Page 41 of Alex
It’scold and rainy when we land at Indianapolis International Airport, and the cabdriver smells like a wet dog. I just want to turn around and go back toparadise. At the same time, I’m ready to go back to work, to get things back tonormal.
ChapterSix
Alex
Kyleis home with us for a three day weekend and Ian has taken the opportunity togive him another driving lesson, so I’m home alone for the first time in a longtime. We’ve only been back in Indy for a few days, but things are starting toget back to normal. Ian went back to work yesterday, and I spent a few hourshelping Mason work on the shelter. It’s really coming along. We’ll be moving infurniture before spring.
I’mlounging on the couch, debating whether I want to go the gym when Ev walksthrough the door. As Ian’s longtime best friend, she’s the only one who can getaway with not knocking. “Hey, Ev, Ian’s not home,” I tell her.
“Iknow. I want to talk to you while he’s gone.”
Shit.Things have been tense between us since she found out I kept Ian’s cancer fromher. I understand why she’s pissed, but I really didn’t have much choice.“Okay,” I reply warily.
“Relax,I’m done yelling at you. I don’t like that you kept something so important fromme, but I understand why.” She grabs a soda from the fridge and sits acrossfrom me. “I just want to make sure he’s okay now. I haven’t seen much of him.”The corner of her mouth quirks up. “But I have a feeling you have.”
Shakingmy head, I can’t help but smile at her. “What has he told you?”
“Verylittle! That’s why I’m here.”
“We’retogether,” I admit. Ian said he didn’t want to hide our relationship.
Suddenly,I have a lap full of squealing female. “I knew it! This is fantastic! He saidhe had feelings for you but I didn’t know if he’d be brave enough to act onthem.”
Ihug her, laughing at her exuberance. “I take it you approve.”
“Ofcourse I do. You’re such a sweet guy, and if Ian blows this I’ll strangle himin his sleep.” She hugs me before climbing off my lap, then shoots me ahesitant look. “Be patient with him.”
“Iintend to. I realize this is a first for him.”
“It’sa lot of firsts for him, I imagine. I’ve never seen him last more than a weekwith a woman. I’ve seen firsthand how he is and when things start to feel alittle too real to him, he’ll panic and do something stupid.”
Thecouch squeaks as I lean forward. “What are you getting at, Ev?”
“I’mjust asking you to be patient and not to give up on him if he pushes you away.You’re good for him. I’ve never seen him act the way he does with you. The wayhe looks at you…” She smiles and gets to her feet. “I want that for both ofyou.”
“Ifhe tries to run, I promise I won’t let him get away with it. He’s stubborn, butI can be a persistent asshole myself if I really want something. No worries,Ev, he’s stuck with me.”
“Good.”Her soda can clangs when she tosses it in the trash can. “That isn’t the onlyreason I came by. Mason wants you to come by the gym tonight if you’re free.Something about an upcoming tournament.”
“I’mnot really interested in competing right now. I only did the last one becauseit was for charity.”
“They’reholding this one to raise money for people injured by drunk drivers.”
Damnit. I run my hand through my hair. “I’ll come by and see what’s up.”
“AndI want you, Ian, and Kyle to come to dinner tomorrow night.”
Iwrap my arm around her as I walk her to the door. “Anything else, yourmajesty?”
“Nope,see you tomorrow.” Her lips sweep across my cheek before she bounds out thefront door. The girl can be exhausting, but I love her.
Kylejumps at the chance to go the gym with me that evening while Ian heads off tohang with the nerd herd. “Going to pick up chicks?” Kyle asks him with a grin.
“Nope,I’m seeing someone,” Ian replies.
“Oh,cool. Can I meet her?”
Ianglances at me, and I shrug, leaving it up to him. A mischievous grin cracksIan’s face and he grabs Kyle’s shoulder, leading him over to me. “Alex, meetKyle. Kyle meet Alex, my boyfriend.”
