You Will Be Mine (Forever and Ever #7)(40)

“How’s it going with that Alex chick?”

“How’s what going with her?” I asked with confusion. “There’s nothing going on with her.”

“Then why do you hate her so much? She’s all you ever talk about.”

“Not true,” I insisted.

“Yeah, it is, man.”

“Last time I saw her, I said a lot of mean things to her. I went to her place to apologize but she didn’t want to hear me out.”

“Well, you have been a dick to her…”

“No, I haven’t.”

He gave me a serious look. “Yes, you have.”

“Like you haven’t been a dickhead to Beatrice. You were just being nice to her to sleep with her.”

“I was,” he snapped. “I’m not anymore. I actually care about her and like to spend time with her. Nothing else.”

I leaned back in my chair. “It sounds like we’re both jerks.”

He chuckled. “Yeah, I think so…”

***

Alex and I ignored each other at work. We pretended the other one didn’t exist as we continued on our day. Whenever we were in the same conversation, one of us left. She was perky and friendly to everyone but me.

As the night progressed, everyone left except she and I. We were closing, so unfortunately, we were the only ones in the building. Since we didn’t speak to one another, we tried to stay on opposite sides of the building.

By the end of the night, I showered in the locker room then dried off. I vaguely heard another shower running and assumed it was hers. When the water turned off, she didn’t come to my aisle. She stayed on the other side of the locker room, not coming close to me.

I waited by the front desk so we could lock up together and set the alarm. When I thought about how great my Christmas was, I imagined how lonely hers was. She spent the holiday with complete strangers because she had no one else. Maybe I had been an ass to her…

“I’m ready.” She had her purse over her shoulder. She looked at her phone and ignored me.

“Okay.” I set the alarm then we walked out together.

She stood beside me while I locked the door. Once the keys were in my pocket, we headed across the parking lot.

I watched her out of the corner of my eye, noting her features and shiny hair. She seemed indifferent to my existence. “Alex?”

“Hmm?” She kept walking.

I stopped then grabbed her arm. “Hold on a second.”

She twisted out of my grasp with lightning speed. “Don’t touch me again.” Threat was in her voice. “You can get my attention with your words, not your hands.”

I stepped back and lowered my hands. I wanted to say something like a smart-ass but I decided to let it go. “I’m sorry.”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “What? I’m in a hurry.”

“I…did you have a good Christmas?”

“It was fine.” Her response was short like she wanted the conversation to end quickly. She didn’t ask how mine was.

I ran my fingers through my hair, unsure what else to do. “Alex, I don’t want it to be like this.”

She cocked an eyebrow. “I tried to be friends with you several times. Every time I did you were an ass. That was your chance to make a change. You blew it.”

She was never this cold before. I knew I really messed things up with her. “Would it make it better if I apologized and said I regretted treating you the way I have?”

“No.” She shifted her weight. “Because we both know your apology comes from pity. Now that you know I’m some poor girl with no family, you feel bad for me. Theo, I don’t want your pity and I don’t need it. The only way I’ll accept your apology is if you really mean it.”

“I do.” I held her gaze, trying to show her my sincerity.

“What’s changed? Why do you feel remorseful all of a sudden?”

“I…I just do.”

She studied my face.

“Look, I’ll quit and find another job if that makes your life easier. I’ll bring you coffee and donuts every morning if that will help…just tell me what to do.”

“You know what I want?” she asked.

“What?”

“For you to take a long look at yourself and figure out what’s wrong with you…on a deep level. Because I’ve never met someone so cold in my life. And believe me, I’ve dealt with a lot of assholes.” She turned around and headed to her car.

“Alex, wait.”

She kept walking and got her car unlocked.

I came after her then stopped in front of her door. “Wait, hold on.”

“Go away.” She warned me with her eyes. “You don’t get to rectify this just because you’re ready. Because now I’m not. You’ll have to deal with that. I’m a very nice person, despite what you think. It’s unfortunate you don’t get to experience it.” She got inside her car then started the engine. Then she took off without looking at me.

***

When I reflected on the past few months, I realized just how horrible I’d been to her. She and I got off on the wrong foot. She may have told everyone I was weak in our match, but maybe she genuinely believed I didn’t go easy on her.