Page 14 of The Sound Of Forever
Does she mean Tate? Or Alex?I’m about to ask, when our new front door chime interrupts us. We should have changed the damn bell years ago; I much prefer the soft angelic sound of the replacement.
Sara and I fall silent as we wait for our customer to come into view but when he does, Sara quietly gasps while I stiffen.
“Alex?”
Chapter Five
Willow
“HiWillow.”Alexsmilesshyly, and it’s a complete contradiction to the man I knew last month. “I’m sorry to interrupt you at work, but I’m wondering if you have a moment?”
If that sentence doesn’t make me nervous, I don’t know what else will. He’s sorry to interrupt me at work? Since when?
“Sure, we can talk out back.”
I point in the direction of our back room and wait for him to approach before leading the way.
“Willow. Can you quickly double-check this order so I can send it off?” Sara calls out after I’ve taken a few steps, confirming she’s just as weirded out as I am—we have no orders.
“Of course. Alex, I’ll be there in a moment.”
When I get back to the desk, Sara has a piece of paper waiting for me to review.
Don’t close the door and stay on the right so I can see you.
So dramatic.I bite back a laugh, but nod. “That all looks perfect,” I say out loud before whispering, “Will do.”
Alex is leaning against the left wall when I enter, making me giggle internally as I stand on the right. He moves to shut the door, but I stop him. “Sorry, I need to be able to hear if Sara needs me. She sometimes has to rush off for her son.”
“Ah. Sure. Okay.”
“Thanks. So how can I help?” I ask, trying to project a confidence I only half feel.
Alex runs a hand through his hair and focuses his gaze away from me, looking down at the floor, drawing my eyes in the same direction. “I thought it was time I told you the truth.”
“What?” My gaze flashes to his so quickly it’s almost comical. “What truth?”
He takes a deep breath before finally looking my way, and the emotion in his eyes shocks me. “I knew Jade,” he rasps slowly before pausing, most likely waiting for my reaction.
But I have none because…He what?
“She and I were…something. I don’t know, we never labeled it,” he continues after a beat, causing me even more confusion. “We were something and then she was justgone. And I had no idea what happened. No one knew about us, so there was no one to tell me. Until I heard the news.”
He pauses again and looks away before running his hands down his face. I know it’s my turn to speak, and God knows I should have a million questions, but I can’t compute what he’s saying.
“I’m sorry.” He huffs out a laugh as he looks my way. “This is a lot. But I couldn’t keep quiet anymore. Not if there was a chance you remembered…”
“You knew Jade?” I whisper, hoping that if I say it out loud it will make sense.
Alex laughs again, but it’s full of sadness. “I did.”
“Then why…” I trail off because I was going to ask why he was pursuing me, but that’s not the first thing I should be addressing. I should be saying… “It’s been twelve years.”
“Trust me, I know.”
“Why now?” I ask, my brain finally firing.
“It’s a long story and—”