Page 51 of Wild Tangled Hearts

“I am never drinking again,” I groan.

As I shuffle into the kitchen, the comforting aroma of coffee fills the air.

Alex glances over his shoulder as he pours two cups. "Feeling any better?"

I sink into a chair at the table, rubbing my temples. "I feel like crap," I admit.

He chuckles and places a mug in front of me. "You'll probably feel worse tomorrow."

I roll my eyes, managing a weak smile. Taking a few sips of the coffee, I start to feel a bit more human. Alex joins me at the table, sitting across from me.

“I don’t usually drink like that.”

“You don’t have to explain. You’re allowed to have fun.”

I grunt. “Not sure how much fun puking in the bushes is.”

He laughs. “You looked like you were having a good time before that.”

I give him a weak smile. Knowing the only reason I’d been trying so hard to have a good time was to forget him.

"I was shocked to see you there," I admit.

“Hal and I went to high school together,” he says, lifting his mug to his lips. “He’s been a good friend over the years. Hal said you and Kimmy went to college together.”

I nod in acknowledgment. The fact that he'd inquired about me from Hal lingers in my thoughts, causing a subtle flutter of anticipation in my stomach.

She seems to be really happy with him.”

“Yeah.” He rubs the back of his neck. “I never thought Hal was the settling down type. But he’s head over heels for her.”

Silence hangs between us, and I take another sip of my coffee.

“Alex–”

“Bella–”

We say in unison, then laugh nervously.

“You go first,” I tell him.

He runs his fingers through his sun-kissed hair, his gaze troubled, and exhales deeply. "You deserve an explanation for why I've been so..."

"Erratic," I interject, finishing his sentence with the word that best describes his behavior.

He snorts. “That’s one word for it. But I admit I’ve sent mixed signals. And I know it isn’t fair to you...” There’s a war in his eyes as if he's battling his inner demons before laying his history bare before me.

I reach across the table and take his hand, and his calloused fingers tighten around mine.

“You know I was in a long-term relationship that ended badly.”

“With the woman at the Stag and Doe?”

“Angie. We went to high school together. There was a group of us. Me, her, Hal, and Sawyer. That’s why she was at the stag and doe. We started dating senior year.”

“That’s a long time to be with someone.” A pang of jealousy forms in my chest.

“Looking back, I think we stayed together because it was familiar. Safe. I don’t know. I guess I thought I loved her. And in a way, I did. But not the way I should. Does that make sense?”

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