Enough (40 page)

Alex is the one.

My only.

Alex and I were still wrapped in each others arms when the dryer beeped a few times signaling the cycle was done and it was time to get the clothes out. We’re both two lazy to get up and get dressed. Then I heard a ringing somewhere. That only means one thing.

Alex turned and grabbed his phone. He read something
then glanced at me.              “Declan wants to know if you’ll be home to see the ball drop.” He said. I was about to ask why he didn’t text me when Alex beat me to it. “He tried texting you but you don’t answer.” I left my purse downstairs.

Alex stood up
and I stared at his body. It’s just what you would see in a Calvin Klein ad. I could stare at him all day. He’s just beautiful. I managed to tear my eyes off that delicious man and grabbed my clothes.

“Are you coming over?”
I asked.

“
If you want me too.” Alex said smiling. Of course.

“Let’s go then.
” I said. He got dressed and we headed out.

We
took the Audi to my mom’s house and got there in less than ten minutes. I haven’t been here since I found the cigarettes. Hopefully there isn’t anymore.

“I have to pick something up at Ben’s.” Alex said getting out of the car. “And he wants to talk to me.”

“Come in whenever you’re ready then.” I said. I’m not that much of a clinger that I’ll take him from that. Alex can do and go where he wants. I don’t want to smother him.

I saw Declan walking down the block with Gizmo
when I started walking toward the house. He was with a girl that I thought was Scarlett until she was a few feet away from me.

“Declan?”
I called out.

He stood wide-
eyed at me while Gizmo started jumping up and down.

“Emily. You got here fast.
” He said. “Um…do you mind taking my dog inside?” His dog. Of course he would use Gizmo to pick up a girl. Oh, he’s going to pay for this.

“Yeah
, sure. I’m Emily.” I said snatching the leash from Declan.

“Marie
. Nice to meet you.” Declan’s next hookup said.

I
gave Declan the don’t-ever-use-my-dog-as-a-babe-magnet-again look and he nodded. He better nod.

“C’mon
, Gizmo.” I said leading him to the stairs. I stopped when I saw Jeremy sitting at the top of the steps. Fuck! “I’ll see you soon.” I said to Alex. He nodded and walked over to Ben’s house. I smiled at Declan and Marie and made my way up. I ignored Jeremy of course.

“Em, just talk to me.” Jeremy said as I opened the door and walked past him. He followed me upstairs
where I found his bear still sitting on the banister. I walked into my room and unleashed Gizmo. “Emily.” He grabbed my arm and turned me to face him.

“Just leave me alone.” I
said taking off my sweater roughly.

Jeremy was quiet for a second. “I didn’t know you had a tattoo.”

I froze as I tied my hair then I turned around. Dammit.

“That’s because you always had me
on my back.” I snapped. Jeremy is Tootsie Roll and his ringtone says everything. He peeked out into the hall, shut the door and walked over to me.

“Is this why you don’t talk to me?”
He asked.

“I can’t believe you knew and you did
n’t tell me.” I said. “We’re friends…we’re more than friends and you didn’t say anything.”

“It wasn’t my
place to tell.” I stared at him hard.

“Because of Declan?”
I asked. He nodded. “We had sex, Jeremy. You didn’t think of Declan then.”

He
looked down at the floor then he met my eyes.

“Do you know what Declan would do if he foun
d out about this summer?” He asked. “He’d kill me. Just looking at you, he makes a fist. What happened this summer was between us. I only thought of you but Declan can’t find out.” He said. I know that.

“You don’t think I know that.” I said. “It was just sex.”

“It wasn’t.” He said. We stared at each other for a while. God, men are so complicated sometimes. Why am I always in some situation?

“Jeremy that week…I wasn’t in the right place…”
I said. But it was a hell of a week. I’ve never thought sneaking around and seeing him would be so fun. A whole week, every day…god! But that was before the summer ended. After what happened…I needed someone and Jeremy was there. And Tommy. Damn, I sound like a slut right now but Tommy was confused about himself when I broke up with Ty. He started feeling different so I helped him out. And it was before he moved so it’s not that weird between us. I was just a friend helping another friend out. I was trying to help.

“It was fun. N
othing wrong with that. And you’re pretty fun away from home.” Jeremy said smiling at me.

“Blow me.” I said rolling me eyes.

He laughed. “I don’t think your boyfriend would like if I did.”

I pushed away from him.

“I’m still mad at you.” I said trying not to laugh. “You knew that David wasn’t my dad and you lied to me.”

He lifted his hands up to my face and cupped it. “I’m sorry.
” Jeremy said. “What difference would it make if I told you?” And he’s right. It would have been harder. Ugh, I hate him so much but he’s right.

I pulled him into me and hugged him. “If the bear still has Nutella then I can forgive you.”
I said. I hate him but I love him. I’m complicated.

“Good.” He
said pulling back and searching my face. “So what do we do about this summer?” Lock it up and throw away the key.

“Forget about it.
Not in that way. Yes we had fun but Declan would kill you. You just check my name off your list and put it behind us.” I said.

“You wouldn’t be on a list. I respect you to much.”
He said.

“Yeah, coming from the guy that didn’t hesitate when I showed up at his door.”
I sighed.

“Hey…don’t blame me. I have a
weakness for hot blue eyed women.” He said. “This summer never happened then. We leave it at what happened at the sleepover years ago.” I smiled and nodded. The summer he copped a feel. I can deal with that. We were young, it happens.

“Yes and I will blackmail you about that until the day I die.”
I said. Jeremy is one of Declan’s best friends but if he doesn’t do something for me that I really need or want, I blackmail him by saying I’d tell Declan what happened at the famous sleepovers. I wouldn’t really do it. I just like to tease him and I think he knows it.

