No Strings Attached

Chapter Thirty Eight

When they pulled up to the motel, Norma didn't move right away. Her fingers gripped the edges of the towel, and she stared at the dashboard, her heart heavy with the thought of leaving his presence.
Alex noticed her hesitation. "I'll walk you up," he offered, his voice soft and steady.
She turned to him, her heart warming at the gesture. Without a word, she handed him the towel, freezing when he caught her wrist again. His fingers brushed the edge of her sleeve, and he hesitated.
His touch was achingly gentle as he slowly pushed the fabric down, revealing the marks once more. His fingers ghosted over them, as though he thought his touch alone could erase the pain they carried.
Their eyes met, the air between them thick with tension. Her breath caught, and for a moment, it felt like the world outside had disappeared. But before the moment could spiral further, she pulled her arm back, cradling it close to her chest.
Alex exhaled deeply, his gaze lingering on her for a beat longer before he opened his door. They stepped into the rain together, Alex using his jacket to try to shield them from the rain as they ran up the steps to the cover of her front porch.
Once shielded from the downpour, they turned to face each other. The tension reignited, crackling between them like the storm around them. For a moment, neither of them spoke, the sound of rain against the roof the only thing breaking the silence.
Alex hesitated under the porch light, the rain still dripping from his hair as his eyes scanned her face. "Are you okay?" he asked softly, his voice carrying a tenderness that tugged at her chest.
Norma bit her lip, trying to steady the tremble in her voice before answering, "Yes."
It was barely above a whisper, and she hated how unconvincing it sounded, especially when his gaze stayed on her, unrelenting.
He studied her again for a moment, his eyes searching hers. "Are you happy?" he asked, the question barely audible over the rain.
Her breath hitched, and she dropped her gaze, her hands fidgeting with the edge of her cardigan. The lie came to her lips too easily, but her hesitation gave her away. "Yeah," she murmured, before exhaling and adding more honestly, "Yeah, sometimes."
Alex tightened his jaw, his gaze shifting away as he shook his head slightly. He didn't need to say anything, his silence spoke volumes.
She watched him for a moment before gathering the courage to ask, "Are you happy?"
He let out a bitter chuckle, the sound cutting through the patter of the rain. When his eyes met hers, they were sharp yet tired. "What does it matter?"
"It matters to me," she said quietly, her voice tinged with something she couldn't quite define. Concern, longing, maybe both. "I want you to be happy."
"Why?" he asked, his tone firm, almost challenging.
She opened her mouth, the truth threatening to spill out, but she bit it back just in time. Instead, she settled on something safer. "I don't hate you, Alex," she said, her voice faltering. "I...I'm sorry I hurt you—"
"Don't." He raised a hand, cutting her off. "Don't apologize. You can't force yourself to love someone. It's not your fault."
The words hit her harder than she expected, guilt tightening her chest. He really believed she didn't love him. If only he knew. She couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze again, her hands tightening their grip on the edges of her sweater.
"I'll be fine, Norma," Alex said gently, his voice softening as he noticed the way her shoulders slumped. "Don't worry about me."
Her eyes finally met his, her expression unreadable, though her lips parted slightly as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
Before she could respond, he shifted back a step. "Stay safe," he murmured, his voice laced with an emotion she couldn't quite place. Then, without another word, he turned and walked into the rain.
Norma stood on the porch, her arms wrapped around herself as she watched him climb into his car. For a moment, he paused, their eyes meeting through the windshield, something unspoken passing between them.
Then he started the engine and drove away, leaving her in the soft glow of the porch light and the sound of the rain.
She lingered there, her heart aching, a familiar pull drawing her back to him. Seeing him again, hearing his voice, and catching that fleeting warmth in his gaze left her feeling more torn than ever. Even as the rain soaked into the ground, the ache in her chest remained, unyielding.
Just as she was about to go inside, the sound of gravel crunching under tires pulled Norma's gaze back to the lot. She lingered on the porch, her heart still heavy from Alex's departure, when the headlights revealed a familiar truck. Her lips parted in surprise as Dylan stepped out, quickly taking the steps two at a time as he ran through the rain.
"Dylan," she said, breathless, before rushing to him and wrapping her arms tightly around him as soon as he stepped on the porch.
He hugged her back just as firmly. "Hey, Norma." He smiled. "Didn't expect that kind of greeting."
She pulled back slightly, her hands gripping his arms. "What are you doing here?"
"I came down to pack a few more things for Emma and me," he explained, studying her damp figure. "Thought I'd stay for a couple of days, if that's okay."
"Of course," Norma said quickly, ushering him inside. "Come on, you must be freezing."
"So, how's Emma? How's she doing?" she asked as they move to the couch in the living room.
Dylan's face lit up with a wide smile. "She's really good. Better every day. She's been incredible."
Norma smiled warmly, leaning forward to rest a hand on his. "Are you serious about her?"
His smile faltered into something more serious. "Yeah, I am. Why?"
"Because if you hurt that girl," she said with mock severity, "I'll kill you."
Dylan laughed, shaking his head. "I'm not gonna hurt her. I like her a lot. I can see this going somewhere...serious."
Her smile softened as she squeezed his hand. "Good. She's a special girl, Dylan."
"Yeah, she is," he agreed before his gaze drifted to her. His brows furrowed suddenly, his head tilting slightly. "Where's your car?"
Norma froze for a moment, panic flashing across her face before she quickly masked it. She debated fabricating something but decided she'd lied enough lately. "My car broke down on the side of the road," she said simply, testing the waters.
Dylan frowned as he stared at her wet form. "So, you...walked home?"
"No..." she admitted, shifting uncomfortably. "I had to wait for a car to come by. Someone gave me a ride."
His expression grew more incredulous. "You got into a stranger's car?"
Norma sighed, knowing he wouldn't let it go. "It wasn't a stranger. It was Alex."
Dylan blinked, clearly startled. "Alex? Seriously?"
"Yeah. Just my luck," she muttered, running a hand through her damp hair.
"How did that go?" he asked cautiously, leaning in a little closer.
Her eyes dropped to her lap, and she bit her lip nervously. "It was...hard. It was really hard seeing him."
Dylan reached for her hand this time, giving it a reassuring squeeze. "What are you gonna do?"
"I don't know," she admitted, her voice small and defeated.
Dylan's expression tightened as he turned to face her more fully. "We need to tell Romero," he said firmly. "He can help us. He'll know what to do about Bob."
"No," Norma said quickly, her voice rising with panic. "I can't. I can't, because then I'd have to tell him about...about Caleb."
Dylan's grip on her hand tightened slightly, his gaze steady. "Mom, he loves you. Nothing's going to change that. He'll understand. You were young, and it wasn't your fault."
Tears sprang to her eyes at his words, her throat tightening with emotion. She pulled him into a tight hug, holding on as though he was her anchor.
"Okay," she whispered finally, her voice barely audible. She pulled back slightly, wiping at her cheeks. "I'll...I'll tell him soon."
Dylan nodded, his expression full of quiet determination. "You're doing the right thing."
She nodded too, though her heart felt heavy with the weight of what lay ahead.