Page 75 of Tell Me Everything
“If you want us to work, you're going to have to be honest with me.”
This struck a chord. Elena lowered her eyes without saying another word.
“Go get changed. We'll talk later.”
Without retaliating, Elena disappeared into the bathroom. Five minutes later, she emerged. Unlike usual, she stayed close to the door. Alex patted the spot next to him on the bed, but she hesitated. What could have happened to make her suddenly so suspicious?
“Alex, do you feel I'm leading you on?”
“Why are you asking me this?”
“Answer me.”
“Not really.”
Her shoulders slumped. Had she really walked all the way out here in the rain to ask this? Alex had thought things were going well between them. Until Nina seemed to have sown the seeds of doubt. They went round and round in circles.
“So a little.”
He came to stand in front of her and tucked one of her orange locks behind her ear. In a similar situation with someone else, Alex might have thought he was being led on like a fool. Elena was different; he knew her. And he knew she loved him, even if she wasn't ready to go any further yet.
“I don't think you're leading me on. You've been honest from the start. That doesn't mean the wait isn't long at times.”
“Sorry...”
“Don't be. I know your feelings are genuine.”
Alex spread his arms, and Elena clung to him. He felt the tension in her body dissipate. If she was here, he knew they'd be okay. Whatever was going to happen, Alex knew they were meant to be together.
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I know. I love you, too.”
Chapter 27
Alex
“Yo, Lena! We're going to the beach next weekend. Want to come?”
Elena, who was resting with her head on Alex's lap, opened one eye to look at Nina. In the last few days, she'd become clingier. Not that he minded. Whenever they were together, she found excuses to touch him. The fact that she initiated the physical contact herself was new. It felt so good.
“Uhm, it depends. I'm not going camping or sleeping in the sand if that's what you have in mind.”
The princess was not a fan of nature.
“No,” Sophie assured her, laughing. “My grandparents have a flat there.”
Alex knew she wouldn't be able to refuse. Nina and Sophie had wormed themselves into her life, and they had no intention of letting Elena slip away. She was part of the trio now. Nina looked at her with a kicked puppy face, and Elena agreed.
“Okay, I’ll come. How do we get there?”
“Alex can drive us,” Nina suggested, grinning.
Alex blinked once before sighing. “Did you really just include me in your plans without asking?”
“You can't refuse! Don't you want to go to the beach with Elena?”
She waggled her eyebrows and Alex rolled his eyes. Nina knew what she was doing. Of course, he would love to go to the beach with her. Seeing her lying in the warm sand in nothing but a bikini was a sight he didn't want to miss.Don't think about that now. He shrugged.
