Welcome to New Haven (55 page)

It must be fate.

“Oh that’s
so
romantic!” Said Evie, clutching her hands to her heart.
 
Rami smiled at her.
 

 
“I heard you talking about it so I thought it’d be a good place.” Alex said.
 

“Oh she’ll love it.” Squeaked Dev.
 

“Here’s hoping.” Alex said before he went to his room to shower and change.

“I’ll follow you.” Rami said to Alex as he came downstairs.
 
“I want to make sure that
she’s
not.”
 

“You think that’s what she’d do?” Alex asked his Dad.
 
She had wrecked Holly’s car and run. Would she really chance being seen following him too?
 

“It’s possible.” Said Rami.
 
“Alex,
 
this girl has been chasing you for two years and, as you said, doesn’t understand the word ‘no’.
 
If she has gone off the rails then I’m insisting I follow you to Holly’s house as a precaution.”
 

“We want to make sure you’re safe, honey.” Evie said. “Holly too.
 
She’s a lovely girl, and she shouldn’t be worried going out in public.”
 

“Her Mom has asked us to always go out with somebody so we’re not alone. Just in case.” Said Dev.
 
“Stacey looked like a mental patient, Mom.
 
She was screaming at the guards.
 
It was pretty scary.”
 

“We should hear from the police soon; hopefully.” Said Rami.
 

“Let’s go.” Alex sent a text to Holly before they got into their cars.

Holly’s phone beeped.
 
Her face stretched into a huge smile when she saw it was Alex.

A: Hi babe. I’m on my way.
 
My Dad is following me, just

 
as a precaution.x

H: Ok babe.
 
Be safe. x

Oli had gone ballistic.
 
As a lawyer, and partner, of his USA/UK law firm, he’d seen many cases like this.
 
He’d warned Holly of the dangers of a delusional perpetrator when they’d suddenly reacted that way.
 
It could possibly get worse.
 

Holly was worried for Alex.

What if Stacey came for him as ‘payback’ for having a girlfriend that wasn’t her? Or even for just saying ‘no’ yet again?
 
Holly felt nauseated.

What about Dev? What if she tried to hurt Dev to get back at them both?
 
Was she really
that
unstable?
 

Holly took a calming breath.

Let’s not over think.
She told herself as she’d begun to panic again.

Holly had already done that today.
 
The thought of Alex getting hurt pushed her into a panic attack. The police hadn’t called yet, and they would deal with it when they had the news.
 

Holly checked herself in the mirror before she left her room.
 

She’d decided on her black skinny jeans with a thin, sparkly silver belt.
 
They sat on her hips in a way that showed the very tops of her pelvic bones and her toned stomach.
 
She teamed it with a white sleeveless, fitted, vest top that finished just above her waistband. Together, they flashed a little bit of flesh, just enough to tease.
 
Holly would have normally worn a longer shirt over that too.

Not tonight.

Her black heeled boots that Em has brought her from England, went great with the jeans.
 
They zipped up to just above her calves.

Holly put on the necklace her Dad had bought her for her ninth birthday.
 
It was a platinum belcher chain and daffodil pendant.
 

“I miss you, Dad.” She whispered as she held the flower in her hand.
 

Holly picked up her black blazer that had a silver diamanté brooch, on the left lapel, in the shape of a rose.
 
Her lip gloss was still shiny and her long hair was good.
 
No tanlges…yet.
 
Holly had worn her hair down.
 
She normally tied it back in a ponytail or braid, but now it was loose; it hung down to her waist.

Holly blew out a breath.
 

“Ready.” She told herself and as she went downstairs, there was a knock on the door.

Holly’s stomach flip-flopped.
 

“Oh my goodness.” She whispered as she froze on the spot.
 

“Are you going to answer that? Or shall I?” chuckled Oli.
 

“Oh…yeah.” She said as she opened the door…and nearly fainted.

“Holy Fuck!” Said Holly and then clamped her hand over her mouth.
 

She usually saves the expletives for the moments she lost her temper. She couldn’t stop herself when she saw Alex.

Alex was standing on the step looking so damn sexy; Holly’s panties were practically on fire.
 

His black hair was mussed from running his hand through it.
 
The front had fallen forward in that way she liked when strands fell to his eyes.
 
His black v-neck T-shirt fitted where it touched.
 
Not too tight, like those over muscled bodybuilder types.
 
No, his shirt showed off his chest and biceps in a way that made your mouth water whilst tripping over your chin.
 

His dark blue, faded, jeans hung on his hips and Holly knew that the way they looked at the front, they would fit amazingly across his perfect rear.
 
Her eyes travelled a little further south and she could see a mound in the front of his jeans that seed to increase in size the longer she stared.
 

“I…uh…” Said Alex. Eyes wide taking in the sight before him.
 

Holly was unbelievably sexy!

He could see the curve of her waist and tight stomach with her skin showing about an inch above the waistband of her jeans.
 
Jeans that clung to her slim hips as though they were made just for her.
 
Her thighs were shapely and toned, not stick thin, and they were oh-so-perfect.

He remembered them being wrapped around him.
 
The memory causing another surge down south.

As Alex looked back up, he tried not to, but couldn’t miss how her breasts looked in her vest top. Shapely, round, and bigger than they had seemed before.
 
She’d hidden them well underneath her usual baggy clothing.

Her hair was loose.
 
Shiny dark hair that cascaded down like satin.
 
Alex wanted to touch it…

“Oh, sorry, come in.” Holly said as she blinked rapidly.

She seemed to be in a daze of her own.

Alex swallowed hard and turned to wave to his Dad as he drove away.
 
