Beneath the Boardwalk (Alex Turner) COMPLETE

36 {never close enough}

When I woke up, it was the afternoon, and the sun was heating up the floorboards of Alex's bedroom. 

I don't remember getting into his bed, and I realized Alex must have put me there. I was in an oversized red button down shirt of his. Red--images of yesterday flashed through my head. He chose the colour on purpose. I was blushing and I had barely sat up in the bed before realizing that was the most exercise I'd done in years. Everything was sore. 

He wasn't beside me. It was quiet in the apartment. 

I looked in the mirror he had above his drawer. I was a mess. My red lipstick was smudged down my chin and I wiped it off, and my hair was so unruly I had no choice but to put it in a ponytail. There was a pinkish flush to my skin. I really did look like a different person than I had a few months ago.

I rubbed my neck. There were soft purple spots where Alex had his mouth on me. I needed to splash water on my face immediately to cool down my thoughts. Christ, I wasn't lying when I said I invested too much in him--he's now occupied every thought of mine. 

Eventually I took a deep breath and walked out of his room to the kitchen. He sat on a stool, leaning his elbows over the counter, looking like dusk--the hint of dark that marked the vibrant colours of a sunset, filled with warmth. He wasn't ever night. I just got better at seeing the sky. 

Our eyes locked. Alex's eyes flickered over me.

Well, he was now a walking reminder of why my legs hurt to stand. 

"You really sleep in," he murmured, resting his hands on the counter. The clock was set to two. There was amusement in his eyes. There was also recognition too--he hadn't forgot a single thing about yesterday. "I get why you took English at night."

I inhaled sharply, failing to suppress a smile. "Good morning to you, too."

He laughed. It was a loud, warm sound, and I had a feeling it was to get rid of nerves. I wandered into the kitchen on the other side of the counter and leaned forward on it. 

"There's this restaurant on the other side of town," Alex started, his eyes gliding over my face. There was a softness to the gaze. A small smile moved the sides of his mouth up. "Are you busy later?"

"I can't come."

Alex's brow dipped. "That's definitely not what you said last night."

My lips pressed together and I laughed, extremely embarrassed. It was hard to be in his apartment, especially when the feelings from yesterday hadn't quite... disappeared. I shifted in the red button-down. 

Alex was smiling, but it faltered. "So you're busy?"

"No, I..." I took a deep breath. "You actually want to be seen with me outside of class? Obviously I want you outside of class--I mean, I want to see you when we're not in class--" Oh God, the words were stumbling out. "--but isn't it bad for you to be seen with me? I--"

"Quinn," he murmured. 

I shut up. 

Alex reached a hand towards me, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "As glad as I am you still want me outside of class, that's all you'll ever get to see me. I hadn't told you yet, but I was finally fired from the University."

"I'm so sorry--"

"It's not your fault," he said, dropping his hand. "It was long overdue. I've been a terrible teacher, because of everything I got caught up in. It's been unfair to my students. So I've been searching ads all this morning and I'm actually looking at a position at an elementary in the southwest now that I'm quitting my side business--maybe I can learn how to teach again."

I let out a breath. "That's..."

"Weird? My experience as a professor wasted on children? I know, but--"

"No! I was going to say that's really cute. And mature of you. I think it's a great idea."

There was a lightness to his eyes as he stared at me. Then Alex leaned forward on the counter, grazing his lips over mine. He bit my lower lip lightly. 

My breath hitched. 

"I'm glad you think so, darling," he whispered on my lips. When he pulled away I almost fell forward. "Now this means there's no rules against seeing you. I'll ask you again, you up for dinner with me?"

An actual date--not just us lusting after each other in the auditorium. I grinned from ear-to-ear. I felt light inside--happy. It bubbled into my voice. "I'd be honoured."

"Then get the hell over here. You're too far away," he smiled, rubbing his jaw. 

"Far away? I'm right in front of you. The counter is the only thing between us."

Alex straightened in his seat. His voice was smooth like silk. "I spent too long away from you, Quinn," he murmured, flashing teeth. "I won't make the same mistake. Even the distance the counter puts between us is too damn much."

I hopped up onto the counter and swung my legs over the edge, looking down at Alex. "Better?"

He laughed. "Nope."

I took Alex's hands and put them on my thighs, the smile digging into my cheeks. "How about now?"

"Nah," he smiled, sliding his fingers up the button down shirt. He stood up, heat rolling off his body. "Too far away."

I rested my wrists on his shoulders, clasping my hands behind his neck. "Still too far?"

"As long as you're around me, you'll never be close enough," he said gently, his fingers playing with the baby hairs on the back of my neck. Alex pulled me closer until his lips were on my forehead. 

Then I leaned in until my head rested on his shoulder, and his jaw was brushing my cheek. The embrace was soft. Somehow it made me feel full inside--like there wasn't an empty hollow in my body when he touched me. 

"I wanted to ask you," he mumbled against my hair, "you said you wanted to show me something earlier that would change my mind about you. I'm still deeply curious."

There was a knock at the door. 

My head shot up. Shit! I completely forgot about Miles. Of course he'd check for me here first. My mouth went dry. 

"Everything okay?"

"I--" I sat up, pushing Alex off me gently, beaming. "This is what I was going to show you. Now go!"

He was laughing, but there was confusion in his eyes. "What?"

I took a deep breath in. This what what he'd been waiting for--two whole years of waiting. I pushed his shoulders forward towards the knock. 

I calmed down a bit, my voice softening. "Open the door, Alex."