Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 36132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 36132 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 181(@200wpm)___ 145(@250wpm)___ 120(@300wpm)
Looking away, Christian wrapped his jacket tighter around himself and stroked his arms, trying in vain to shake off the cold feeling.
It was freezing today.
* * *
“You look tense,” Mila said as they pulled away from the parking lot.
Alexander said nothing, focused on driving.
Mila chewed on her lip, studying him from the corner of her eye. She was worried. She had thought that once Christian stopped coming, everything would go back to normal. And it seemed like it had, but something was off; she could feel it.
Alexander had been behaving more or less normal. The problem was, she wasn’t sure how much of it, if any, was acting. Alexander could hide what he was thinking almost effortlessly.
Yet he couldn’t hide the tension in his muscles and the way his fingers were clenching the steering wheel.
Mila hesitated before asking casually, “I saw Christian out there. Did you say hello?”
“Yes.”
She didn’t like the answer, but she supposed it would have been stranger if Alexander had ignored Christian.
“Did he introduce you to Shawn?”
“Yes.”
“Shawn’s very handsome, isn’t he? There’s a rumor they’re fucking.” Mila bit her tongue. She wasn’t in the habit of lying, but she wanted emotion, wanted a reaction from him. She wanted to know.
She got nothing. Not a single muscle moved on Alexander’s face. In fact, his face was unnaturally still.
“Why should I care?” he said in a very pleasant, reasonable voice.
A wave of unease washed over her.
She forced out a laugh. “Just saying, is all. Not that I would be surprised if it’s true—he’s a bit of a manwhore. He’s easy.”
“I thought you considered him a friend.” Alexander’s tone remained pleasant and calm as he turned the car swiftly. “That’s not a very nice thing to say about a friend.”
“Being friendly and being friends is not the same.”
He said nothing.
A chill went through her.
She stretched her hand out and took his, entwining their fingers.
Alexander didn’t squeeze back, but he didn’t pull his hand away, either.
Mila breathed out and relaxed.
They were fine. Nothing had changed. Alexander was as lovely to her as ever. She had nothing to worry about.
Yet, no matter what she told herself, a ball of worry was buried in her stomach, weighing her down and making her feel sick.
She wished she could turn back time and stop herself from approaching Christian Ashford.
Chapter 15
Christian had just gotten out of the shower and put on a pair of shorts when his grandmother knocked on his door.
“Are you decent, dear? You have a visitor.”
Wondering who it could be, he opened the door.
Alexander stood beside his grandma.
Christian blinked, feeling lost. What was Alexander doing here?
“Hey,” he said, meeting Alexander’s eyes.
Alexander tugged at his collar and cleared his throat. “I was in the neighborhood,” he said, rather stiffly.
Christian blinked, glanced away and nodded. “Come on in.” He stepped aside, letting Alexander enter the room.
His grandma gave him a questioning look, but Christian shook his head: no, Alexander wasn’t his boyfriend.
“Your coat, young man,” his grandma said.
Alexander removed his coat and gave it to her.
Christian closed the door. “Sorry for the mess. I know you hate it.” In his defense, it was the room of an average college student.
Alexander looked around. “I expected worse.”
“Should I be offended?”
Alexander returned his gaze to him, and suddenly, Christian became acutely aware that he was wearing only a pair of shorts. And he was wet. Christian grabbed a clean shirt and put it on quickly.
“I didn’t know you lived with your grandmother.”
“I’m a bit tight on money at the moment, so living here makes sense. Grandma doesn’t mind. I think she’s lonely.”
Silence fell in the room as they looked at each other.
Christian shifted from one foot to the other, rubbing the back of his neck. “You can sit down?”
Alexander’s lips twitched. “Is that a question?”
Christian grinned sheepishly. “Maybe.”
Alexander stared at him for a few moments before clearing his throat. “I have two hours to kill until I have to pick up Mila. Entertain me.”
Christian laughed. “Do you ever work?” he said, flopping down on the couch and grabbing the TV remote.
“Sometimes,” Alexander said, mock-serious. “If I’m in the mood.”
Christian found himself smiling as he switched on the TV. It still surprised him a bit that Alexander wasn’t a compulsive workaholic and perfectionist. He seemed the type, but he actually wasn’t. It looked like he strove for perfection only in his personal life. “I think I have some lame action flicks. They’re so bad they’re hilarious. Come on, sit down.”
He realized too late the only place to sit besides the bed was the spot on the couch next to him.
Alexander hesitated before sitting as far from him as possible, which wasn’t very far: the couch was pretty small.
Licking his lips, Christian looked at the TV as the movie started.
“Hope I don’t bore you too much,” Alexander murmured.
Frowning, Christian studied him. Alexander’s face was expressionless, his eyes on the TV screen. “Why would you bore me?”