Page 130 of Ruthless Chaos
Cassidy takes a bracing breath, squeezing her eyes shut and stepping back. When she opens her eyes, she’s wearing a serene smile. “I just don’t want you to make a decision you will regret, Alexander. Allie is trouble. Think about your future.”
That’s my cue to leave. If I stand here any longer, I’ll paint the stone pavers with her brain matter. “Don’t speak to me ever again.”
I push past her and make my way into Kingmaker House.
Cassidy’s demeanor reminds me of Keller’s—her insistence is bizarre. Why the fuck would she go this far?
We had sexoncewhen she a freshman.
I don’t know her motives. If anything, this strange conversation only makes me more intent on keeping Alize close to me.
THIRTY-ONE
ALIZE
A day with Alexander.
When he brought it up, I had no idea what to expect.
Even now, as I’m strapped into the passenger side of a sleek convertible, speeding along the winding country road, there’s still some trepidation.
My stomach does little flips at the mystery of it all.
Or it could be the speed we’re going.
“This is fast,” I say, clutching my seatbelt as he rounds a particularly sharp corner.
The wind rushing into the cabin is crisp, cool on my cheeks. It’s steadily messing up the ponytail that Tara spent almost half an hour helping me fix.
The trees rush by in a blur. I squeeze my eyes shut, willing myself to relax.
The car slows down before I get a handle on my anxiety. When I open my eyes, Alexander is taking quick glances at me.
“Are you alright?” There’s a small smile on his face. “Don’t tell me you’re scared of a little adrenaline rush?” he teases.
I narrow my eyes. “You were driving almost one-hundred-and-fifty miles per hour,” I say. He chuckles and I continue, “Yes, I checked. That’s notjustan adrenaline rush. Do you know what happens to the human body if it collides with anything at that speed?”
I’m raising my voice, but I don’t care. The smile is gone from Alexander’s face, and I see the muscles in his hand flex as he grips the steering wheel tighter.
“You’re going to need to relax a little, Al.”
“Relax?” I mock his voice in a high-pitched one.
He nods, rolling his eyes. “You worry too much,” he says dismissively. “I’ve been driving for long enough to not take foolish risks. It’s been a while since I’ve driven this car, and itisa sports car.” He gives me a sharp glance. “I didn’t spend two-hundred thousand on a Porsche to drive the speed limit.”
“Anything can happen. Nobody ever wakes up and decides to be in a car accident.” I look away from him and out the window. “It’s hard for me not to worry all the time.”
I feel his hand on mine, but I still don’t look at him.
Suddenly, I don’t want to continue this vein of our conversation. It doesn’t feel like proper first date conversation material.
Gosh, why did I even have to bring it up?
“I worry a lot too, sometimes.” Alexander’s voice is almost lost to the wind. I turn to him then. “How about this? I want you to know that when you’re around me, you don’t have to worry aboutanything. I will think and worry for you.” He gives my hand a squeeze. “Even if I’m going that fast.”
I giggle even though I don’t want to. Alexander looks pleased that he’s made me laugh. He lets go of my hand to shift gears.
I want to tell him to put it back. I settle for keeping my hands crossed on my lap.
