Page 85 of Revenge At Raleigh High
“Just wait and see. Everything’ll be clear in a second. Just…give me a second.” Up the stairs he goes. I climb the steps behind him, confusion clouding every corner of my mind. Before us is a blue door, the paint on the woodwork chipped and peeling, with brass numbers screwed into the wall beside it that say ‘Apt. 23a.’ Alex takes a key out of his jacket pocket, sliding it into the lock, and then pushes the blue, peeling door open.
Two seconds later, I’m standing in an apartment that…that’s full of Alex’s stuff?
“I know it’s a mess right now. I was trying to get everything set up before I came and got you, but…it won’t take long. It’ll be tidy and perfect in a couple of days. I have a new couch coming on Thursday. And new kitchen stuff, too. I just…I don’t know. Um. I guess…this is where I’m gonna be living from now on.”
I look around, completely silent and bewildered. Alex’s record player is sitting in the corner. His book shelves have all be placed in the main living space, his books already lined up in neat rows. The place smells of new carpet and fresh paint. I reach out, extending my fingers, attempting to touch the wall, but Alex quickly grabs my hand.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, that’s, yeah…I wouldn’t do that. That’s still wet.” He looks anxious. He bites down on his bottom lip, his eyebrows slowly climbing up his forehead. “I had this big, grand plan in my head,Argento. I knew you were home, but I told myself you’d be tired and probably sleep. I wanted to come over and blindfold you. Drive you over here, like it was some big secret…but, fuck. I see how moronic that was now. I am so, so sorry. I shouldn’t have waited. I was just excited, and—”
I hold up a hand. “Stop.”
He winces. “Stop?”
“Yes. Stop. I need a moment.” I skirt the perimeter of the apartment, running my hands over his things, picking up his books, stroking my hand over the new dining table that smells of fresh wood, and Alex remains quiet. I walk into the kitchen, into first one bedroom, and then another, smaller one, already set up with a small, single bed. I inspect the bathroom, digging my fingers into the stack of fluffy towels balanced on the edge of the bath that still have their tags on them. He’s still closed-mouthed and tense when I walk back into the living room, his eyes following me as I return to stand in front of him.
“You weren’t angry with me,” I say flatly.
“Angry at you? Why would I…” he shakes his head.
“Because I put you in a dangerous situation. Because I didn’t tell you about the text messages Jake was sending me.”
“I mean, I wasn’t stoked that you didn’t tell me about that, but…no. I’d never be mad atyoubecause Jacob Weaving is fucked in the head. You did nothing wrong, Silver.”
“Okay.” I fidget, finding it difficult to stand still. “And…you aren’t dumping me for risking your chances of winning custody of Ben?”
Alex’s eyes widen. “Dumping you? No!Fuck. Haven’t you listened to anything I’ve been telling you since we met? I am gonna ask you to marry me one of these days, Silver Parisi. Don’t fucking look at me like that. You know you want to marry me. I’m not asking you now, but one day I’m gonna ask, because I want you. I want all of you. I want our life together, whatever that looks like, no matter where we end up. There is no me leaving you. Not now. Not ever. You’re stuck with me for life. Now if you’d only stop going around, trying to get that life cut short, then I would be really fucking grateful.”
The look on my face must say everything I can’t. Alex places his hands on my hip, stepping into me. He rests his forehead against mine, breathing shakily. “Say something, Silver. Tell me you forgive me for being stupid. Tell me you’re okay. Tell me you fucking love me. I can’t take the silence anymore.”
I will never be more relieved than the moment when he cut through the rope that was strangling me to death three weeks. But the relief I feel right now comes pretty damn close.
The worry that’s been crippling me since I learned the charges against him had been dropped disintegrates into vapor. Turns out Maxie was right: any problem can be resolved or overcome if you just take a second to talk…
So I give him the answers that he needs.
“I forgive you. I’m okay. I love you, Alessandro Moretti. Now please…just shut the hell up and kiss me.”
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