Page 73 of Alex

I pace in front of his car. “I’ve only been home twice to pack, but we never stayed long.”

“Exactly, and we weren’t even here when the fire started. We just got back into town.”

I stop pacing as two of the three fire trucks leave.

“All of my stuff must be gone. There’s no way my stuff managed to survive that fire. Did you see how big those flames were?”

My eyes water as I picture my small apartment and my hand-me-down furniture. I worked my ass off for the past six months to be able to buy my furniture.

Everything was used, except my mattress. I bought a brand new one so I could get a good night’s sleep after having to walk a mile to work and a mile home.

“We can replace your stuff, Elise.” Alex’s voice is soft and caring.

I shake my head. “I can’t replace all of it. Sure, my couch, mattress, the little bit of clothes in my closet, dishes, and food can be.”

Hot tears fall down my cheeks as I stare at the soot on the brick.

“The pictures of me with my mom, our handwritten notes from when I was in college, and the few things I had from my childhood can’t be replaced, Alex. No matter how much money I try to throw at it, those things will forever be gone.”

Alex pulls me into his chest and wraps his arms around me. I lean my head against his chest and let the tears fall.

He doesn’t seem to mind my tears soaking his shirt. He runs his hand through my hair as I try to control the sobs wanting to break free.

After several long minutes, I step back and straighten myself. Alex quirks an eyebrow as his gaze roams my face.

I take a deep breath and blow it out of my mouth. “I’m sorry I’m so emotional.”

I don’t know what else to say. He didn’t sign up for this, and he’s not my boyfriend, so I shouldn’t be putting my break down on him.

Alex wraps his arms around my waist and picksme up. He spins us around and places me on the hood of his car.

“Alex, I don’t want to put a dent in your car.” I look around at my curvy body before glancing at the hood of his car and try to get off, but Alex stops me.

“First off, my car is fine. Second, you won’t put a dent in it. Trust me, I’ve sat and laid on it. The hood is sturdy. And third, you really shouldn’t talk shit about your body. I love your short frame and your curves. I could worship them all day and night.”

“I wasn’t talking shit about my body.” I might have thought about it, but I didn’t say it.

Alex huffs and narrows his eyes at me.

I hold my hands up and roll my eyes. “Fine.”

Alex’s expression turns serious as he sits on the hood next to me.

“Talk to me. Let your emotions out. I know it hurts like hell right now, but you don’t need to keep your emotions bottled up. It’s not healthy, and it doesn’t end well.”

“There’s so many thoughts swirling around in my head, but I don’t know where to start. So many emotions bottled up because I have no one to talk with and pour my feelings out.”

If I wasn’t so poor, I’d get a cat. At least I wouldn’t be lonely, but the cat would be because I work so much.

“You have Kate.”

I chuckle. “She’s a good friend and knows what I went through, but she never sits down and lets metalk things through. She likes to party and travel and that’s her right.”

“I’m here. Talk to me. I might not have lost my mom, but in ways I did. Her leaving us was unexpected and hard on me. I blamed myself for a long time. Hell, I even cried for the first time in years.”

He runs a hand through his hair and sighs.

“She didn’t want to stay to try to make things work with Dad, and she didn’t want to go to therapy for my sake. She left. Abandoned us, me. She left me wondering where I fit in with all of it. Did she want to see me for the holidays? Graduation? Special celebrations?”

---