Testing The Waters

Chapter Thirty-Three

My phone chimes with a text alert just as I'm tying off the end of my braid. I walk over to my bed and pick up my phone.

Alex: Outside

I grin at his one-word text, typing out my response. 

Me: Be right out :)

I throw my t-shirt on over my bikini top and slide into my denim shorts and flip flops. Grabbing my bag from the bed, I race down the steps, open the door, and step outside into the warm, evening sun. I give Alex a small wave before locking the door and then running over to his shiny, black mustang. When I slide into the passenger seat, my door is barely closed before Alex is pulling my face towards his.

I sigh into him.

He pulls away, grinning. "You ready?"

He looks so cute, his eyes light with excitement. He has on a teal pair of swimming trunks and a snug white t-shirt that accentuates everything I'm growing to love underneath.

I give him a taunting look. "I don't know, am I? You won't tell me what we're doing."

Alex grins over at me, reaching for my braid. "You'll just have to wait and see."

Alex announced this afternoon that he wanted to take me somewhere and to be ready by four for him to pick me up, leaving me with nothing but, "wear your swimsuit". He left a few hours ago to run a few errands and get a change of clothes from his house so that he can stay over again tonight.

I'm going to be really sad when Dad comes home from his conference in two days. Not that I don't miss him, but this time with Alex has been special. It's like I get to discover an entirely new version of him— one that I like a lot.

A whole lot.

This version of Alex—I think the real version of him—is deeply contemplative and far more intelligent than I ever gave him credit for. He's quiet, but not in a way that comes across shy or unsure. He's still cocky, exuding confidence in nearly everything he does, but he's far more reserved than I ever realized. He listens, showing great interest in anything I have to say, but I'm just now noticing that he can be extremely selective with his words which only makes what he does have to say mean so much more.

Surprising. I know.

And what Alex doesn't say so much in words, he makes up for in touch. Alex is extremely affectionate, always touching and kissing and cuddling. It doesn't matter what I'm doing, If I'm in the same room as him, he's usually touching me in some small way.

Eating?

Hand on my thigh.

Watching TV?

Hand in my hair.

Sleeping?

Entire body draped over me like a second blanket.

And all these things I'm learning about him, while surprising and extremely intriguing, only add to my already over the top attraction for him.

We stayed up until nearly 3:00 AM just talking and sharing stories about ourselves. I've had a smile on my face all day over all the new things I've learned about him.

Alex likes thunderstorms. Ironically, he also hates the rain. His favorite smell is the smell of freshly cut grass. He also likes the feel of my fingers in his hair. Alex also shared about how much football means to him; that it was something him and his dad bonded over when he was little. It's his dream to get scouted for college and make it to the NFL one day.

I'm also discovering that my new favorite sound is his laugh, even if he was in stiches over my misfortunate seagull incident. I soaked it up, instantly wanting to reveal every humiliating story I could think of just to make him laugh like that again.