Page 79 of Don't Remind Me
I didn’t know for how long, but there were a lot of seasons ofProject Runwayto distract me in the meantime, and if that was what I had to do to give him the space he needed, then that was what I’d do. After everything he’d done for me, it was the least I could do.
“Oh. Hey.”
I abandoned the box of branded tablecloths I’d started reorganizing and rose from my crouch, prepared to greet one of the staff volunteers. Instead, I found myself face-to-face with Alec.
He stood tall and straight, his broad shoulders filling his crisp button-down shirt, his short brown hair neatly styled, and his bright blue eyes on full display. His hands were tucked into his pants pockets, the only sign he was at all uncomfortable.
He was as handsome as I remembered. Maybe even more so, those last boyish charms from college having matured into adulthood. If you’d have asked me my junior year what Alec would look like in ten years, this would have been it. A prince among men, assured and composed, successful in all things. As close to perfection as you could get.
His hand fidgeted in his pocket, and I wondered for the first time if his version of perfection was as calculated as mine had been. I hoped not. I wouldn’t want him living with that burden.
“Hey,” I said. I fiddled with the pendant of my necklace and glanced toward the elevator. “Where’s Stephanie?”
“She has a few friends who live in Philly. They’re out to brunch.”
“Oh. That’s nice.”
He nodded.
I dragged the pendant along its chain and dropped my gaze to the boxes. I looked back up again. “Did you both enjoy the gala? I mean, after, um?—”
“Yeah, it was great,” he said, pulling a hand from his pocket to make some sort of gesture. He seemed to second-guess it halfway through, or maybe didn’t know what he’d meant to do in the first place, so his hand just kind of hung there between us before he finally scratched the back of his neck. “You did a really good job. The food especially was fantastic.”
I couldn’t help my smile. “That was all your brother’s doing.”
He gave an uncomfortable laugh and peered at his shoes. “Yeah…I was actually hoping to catch him this morning before I left. Do you know if he’s around? He sort of disappeared last night.”
“I’m not expecting him to be here today,” I said, keeping my voice what I hoped was naturally light. “You might have better luck calling.”
His mouth pulled weakly to one side. “I’m not so sure about that.”
I wasn’t either, but it didn’t feel right to say it. Whatever was between Jase and his brother wasn’t for me to get in the middle of. Yes, I saw the irony. But their rift went back a lot longer than three months, and what I knew of it only scratched the surface.
“I think he just needs some time,” I offered. “It was unexpected, you know?” His gaze met mine, and I shrugged. “All of it.”
It wasn’t an explanation exactly, but it was the truth. About a lot of things still lingering between us.
“I hadn’t expected you to end things with us,” he said, the words almost cautious, like he didn’t know if now was the time to say them, but also, what other time would there be? “I spent a long time wondering why you did.”
“Me too,” I said honestly. “For a while, I thought of you as the one who got away.”
“Not anymore?”
I shook my head.
The corners of his mouth lifted. “Me neither.”
I found myself smiling, and my next words came out easily. “Congratulations, by the way. About your marriage and the baby. I’m happy for you.”
His grin had always been contagious, but this one could power a small country. “Thanks. I guess I owe you for breaking up with me.”
I chuckled as something seemed to lift around us, the shadow of it blowing away, leaving me lighter and more hopeful than when I’d gotten here this morning.
His phone rang in his pocket. “Oh, it’s Steph,” he said as he pulled it out. He hurried to answer. “Hey, hon. You done?”
Marcus, one of the staff volunteers, walked through the lobby doors, and I waved him over, pointing at the boxes behind me. He grabbed one and headed out to his car. I leaned down for another.
“Wait, now?”
