No Strings Attached

Chapter Twenty Nine

By the time Alex pulled up outside the house, Norma had managed to steady herself, though the ache in her chest remained sharp and unrelenting. She opened the door before he could knock, greeted by his warm smile, the sight of him nearly undoing her all over again.
"Hey," he said softly, leaning in to kiss her lips.
She returned the kiss, her hands gripping the doorframe as if to keep herself grounded. His lips trailed from her mouth to her cheeks, then her neck, leaving small, affectionate kisses as he guided her back into the house. She closed the door behind them, the sound of it shutting feeling too final for her liking.
"You okay?" he asked gently, his hand settling on her lower back.
She forced a smile, nodding as she tucked her hair behind her ear. "Yeah," she lied, her voice barely above a whisper.
He searched her face for a moment, but she turned away, reaching for his hand and intertwining her fingers with his.
"How was your day?" he asked as she led him up the stairs.
Instead of answering, she stopped in front of her bedroom door, looking back at him with an intensity that made him pause.
"Norma?" he asked softly, concern slipping into his voice.
She didn't reply, only pushed the door open and pulled him inside. Her lips met his the moment the door shut behind them, the kiss slow and lingering as her fingers slid up his neck and into his hair. She kissed him as if she were memorizing him, every taste, every sensation.
Alex let her take the lead, letting her set the pace as they sank onto the edge of the bed. He pulled back after a moment, his brow furrowing slightly as he studied her.
"You've barely said a word since I got here," he said, his voice tinged with worry. "Is everything okay?"
Her throat tightened, and for a moment, she thought she might break. But she steadied herself, forcing her expression to remain neutral.
"Stay the night," she whispered, her eyes searching his.
He hesitated, glancing at the clock on the nightstand. They'd set rules, boundaries to protect what they had, to keep it safe.
"Norma-"
"Please," she whispered, her voice cracking on the word.
Something about the way she said it, the quiet desperation in her tone, made him forget all his reservations.
"Okay," he said softly, reaching down to slip off his shoes.
She watched him, her heart aching with every movement he made. He settled beside her, pulling her into his arms and pressing a kiss to her temple.
He didn't press her further, though she knew he could sense something was wrong. Instead, he held her, his thumb rubbing slow circles against her arm.
Norma closed her eyes, her fingers tracing lazy patterns along his chest. She focused on the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, the warmth of his skin, the safety of his embrace. She tried to commit it all to memory, the way he smelled, the sound of his voice, the way his touch made her feel like she was whole.
Alex tilted her chin up gently, his lips brushing against hers in a tender kiss. She returned it, her hand sliding up to rest against his cheek. The kiss deepened, but there was no urgency, only quiet passion and unspoken words between them.
Norma's heart ached as she realized that this was it, her last night with him. She clung to him, savoring every moment, every touch, knowing she would never feel this again.
She didn't know how she would survive without him, but she knew she had to. For his sake. For his future. For everything he deserved that she couldn't give him.
As Alex held Norma close, he tilted his head to press another soft kiss to her temple. His lips lingered there for a moment before he whispered, "You have no idea how much I love you."
Norma's breath hitched, the warmth of his words slicing straight through her heart. She closed her eyes tightly, her grip on him tightening as if she could somehow keep him there forever.
"You're everything to me," he continued, his voice barely audible but weighted with sincerity. "I don't even know how I got this lucky."
The tears came then, silently at first, escaping her eyes and soaking into his shirt. Alex felt the dampness against his chest, and though she tried to hide it, he knew. He didn't say anything, didn't push her to talk. He simply held her closer, his hand gently rubbing her back as if to soothe the ache he could feel radiating from her.
Norma's fingers clutched at his shirt, her breaths uneven as she tried to calm herself. She wanted to say it, those three words that hovered on the tip of her tongue, but she swallowed them down, knowing they'd only make what she had to do tomorrow even harder for both of them.
For a while, they simply held each other, the silence between them broken only by the sound of their breathing. Norma rested her head against his chest, the steady thrum of his heartbeat grounding her as she tried to push back the pain that threatened to consume her.
"Tell me about your day," she said softly, her voice muffled against his chest.
Alex chuckled lightly, the sound vibrating beneath her ear. "My day?"
She nodded, shifting slightly to get more comfortable. "I just...want to hear your voice."
He smiled faintly, wrapping his arms more securely around her. "Well, let's see...It was nothing exciting. A couple of calls, some paperwork, and I had to deal with that busted stoplight on Pine Street. Thrilling stuff."
Norma huffed a small laugh, her lips curving upward despite the ache in her chest. "Sounds like a wild time."
"Oh, it was," he teased, his tone warm and affectionate. "I made plans with Dylan tomorrow, too. We're going fishing."
Norma's head lifted in surprise, her eyes meeting his. "You already asked him?" she asked, her voice wavering despite the smile she forced onto her face. She knew he was planning on getting to know Dylan more, she just hadn't expected him to do it so soon.
"Yeah," Alex said, grinning. "Figured there's no point in waiting. He seemed pretty excited about it."
Her chest tightened, the ache nearly unbearable as she nodded. "That's great," she said softly, her hand brushing against his cheek in a gesture that felt both tender and desperate. "He's lucky to have you."
But as she laid her head back against him, hiding her face from his view, the weight of what she had to do threatened to crush her.
She stayed like that, nestled against him, listening to the low hum of his voice as he talked about anything and everything. Stories from work, small observations about the town, memories of moments they'd shared. She let his words wash over her, clinging to every detail, every inflection, as if storing it all away for the days to come when she would no longer have him.
But as the hours ticked by, her exhaustion began to catch up with her. She fought to keep her eyes open, to stay awake just a little longer, but her body betrayed her.
Alex noticed when her responses grew softer, her breathing evening out. He glanced down to find her eyes fluttering closed, her head tucked beneath his chin.
"Get some sleep," he whispered, pressing a kiss to her forehead.
Norma stirred slightly, her fingers curling into his shirt. "Don't let go," she murmured, her voice heavy with sleep.
"Never," he promised, pulling the blanket over them both as he settled more comfortably.
And as the night deepened, they fell into a blissful slumber, tangled together in the quiet comfort of each other's arms. Norma's heart still ached, but for now, she let herself be lulled by the warmth and safety of Alex, holding on to the fleeting peace of this moment.
Norma woke slowly the next morning, her hand reaching out instinctively for Alex, only to find his side of the bed empty. Her chest tightened as her eyes landed on a folded note resting on his pillow. She picked it up with trembling fingers, her breath catching as she read his familiar handwriting.
Norma,
I got called in early this morning, duty calls. I didn't want to wake you. You looked so peaceful.
I love you, and I'll see you soon.
—Alex
Tears filled her eyes as the note crumpled slightly in her grasp. He had no idea this was the end for them. To him, it was just another morning, another day with the promise of more to come. But for her, it was a goodbye. Pulling her knees to her chest, she buried her face into his pillow as sobs overtook her. Her heart shattered under the weight of knowing she had to let him go to protect him.