No Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty Two

The house was quiet, the kind of quiet that came with the end of a long day. The faint scent of something baked earlier still lingered in the air, mingling with the crisp, wintry draft seeping in through the kitchen window. Norma stood at the sink, drying the last of the dishes. Every now and then, she glanced over at Norman, who was hunched over the kitchen table with his journal, his pencil moving softly across the page.
Dylan sat nearby, scrolling through his phone with one hand while nursing a cup of coffee with the other. The occasional sound of the chair creaking as he shifted broke the silence, but otherwise, everything felt oddly peaceful, a rare occurrence in the Bates household.
The stillness was interrupted by the sound of the front door creaking open, followed by the faint thud of boots on the hardwood floor. A moment later, Emma appeared in the doorway to the kitchen, her scarf still wrapped loosely around her neck, cheeks pink from the cold as she pulled her oxygen tank behind her.
"Hey," she greeted, her voice casual but tinged with something else, uncertainty, maybe. Her eyes flicked toward Norma.
Norma turned, her hands pausing over the dish she'd been drying. "Hey, Emma," she said, her tone warm. "What's going on?"
Emma hesitated, shifting her weight. "So... I don't want to make a big deal out of this or anything, but I've seen the same car drive by the motel a few times today. Like... four times, maybe? It's kind of weird, so I thought you should know."
Norma's smile faltered. She set the dish down slowly, her fingers tightening around the towel. "What kind of car?"
"A black sedan," Emma replied. "The windows are tinted, so I couldn't see who was inside. I don't know, maybe it's nothing. But it slowed down each time, like... I don't know. Like they were looking at something." She gave a nervous shrug, glancing around at their reactions.
Norman's pencil stopped mid-stroke. He raised his head, his brow furrowing. "Do you think it's someone looking for a room?"
"That's what I thought at first," Emma admitted, fidgeting with the handle of her tank. "But why wouldn't they stop, then? I mean, if they were looking for a room, they would've pulled in by now, right?"
Dylan leaned back in his chair, his phone forgotten. "That doesn't sound right," he said, his tone sharp with suspicion. "We should call Romero."
Norma's reaction was immediate, too immediate. "No!" she said, her voice cutting through the room like a knife. All eyes turned to her, and she froze, forcing a shaky laugh. "I mean... I don't think we need to go that far. It's probably just some lost tourist. Or someone who doesn't want to admit they're lost."
Dylan gave her a long, incredulous look. "Four times, Mom? Come on. That's not just someone lost."
Emma's face tightened with worry, but her voice stayed gentle. "Norma, I didn't mean to alarm you. I just thought you should know."
"You did the right thing," Dylan said, standing up. "We're calling the sheriff."
Dylan pulled out his phone, shaking his head.
Norma's heart sank as he dialed, her pulse roaring in her ears. She gripped the edge of the counter, her knuckles turning white as she listened to Dylan's calm, measured voice.
"Yeah, Romero? It's Dylan," he says, the conversation fading as he walks away from the kitchen.
"I really didn't mean to worry you, I just-" Emma begins nervously before Norma cuts her off with a forced smile.
"It's fine, Emma. You were right to be alarmed."
Dylan walks back into the kitchen a moment later, sliding his phone back into his pocket. "He's on his way."
Norma swallowed hard, forcing a tight smile. "Great," she said weakly.
Her heart raced as she turned back to the sink, staring at her reflection in the window. She could already picture Alex's face, the sharp line of his jaw as he tried to act like this was just another call. But this wasn't just another call. This was a disaster waiting to happen.
Norma busied herself at the sink, though her hands trembled as she scrubbed a plate that was already clean. Behind her, she could hear Dylan and Emma talking in low voices, speculating about the car. Norman had gone quiet, watching her with the kind of sharp curiosity that always made her feel exposed.
She couldn't focus. All she could think about was Alex showing up, his steady gaze locking onto hers, the tension thick enough for Dylan to notice. What if Alex gave something away? What if she did?
Her train of thought was interrupted by the low rumble of a car pulling up outside. Her breath caught in her throat.
"He's here," Dylan said, grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair. He glanced at Emma and motioned for her to follow him.
"Come on," he said, slipping his arms into the sleeves. "You saw the car, so you should tell Romero what you saw."
Emma nodded, still looking unsure, but followed Dylan to the front door. "Guess I need to close up anyways."
Norma grabbed her coat on the way out, her heart hammering in her chest as she followed them.
Alex was stepping out of his patrol car as they approached, his face a mask of professionalism. He straightened, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group. If he was surprised to see them all together, he didn't show it.
"Sheriff," Dylan called, walking ahead of the others. "Thanks for coming."
Alex nodded. "What's going on?" His tone was clipped, no trace of familiarity in his voice.
Emma stepped forward, clutching the handle of her oxygen tank nervously. "I... uh... I saw this car drive past the motel a few times today," she began, her voice shaky but calm. "It was a black sedan with tinted windows. It slowed down each time, but it never stopped. It was weird."
Alex's gaze shifted to Norma briefly before landing back on Emma. "How many times did you see it?"
"Four," Emma said. "Maybe five. I thought at first it might just be someone lost, but... I don't know. It felt off."
Alex nodded once, his expression unreadable. "Did you notice anything else? License plate, any distinguishing features on the car?"
Emma shook her head. "No, sorry. The windows were tinted, so I couldn't see inside."
Alex adjusted his stance, his eyes scanning the parking lot. "I'm going to take a look around," he said, his tone professional and focused.
Norma shifted beside him, already feeling the tension creeping in. "I'll go with you," she said quickly.
Alex turned to her, raising a brow.
"I mean, we still need to do the closing checklist on the rooms anyway," she added, her voice steady despite the small flutter of nerves in her chest. She glanced toward Emma. "Emma, start closing up the office. We'll be there in a few minutes."
