Page 35 of The Library on Plum Island
“You know I’ve just recovered from a fever that gave me a sore head,” Alex reminded her.
“What a freakin’ baby!” Dawn rolled her eyes before lifting an eyebrow and saying in a low voice. “I notice you don’t act like a whiney baby when the beautiful doctor is in the room.”
“Why you…” Alex hissed. “That’s playing dirty, Dawn.”
She shrugged. “It’s not like something you’d ever do, is it?”
“Well, maybe the old Alex,” Alex defended his actions. “But I’m trying to be a better person, remember? So you should be leading by example as my mentor.”
“We haven’t started the Alex Improvement Training yet.” Dawn folded her arms, an evil smile lifting the one side of her mouth. “Think of this as giving you a taste of the old Alex medicine.”
“Is this because I insulted your driving?” Alex kept his voice low.
The other occupants of the room were locked in various discussions. Their attention had turned away from Alex for the time being.
“This is about the way you yelled at me in the car to drive faster, hurling scathing remarks at me about my driving,” Dawn listed his infractions in the last ten minutes to him. “The way you avoid the truth by talking around it and giving half-baked answers that skirt the border of blatantly lying. And, yes, the way your tongue spews snarky comments.”
“Oh!” Alex was taken aback for a few seconds as he realized he’d done everything Dawn had accused him of. He turned to her with a frown. “I’m sorry, Dawn.”
She looked stunned by his apology for a few seconds. “While I appreciate and accept your apology,” Dawn’s expression became serious, “if you’re truly serious about trying to be a better person and re-establishing the good parts of the old Alex with the good parts of this Alex you’ve grown into…” She shrugged. “Then you need to start thinking before you speak because you’re just like a stray bullet Alex. You fire off words, not caring where or who they hit nor the damage they’ve caused.”
“So, what do I do?” Alex asked her. “Should I write an apology note to everyone I may ever have offended?”
“You’d need a news studio to broadcast one across the country,” Dawn told him sarcastically. “But no. Just think before you speak.”
“I can do that.” Alex nodded. His hand reached out and squeezed Dawn’s. “I was joking about your driving.” He swallowed. “Okay, I was partially joking about your driving.” She lifted her brows. “Okay!” He hissed. “You’re a darn terrible driver!”
“See, that’s the truth. Now work on the delivery,” Dawn instructed. “Instead of saying that with such vehemence, try to say it more like…” She thought for a moment. “Dawn, while I appreciate you taking time out of your busy day to drive me here, you should work on your driving skills.”
“Isn’t that what I said, but much shorter and more to the point?” Alex looked at her questioningly.
“No. It was hurtful and meant to embarrass me,” Dawn pointed out. “While you think it’s funny, it’s really not. While I’m used to your snark, other people don’t know you as well as I do, and you just come across as a snarky jerk.”
“Ah!” Alex nodded. “Sugarcoat the truth.”
“No. Just don’t make it acidic,” Dawn suggested. “While you may have grown a thick skin, other people are more sensitive. Until you realize that you’ll never change.”
“What’s this about my brother changing?” Ethan picked up on their conversation.
“Alex has decided he wants to be a better person.” Dawn gave Alex a smug smile, ignoring his warning look. “He’s decided he wants to change and become a better person.”
“We don’t want tornados to rip through our continent either, but we all know that’s never going to happen!” Ethan harrumphed in disbelief.
“Are you saying that people can’t change?” Carly challenged Ethan, and Alex smiled, seeing his goody-two-shoes brother put on the spot.
“No!” Ethan held up his hand and shook his head. “I know people can change.” He glanced at Alex. “I just don’t believe my brother will.”
“Oh?” Jennifer got in on the conversation. “And why is that?”
“Do you think he can’t?” Dawn asked Ethan.
“No.” Ethan shook his head again, and Alex’s grin widened. This was good. Seeing Ethan squirm until his eyes, reflecting sadness and defeat, locked onto Alex’s. “I just don’t think hewantsto change even if Alex says he does, as he’s promised to do countless times in the past.”
Alex’s grin fell, and his heart dropped. His brother was right. How many times over the years had Alex’s family brought him to task because of his playboy lifestyle, disregard for other people’s feelings, and refusal to settle down? Alex suddenly felt awful about how he’d lived his life, hiding who he really was from everyone, even his loved ones. He’d reasoned with himself that if they couldn’t see behind the outside to who he really was, then that was their problem. But Alex had realized months ago, after a heart-to-heart with his father, that people couldn’t see what he didn’t want them to.
While he’d asked Harriet and Dawn to help him change, Alex had been making a concerted effort to do so since he’d arrived on Plum Island. Yes, he wanted his loved ones to know he’d changed, especially now that he had something to change for. His head turned as Daniella walked back into the room with her doctor’s bag and tablet.
“Well, I think he can.” Dawn’s eyes glittered with a challenge as she set her chin stubbornly and turned to Alex. “And if you hadn’t realized Ethan, he already has.”
