Page 133 of The Perfect Spiral
“Maybe that’s why people are drawn to you, Alex. You’re genuine, down-to-earth, and approachable. They can relate to you. But sweetheart, you’re beautiful, you need to understandthat. There are plenty of boys interested in you, surely you’ve noticed?”
“I do see that I get more attention, but I’m just not accustomed to it,” I admit, laughing nervously and glancing over at him as he scrapes the bottom of his cup.
“You know what? You deserve all the boys chasing after you, especially after what you went through with that jerk cheating on you.” I snap my eyes up to see him staring intently at the water in the distance.
“You didn’t like Drew?” I ask, surprised. I always thought he liked him. Did anyone like him, or did they just keep quiet for my sake? I watch him shake his head.
“I never wanted to tell you this, sweetheart, but I saw him flirting with another girl when you brought him—”
“Back to New York with me? Yeah, Knox told me the same thing.” He takes my head in his hand and pulls me close, kissing the side of my head affectionately.
“I was talking with him when we both saw it. He thought nobody was watching him. But we had our eyes on him like hawks that night.
“I didn’t like him, and I especially don’t like him now that I know he cheated on you.” He frowns slightly, a rare expression for him.
“Damn, I was so oblivious to him and his ways.”
“His loss, kiddo. You’re one of the most special people in my life. I don’t know what I’d do without you, Alex.
“You’ve grown into such a strong and beautiful woman, like the woman I’m in love with, and I’m glad I get to call you family.”
“Thanks, Eric. That means a lot coming from you. You’re special to me too. I don’t know what I would do without you either. You’ve been more of a father to me than my own dad.
“You’ve been through so much with us and still stuck around. I will forever be grateful you took us in as your own.”
I kiss him on the cheek and rest my head on his shoulder. We sit in silence, listening to the families playing music and the children screaming playfully.
Chapter 44
We arrive back home in one piece and open the front door to find everyone seated in the kitchen, even Lauren. Cue the eye roll.
My mom rushes to me as soon as I enter, with Andy and Hannah not far behind her. After they greet me, I see Knox standing beside my mom with his arms stretched out, waiting for a hug from me.
I smirk at him and walk over to give him a hug. As soon as I make contact with him, he wraps his arms tightly around me and lifts me up, making me laugh and struggle for air.
“Okay, you can put me down now! I’m too young to die from lack of oxygen,” I plead, gasping for air. I’m pretty sure I’m turning purple. I can feel my head pounding.
“Fine! I don’t want you to die...” he rolls his eyes sarcastically.
“You must be Alex?” I turn my head to face the blonde-haired girl, a.k.a. Miss USA. You would know with that fake smile on her face.
“Yeah, hey! You must be Lauren? Nice to see you again.” NOT! Wipe that fake smile off your face, Barbie.
“Yes, that’s me, or Miss USA. Have we met before? I’m so sorry,I don’t remember.” The tone in her voice is very convincing, but I know it’s fake.
I’ve dealt with this type my whole life, trying to befriend me to get to my brothers and their friends. This situation is all too familiar to me.
“Uh, yeah. I met you at my stepdad’s gala in New York two years ago.” Everyone has gone quiet, listening to the two of us.
“Oh, were you that girl with braces?”
“The girl with bad skin?”
“Nope, try not to hurt yourself with all that thinking,” I smirk, throwing in a dig of my own.
“The girl with the red tight silk dress with one slit up her right leg and a low back, red lips with long brown hair flowing down her back, and the black bag that you constantly kept dropping....” Knox cuts in.
He surprises me with the most accurate description of me that night. How did he remember? I give him a skeptical look as to how he remembered. His cheeks start to flare up a shade of pink and he looks down at his feet.
