No Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty Seven

The car slowed to a stop along the quiet side street, the moon casting a soft glow over her house and motel. Alex turned off the engine and stepped out, hurrying around to open Norma's door. She stepped out, her hand still in his as they walked through the bushes along the newly cleared path. She slowed her steps, glancing around with a small, thoughtful smile. She let her fingers brush against the branches that had been trimmed back, taking in the effort that had gone into it.
"You didn't have to do this, you know," she said softly, glancing up at him.
Alex turned to her with a faint smile. "I didn't want your pretty dresses getting snagged every time I came to see you," he said, his tone light but sincere.
Norma's lips curved into a warm smile, her eyes lingering on his face for a moment. "Well, thank you," she said, her voice genuine. "It...it means a lot to me."
Alex held her gaze for a beat longer before he nodded, his hand squeezing hers gently as they continued toward the house. "It's the least I could do," he said simply. "I want things to be easy for you, Norma. As easy as I can make them."
Her chest tightened at his words, her smile softening as she looked ahead, a quiet warmth blooming in her heart. "You're something else," she murmured, almost to herself.
He glanced at her, a flicker of amusement in his eyes. "I'll take that as a compliment," he said, his lips twitching into a faint grin.
She chuckled, shaking her head as they reached her back door. "It is," she assured him, glancing up at him with a hint of mischief in her smile. "Don't let it go to your head."
Alex laughed softly, the sound low and easy, as he turned to face her fully. "I'll try my best," he said, his hand lingering at her waist.
Norma's heart fluttered as they stared at each other, the air between them filled with the lingering warmth of the night they'd shared.
"Thank you," she said, her voice laced with genuine emotion. "That was the best date I've ever been on."
Her words made his chest tighten, the depth of her honesty sinking into him. He reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering on her cheek before he leaned in. Their lips met in a slow, tender kiss, one that spoke of promises and possibilities.
When he pulled back, his hand still resting on her waist, he whispered, "Goodnight, Norma."
He began to turn away, his hand slipping from hers, but she caught his arm, stopping him in his tracks. "Will I see you tomorrow?" she asked softly, her eyes searching his.
Alex hesitated. Tomorrow was packed, work would likely consume the entire day. But the hope in her gaze, the way her fingers clung to his arm, made him falter.
"I'll try," he said, his voice gentle, but his words carried the weight of his promise.
Norma's lips curled into a small smile, satisfied for now. "Okay," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
He leaned down, pressing one last kiss to her forehead before stepping back, his hand grazing hers one final time before letting go. She watched him retreat down the path, the sound of his footsteps fading into the night.
Norma lingered in the doorway for a moment, her heart full and her mind spinning. As she finally stepped inside, she realized she was still smiling, a smile she couldn't seem to shake, no matter how hard she tried.
The next morning, Norma moved around the motel office, her thoughts still drifting back to the night before. She was quieter than usual, her mind replaying Alex's soft smile, the warmth of his hand in hers, the way he'd made her feel so completely seen. She didn't want to overanalyze it. It was just a date, but she'd never felt this way about anyone before.
The door opened, and Emma walked in with her usual energy. She set her bag down behind the desk, her bright eyes immediately locking on Norma.
"So?" she asked, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "How'd it go?"
Norma didn't look up right away, keeping her focus on a set of papers she was organizing. "It was nice," she said lightly, not offering much more.
"Nice?" Emma echoed, clearly unsatisfied with the response. She leaned against the desk, her grin widening. "Come on, Norma. You were glowing when you left here yesterday. Did he sweep you off your feet or what?"
Norma glanced up, her lips twitching into a small smile despite herself. "It was...a very thoughtful evening," she admitted, her voice measured. "He took me somewhere quiet, by the water. It was lovely."
Emma's eyes lit up. "By the water? That sounds amazing! Did he plan the whole thing? Like, was it a surprise?"
