and we hated

Fact no.26: Alec Dunn should be a love therapist

NOAH

April remained to explain Sofia what is going on between us. Alec took me outside on the hallway, then on the terrace. Everyone else is either in their rooms or at the beach, so we have the terrace to ourselves.

"Will you kill me?", I ask him. He is still shirtless, bright red kiss marks on his chest. His shirt is on Sofia, he left it with her when they caught April and me under the couch as they were making out. Yet he doesn't seem the least bit concerned his chest is showing. Not one bit.

"Why would I? You didn't hurt Foxy or make her cry. Why waste my energy on killing you?"

Oh, okay.

He is leaning against the railing so I go lean against the wall opposite to him, so I can face him. He turns to look at me, arms crossed at his chest.

"Do you love her?", he asks me after a while. His tone was so dead-panned, I almost didn't take it as a question at first. And when I do, I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Why do you care?", I ask him.

He doesn't answer.

"Do you love her?", he asks again, voice showing a bit of emotion now.

That surprises me, so I answer honest: "Yes".

"Then why not tell the others? Doesn't Kai know you two dated before?", he continues, his voice back to matter-of-factly.

I raise an eyebrow confused at that. How the heck did he know? Neither April nor I have told anyone. Why does he know?

"You made it pretty obvious", Alec answers. "And besides, it didn't take that long to find out. Adam was able to find pictures of you two together in less than one minute."

I look even more confused at that. I know Adam is good, damn, he's a genius at what he does, but why did he do that?

"Wow, I didn't know you two had a gossip club going on...", I counter, my voice cold. I am pissed at them for doing it. They could have told me.

"More like a let's-save-Coin's-skin club. Someone else found the pictures too, some random fucker from another college. Some enemy of yours. He wanted to use the pictures against you. Adam figured it out and blocked him, then secured your old accounts and private chats", Alec explains. I don't know if I can explain the level of shock I feel now.

"And what did you do?", I ask him, not knowing if I want to know the answer.

"Someone had to made the fucker shut up", he says, a devious grin on his lips. "I took that job."

"I don't know if I should thank you or call the police", I say sarcastically. He lets out a dry laugh.

"Don't worry, nothing happened. Just a bit of blackmail here, some threats there. He didn't hurt or make Foxy cry. And I already told you I don't waste my energy on shit like that unless necessary."

Okay?

"I'd say you have two options", Alec continues, his tone more serious. "You either continue dating her in secret, but you'd better be damn careful how you do it. Adam and I are professionals, we find out shit others want to hide daily. Don't mind us. We won't tell anyone this scandalous piece of information, unless we have something to win from it or if you threaten us in any way", he says. And the way he said "scandalous" as a joke, or the way he ended his little pep talk by threatening me, made me believe him. "Foxy won't tell it either. You might not be her favorite Fab Five", he smirks at that, "but she really cares about April. She wouldn't do anything that would hurt her. So now, only a few people know. All of them saying they won't tell anyone else. You can keep dating her in secret, but you have to fucking pay attention, if you want to keep the people who know about you two at a number of three."

I assume there is an "or" coming.

"Or, you can go public. It usually is complicated, I remember through what Foxy and I went to go public. And then, when you went public, there will be all kinds of suckers judging you. But you don't have to give a shit. In your case it kinda is a problem, since she's your best friend's sister."

He takes a deep breath after what had been the longest speech I heard him say.

"Your choice, Coin. But make it count."

If he wouldn't be a CEO, I would highly advise him to become a therapist. Or love counsellor. It suits him.

"Who knew you could be so nice?", I ask him to tease him. He shows me the middle finger.

"You're acting foolish and you'll get burned. And although I hate you more than you know, you're still part of this group. I had to do something."

"Right...So that I don't get sad", I continue.

"No. So that Foxy doesn't get sad. I don't give a shit about how you might feel. You did this on your own when you decided to break up with April in the first place. Karma happens. But I know Foxy hates breakups. Especially when they involve her friends. She'll be sad and I don't want that."

"Should I remind you that you were the ones who walked in on us? Why were you in the cinema room anyway?", I ask him, smirk on. I know the answer.

"Coin, you chose the most perfect room to hookup to make out in secret. It is a dark cinema in the basement. The room screams: Hookup worthy, come inside. Why the heck would Foxy and I be there?! And why would you choose that place if you want to remain secret?!"

I have to laugh at that. He made a joke. First one I heard from him.

"Where else would you recommend? To hookup? Without an audience?", I glare at him at that.

"Why the heck should I now?", he lets out, his tone again deadpanned and done with the world. We hear voices from the hallway, so that means the girls are done with their talk. And it means I can check if April is still in one piece or if Sofia decided to go all warrior-princess on her.

I head back inside as Alec stops me with his voice: "I always jog on the beach at night. It usually is empty around midnight. I might not jog tonight, since someone just ruined my make-out session and I'd prefer to finish what Foxy and I started. Guess the beach will be free tonight."

And with that, I smirk at him and give him a thankful look. His mouth twitches.

I leave the terrace and go find April.