Page 140 of Just My Type of wrong guy

“Thalia asked me yesterday when the official dating announcement would be. She called me because I didn’t answer,” she admits.

“Should we call them?” I suggest, not because I want to make it a big thing, but because they’re our best friends, so maybe they deserve to know.

“To tell them?”

“If you’re not ready, it’s okay.”

“No, I want to. They deserve to know. It’s just…” She takes a deep breath and bites her lip. “We’re not exactly dating, so what do we even say? ‘Hi, we’re making out every day now’?”

“We’re not dating?” I laugh, genuinely surprised.

“You haven’t asked me to be your girlfriend.”

“No, but…”

“No official proposal, no label,” Alexandra says, holding up her hand to close the topic, and I laugh.

“Alright. Let’s just send them a message and tell the truth, what do you think?”

“I think… I like you. We’re happy. And it’s good to have people like them in our lives, people who care and love us so much,” she says, curling up on the couch with her legs tucked to the side, like she’s trying to protect herself from the weight of her own confession. “But I’m loving this, and I’m sure you are too. So maybe… we just stay here, enjoy the cold weather and rewatch an old movie,” she says, tucking a curl behind her ear, clearly trying to look calmer than she feels. “And someday, when we feel comfortable, we send them a message and tell them the truth.”

“That we’re in love, but I can’t call you my girlfriend because I haven’t asked?”

“Exactly!” Alexandra says, jumping up to grab the remote and start browsing for a movie, and I just watch her, moving around my place like she’s always belonged here. She sits down again, leaning into me like it’s the most natural thing in the world, a quiet reminder that I’m hers, and this is our life now.

And maybe it’s nothing. But I hope that after everything we’ve faced with our families, this is just the first step toward someday seeing her as my family too the one I chose, the one I want to build with love and admiration, day by day.

Chapter Forty-Two – Alex

At that table, he’s missing,

and the longing for him is hurting me.

Naquela Mesa – Zeca Pagodinho

A month ago, I walked into this house feeling insecure about how I’d be received, terrified A.J.’s best friend would hate me, and clueless about where I fit in this band’s dynamic.

Today, I help Mrs. Sol set the table while Daniele—who’s sort of my friend now—tells me I need to get ready for dinner, and A.J. sneaks up to replace her role with a kiss at the nape of my neck.

I smile against his lips. “Don’t take too long,” he murmurs, his hand resting at the small of my back.

“I won’t,” I promise.

I tip onto my toes to kiss his cheek before slipping away, hiding my giggle behind the curls at my temples.

Being here with everyone feels so good. Even though we’ve been back in New York on and off during these weeks of shows, life on the road always steals away any sense of belonging. So being in a house, surrounded by people I care about, on Christmas… it feels like everything’s finally in its right place.

I walk into Daniele’s room—this time, I’m actually sharing it with her, since Richard went home to spend Christmas with his parents. I grab my suitcase from beside the bed, the one in the neat corner. I trip over a shoe by Dani’s messy bed and sidestep Beatriz’s mattress to get to the other side of the room.

The three of us will sleep here tonight. A.J. and I are only staying until tomorrow, and they said we needed a propergirls’ night. I know exactly what the two of them want to talk about, and it’s better to just get it over with.

Without much fuss, I swap out the hoodie Dani lent me for a red dress with green buttons: super Christmassy, almost cheesy, exactly what the night calls for.

Instead of pulling my hair into a bun or trying to style it into something elaborate, I just part it down the middle and let it fall, big and natural. I can’t even remember the last time I wore it like this. Ever since I became a backing singer, every show has demanded that I match the other girls perfectly.

I take two steps back, face myself in Daniele’s mirror, and grin. Ten minutes can really work wonders.

I grab my toiletry bag and sit down to finish getting ready. I dab a little concealer under my eyes but give up on foundation right away. Another thing I’m not up for tonight: being all dolled up.

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