Afset vetsining from work. I went straight home, my mind consumed by the recent interview with Margot. Every detail mattered, and I needed to remember every aspect of it. III were ev cought ofi piard with a question in the future. Thad to be prepised to answer is just as Alec and I did during the interview We couldn’t afford inconsistency.
W
Tapplied a pra–sized amount of face eram and massaged it into my skin, a finem creased my forehead as recalled one of Alec’s answers during the interview. He had mentioned being in town at just the right time, imphing that Los Angeles wa’t his hometowns. It was startling that it took me so long to notice this difference Our high school was in New York, so did Alec still live there? More importanty, when he said he was all to work, where exactly did he go? Switching departments typically took time, and something didn’t add op about his story cilancing at the time, Frealized I had the house to myself for at least another hour. Determined to investigate further, I decided to be more discreet this time. Alec’s impeccable room organization intrigued me once again. After contemplating for a moment, I spotted the suitcase he had taken to New York with him. My curiosity got the best of me, and approached it
Alec was neat but also extremely busy, so when Lopened the suitcase, I noticed that everything inside was neatly arranged, but he hadn’t found the time to clear it yet. My eyes fell on a small bag with a receipt tucked inside. As examined the receipt, my heart skipped a beat. The number of zeros on the total was astounding, but what alarmed me even more was the purchase date of the ring–it was bought ever two years ago. I picked up another receipt that indicated Alec had recently picked up the ring. He had possessed this ring long before our reunion. How was this possible? More importantly, how could I broach this tople now? Things had been going wonderfully between us, and it Alee was truly up to something, I needed to address it when we were in a good place, not when he might suspect my suspicions.
settling in, and I found solace in stress–baking a batch of chocolate chip cookies.
Quickly, I returned everything to its original place in the suitcase and rushed downstairs Suess was settl 1ward the front door open, and moments later, Alecentered. He held a bag from my favorite take–out place.
” picked up dinner for us,” Alec announced, showing me the bag. He furrowed his brow when baking undraver
sur me near the stove. “What are you making?” he inquired, clearly puzzled by my sudden
Uh, chocolate chip cookies. Thank you for the dinner,” I replied, my voice slightly shaky. My curiosity was borning, but I needed to suppress my urge to question him immediately. “You’re welcome. I’ll go wash up, and then join you for dinner,” Alec das placed the take–out on the counter. He cast a puzzled glance at me before turning to leave the kitchen “Sounds givat,” I replied, offering a fiered smile, trying my best to maintain an air of normalcy.
Those cookies smell incredible, by the way.” Alec complimented before making his way out of the kitchen
I sized the opportunity to address the questions that had been glowing at me. “Hey, Alec,” I called out sweetly as he turned around.
“yeah?” Alec tesponded, raising an eyebrow.
“You mentioned being bare in town. Where do you actually reside?” I began cautiously “And what about your job? How come they were able to accommodate you so quickly?”
cow furrowed, and he stood still for a moment. “Uhm. I used to live in New York up until we got married, of course,” he replied
I pressed further, my skeptic getting the best of me. “And your job? I asked, wondering how he had managed to relocate across the state so switly.
The rason I came into town was because we needed someone to represent our firm in LA… I was going to turn down the offer until our marriage and everything else happened,” Alec explained his expression somewhat awkward. “I’m also quite close with my boss, so he did me a laver in this case”
Aler’s inquisitive look mer mine, “la everything okay?” he asked.
I had so think on my feet to avoid arousing his suspicion. “Yeah I was just woned about your job and taking you away from your home, replied, masking my true intentions with a smile. “My home is Bere now, Alana “Alec asserted cordidently
Goready
the table–couch, then–10 won’t waste time heading into the next episode “ggested, noting how Alec lit up at the mention of watching out show Aleled and fed off to get ready. As I prepared die couch to our evening, 1 mulled over his answers. They all seemed plausible, and he had provided them without hesitation. There appeared to be nothing suspicious, and I should have known he’d use his charm to secure a favorable arrangement with his boss, explaining his ability to move around so freely.
After dinner, we found ourselves comfortably seated on the couch, savoring the homemade cookies I had baked earlies, completely absorbed in the next episode of our favorite show. Mam had suggested we make a few pubér appearances, but at that moment, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time than sitting back with Alec, relishing delicious food, and immersing ourselves in a show that made you question the depths of human nature.
(we got some chocolate there,” Alec temarked, his are fixed on my lare.
sof embarrassment coloring my cheeks. Here I was, adimiring his features, and he had to point out some stray chocolate on my fare.
“Right lege,” Aler leaned closer, his angrily sweeping over my upper lip, chocolate coating his digit. Without giving it a second thought, I seized his hand and licked the chocolate away. Abantely andiale “Turk” vcaped Alec’s lips, his eyes sparkling with a certain passion that had been missing from our interactions for some time. In fact, over the last few days, our exchanges İndikanİydonused of boothedlerks of beheade
“Alana,” Alec brwalled my name, and I found myself getting in
captivating blue eyes, scanning for those elusive specks of green. As captivating as his eyes were, my gaze lievitably decodedruda, lips, and an initiale desire to taste them welled up within me.
“Alee,” I whispered, feeling his hand slowly and my arm, sending delightful shivers down my spine. He grasped my hips and toessly pulled me to straddle him. My hands instinctively found merit place on his bead shoulders, and his inviting lips parted, drawing close
