Page 167 of Cloudy With a Chance of Bad Decisions

“Not if I have anything to say about it.” Alex winked. “Some of the guys will probably be around—my team,” he added unnecessarily. “I could introduce you. Bet they’d like you—and get a kick out of me bringing a date.” Alex launched into a rant, informing me that the “rest of the guys” were “nice.” That he’d actually met Roderick because he was on the team too. He was convinced that everyone was bound to love me.

I highly doubted that.

But the sentiment was nice.

“Shit, Georgie, this would be so fun! We could get a hotel—something fancy. Yeah,fuck. I wanna knock your proverbial socks off. Okay.Okay. Yes.I am very into this plan. Leave tomorrow, take you on a date, spend the night—then pick my dad up the following morning and bring him here.” Alex looked genuinely rejuvenated at the prospect of taking me to the city andimpressingme.

No one had ever?—

No one had?—

I didn’t know what to say.

“I’ll buy your suit, obviously,” he added at last, finally realizing he’d gone off on somewhat of a tangent. “As well as whatever else you want. That diamond collar? Fuck yeah.”

“I can buy my own suit,” I interrupted, sharper than intended. Alex paused, watching me warily like he wasn’t sure what to say. Immediately, I felt bad. It’d been a long time since I’d genuinely snapped at him.

I hadn’t meant to.

I was just…overwhelmed.

And a little lost.

Because the more time we spent together the closer our end date became.

I sucked in a breath, “Sorry, I just…you…”

“Too much?” Alex’s smile was sad, and Ihatedthat I’d caused him to make that face. “My bad?—”

I reached out for him, tangling my fingers with his and squeezing. Squeezing with all my fucking might, hoping the pressure would break through the walls I could see steadily rising since I’d made that stupid-ass comment.

“No, you’re perfect.” Alex squeezed back, walls crumbling again. His blue eyes were open once more, something tremulous and wary inside them, like he was desperate for me to explain—uneasy, in a way he rarely was. “I didn’t mean to get snappy. I just…you realize you’re offering me a lot right now, right? And I already told you that no one’s ever—I…”

Fuck, pull yourself together, George.

“Suffice to say…It’snottoo much.”I swallowed the lump in my throat, wellaware that I wasn’t just talking about the goddamn suit. “It’s perfect.Really.”

So perfect it doesn’t feel real.

“Yeah?” Alex perked right back up, chest puffing out as he nodded. “I’ll double-check with June, but I doubt she’ll care if I leave earlier than planned. She’ll probably throw a condom at me and tell me to have fun if I explain I’m leaving so I can take you out.”

I laughed, unable to help myself.

Alex’s answering grin was so fucking sunny it nearly blinded me. He always responded like that when I laughed. Like he loved it. Even though I sounded like a goddamn pterodactyl and I knew it.

“As long as you’re certain it won’t mess anything up for either of you,” I said. “I’m in.”

“It won’t.”

I felt bad leaving my family behind when the reason I’d come to Roderick’s wedding was to spend time with them. But…then again, I knew they were all ridiculously invested in me bonding with Alex, so I figured there was no need to stress. My family was just as likely to throw a condom at us.

I didn’t need to ask to know they’d much rather I go suit shopping with Alex than with one of them.

I’d been so mad at them for instigating this—but now I only felt gratitude.

Without that…I wouldn’t be where I was now.

“I’m certain.” Alex nodded. “One-hundred percent sure a little detour won’t affect June and Roderick’spending nuptials.”

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