Alex entered the hallway and noticed Oli leaning against the wall further down.
 

“Good evening, Alex.” He said.
 

“Hi Oli.” Alex saw the smirk on Oli’s face and guessed that he was going to say something to embarrass he and Holly both.
 

“What, no flowers?” Oli asked with a smile.
 

“
Dad
!” Holly shouted
 

“Holly prefers them alive, in the ground.” Replied Alex, smiling back.

He’s testing me.

“Chocolates?” asked Oli with a raise of his eyebrows.
 

“Holly doesn’t each much chocolate. Until…” Alex pouted his lips as if in thought. “…Another three weeks.”
 

Holly gasped in shock and Oli’s eyebrows raised further.
 

“Well I guess you know our girl.” Oli snickered. Alex smiled and winked at a very surprised Holly.
 

“How did you know
that
?” She asked.
 

“I pay attention.” He replied with another wink.
 

“Hi Alex.” Said Kim as she walked into the hallway from the kitchen.
 

She was drying her hands as if she’d been washing up. She glanced towards Oli.
 

She’s up to something
.

“Where are you taking my
baby?
” she asked and Holly rolled her eyes. Her Mum was clearly stating that she was still a child.
 

“Quincy’s.” Said Alex and he turned to Holly. “If that’s ok with you.”
 

“I don’t know what that is but, yeah.” Holly said. She didn’t care where they went as long as they were together…alone…nobody else…

“I know what that is.” Oli said, interrupting Holly’s wayward thoughts. “I took your Mom there last weekend. Very nice.” He said approvingly.
 

“We should go.” Said Holly.
 
She could sense that her Mum, or Dad, were getting ready for an innuendo outburst.
 
They’d been glancing and smirking between them the whole time they had stood there.

Holly picked up her small bag and turned to go through the door.
 

“Oh Alex…” Kim said.
 

“Oh no” whispered Holly and Alex smiled.
 

“Yes?”
 

“Bring my baby back safely and… intact.”
 

“Oh dear God.” Groaned Holly.
 

“I will Kim, don’t worry.” Alex said, and he quickly glanced at Holly. “A little cross-eyed and weak kneed, but otherwise intact.”

Holly burst out laughing in disbelief as her Mum’s mouth popped open.
 

“Well I never thought I’d see the day you were shocked.” Oli said to Kim, shaking his head. “I’ll follow you guys.” He said to Holly.
 
“Just to be sure
she’s
not.”

“Ok Dad, thanks… Bye Mum.” She said as she waved.
 

“Have a great time!” Kim said, and Holly thought she could see her Mum tearing up a little.
 

“Her baby’s growing up.” Oli whispered as they walked out the door.
 

As they walked to the car, Alex opened the door for Holly.
 

“Alex…” Oli said and Alex turned to him.
 
“Well played.” He chuckled and got into his own car.

Alex got in the car and started the engine.
 
Holly almost drooled when she was hit with his smell. Soapy, clean, a little hint of aftershave and mostly…Alex.
 

”I didn’t want to say anything in front of your parents, but…
wow…you look…so…wow.”
Alex said, looking over Holly again as she turned pink under his gaze.
 

“You look amazing yourself.” She said.
 
A little breathless.
 

Holly scanned him all over again, and Alex noticed how she gently licked her lower lip into her mouth as she did.
 

“I like your necklace.” He’d noticed the daffodil pendant hanging around her neck.
 
Hers and her biological Dad’s favorite flower.
 

“Thanks.” Holly whispered.

Alex swallowed the sudden lump in his throat.

“I think we better go before your Dad needs to start tapping on the window.”
 

“Wh..? Oh…yeah.” Holly said, and she swallowed.
 
Alex smiled as he realized she’d been in an ‘Alex fog’.

He loved that.

“Let’s go.
 
But first…”
 
Holly leant over and kissed him
 
gently, but quickly.
 

“Now, we can go.”

They held hands on the way to the restaurant.

We could stay like this forever.
 

Holly giggled as she thought about what Alex had said earlier.
 

“My Mum’s face was hilarious. I can’t believe you said that to her.” Holly chuckled.
 

“Like we said…Counter attack. I wanted to tell her you’d be fine.
 
But maybe not
completely
fine.” Alex said with a cheeky grin, which made Holly’s insides turn to mush.
 

“I’m sorry about my Dad. He was just teasing you.” She said.
 
Her Dad knew how she felt about receiving unnecessary gifts.
 
Especially flowers and chocolates.
 

“It’s Ok, babe.
 
I know.” He said with an understanding smile.
 

“I also know you don’t like that stuff.”
 
Alex told Holly that he’d overheard a conversation a few girls were having in one of their A.Eng classes.
 

They’d been talking about what a ‘decent’ date should bring when they came to pick them up. They’d asked Holly what she would ‘expect’.
 

“I wouldn’t expect anything.“ She’d said.
 
“If he’s trying to buy your affection then isn’t the date a waste of time? Is it really worth it?”
 

The other girls had thought Holly was crazy, saying that the gifts were the best part. Holly had rolled her eyes at that, and Alex fell in
 
love with her even more.
 
If that was even possible.
 

He missed the ‘love’ part of the story out of the conversation.
 

Alex admitted that Ben had also been listening at the gym window.
 

The gym was right next to the girls’ changing area and when the windows were open, the girls’ voices carried.
 

“Oh my goodness! Does he do that a lot?” Holly asked in amazement.
 

 
“Not on purpose, all the time, but he’s a sucker for gossip.” He laughed.
 
“I swear he should’ve been Dev’s brother instead.”
 

“What else did he hear?” she asked nervously. Thinking that he might have heard the conversations about him to Dev.