Page 124 of Twisting You

Without being asked, Alec wrapped an arm around me in an instant, and he guided me to a seat.

Gently he lowered me into a chair. “You ok, Chloe?” He looked at me, worried.

“I’m ok.” Our faces were so close. He hadn’t pulled away from me. His arm was still behind my back. I saw the regret in his eyes. Maybe he was regretting ever giving me a second look. I was sure I was cursed when it came to my love life.

“I should have told you about Gabby a long time ago.” His voice lowered as he spoke to me, his eyes locked with mine. “I’m sorry I didn’t.”

I broke our eye contact and glared into my lap. Why did things always have to get hard? Why did drama have to consume my life?

“You should go home. Eat, sleep, you know, what you haven’t been doing.” I fiddled with the tie on my dressing grown. I couldn’t look up at him and he slowly pulled his arm from behind me. It took all my self-control not to stop him.

“Yeah, you’re right.” Alec sighed, and withdrew from me slightly. “I’ll come back in the morning.”

“No.” I looked up at him. My heart was aching with regret. “Don’t, please don’t make this harder for me.” I was begging him not to prolong his breakup with me.

“Chloe, I love you. Why would I want to make anything hard for you?” Alec got on his knees in front of me. “I don’t know what you’re trying to tell me. Do you want to break up?”

“Like I get a choice! You went back your mate. You made the decision, Alec.” I felt bitter, and the bitterness could be heard in my voice. “I was stupid to ever think I had a chance to stop you from going back to her.”

“Chloe, I wasn’t going back to her.” Alec’s voice was firm. He placed a hand on my knee and moved closer. “I love you. You clearly don’t know that Gabby’s….” he stopped for a moment. I saw him swallow hard. “Gabby isn’t…well, she’s brain dead. But her parents won’t turn her life support off.”

“She’s dead?”

“I suppose, you could say that. I used to think of her more as Sleeping Beauty than as her being, um, dead.” Alec dropped eye contact. It was clearly hard for him to talk about her.

“I thought you were going back to her,” I mumbled weakly. “That’s why I wouldn’t let you see me, because I thought you were going to break up with me.” My bottom lip began to tremble, and then the tears began to drop. I felt so weak, my emotions raw for all to see.

“I should have answered my phone.” Alec cursed himself, quietly. He shouldn’t carry all the blame for this. It was my stubbornness that had drawn this out longer than needed.

“I should have let you explain.” I slowly reached out and touched his cheek “I just didn’t want to lose you.”

Alec lifted his head, and finally looked me in the eyes. His gaze was so soft and caring. I hadn’t realized how important he had become to me until I nearly lost him.

Why is it you never know what someone really means to you, until they are gone?

“You look exhausted.” I traced his jaw line with my finger. I chewed my bottom lip guiltily, seeing what I had put him through these last few days.

“I thought you would never see me again,” he admitted and then moved his hand up my thigh and softly placed it behind my back, drawing my body slightly closer to him. “Don’t ever do that to me again.”

Letting my head fall forwards and onto his shoulder, I whispered, “I won’t. Just as long as you promise not to keep anything from me.”

“I promise.” He kissed the side of my head and wrapped his arms around my back. His embrace was so comforting. I closed my eyes, drawing in his scent and touch. I had thought I lost him, and now knowing that I hadn’t, I simple couldn’t believe my luck.

Maybe I had actually found my Prince Charming. Perhaps I would never have to feel the sickening feeling of being rejected again.

Alec really did love me and, now knowing his mate was out of the picture, I finally felt like we could be a real couple.

No one could pull us apart. Well, that was what I hoped.

***

Rolling over and curling closer into Alec’s side, I inhaled his scent. Just his being here brought me so much peace. The small single hospital bed crackled slightly, as Alec adjusted his weight on it.

“Am I hurting you? Do you have enough room?” Alec moved a fraction of an inch, trying to give me more space, which wasn’t needed.

Hooking one leg over his, I said, “I’m fine.”

Alec’s fingers traced up and down my arm, so calming. I reached over him, and threaded my fingers through his. Frowning, I felt broken skin across his knuckles. “What happened to your hand?” I could see the impending bruises and the swelling.

“Just had a run in with someone,” Alec mumbled, and lightly kissed the top of my head. “You need to get some sleep, Chloe. You sure you don’t want me to turn the lights off?”

“No, I like them on dim.” I yawned quietly. “Unless they’re bothering you?”

“No.” Alec smiled, his fingers still tracing lines up my arm. “I’m going to sleep fine.” I could hear the smile in his voice.

I just wanted all the drama to be over. I hoped the universe had had enough entertainment from my love life, and now finally I could have a normal relationship, well, as normal as it got.

---