No Strings Attached

Chapter Thirty One

The next morning was unbearable for Norma. Sleep had been elusive, and the moments she did manage to drift off were worse than the waking hours. In her dreams, Alex was still there, his arms wrapped around her, his voice low and comforting, the warmth of him making everything else fade away. Waking up to the cold, empty bed was like reliving the heartbreak all over again.
Norma barely glanced at the mirror as she got dressed, throwing on whatever was closest. She ran her fingers through her tangled hair, smudging what was left of yesterday's makeup but making no effort to fix it. Her reflection felt foreign, unrecognizable, so she avoided it altogether.
The motions of her morning routine at the motel were mechanical, her body moving on autopilot as she unlocked the office, sorted through paperwork, and prepped the coffee. The numbness was a small mercy, shielding her from the full weight of her grief, at least for a while.
It wasn't until Emma arrived that the numbness began to crack. She greeted her cheerfully, shrugging off her coat and hanging it by the door. "Morning, Norma!"
Norma didn't look up, her hands busying themselves with some meaningless task. "Morning," she murmured, her voice barely audible.
Emma paused, sensing something was off. "Are you okay?" she asked gently, stepping closer.
The question was all it took for the dam to break. Tears spilled down Norma's cheeks before she could stop them, and her hands trembled as she gripped the edge of the desk. Emma rushed to her side, wrapping her arms around Norma without hesitation.
Norma collapsed into her, her body shaking with quiet sobs as she buried her face against Emma's shoulder. The grief she'd tried so hard to suppress was too heavy to carry alone, and now it poured out of her, raw and uncontrollable.
Emma held her tightly, stroking her back and whispering soothing words. "It's okay. Just let it out," she murmured, her voice steady and kind.
When Norma finally began to calm down, she pulled back slightly, wiping at her face with trembling hands. "I...I broke things off with Alex," she said hoarsely, her voice barely above a whisper.
Emma's eyes widened in shock. "What? Why? I thought you liked him."
The words were like another knife to Norma's heart, and fresh tears welled up in her eyes. She opened her mouth, struggling to figure out what to say. She wanted to tell Emma everything, to pour out the truth about Bob, the photos, and the suffocating fear of her past catching up to her. But Emma had so much on her plate already, with her lung transplant only days away.
"I thought I did too," Norma said finally, the lie heavy on her tongue. Her voice broke, and she couldn't meet Emma's eyes.
Emma still looked confused, but she didn't press for more. Instead, she stayed by Norma's side, her hand resting on Norma's arm in quiet reassurance. "I'm here if you want to talk about it," Emma said softly.
Norma nodded, managing a weak smile through her tears. "Thank you," she whispered.
For now, Emma's silent support was enough. But as the morning dragged on, Norma couldn't help but feel the emptiness growing inside her, the weight of her decision settling deeper into her chest.
Alex sat at his desk, staring blankly at the stack of paperwork in front of him. The words blurred together, unreadable, his focus slipping every time he tried to force himself to work. His head throbbed, his chest felt tight, and a queasy, hollow sensation sat deep in his stomach. He couldn't shake the thoughts, the relentless replay of everything that had happened with Norma. Every memory, every moment they'd shared, rushed through his mind like a cruel slideshow, each one more vivid than the last.
What had gone wrong? Had he imagined it all? Had she truly felt forced into loving him? The thought made him sick. He felt stupid, guilty, like he'd taken something from her without even realizing it. He'd been so sure of what they had, so certain it was mutual. Now, he questioned everything.
The days dragged on in this haze, each one bleeding into the next. He managed to get some work done when he could pull himself together, but most of the time, his mind was elsewhere. At night, he went home and drank through the neck and shoulders of his whiskey, dulling the edges of the ache before popping a couple of sleeping pills. Though even in sleep, he couldn't find peace. She was in every dream, her laugh, her smile, the way she looked at him, all of it haunted him. She followed him everywhere, a ghost lingering in every corner of his life.
It got so bad that when Dylan called about their fishing trip, Alex nearly canceled. He didn't want to drag anyone else into his mess, least of all Dylan. This was between him and Norma, and he had to deal with it alone. But he knew Dylan would see through the excuse, and so, reluctantly, he went.
Now, he sat in the boat across from Dylan, the soft rocking of the water doing little to settle the awkwardness that hung in the air. Alex cast his line but didn't pay much attention to it, his mind far away.
"How're you holding up?" Dylan asked after a long silence, glancing over at Alex as he reeled in his line slightly.
Alex flexed his jaw, his voice steady but clipped. "Been better."
Dylan nodded, studying him for a moment before looking away. He cast his line again, shaking his head slightly. "I don't get it," he said, breaking the silence. "I thought you guys were good together. What happened?"
Alex let out a bitter laugh, his grip tightening on the rod. He shook his head, his eyes fixed on the water. "Honestly? I am just as confused. I thought..." He trailed off, his throat tightening as emotion threatened to choke him.
Dylan caught the way his voice faltered and frowned. He could see the pain etched into Alex's features, the weight of it dragging him down. "She's always been like this," Dylan said quietly, his tone almost apologetic. "It probably just got too real for her. She scares easily."
Alex nodded absently, though his thoughts were still racing. He appreciated Dylan's attempt to explain it, but it didn't give him the clarity he so desperately needed. His mind replayed Norma's words again and again, dissecting every sentence, every expression, trying to make sense of it. But he couldn't.
The silence stretched on, punctuated only by the soft lapping of the water against the boat. Alex leaned back, closing his eyes briefly as he tried to push the memories away. But they lingered, just like she did, always just out of reach but impossible to ignore.
Dylan reeled in his line slightly before glancing back at Alex. "You really love her, don't you?" he asked, his tone tinged with a hint of surprise.
"Yes," Alex said immediately, his voice firm and without hesitation. Dylan nodded slowly, studying him for a moment before looking back out to the water.
"You think she ever really loved me?" Alex asked, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant.
Dylan glanced at him, almost with pity, before casting his line again. He stared out at the rippling surface of the lake, his expression thoughtful. "She definitely had a glow about her with you," he said after a moment. "I'd never seen her so happy."
Alex's brows furrowed as he absorbed that, his confusion deepening. "Then where did it go wrong?" he muttered, almost to himself.
Dylan sighed, taking his time before answering. "Norma's...she's a difficult person to understand," he admitted. "She holds her cards close, doesn't let many people see what's really going on. I haven't always been one of those people, and, honestly, I probably won't be again once she finds out I'm moving away."
Alex blinked, turning to Dylan in surprise. "You're moving?"
Dylan chuckled, casting him a sideways glance. "Yeah, uh...I'm moving to Seattle with Emma. After the surgery. There's a good hospital up there that can help her with recovery. It's what's best for her."
A small smile broke through Alex's grim expression as he nodded. "That's great, Dylan," he said sincerely. "I'm really happy for you both. She deserves the best care, and...she's lucky to have you."
Dylan smiled faintly, but there was a hint of sadness behind it. "Thanks," he said. "I just hope Norma understands. You know how she gets when people leave."
Alex's smile faltered slightly at the mention of Norma, but he nodded, gripping his rod tighter. "Yeah," he said softly, his thoughts drifting back to her. "I know."
The two men sat in silence for a while, the gentle sounds of the water filling the space between them. Dylan gave Alex a sidelong glance, wishing there was something more he could say to help. But he knew better than anyone that when it came to Norma, there were no easy answers.

Sorry for the late update, got a lot on my plate right now so updates might be more sporadic. And don't worry your Normero hearts, of course they'll get their happy ending! Just might be a little rough for a second.
xx