“We’re starting off New Years right.” Jeremy
said leaning into me as he kissed my cheek. “Now, I should go. Take care, baby.”

“Where you going?”
I asked rolling my eyes.

“New Years party. I have
a hot date waiting for me.”

“Jeremy…I’m sorry.”
I said. I should have heard him out.

“Declan doesn’t want to come with me…change his mind
and I’ll forgive you.” He already forgave me. He’s trying to blackmail me back.

“I’ll try.”

We walked downstairs with Gizmo following. I opened the front door and found Alex and Declan walking up the steps. Jeremy said hi and bye and walked out. I picked up Gizmo and stared at Declan. Alex was smiling. I looked at Gizmo and pouted. “He totally used you.” I said. He barked. “You liked it didn’t you?” He licked my hand.

“That was classic.” Alex said
shaking his head.

“You know
, I don’t understand why guys have to show off a cute furry dog and a girl swoons for him. You guys think girls will fall head over heals because of a dog.” I said.

“W
hy do the girls always fall for it then?” Declan asked.

“Because we’re shy and if you have a cute dog
, that gives us a reason to make conversation. Girls like guys who care about cute things.” I said.

“So can I use him tomorrow?” Declan asked. I looked at Gizmo
and he cocked his head to the side like he was waiting for the approval. “I’m kidding. He is one cute dog though. Everyone agrees.”

Scarlett came down
stairs on her phone. She smiled at us and walked into the kitchen. Hopefully she didn’t hear me and Jeremy talking. When she walked back out she put her phone in her back pocket and scratched Gizmo under his chin. “So how many did you wheel in today?” She asked Declan.

“Today? He used him before?”
I asked.

“Yeah
. I basically have to walk fifty feet behind him if I go out with them.” She said. I stared at Declan. He smiled back.

“Oh come on.
Every guy does that, right?” He asked Alex.

I looked at Alex
with a cocked eyebrow. He glanced back and forth between the three of us.

“Not me.”
Alex said.

“Smart answer.” Scarlett said. “Garrett’s here.” I backed up to see in
to the living room. There he is with Mom sitting on the couch.

M
om turned and saw me.

“
Emily. I was beginning to wonder when you’d be back.” She said.

“
News about Rachel?” I asked.

“
She went home today. She’s with Jose right now so maybe tomorrow we can pass by.” She said. Finally! Damn, I’m starting to really miss her.

I nodded then
Scarlett pulled me by my right arm and dragged me into the kitchen. “Have a fun night you two.” She called out. Alex stayed back with Declan. “Mom’s going on a date so we’re having a New Year’s party and I wanted to buy some alcohol. I know how you are with that stuff so would you be cool with it?” She asked.

Mom’s going on a date?! She can’t let me process that first? Okay…processing…done. Good for her. Then the older couple left.

“Yeah. What do you think? I’m not an alcoholic. Since you’re getting some, you wanna bring some watermelon Smirnoff?” I asked.

“I don’t encourage you to drink but what the hell. It’s New Years. I’m going with Declan to the store. You
and Alex going to stay here?” I nodded. “All right, we’ll be back in twenty.”

“Scar, Jer
e wants Declan to go to a party, talk to him about it.” I said. not Jeremy can’t say I didn’t try. She nodded. When they left, Alex and I walked into the living room and fell onto the couch. But we didn’t have a second to relax because Gizmo started barking and jumping on us. He wants a walk. We took him.

“Is your mom going out with that officer?”
Alex asked.

“
Yup.” I said letting Gizmo explore a bit more of the world.

“W
here did your brother and sister go?”

“Get
alcohol. It’s New Years and they want to have fun.”

“I’m guessing your mom won’t be back tonight.”
Alex said smiling.

“I don’t really want to know what she’ll be doing or whom
tonight.” I said glancing at him. It’s hard not to look away. So far this is going to be a good start to New Years. “Are you having a good time so far?” I asked before thinking.

Alex chewed on his lip for a few seconds until he smiled. “Yeah. I am.” He said lacing our fingers together. “But nothing beats New Years in
Times Square. Next time.” He noticed the look in my eyes. He said next time. Implying we’ll be together. He’ll probably get sick of me though…“I’m not asking you to marry me.” He teased.

I rolled my eyes and shoved him sideways. “You’re an ass.” I teased.

“You’re annoying.” He said back. And we kept this up. We spat out random things at each other as we walked Gizmo. It was fun as hell until Gizmo stopped walking and refused to move from his spot, causing our conversation over being a stalker to end. Alex slipped it in that he knows my middle name is Rose. I called him a stalker for it.

Alex Mason Payne and
Emily Rose Vasquez. Or Vincent, Spencer. I don’t know what to call myself. We’re both stalkers though.

I bent down to pick
Gizmo up, because I don’t have time for this, when I saw what he was looking at. There was a silhouette of a man standing next to a car smoking a cigarette. I cradled him in my free arm and turned back to walk home. I’m not staying here. That was creepy.

“That’s it
?” Alex asked. I gradually increased my speed and tried to get home as fast as I could. That man looked like he was staring at me. “Emily, slow down.” Alex jogged up to me. “You okay?”

“I don’t feel
good.” I said. He made me stop walking. “I just need some water.”

“Al
l right but walking faster doesn’t help. Hand him over and slow down.” I put Gizmo down on the ground and handed the leash over. We got back home faster than I expected. When Alex grabbed a hold of my hand, he looked up at me and moved his hand over to forehead. “You’re burning up.” I opened the front door and headed into the kitchen. Alex looked for an Advil or anything to get my temperature down. I found the pills and took them. “You should lie down for a bit.” He said.