Page 103 of Your Sharpest Edge
Alina shook her head, swatting the dress out of my hands. “No. I’m serious. Wear this one.”
I looked at the denim dress, remembering how proud I was when I made it. It hugged my curves, had cute bows on the shoulders, and hit me about mid-thigh.
“He was the one who sent you all that fabric. I’m sure he’d like to see how you work with it...” Alina quirked a brow and shrugged.
“Okay. I’ll wear it,” I said, feeling confident in my decision while picking up the denim dress.
She gave me a reassuring hug before heading back out, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Tonight would be special—I had to keep reminding myself of that. With a quick glance at Damien in the living room, still absorbed in his Legos, I turned back to my room to start getting ready.
“Your dress.” Alex’s eyes sparkled the moment they met mine. “You made that.” He reached out and trailed a finger along the fabric. “It’s beautiful,” he murmured as I stood there awkwardly in the foyer of his apartment.
“Is Ledger here?” Damien asked, running into the room. “Mom says you guys got the good pizza again. She told me I had to stop eating it all this week because Ledger would be giving it to me when he babysat.”
Alex dropped to his haunches and gave Damien a tight squeeze. “He’s at his apartment. Did you bring Bear?”
Damien nodded.
“Phew. He said you’re going to have a sleepover there if you’re okay with it. You can also tell him you want to stay at my house if that makes you feel better.”
“Does he have a bucket of popcorn for our movie, too?” the curly-haired boy asked, and Alex nodded.
The entire interaction made me pause for a moment. It seemed so normal, so effortless, like they had done this a million times before. A warm sensation spread through me, mingling with a tinge of sadness. This is what I’d been missing—the ease of us being together. I had spent so long trying to shield Damien and myself from disappointment and heartbreak that I forgot what it felt like to have someone else share the load, to see my son light up with pure joy in the company of someone who genuinely cared.
“Let’s go.” Alex stood back up, giving Damien a pat on his hair before grabbing his backpack.
I looked him up and down, shamelessly staring at him. He was wearing a black button-down with a pair of dark jeans. Hislong hair was styled back, and stubble peppered his jaw. His broad shoulders looked even more impressive in the fitted shirt, making him look like he belonged on the football field tonight.
“Hey,” I said shyly, unsure of what had come over me. I swallowed. “You look good, too.”
The corners of his lips lifted into a smirk before he grabbed my waist, pulling me in tight and giving me a kiss on the cheek. My heart fluttered at the warmth of his touch.
“I cannot wait to spoil you tonight.”
36
stassi
“Why are we going across the street from your apartment into a random warehouse?” I asked after we dropped Damien off at Ledger’s apartment.
I was nervous at first, but seeing the room Ledger and Alex had set up, I realized this was part of the new me I was trying to become.
“To be fair, it’s not exactly across the street—it’s technically a full block away.”
“Tomato, tomahto.” I squeezed Alex’s hand.
“But this is where our date starts.”
I scrunched my brows in confusion as he pushed open the front door of the warehouse and led us to an elevator.
Inside, everything was surprisingly modern. What I had originally thought was a warehouse turned out to be full of small offices and doors, all designed to keep the building’s original industrial charm.
Alex squeezed my hand reassuringly as he guided me into an old elevator. The iron gates clanged shut, and the elevatorgroaned to life, slowly ascending to the top floor. His hand never left mine as he smiled like a little kid in a toy store for the first time. His excitement was palpable.
When we reached the top floor, Alex led me down a carpeted hallway lined with sleek, minimalist decor. He stopped at one of the doors and pulled out a key.
“What is this?” I asked, my curiosity piqued.
Alex smiled, unlocking the door and pushing it open. Inside was a beautifully decorated loft space with large windows overlooking the city. The room was filled with soft lighting, and a small table set for two stood in the center.
