Page 11 of Seduced By My Brother's Best Friend
“Careful, you’re carrying precious cargo,” he says through laughs.
“I am going to kill you,” I tell him through gritted teeth.
He’s still laughing as he lifts me up and pulls me closer to his side until my head is resting on his chest, and he’s strokingmy hair softly. The anger leaves my body almost immediately. Amazingly, he has the power to soothe me with just one touch.
“In my defense, it was information I would have rather not have heard or retained in my head.”
“Why not?” I ask quietly.
He’s silent for a beat. “No reason.”
“But- ”
“My turn to ask a question,” he says, cutting me off. “How many guys have you dated since Gary?”
“One. I had a boyfriend throughout college. Mason Conard. We broke up immediately after graduation. He was heading to England, and I was coming back home temporarily. It was never going to work.”
“I think you didn’t want it to work. A part of you probably always knew you were never meant to be with them. Either of them,” he says solemnly.
I want to ask him what he means, but I have a feeling he won’t reply.
“What happened to your parents,” I dare to ask. “How did they die?”
Alex is silent for a really long time after, and I’m scared he’s not going to reply. I’ve always been curious about what brought him here to Aster Falls. An eighteen-year-old with no family and seemingly no joy.
“It was a car accident,” Alex starts, surprising me. “They went out to a Mexican restaurant with my little sister. They left me at home because I had failed a test, and my dad thought it was the best punishment. I got the call a few hours later. Their car had been derailed by a deer standing in the middle of the road. The roads were icy, and so they skid into a tree.”
His voice cracks, and he takes a deep breath to calm himself. I take his hand in mine and link our fingers together, trying to comfort him.
“My dad’s neck snapped on impact. He died immediately. My mom died in the ICU, and my sister- “he pauses. “She was in a coma for a month before she finally passed away. She was only 15. I lost my entire family in the blink of an eye. I was devastated, and I suddenly had no one. My other family members were more interested in my dad’s money and properties than they were in me. No one took me in; after all, I had already turned 18. A high school graduate. To them, I could take care of myself.”
“I know it doesn’t help, but I’m so sorry that happened to you, Alex,” I say sadly. I begin to rub his back slowly in calming, circular motions.
“I didn’t say a word for two months after they all died. Then I got a lawyer and made sure that none of my dad’s family would get a cent of his wealth. I hired someone to manage my father’s company. He sends me monthly progress reports, but I’m not really involved in the process.” He looks at me. “So, there’s that, my gut-wrenching family history. I’ve never told anyone the full story before. Not even Damien.”
“I’m honored,” I say sincerely.
“Thanks for being here, Fallon. And for listening,” he tells me softly.
I nod, and for a second, his gaze flits to my lips, and I think he’s going to kiss me. I want so badly for him to kiss me—more than anything. But then Alex clears his throat and looks away. I feel the disappointment deep in my gut. He moves to get up, but I stop him in place.
“Alex,” I call. He turns to look at me. “Why did you sleep with me?”
My heart beats fast as I await his reply. His hazel green eyes are fixed on mine, but they give nothing away. It’s frustrating how hard it is to read him.
“Because the past few years, I’ve thought about you way more than I should, and it has been driving me crazy,” he says softly.
My breath hitches.
“What? What does that mean?”
“It means Fallon, I’m sorry I’ve been such a fucking coward. I wanted more than anything to be with you for so long, but I was scared. Scared that I would lose you like I lost my parents. I can’t go through that kind of pain ever again,” he says sincerely. I’m completely still as he reaches for a strand of my hair and tucks it behind my ear.
“When I found out you were pregnant, a part of me was happy. I was mostly terrified, but I took it as fate’s way of bringing us back together. You were always meant to be mine, Fallon Wright.”
I am still utterly and completely still. Alex waits patiently for me to speak.
“Alex.” My voice is a mere whisper. “I think I want you to kiss me.”
