Page 50 of Wild Tangled Hearts

Alex's gaze locks with mine. "You've been through this too?"

“Yeah. And it sucks. It took me a long time to start dating again.” I wonder if he’s ready or if the wound is too fresh. I don’t want to be his rebound. “What about your relationship with Sawyer?”

“He...” His eyes close as he begins to speak, and a pallor washes over his sun-kissed cheeks. I can sense the depth of his anguish radiating from him, and it's nothing short of palpable. The intensity of his pain hangs heavy in the air, almost as if you could reach out and touch it. “He and I started SummitStar Adventures together. It had always been our dream. After I found out about him and Angie, I wanted to walk away. And I did for a bit. But...” His voice cracks.

I gently squeeze his hand, and his gaze returns to meet mine.

"He started taking stupid risks, hiking unsafe trails, attempting dangerous climbs. It was as if he was trying to prove something to himself, or maybe he just didn't care anymore," Alex continues, his voice tinged with a mix of sorrow and frustration. “He tried calling me to explain his side, but I wouldn’t listen. I hated him.”

“That’s normal.”

He snorts bitterly. “Yeah. But I probably would have heard him out if I’d known..." His words trail off, and a wave of regret washes over his features, the pain of missed chances etched on his face. “He died six months ago.”

“Oh my god, Alex.”

"Idiot did a solo climb on Seagull Ridge. No one knows exactly what happened. They say it was an accident, but..." Guilt lingers in his eyes, casting a shadow over his words.

“It wasn’t your fault.”

“I know. But sometimes I wonder if things would be different if I’d forgiven him.”

I can feel the weight of his grief and guilt. “Forgiveness is hard.”

"Shit," he mutters, running his hands through his hair and exhaling deeply. "I'm sorry for dumping all this on you. But I needed you to know. I like you, Bella — a lot. And I want to explore where this connection between us might lead. But if all of this is too much, I understand."

“What about Angie?” I ask. “At the party, she seemed like she isn’t over you.”

“Angie and I are done, Bella. Even before I found out about them, I knew she wasn’t the person I wanted to spend my life with. But yeah, she wants to get back together. I’ve tried to be supportive because of everything we’ve lost. But there’s nothing there. I promise you.”

His words carry a sense of finality as if he's closing the door on that chapter of his life for good.

I want to believe him, to trust that he’s ready to move on. To believe that he wants to be with me. Yet, I can't ignore the lingering pain that flickers in those hazel eyes.

Alex reaches across the table, his warm hand finding mine. “Meeting you and spending time with you feels different. It feels right."

A hopeful smile tugs at my lips. "I feel the same way, Alex. I just...I don't want either of us to get hurt."

He squeezes my hand gently. "I don't want that either, Bella. We'll take it slow, okay? No rushing into anything. “Will you give me another chance?”

Reader’s Choice:

What should Bella do next?

Take it slow, go on a few dates, and see where things go. Turn to this page.

Stay friends and spend time together. If romance blooms, then it was meant to be. Turn to this page.

Chapter22

Alex

CLEARING THE HAZE

The steamy embrace of the hot shower calls out to me, and I step beneath the cascading water, hoping it'll help me sober up. It does little to alleviate the throbbing in my head, but at least it washes away the fog of alcohol.

Leaning my forehead against the cool shower tiles, I linger under the warm stream until the water loses its comforting heat. Deep down, I recognize that this prolonged shower is my way of dodging Alex. The embarrassment of the night lingers heavily within me, making it difficult to face him.

I slip into a pair of faded sweatpants and an oversized hoodie, their loose embrace offering a modicum of comfort. I glimpse my reflection in the bathroom mirror and can't help but groan at the disarray that stares back at me. My usually vibrant complexion appears pallid, a stark contrast to the dark circles that have taken up residence beneath my bleary eyes.

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