"You want me to have dinner with your parents, and Ainsley?" I looked at him with wide eyes. It had been a couple days since we kissed. I couldn't stop thinking about it but I know I shouldn't have kissed him. And now he has called me over to ask me to have dinner with the she devil.
"Just so everyone is on the same page." Alex put both his hands up.
"Alex, I think you can do that without me."
"But you're my girlfriend now, I need you there wi-," Alex started.
"Woah woah, I never agreed to be your girlfriend."
"But the you kissed me." Alex smirked.
I let out a small laugh. "Okay I admit, that was a moment of weakness."
"So I'm still in the dog house huh?"
I put my finger on my chin for dramatic effect. "I think I remember saying that you were not forgiven."
"You're giving me a lot of mixed signals doll."
"Fine." I put my hands on my hips. "I will not be kissing you anytime soon until I actually forgive you."
"Agreed." Alex tilted his head and smiled at me. "But you will be begging me."
I shook my head. "Nope, maybe I'll come to find out that you are unforgivable."
Alex gently lifted my hand up to his lips and kissed it softly and then brought it to his heart. "Ana, that would crush my heart, and yours," Alex grinned.
I rolled my eyes and took back my hand. "Still confident as ever I see Mr. Bentley."
"Knowing I have your love does that to me," Alex winked.
I scoffed. "Anyways, I do not want to have dinner with your crazy ex where she could possibly murder me."
"Ana I have a plan, you don't have to worry."
Okay, now I was curious to what Alex was planning. "And what is the plan?"
"Just come with me please, this is where everything ends and then everything can go back to normal or sort of normal."
I contemplated about being in a room where I wasn't particularly or even remotely liked. I was curious to see what would happen but then again curiosity killed the cat right? "Do you promise that I won't end up 20 feet below the ground if I go?" I asked dramatically.
"Yes I promise, and plus Grayson will be there."
"Oh thank god!" I sighed in relief. It's nice someone will be there who doesn't want to kill me. "That makes me feel so much better about going."
Alex squinted his eyes at me. "And why's that?"
I raised an eyebrow. "Is that a hint of jealousy I sense?"
Alex crossed his arms. "Well he's probably still head over heels for you Ana."
I laughed. Alex still jealous as ever. "There's no way. He was literally pushing me towards you."
"He's a good brother," Alex shrugged. "I guess that makes me the selfish one."
"What does that even mean?" I wrinkled my brows.
"Never mind that, let's just focus on getting through tonight."
"Tonight?" I repeated.
"Did I forget to mention that the dinner is tonight?" Alex played off.
I nodded. "Uh yeah that detail might have been left out."
The sound of an elevator ding diverted our attention. The door slid open and revealed a smiling Grayson Bentley in black fitted shirt and black faded jeans. "There's my angel," Grayson called as he walked over to us and opened his arms to me.
I smiled and embraced Grayson. "How are you Gray?"
"Relieved to see you here."
Alex coughed. "Ahem, where's my hug?"
Grayson pulled Alex into our hug and I was smushed like a bug. I pushed both of them back and took in a deep breath. "Sorry, couldn't breathe guys."
Both of them chuckled and patted each others backs before pulling away.
"I see you're doing alright brother," Grayson said while pointing at me and then at Alex.
Alex looked at me and then at Grayson. "Ana hasn't forgiven me yet, but I'm willing to do whatever it takes."
"Oh, so does that mean I still have a chance?" Grayson teased while draping his arm over my shoulders.
"No, you don't," Alex casually stated as he removed Grayson's arm from me.
"I don't think that's your decision," Grayson retorted.
Alex moved his gaze over towards me and then Grayson's gaze followed over.
I put my hands up and took a step back. "It's 50/50," I said jokingly.
Alex narrowed his eyes at me and Grayson pumped his fist into the air to which I laughed at.
"I'm only messing with you," Grayson patted Alex on the back. "Not that I wouldn't date her if she gave me the chance," he said and gave me a small wink.
I smiled and rolled my eyes. Alex didn't find it as amusing as we did.
"If you two are done flirting, we should get going," Alex bluntly stated while looking at his watch.
"Relax," Grayson put his hand on Alex's shoulder.
Alex looked stressed out all of a sudden. His brows were furrowed and his lips were pressed into a grim line. He had his worry face on which was not something I saw very often in him.
"I'm just ready to put all of this behind me," Alex said.
I felt a twinge of pity for Alex and everything that was happening but every-time I thought of the situation, the sadness of what I had felt came out of the shadows. Just when I think I can forget about the pain that Alex caused me and the betrayal that I felt, It sometimes comes back stronger than before. I could feel the lump in my throat rising. I love Alex but could I really be with him after all that has happened? I couldn't tell what I wanted anymore. Where the hell is this confusion coming from? It was honestly easier when I knew he was going to marry Ainsley.
"Ana, are you okay?" Alex waved his hand in front of my face.
I blinked a couple times bringing myself back into the room. "Yeah, I'm fine," I forced out a tiny smile. Alex scanned my face and gave me a curious look. I looked at my watch to see that it was four in the afternoon. "Shouldn't we go?" I asked not even knowing what time the dinner was. Maybe this dinner will give me some kind of closure I'm looking for.
Alex looked at me again warily. "Well okay, let me get some keys."
I nodded and groaned at myself on the inside. Why are feelings like this. Maybe I do need to see a therapist but the idea of doing that made me cringe. I followed the two brothers to the elevator and decided to focus on my feelings later.
The drive was pretty quiet. I think everyone was just focused on the uncertainty of the dinner. Apparently the dinner was going to be their parents' house, one of many might I add. I watched as buildings disappeared from view as we drove out of the city and the loudness of the city became quieter and quieter. I rested my head on the cool black leather and glanced over at the rearview mirror where I saw part of Alex's face since I decided to sit in the back. His dark lashes contrasted the green of this irises and I couldn't help but smile. I've always loved looking at his eyes, they were beautiful like a lush rainforest that had rained the night before. There was a cold complexity in them but at times you can see the softness and warmth shine through them.
I moved my gaze over to Grayson who was scrolling through something on his phone. He was a good man. Every time I saw him, he reminded me of a ray of sunshine with his tousled blond locks and warm smile that he greeted me with. He was there for me these past few months in a way that I would forever be grateful. I definitely wasn't fun to be around but he still stuck with me and supported me while I was in a very weird state. I guess I could even consider him my best friend now maybe. I don't know if he if was just the good of a person or something else but it didn't matter, I was grateful for him.
I guess Grayson must've noticed me staring at him because he turned his head in my direction. He gave me a comforting smile and I returned it. I leaned my head back and let my eyes close.