Page 25 of My Fake Date With My Childhood Friend (Port Lane Romances #3)

The song switched just as we got onto the dance floor.

Instead of the fast pace of all the songs before, it was now slow.

Alexander put his hands on my waist, and I wrap my arms around his neck.

We actually started enjoying ourselves until Joseph bumped into us.

I groaned in annoyance. It was obvious Joseph wasn’t going to allow me to enjoy the dance.

“Whoops,” he said, laughing.

“Hey Alexander, can I borrow Penny for a second? I need to talk to her,” Joseph said.

“No, you can’t,” I replied, “If you have anything you want to tell me, you can say it here.”

“Listen, dude, I know she is your ex and all, but you gotta let it go,” Alexander said.

Nikki walked over, and she looked annoyed. She really couldn’t hide her feelings.

“Joseph, I thought you were going to the bathroom,” she said, crossing her arms.

“Yeah, I was. I just needed to talk to Penny for a sec first.”

“No, you don’t,” she snapped. I blinked in surprise at the intensity in her voice. I’d never seen her so angry.

“Nikki—”

“You chose me, Joseph!” She yelled. “Me! Quit fawning after her!”

She grabbed his hand and yanked him away. I shook my head. Their relationship was a thinking time bomb. It was only a matter of time.

“Okay, everyone,” the DJ announced. “Here is a song dedication from Alexander Rigby to Penny Owen.”

“That's so cute!” A girl near me squealed. Whispers circulated throughout the room. I flushed bright red as I heard my name getting passed around.

“You didn't,” I said to Alexander.

“Yes, I did,” he said. He grabbed my hand, and I felt goosebumps. I could feel my heart beating. He was always so thoughtful, and this really blew me away. “You deserve it.”

“All right, everyone let me talk,” The DJ said loudly. “Alexander also wrote a note. I’m dedicating Taylor Swift’s Lover to you because, to me, you are my lover, but you are so much more than that. You are my best friend, my home, and I’m so glad I found you.”

The DJ played the song. Everyone who had dates grabbed their dates to this epic romantic slow song.

Everyone except Nikki and Joseph, that was — they were in the corner arguing.

I couldn’t hear what they were arguing about because the music was too loud.

He looked angry. She looked exhausted mentally.

They had been friction between the two all night.

He stormed out of the hall as the two of them were arguing. Nikki ran after him.

Not my battle. Not tonight. I needed to focus on the present.

“Thank you so much, Alexander. I don’t even know what to say,” I whispered.

“Don’t worry about it. This was nothing. I just wanted to show you what you deserved,” he replied.

“You’re always doing things for me, and I can’t do anything for me,” I said quietly.

“It’s not a competition. I care about you.”

“Thank you once again.”

As we slow danced to the song he dedicated to me, I thought about how he helped me with the dress, pretending to date me, how he helped me realize my worth.

He always went above and beyond for me, dedicating a song to me in front of anyone, all the small things, I’m sure he would never cheat on his girlfriend.

Alexander rested his forehead against mine. “Merry Christmas, Penny.”

“Merry Christmas, Alexander.”

Whoever ended up with Alexander, in the end, will be a really lucky girl. I was just sad that it couldn’t be me.

By the time Alexander brought me home, most of the windows in my house were dark by now, which was an unusual feat in my big family.

Alexander walked me to the front door. We paused in front of it and faced each other.

My key was clutched in my hand, but I didn't know whether he wanted to say goodbye out here or was hoping that I would invite him in.

“Is anybody home?” Alexander asked, eyes running over the dark and silent house.

“I don't think so,” I said. “Mom said they were all going to the mall to meet Santa and put their Christmas wishes on the tree.”

“Those were the days,” Alexander murmured.

“It feels like a lifetime ago, doesn't it?” I looked down at the key to avoid having to look him in the eyes. “Having that sort of Christmas spirit... believing in Santa and wishes and...”

“It's never too late to start believing,” Alexander said. “And it's never too late to make some new wishes.”

“No,” I said. I looked at him again and got lost in his eyes. I caught a glimpse of the same Christmas spirit I'd seen in them all those years ago. It was still there, shining through, even in the darkness. “I guess it's not.”

We stood there for a moment, just looking at each other. Then I took a step back and turned the key in the lock.

“Do you want to come in?” I whispered. My eyes shifted toward his car in the driveway. “You know, to warm up before you drive home.”

Alexander smiled. “I would love to.”

Inside, I flicked on some lights and led him into the kitchen. It felt strange to be alone in my big family home. Normally, there were at least a few people here, bustling around, laughing, and talking.

“Can I offer you something to drink?” I asked. “Hot chocolate or cider?”

“Hot chocolate would be great. Any chance you've got peppermint?”

