Breaking The Grey [Book #2]

Chapter 17: Part 1

North

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?!" Jim said running his hands through his short brunette hair.

We're at the bar Kendra works at. She's off today, but I have to break the news to her too unless Jim does it for me.

I sighed, "I'm sorry Jim. I wasn't thinking about it at the time. I was focused on getting her better."

He shook his head, "How bad is it?"

"It's ... okay well it's not horrible, but ... it's bad in the sense that usually it's not this deep," I answered. "She doesn't remember Alix either."

"Well that's a good thing." He said.

I raised my eyebrow, "That's a good thing?"

He picks up his beer and takes a sip, "She was totally destroyed over her even though she fucked up. I guess that random fuck up was worth it though because she ended up with you."

I nodded, feeling guilty, "Worth it? Probably not, but yeah it destroyed her for a little."

His words spark curiosity in me. Jim is basically Allie's best friend. She tells him everything, including stuff about me and Alix. This means that he could know about her feelings before the accident.

He cleared his throat, "How's her injuries?"

"Stitches on her head. Her back is pretty scratched up. She's just a little stiff," I said. "Nothing broken, thankfully."

"When do I get to see my Allie bear?"

"Well her schedule is pretty cluttered, but just let me know when you're free and I can cancel her normal appointments."

He takes another sip of his beer and rakes his hand through his hair again. Jim is a pretty attractive guy. He's like the sweetest jerk you'll ever meet. He has a lot of soft spots, but if you push on them too much they'll harden and he becomes unpleasant.

His arms are toned and his chest barely fits in any of the shirts I see him wear. Overall he's a clean cut guy, but it puzzles me to know how lonely he is. Allie told me about his undying love for Kendra, but I don't think I'd sit around and wait for someone to change their sexuality for me.

I spoke, "Can I ask you something?"

He nodded and glanced at me, "Shoot."

"Was Allie in love with me?"

He chuckles slightly and brings his beer to his lips again. I stare at him and wait for an answer.

He spoke, "You know it's against the bro code to answer questions like this."

I rolled my eyes, "Your bro doesn't even remember what state we live in. I think you can bend a little."

He cleared his throat and gave me a half hearted smile, "Why's it so important to you? I'm also not trying to sound like a dick, just wondering."

I shrugged, "Because things were falling to shit faster than I could process the stocks."

He grimaced slightly, She wasn't ... in love with you North."

I feel my heart drop in my chest, but I don't let is phase me on the outside. I was expecting that answer, but it's one thing to hear it and then think it without confirmation.

"I figured," I replied quietly, feeling a little embarrassed that he would know that. "Is it cause she was still in love with Alix?"

He said abruptly, "Okay I can't go that far into this. It's not right, I feel wrong."