Apprehension: Part One

A BOX

She took a deep breath and knocked on the door. She was extremely nervous. It had been two months since she called things off. She hadn't seen Alex since she was now working at the sixth. She put off coming to get her stuff for as long as she could. She knew as soon as she saw him, she was going to break down.

"Okay, Allie, whatever you do, don't cry."

She felt her chest tighten. She honestly thought she would vomit right there on the front steps.

She knocked again. If he didn't answer in the next thirty seconds, she was going to leave.

As soon as she went to turn around, she heard the deadbolt open. Alex opened the door. He had nothing on but a towel. His hair and body were wet.

Oh, for the love of fucking Christ, she thought.

He looked terrific, as always. Allie had the overwhelming urge to rip off the towel and make love to him right there on his front steps.

He looked genuinely shocked to see her.

"Allie? I didn't know you were coming by. Did I miss a memo or something?"

"I'm sorry if this is an inconvenient time. I knew if I scheduled something, I would have made myself sick waiting for it to happen. So, I was in the area, and I thought now is as good a time as any," she said.

"You were in the area? Why were you all the way out in Willoughby Hills?"

"I was in Beachwood at Ahuja..."

He opened the screen door.

"Are you okay? Is something wrong?" he asked, sounding concerned.

He stepped outside onto the front porch.

She could smell him. The scent of his body wash, the smell of fabric softener from the fluffy white bath towel hugging his waist. Just standing next to him made her aroused. He had some kind of hold on her.

"No. No, I'm fine. I was just at the GYN. They like to keep an eye on the endometriosis."

"Come in, please. Where are my manners? Mi Madre would not be happy with me."

Allie stepped into the house. The feeling was warm and familiar. The scent of his cologne was hanging in the air.

"Why don't I put some clothes on," he said.

"I am just here to get my things. I won't be long."

"So, is it really over? I thought as long as you hadn't picked up your things, there might be a small hope that we might—"

She cut him off.

"Do you have a box? Something I can put my things in?" she asked.

"Sure. I'll be right back."

He went down into the basement, and she went up to the bedroom.

He already had her things put together in the corner on the chair.

"So much for taking my time while packing," she mumbled.

She checked the drawers to make sure that he had found everything. She went to the side table. He had forgotten to empty it. She pulled out her things. She reached into the back to make sure it was completely empty. She felt something and pulled out a small black box. She opened it and found a beautiful marquise-shaped diamond engagement ring.

She gasped and put her hand over his mouth.

"Oh, Alex."

She felt a lump in her throat. Her eyes began to burn.