure Pete is being a true
gentleman.”

“Look, Conner, I’ve
seen your type before, and guess what? You don’t get the girl in
the end.” Pete takes a step toward me, but I’m still a good head
taller than him.

“That may be true,
but I also know that she isn’t into people claiming her the way
you’re trying to right now.”

“Conner, seriously.”
Alex’s annoyed tone does nothing but make me feel triumphant. I
wanted to affect her and I did. She’ll be back later tonight.
Probably to yell at me, but I’ll smooth talk her down.

What am I saying? I’m
desperate. I’ll do anything to get her to talk to me, including
making things worse.

I lift my hand and back
away in surrender form.

“Sure, by all means,
go on your date.”

Pete bumps me with his
shoulder as he passes through the door. I have to take a deep breath
to keep myself from sending him off with a black eye. He doesn’t
know how lucky he is to be going out with her right now.

With Pete through the
door, I gently grab Alex’s arm before she can follow him. This time
she doesn’t look like she’s ready to rip my head off or
irritated. Her eyes appear on the verge of tears as they avoid
looking directly at mine.

“No amount of time is
going to change the way I feel about you. No guy is going to come in
here, take you out, and push me away. You’re it for me, and I’ll
wait as long as it takes until you figure that out.”

I kiss her forehead and
she sighs before rushing out the door. What else can I do to make her
see we are meant to be together?

I watch as Pete’s car
pulls away from the curb. I must zone out because the next thing I
notice is that same car parking in front of the BA. I’m out the
door and headed that way in under a minute.

Alexis

I wonder if Pete knows
Conner works at the BA. If he does then he’s an idiot, and if he
doesn’t, I feel bad for the guy because I have a good feeling no
matter who is working, they won’t be that pleasant to him. I know
this because for the last week I’ve heard how cruel I’m being by
not listening to what Conner has to say and that I’m being
dumb—Beth’s exact word—to not give him another chance.

Falling in love is
supposed to be easy. It shouldn’t come with secrets and problems
right off the bat, and because that’s exactly what happened with
us, it couldn’t have been real love.

Although he sure seems
convinced it is, and his words tonight still affect me the way they
did the first time he said them.

“Have you ever been
here?” Pete asks as he opens a menu. I open mine, too, avoiding
Lucas’s stare from behind the bar.

I should probably spare
Pete the details—this is the exact booth where my story with Conner
began. He’s all I can think about, but I’m positive he’s the
last thing Pete wants to talk about.

“My brother and
sister-in-law actually own this bar, so I’ve been here before,
yes.”

“Oh, you should have
said something. We can go somewhere else if you want.”

“No, the food here is
great.”

Pete eyes me then, a
blank expression looking back me. I force a smile.

“Hello, Alexis, and
hello, Pete.” Of course, Abby would be the only cheery person to
wait on us tonight. I don’t miss the way she gets all excited to
see Conner at the gym. And I sure don’t miss the way she finds
excuses to be in the same area he is.