Fall For You

(36)

The afternoon light fades, the soft orange glow of the sunset spreading across the walls. After Alex promises me that he'll come with me to dinner at my mother's, I grab my phone and send her a message. Quick. Direct. No point in delaying.

Let me know what date and time dinner is. I'm bringing a friend. 

I would rather give her the heads up now than deal with the fallout later. As I wait for her reply, I pretend to go back to the uni reading I was doing. I feel the tension coiling in my stomach. Minutes pass, each tick of the clock, amplifying my sense of dread. 

My phone chimes with an incoming message. Alex turns around instantly.

"Is that her?" he asks. 

I shrug, barely glancing at the screen, but I already know it is. 

Sunday at 6. Looking forward to meeting your friend. Thanks for letting me know.

"Dinner is on Sunday," I tell Alex. 

I reread her message once, then again. It sounds normal. That might just be the strangest part. Like she's actually trying with me. As if she hasn't done what she's done. My grip tightens on my phone, and my teeth clench. Does she think she's done it? That we're back to being good. Reality check: We aren't even close. Not by a long fucking shot.

I slam the phone down, harder than I mean to.

"You okay?" he asks. I don't answer. 

So he shifts gears. He flashes that boyish grin, one that has the power to settle the pit in my stomach. "So, are we going to practice our polite dinner faces now, or are we saving them for the big night?"

I roll my eyes, but my smile betrays me. "Well, I don't think I need to practice mine, but I know you do."

Alex laughs, the sound filling the room, warm and easy - Just like the sunset streaming through the window, the light catching his hair in just the right way.

"How's this for a polite dinner smile?" Alex says and pulls the most ridiculous face.

"Oh yeah," I laugh. "It's great. Perfect even." 

Alex turns to the mirror on the wall. He pretends to jump back in fright.  

"That's a horrifying face," he says. "I think you should come to dinner with me. I definitely need the practice." 

"What tonight?" I ask. "Who says I don't already have plans?"

Alex steps closer to me. The smile never leaves his face as he leans in. "Cancel them."

"What if I don't want to?" I tease, a playful smirk tugging at my lips. 

Alex pauses. His expression turns mock-serious.

"You're saying you'd rather be somewhere else than with me?" he asks. "You wound me, Gem." He clutches his chest dramatically. 

"I'm sure you'll be alright."

He gasps. "Cold. Absolutely heartless." He stares at me like I've just stabbed him. "I know. I need emergency carbs to recover. You should come with me, just in case I collapse in public."

I roll my eyes but let out a laugh. "You're unbelievable."

He grins. "And yet... you're still here."

He's right, and he knows it. 

I grab my bag and sling it over my shoulder. "So what's the plan? Are we talking actual food or just a McDonalds run?"

"Food. Real food," he says. "I'm a man of class. I would never take a girl to McDonalds."

"Okay, Romeo. What classy establishment do you have in mind?"

"I was thinking Damien's. You know, try the pizza?"

"Pizza sounds good," I say. My voice comes out quieter than I meant it to. My chest tightens slightly. It's not nerves. It's something else. It's the way he talks to me. Like spending time together is... easy.

Alex doesn't say anything. He doesn't comment or push. I've realised he doesn't push anymore. It's like... like he can read my thoughts. He knows what to say and do to make me feel... better. I don't know when it stopped feeling so complicated. Maybe... with him, it never really was.

Alex just opens the door and waits for me to follow. 

And I do.