Betrayal

Chapter 31

Ali

Beach day.

I'm sitting in a chair in the sand, baking in the sun. Lola is by my side with her head tilted back and her sunglasses on. Her boyfriend is on the other side of her, sitting just like she is. He seems nice. We've talked a couple times.

Wyatt and Ella are building sandcastles together. Dominic went for a run. And Warren and Rebecca are standing on the shore. Side by side, his arm around her waist, and her head resting on his shoulder as they stare out at the view. My jealousy is palpable, but I hide behind my sunglasses and keep a straight face.

I focus on his back muscles, the lines and curves on his tanned skin, his legs, his arms and veins, and the back of his hair. How good it feels between my fingers when he's on top of me and I'm pulling it.

I press my thighs together and sigh slowly. I'm turning myself on thinking of him. As much as I love the beach, I'm ready to be in the city again. There won't be any nervousness. When he sneaks into my room here I'm always worried someone could come in or see him leaving. I won't have to worry about that in the apartment. I won't have to see them together. I won't have to see her at all.

Dominic catches my eye. He's running back in the direction he came from, only he's not alone. There's someone with him, a man, running by his side. They stop when they're a little ways away from Warren and Rebecca, then begin to walk toward us.

"This is my sister, Lola, her boyfriend, and my friend, Ali."

A smile cracks on my lips as I stare up at the both of them. Friends. If he weren't gay, I doubt I'd even be here. It's as if we never even dated or fucked. It's all crossed out. We don't hate each other like most couples whose relationships end seem to. There's no bad blood or ill wishes. We're just friends. I like it this way.

"Hi. I'm Alexander."

He holds his hand down to me and I hesitate, then shake it.

"Ali," I say quietly.

He smiles. It's polite. He's handsome. Brown hair, brown eyes, tanned skin, and in good shape, too. There are tattoos on his arms, one on his chest, and a few on his legs. He shakes Lola's hand and Jackson's hand, too. When I look at Dominic he widens his eyes and glances at him. I roll my eyes behind my glasses.

What is this? He's trying to set me up with someone? This has to be the most unconventional, crazy breakup/friendship in history. My ex boyfriend is trying to get me to go out with another man. It makes me want to laugh.

I glance to Warren. He's staring back at us, at me, closely.

"So, are you just here on vacation?"

Alexander sits down on the sand next to me. I take my glasses off and look over at him.

"Yes. With the family."

"I'm here with mine, too. We're just a few miles down the beach."

"That's nice."

He nods and when I look over I realize Lola, Dominic, and Jackson have left. They're down further on the beach where the kids are. It makes me feel flustered and slightly annoyed. I'm not interested in this person. There's only one man I'm interested in... and he's standing on the shore with his wife. Watching me.

"Are you in college, or..?"

"I start in the fall," I mutter. "NYU."

He raises his eyebrows.

"For?"

"Art."

"That's awesome," he says with a smile. "I wish I could draw. I'm lousy at it... I go to Penn with Dom."