Page 82 of Tell Me Everything
Speaking of the devil, Elena appeared on the terrace. Not wide awake yet, she rubbed her eyes. She was still wearing her dress from the day before, and her make-up had run, making her look like a panda. It was strangely cute. Alex moved aside to make room for her on the bench. Elena sat on his lap instead.
“The bench isn't good enough for milady?”
She rubbed her head against his chest like a kitten would.
“Oh, shush. You had your tongue in my mouth a few hours ago. Stop whining.”
***
On the way home, Alex let his hand rest on Elena's thigh. Such a simple gesture, yet so meaningful. It didn't go unnoticed by the two gossips in the back seat.
“You're closer than usual,” Sophie observed, looking very calm, too calm. “Has something happened we should know about?”
Of course, she’d figured it out. Sophie knew a person in no time. Elena glanced at Alex, smiling conspiratorially. A lot had happened in the last two days.
“Lots of things.”
“You didit?” exclaimed Nina. “In Sophie's grandparents' apartment? I can’t believe it!”
Elena and Alex rolled their eyes.
“No, notthat!”
They could have if the two girls hadn't come home so early. Alex sighed. Their relationship had moved so fast, and he wondered what that meant for them. Although Elena wasn't saying anything, she wasn't holding back as much as she used to. It gave him hope. If she'd been ready to take that step with him yesterday, maybe she was finally ready to be with him for good? As if she could hear his thoughts, she winked at him. They were going to have to discuss all this, but that was a question for later, when they were alone.
“Nina, not everyone is as impatient as you are,” Sophie scolded her.
Nina let herself fall back against the seat with a theatrical air. It was no coincidence that she and Elena had found each other.
“Why should I wait when I know it's going to be a good time?I don't like wasting time thinking ahead. I want a boyfriend, too!” Nina exclaimed, pouting.
Sophie gave her a sidelong glance. In the trio, she was the mom, while Nina was the hyper kid and Elena the unpredictable teenager.
“You'll get bored with him after a few weeks.”
“I know.”
“What do you mean, you'll get bored?” Elena asked, turning back to her friends.
“Princess Nina hopes to find Prince Charming by kissing frogs,” Sophie explained, analysing her orange nail polish.
“But all frogs turn into toads,” the princess muttered.
“What if you kissed a toad instead?” Lena asked. “Maybe he'd turn into a prince.”
The girls looked at each other before bursting into laughter.
“Now there's an idea.”
***
Alex was stressing out. Ever since they'd gotten out of the car, Elena had been acting as if nothing had happened. She looked so calm, while he felt so agitated. There was an elephant in the room, but Alex wondered if he was the only one to see it. After a moment, he snapped. He had to know.
“We need to talk.”
“About?”
She didn't look up from the pile of clothes she was taking out of her suitcase. How could she act so normal? They'd been closer than ever these days. Were they going to keep up with the momentum, or were they going to go back to the way they'd been before the trip?