Emma hesitated but nodded, shooting Alex a look of quiet approval before heading to the office, Dylan on her tail.
Norma followed Alex out into the night, her arms crossed against the evening chill. They approached the first motel room in silence as Alex's eyes continued scanning the parking lot and street. The dim glow of the motel's exterior lights gave the scene an eerie stillness that set Norma on edge.
As Norma unlocked the door to the first room, they stepped inside cautiously, her eyes flicking around.
"You're nervous," Alex said quietly, his voice coming from right behind her, sending shivers down her spine at the closeness.
Norma shot him a sharp look over her shoulder. "Of course I'm nervous! This is a nightmare. They're watching us, Alex."
"They're not watching us," Alex said evenly, his eyes watching her as she checks the room. "They're watching me. And you're going to keep it that way by acting normal."
Norma exhaled, her arms loosening slightly. She felt the warmth of his hand as it briefly grazed her back, the motion so fleeting it almost felt unintentional.
"Let's finish this," Alex said, his voice steady, grounding her.
They moved through the rooms efficiently, checking each one, though the tension between them lingered just beneath the surface. When they finally returned to the office, the air was noticeably heavier.
Dylan and Emma were behind the counter, chatting quietly as they worked on closing up the desk for the night. Norma and Alex stopped in front of them across the desk, standing side by side. Their arms hung stiffly at their sides, a forced neutrality in their stances as they tried to focus on the conversation.
"I didn't see anything suspicious," Alex said, his tone clipped, directing his attention toward Dylan. "But I'll have patrols come by tonight. If the car shows up again, call me."
Emma nodded, looking relieved. Dylan, on the other hand, narrowed his eyes slightly with concern. "You think it's serious enough for a patrol?"
"It's better to be safe than sorry," Alex replied smoothly. "If someone's casing the property, we need to stay ahead of it."
Dylan nodded, his expression serious. "Got it."
"It's probably nothing," Alex continued, his voice calm but firm. "But it's better to be cautious."
Norma shifted slightly, her hand brushing against Alex's. The contact was so faint she almost thought she imagined it, but her heart skipped regardless.
Alex's pinky brushed hers in response, subtle but deliberate. She could hear the faint strain in his voice as he continued speaking to Dylan, his professionalism faltering ever so slightly.
Norma's pulse quickened. Emboldened, she brushed two more fingers against his, feeling his fingers flex slightly to meet hers.
Emma looked up from her paperwork. "Do you want me to stay? Just in case?"
Norma was quick to shake her head, her tone firmer than intended. "No. Go home. You've done enough for today."
Emma frowned but didn't argue. Dylan glanced at Norma and then at Alex, his brow furrowing. "I'll walk you to your car," he said finally.
"Good idea," Alex said, his tone clipped again, though he avoided looking at Norma this time.
"Thank you, Sheriff. We really appreciate you coming out here." Emma tells him with a knowing smile as they make their way around the desk.
Alex met her gaze briefly, his face unreadable as he tears his hand from Norma's. "Just doing my job."
Once Dylan and Emma stepped outside, the office door clicked shut, leaving Alex and Norma alone in the stillness. Norma let out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, her shoulders visibly relaxing as she leaned against the counter.
"Well," she said dryly, a sarcastic edge creeping into her voice. "That went well."
Alex turned toward her, his expression hard and unyielding. "You need to be more careful," he said, his tone low but sharp.
Norma's eyes widened as she turned toward him, her brows drawing together in shock. "Excuse me? You're just as much to blame as I am," she shot back.
Alex's lips twitched into a small smirk, his demeanor softening slightly. "Fair enough," he admitted, a note of amusement in his voice. "We both need to be more careful, then."
Norma opened her mouth to retort but hesitated, the weight of the situation settling over her again. Her tone shifted, becoming quieter, more serious. "Do you think the car is connected to Bob?"
She watched his jaw tighten, the subtle flex of the muscle there answering her question before he even spoke. "I hope not," he said finally, his voice low and measured.
Norma swallowed hard, nodding slightly. A heavy silence filled the room as they stared at each other, the only sound being the faint hum of the motel sign outside.
Then, she broke the quiet before she could stop herself. "Will you be by later?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Alex hesitated, his eyes searching hers. He didn't answer right away, and the pause felt like an eternity. He wanted nothing more than to sneak back later, to kiss her the way he's been thinking about kissing her all day.
Finally, he said, "We'll see."
Norma couldn't hide her disappointment. He saw it in the way her shoulders tensed, the flicker of vulnerability in her eyes. But he knew they had to be more careful now, especially if the motel is being watched.
He scanned the office quickly, his gaze sweeping toward the window and then door, ensuring Dylan and Emma were out of sight. Satisfied they were alone, he reached over and flicked off the light.
The sudden darkness consumed the room, but before Norma could speak, Alex was there. His hands found her waist, steady and sure, as his lips met hers. It was slow, deliberate, as though he were savoring every second, every movement. Norma melted into him, her hands resting on his chest briefly before they slid upwards, burying in his hair.
He stumbled blindly, guiding her backwards until her back gently hit the wall and she let out a soft gasp at the contact. What started out as an innocent kiss quickly heated up as Norma nipped at his bottom lip, drawing a low, muffled sound from him. She pressed herself closer to him, her fingers twisting into his hair, a quiet moan escaping her lips.
It was that sound, soft and unrestrained, that made Alex pull back, breathing heavily. He rested his forehead against hers, his thumb brushing gently along her bottom lip.
"Stay safe," he whispered, his voice low, almost regretful.
Before she could respond, he leaned forward and pressed a lingering kiss to her forehead. Then, without another word, he left, leaving her breathless and disoriented in the darkened office, her lips still tingling from his touch.