Page 62 of Alexander: Alexander's Story

“Alex!” I scold him.

“Emma!” He mocks me right back.

Sitting up slowly, I say, “Fine, get off me, and I’ll get up.” He gives me a quick peck, then climbs off the bed.

I drag ass right behind him.

I can’t even remember going to bed last night. The last thing that comes to mind is cuddling on the couch. Yesterday had been a long day, though.Really long.

“Did you put me to bed?” I ask as we stand in opposite closets and get dressed. It still feels weird for me to useherspace, but going downstairs every time I need a fresh pair of underwear doesn’t make sense.

“Yup,” he says, sliding a belt into the loops of his jeans. His chest is still bare, and I have to swallow.Damnit. I had plans for him last night.

My inner thighs throb, not from soreness but with desire.

But then I yawn. My sleep schedule had finally adjusted to normalcy, and here I am at the ass crack of dawn, going for a quick hike. Even though I feel deathly tired, I’m thrilled. I missed this. These were some of the best parts of my day: walking with him to the lake.

I throw on a thermal and fleece-lined leggings, then grab a beanie and some thick socks. During the day, Spearhead would warm to 50 degrees or so, but in the morning, it’s still slightly below freezing.

Delta dances around Alex’s feet with excitement.

“We’re going, bud,” he says to the pup.

We finish putting on our outer layers in the mudroom where the invite hangs, haunting me. There’s something about it that irks me. The way it hangs, front and center, like a reminder. That it’s hanging at all. It feels more like a jury duty summons than a wedding invite. Alex said he doesn’t plan to go, yet he hasn’t thrown the invite out…

“Ready, baby?” He asks, pulling my beanie over my head for me, then kissing me quickly. I blush, loving him like this. If it could be like this forever, I would give him every last day of my life.

“Yeah,” I smile.

Delta barks when we stand there staring at each other with loving eyes, taking too long.

“We’re going!” I tell him with a pat on his head.

We open the door to a still-dark morning. The air is brisk, and our breath comes out in puffs as soon as we step outside. No amount of caffeine could ever replicate this feeling.This. This is the high I was weaning for yesterday that never came.

I actually skip to catch up to Alex and Delta.

We walk silently, just like we used to until we get to the boulder. I climb up first, then take Delta’s leash, who bounds up, followed by Alex.

He sits down, spreading his legs, then motions for me to sit between them. With my back to his chest, we sit facing the lake and wait for the show. Soon, the purple will pale. Then, an orange will creep up. The clouds will turn pink, and before you know it, we’ll be bathed in the first morning light.

“How’d you sleep?” I ask him once we’re settled and Delta’s busy chewing on a stick.

“Great.” He squeezes me from behind. Me too.

And then it’s silent again, aside from the sounds of our easy breathing and the dog gnawing and the light breeze tangling the pine boughs.

I wonder, “What are you thinking about?” Usually, we’ll just sit here until one of us shares something, but now, I want more. I want to know everything.

“I was wondering…if you’re sore.” My cheeks, my chest, everything heats. I shake my head no. “Good,” he says.

“Then I was thinking about your birthday.”My birthday?That would be a first — maybe ever — that someone was thinking about my birthday, and no less before it even happened. “Any special requests?” I shake my head again because I don’t need anything.

“Okay. Don’t make it easy for me or anything.” He pinches me, and I screech. “But then I thought about your mom. And…” He sighs, “I’m trying not to make a big deal of it, especially if you don’t want to, but I’m having a hard time letting it go.” Ugh, my heart.

“I know exactly what you mean because I’m not going to lie. I hate your mom and dad more than just a little.” We sit there a little longer before I finally say something.

“I’ve had time, a decade really, to process everything and work through it. It’s not holding me back, at least not anymore. Okay?” I let him know that, and then I wonder if it’s the same for him. If he’s worked it all out.