“I think there's some in the cupboard above the fridge,” I said. “And conveniently, you're tall enough to reach.”

“Lucky me,” Alexander laughed.

Alexander took off his blazer and laid it on the back of a chair, then rolled up his sleeves. Then he reached up to open the high cupboard, his shirt riding up to expose his toned back. I went to fix his drink, my heart racing as I watched him. He was so handsome. So perfect.

I felt a little awkward being alone in my big family home, but it was also kind of nice. I’d grown up spending Christmas with at least a few people here, chatting and laughing. But tonight... there was just Alexander and me.

“Here you are,” I said, handing him a mug of hot chocolate.

Alexander took a sip of his hot chocolate.

“Mmm. This is delicious,” he said. “Thank you.”

We walked over to the living room and sat down on the couch.

My stomach fluttered as his arm brushed against mine.

We sipped our drinks in silence for a few minutes.

My head was spinning with all the thoughts racing through my mind.

This was definitely more than a crush. I was just too scared to admit it before.

Now I was sure I was falling for him. And that was scary to admit after all that happened to me, but nevertheless, I was falling hard.

Alexander cleared his throat and put his mug down on the coffee table.

“There’s something I wanted to talk to you about,” he said.

“Okay…” I said in trepidation. He leaned forward. Sensing a serious conversation coming, I did the same.

“I want to break a rule,” he whispered. I raised an eyebrow in surprise.

“A rule?” I asked.

“Yes,” he said. He moved forward slightly. “I want to kiss you.”

I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me.

Oh my gosh! Did he just say he liked me?

Like, for real? Maybe I misheard him or this was a trick of some sort.

Was he pranking me? I wanted to laugh it off and pretend this didn’t happen — but what if it was real?

What if Alexander Rigby liked me, for real this time?

“What?” I asked because I had no idea what else to say. My voice was shaky. “But... we can't.”

“We can't?”

“Like you said,” I murmured. “The rules...”

“Rules were made to be broken,” he said with a grin.

He leaned forward again. And I wanted him to.

I so wanted him to lean in and kiss me like I'd been waiting for.

But as he came closer, I stopped seeing him — I started seeing Joseph and everything he'd done to me.

The way that Joseph kissed me and told me he loved me, then turned around and kissed my best friend.

I couldn't let another boy hurt me again.

“Alexander,” I said, pushing him away. “I'm sorry, but this can't happen.”

Alexander's face fell. “I understand,” he said softly. “Maybe... someday?”

“Maybe,” I said miserably.

We sat in silence for a minute before Alexander stood up and started walking to the door. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I refused to give in to them. I was too angry and frustrated to cry.

“Alexander,” I said. I stood up as well. “I'm sorry. I didn't mean to...”

He shook his head. “No, you don't need to apologize for anything,” he said. “It was my fault. I shouldn't have suggested it.”

“It's not that you shouldn't have suggested it,” I said pathetically. “It’s nothing about you. It’s…”

“Joseph,” he finished for me.

“Yes,” I whispered.

Alexander nodded. “Of course.”

“I really am sorry. There’s just so much history there that I can’t forget, just like that.”

“I get it,” Alexander said. “He was your first love. Not easy to forget.”

“Maybe one day it will be different,” I said.

“Yeah,” Alexander said. He let out a deep sigh and shook his head. “I’m sorry if I misread the signals. I really like you, Penny. I’ve been so nervous to tell you, but you’re all I think about these days, and I miss you so much whenever you’re gone. And I really thought you felt the same way.”

“Listen, Alexander,” I said nervously. How did I go about explaining this? How did I tell him that I liked him too, that he was all I wanted, but I’d sworn off boys for a good reason?

The doorbell rang loudly, interrupting me. He groans. We both turn our attention toward the door. I had no idea who that would be. If it was my parents coming home, they would have just let themselves in, but I didn’t know who else would want to come by.

“I’m sorry,” I said to Alexander. I backed out of the room toward the door. “I’ll be right back, okay? I just need one second.”

I ran over to the door and threw it open, ready to tell whoever was there to go away because I didn’t have time to talk right now. But to my surprise, it was Joseph. He was standing on my porch, holding an umbrella in one hand and a bouquet of flowers in the other, with a smirk on his face.

“Joseph?” I wanted to snap at him to leave right now, but the words didn’t come out. What was he doing here? I didn’t want Alexander to get the wrong idea or anything. I never expected that Joseph would show up like this.

“I broke up with her,” he said. “I broke up with her for you.”

Woah. Joseph breaking up with Nikki was definitely not on my bingo list. I couldn’t believe he actually did that. I thought he had been bluffing all along, but he actually did it. I was shocked.