Norma nodded, busying herself with the papers again. "Yes. He planned it. He...he knows me better than I thought he did."
Emma's smile softened as she watched Norma, sensing there was more behind her words. "He's really into you, huh?"
Norma's cheeks warmed slightly, but she didn't look up. "I think so," she said, her tone still careful.
Emma clasped her hands together, rocking slightly on her heels. "I love that for you," she said earnestly. "You and Alex, it just makes sense, you know? You're both so—"
Norma looked up sharply, cutting her off. "Emma," she said, her tone a mix of amusement and warning.
Emma blinked, then held her hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay. I'll stop," she said with a grin. "But I'm just saying, it's nice to see you happy."
Norma's expression softened at that, and she nodded slightly. "Thank you, Emma," she said, her voice quieter.
Emma smiled, clearly pleased, but didn't push for more details. She knew better than to overstep, even if her curiosity was eating her alive.
Norma turned her attention back to her work, grateful for the excuse to keep her hands busy. As much as she appreciated Emma's enthusiasm, some things felt too private, too new, to put into words just yet.
She wasn't ready to share everything. Not because she was hiding it from Emma anymore, but because it was hers, and she liked that. Something only she and Alex would know about.
Norma smiled to herself as she scrolled through the reservation list, her mind still lingering on Alex. She was startled when Emma's voice broke through her thoughts.
"So, when are you seeing him again?" Emma asked casually, though her grin betrayed her curiosity.
Norma hesitated, carefully choosing her words. "He said he might stop by today if he's not too busy. But it'll probably be late, he's got a lot on his plate."
Emma nodded, her expression thoughtful as she focused on the guest log for a moment. Then, with a mischievous twinkle in her eye, she glanced back at Norma. "You know, Dylan and I were talking...and we were thinking of inviting Norman over to the farm for dinner. Maybe we'll convince him to stay the night up there with us."
Norma paused her work, her eyes narrowing slightly as she turned to Emma. "Oh?"
Emma's grin widened, her tone pointed as she added, "You know, just so he's not at the house tonight...gives you a little peace and quiet."
Norma quickly caught on, and her cheeks turned pink. "Emma," she said, flustered, returning her attention to the computer in an attempt to appear nonchalant.
"What?" Emma said innocently, though her playful smile didn't waver.
Norma cleared her throat, refusing to meet Emma's amused gaze. "Thank you, Emma," she muttered, her tone laced with reluctant gratitude as she busied herself with some paperwork.
A little while later, while Emma was checking in a guest, Norma's phone buzzed. Seeing Alex's name on the screen, her heart skipped, and she stepped outside to take the call, the cool air brushing her flushed cheeks.
"Hey," she said, her smile blooming the moment she heard his voice.
"Hey, beautiful," Alex said warmly. "How's your day going?"
"Busy, as usual," she replied, leaning against the railing. "How about you?"
"Same," he admitted. "But I think I can manage to get off early tonight. I'll come by."
Norma's smile grew. "Well, you're in luck. I'll have the house to myself tonight."
There was a pause, followed by his tone shifting to something between surprise and low, teasing need. "Oh, really?"
Norma's cheeks warmed again, and she couldn't help the soft laugh that escaped. "Maybe now you'll find a way to get off even earlier."
Alex chuckled, the sound warm and deep. "You make a pretty compelling argument."
"Do I?" she teased back, biting her lip.
"Yeah," he said softly, his tone turning serious for just a moment. "I miss you like crazy, Norma."
Her heart fluttered, and her voice softened. "I miss you, too."
He sighed, as though reluctant to let her go. "I could talk to you all day, but if I'm going to sneak out early, I should probably get back to work."
She nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Okay. Have a good rest of your shift. I'll see you soon."
"I love you," he said, his voice steady and sure.
Her chest tightened with warmth. "I love you, too."
As the call ended, she slipped her phone back into her pocket, the smile on her face refusing to fade. Tonight couldn't come fast enough.