19

L Word

Two days later from the last time I saw Alexander, I agreed to go to McDonald's with him, at midnight. I couldn't sleep, and somehow, he had gotten my phone number and texted me that he was downstairs.

It was such a New York moment for me. Besides that it made me feel good from within.

Alexander stares at me now, as we sit at a table near the door. So every time it opened the cold air crept in and crawled up my arm. I sip from my coffee and looked out the window over his shoulder as a homeless man walked by with a cart full of empty cans and bottles.

My gaze returns to Alexander, who's still staring me down. He looks down at his coffee, and then back up, then back down. Was there something he wanted to say to me? I didn't question his appearance at my building until now. But that was because I couldn't sleep and I didn't mind getting some fresh air.

I look down, and then back at him, not sure what to do. I took him in, his messy curly hair, and his blue eyes seemed bluer with his pale complexion due to the cold. Which made his gaze more effective.

He looks up, and I felt my heart do a summersault.

He clears his throat and finally speaks. "I couldn't sleep."

I nod. "Me neither," I say as I glance down at my coffee before locking eye contact.

"Why not?" I lift an eyebrow.

"You tell me first."

He licks his lips, "I was thinking about the first time I saw you, and how you said I don't know you, and now I know you've had been right."

I let a comfortable silence sit between us I soak in the certitude that he remembers what I said that day. Only because Liam barely recalled the things I told him, even if they were small meaningless things. But, I always perceived how remiss I was about it. Ever since I met Alexander, the door that stood between the feelings I steered clear of and me, had unlocked.

"No, I wasn't," I say now. He tilts his head in confusion. "You were right, about me being monotonous."

He nods, understanding.

"What's it like to be reattached back to earth?"

"Dizzying and Annoyingly bemusing." He casts me a furrowed expression. I shake my head. "Nothing, I th—"

"Hey," he says. He pushes his coffee to the side and takes my hand in his, I let him. "I'm not judging you, I guess I'm just wondering if you've seen life in a different light after the past few months that passed."

I look down at our hands in thought. Sitting there was enough proof that something changed, something in me had shifted. Alexander was the reason why I've changed, even if it was a small change. I look up at him, "I do," I say. "Because of you."

Alexander breaks into his first smile that night, I return the smile. We sit there, hand in hand, my eye locked with his eye. The chemistry we had was hard to kill, but I think I'll be fine as long as he's by my side.

Even if I was burning to be touched by him, or touch him myself.

I slip my hand out of his grasp, and brush my hair back, putting my hand on my lap. He gives me a small smile as he gets the message and puts his hand back on his coffee.

Two girls walk by staring at me, sharing a whisper or two, before they leave giggling into the night.

Would it make me sound like a hypocrite if I say that I didn't like how they stared at him? To tell them he was mine?

My face flatten as I stared after them, then my eyes move to his and my cheeks burned up, he looked at me like he knew what I had been thinking about. He sat there studying me, a small smirk evident on his face.

He watches me quietly for another minute before he says, "I should take you home before it starts to pour." He glances over his shoulder, then looks back at me.

I nod, and we slide out of our chairs. I follow him outside and into the night. I bring my thin sweater closer to me as I hug myself. I didn't think this through.

Drops start to pour, first soft, then heavy fat rain waters us. I cover my head with my hands, but that was pointless, I was already soaked. I put my hands down and look up at Alexander.

My eyes widen for a second, his hair was pressed against his face, and his shirt was pressed against him where his abs were visible. I look up at him, and he's smirking, I snap my head away.

I wanted to kiss him right there, but instead, I walked in the direction of my building and he followed. I looked down and admired the street lights glowing green on the pavement.

The rain got harder, which I could barely see as it flowed over my brow and down my eyelids. I stopped walking, felt free at the moment, extended my arms, and tilted my face to the sky, letting it wash away everything.

I looked at Alexander, and even though it was somewhat hard to see, I could see his intense gaze on me. He wasn't looking at me like I was crazy, so I went back to let the rain wash away all the bad only leaving the good.

I closed my eyes, listening to the rain pounding on the ground, feeling the force as it came down on my face. But then Alexander's hand was in mine as he pulled me onto his chest. I looked at him, and he looked at me, the blazing desire back in his eyes.

My hair clings to my face, my shirt clings to my chest and stomach. But his body clung to mine. A warmth enveloped us.

I put my head on his chest and he holds me closer. I close my eyes and let the rainfall around us. Let New York move past us, who cared who was staring? Haven't you seen love in New York?

We had that New York Complicated Love.

Eventually, we pull apart and we run towards my building, as we enter I laugh and look at Harold who was looking at us like we were drenched dogs. But once he realized it was just me, he offered a smile and went back to minding his business.

I look at Alexander now, and his eyes were on my body. A dark look loomed over his eyes. Then without shame, he locked eyes with me. His dark hair is on his face, he shakes his head and I feel a chill move down my back.

It wasn't fair that he looked sexy standing in front of me. I took in a deep breath and walked to the elevator and pressed the button. He followed me, and when the doors slid open we enter.

We stand across from each other, at a safe distance. He mentally undressed me from head to toe, with his gaze. I look down and try to breathe normally, but I felt a flame rising from within. I didn't know how to put out the fire.

As we got to my floor, I was thankful that he hadn't tried to get close to me, I don't think I would've been able to push him away. I think I would've let him touch me, leaving burn marks on my body.

I led him to my room and closed the door gently behind me. I took off my shoes, and he did the same. "Do you want to shower first?"

He looks at me with a smirk, "Why don't we just make the most of it and shower together, save water?"

I toss him a towel, and he chuckles as he walks into the bathroom and closes the door behind him. I walk into my closet and grab a shirt from a drawer Amber prepared for me thinking I'll have boys over. But I'd have to thank her because this came in use.

I grab a guy's shirt, and shorts and put them on my bed. Then walk back into my closet to get myself some jams.

I don't mind that he slept over, it was raining and it was late.

When he came out, I was by my window and I saw his reflection in the window. I looked over my shoulder and glanced down at his bare abs. I gulped and looked away. I hear him laugh under his breath, so before something happens I grab my towel and walk into my bathroom.

After a few minutes, where I shower and change in the bathroom, I walk out and place my towel on the hook by the door so it can dry.

I look over at Alexander, who was sitting up against the frame of the bed staring at me. Watching his prey. I look away and walk back into the bathroom leaving the door open, he walks in a few seconds later. He leans against the sink next to me, as I put my night cream on my face.

"I have to tell you something," he says now.

"What is it?" I ask as I lean closer to the mirror to inspect my face more clearly. I lean back and close the cream.

"I love you."