Page 28 of Tell Me Everything
Elena finally moved closer and accepted his embrace.
“I'm sorry I scared you. I know you may not believe me, but I would never lay a hand on you.”
He had hoped that touching her would calm her down, but her body kept shaking. Because of him. What had he done?
“I'm scared, Alex.”
“I know. I won't do it again.”
“You don’t want to hit me?”
“I was never going to hit you.”
Elena pursed her lips, unconvinced.
“I've never hit a woman, and I never will. I have a certain code, you know.”
Elena smiled at him, even though her lip was still wobbling, and Alex felt as though he could breathe again. At least a little.
“Your hand is bleeding.”
“Shit.”
Chapter 13
Alex
A few days later, Alex dropped by Elena’s to work on the project. She had said everything was fine, still her gaze was unfocused. Since Alex had lost his temper, it had become impossible to talk to her. Once he'd calmed down, Elena went home. Even though she had put on a small smile, he understood that she needed some distance. Few people wanted to keep Alex around once they'd seen that part of him. He just hoped that, unlike the others, Elena would still want him around.
“Do you need help with your part?”
“I'm done.”
“The weather is nice. Shall we go get ice cream?”
“No, you can go,” she replied, her voice distant.
“How much longer are you going to stay mad?”
Her eyebrows furrowed, her gaze turning icy. Alex had been used to her cold stares, but this was different. She no longer trusted him; he could no longer reach her. If she'd put walls around her heart in the past, this time she was prepared, and Alex wouldn't be able to get through them. He knew he'd screwed up. He’d thought he'd made things right the last time, but now that Elena was thinking clearly, she didn't seem to want him anymore. He hadn't expected her rejection to sting so much, but it did. She was too lovely, and if he'd promised himself he wouldn't let her get too close, she'd found a way into his life. Now that she was leaving, he didn't want her to. He had to make it up to her. Alex left the Fleureau house with a heavy heart. Although Elena was a pain in the ass, he'd come to care about her and enjoy spending time together. Now that it might be over, he felt empty and alone. Maybe he should have been honest with herand with himself. Alex had tried so hard to be her friend, but he'd never let her get close enough for her to become his. That had been a mistake. And he was going to fix it. He just hoped that now that she'd seen what was under his mask, she wouldn't let him go.
***
“Are you sure this is what she needs?”
“You don’t like it?” asked Alex, looking at his sister, then at the stuffed toy.
Audrey raised an eyebrow, unconvinced by Alex's choice. He was holding a white unicorn with a pink and purple holographic mane. When he pressed its stomach, it played a little country tune. It was ridiculous; it was exactly what Elena needed. When they were in elementary school, she'd loved horses. Alex hoped that by playing the sentimental, nostalgic card, she'd be less reluctant to see him again.
“Are you certain you're trying to make amends here?”
“Who knows?”
Alex had spent the week looking for a gift that would please her, even if what he'd planned had cost him an arm and a leg. He had to prove to her that he cared.
Arriving at Elena's house, he knocked on her door, hiding the stuffed toy behind him. Elena looked up from her book, surprised to see him. She immediately noticed that he was hiding something.
Elena raised her eyebrows. “You didn't tell me you were coming.” Her voice was deeper than usual.
