The One She Needed

EIGHT

RAQUEL

"Have you always been so demanding?"

No.

It's only in the presence of you that all common norms escape me.

Crossing the road, I stepped into forbidden territory just to get to you.
I shouldn't have.

Still, I did it anyway.

I'm a good girl...

Really... I am.

And do I regret it?

Not one bit.

I kept my eyes on the cutlery, refusing to glance in his direction, knowing full well that one look at him would send stars tumbling from my sky, destroying me in their wake.

I dug myself into this hole. Told myself to keep my distance. But the first real chance I got to be with him, I dove in headfirst without a second thought.

It was becoming a pattern. I told myself one thing and did the opposite.

"You okay?" His voice pulled me from my thoughts, deep and smooth, wrapping around me like a slow embrace.

I swallowed hard, tightening my legs beneath the table before daring to meet his gaze. Those blue eyes—God, those blue eyes.

"Yeah. Why?"

He studied me, unconvinced. "I don't know. You keep staring at that cutlery like it insulted you. If you're uncomfortable, we can go somewhere else."

I appreciated the offer. Truthfully, I was nervous. I had taken a bigger bite than I could chew, and my heart knew it.

"I'm fine, really. How have you been?"

His gaze lingered, searching my face, but he let it go.

"As of late? Not great. One of the only people who treated me well stopped talking to me." His voice was even, but the meaning behind his words hit their mark.

The glint in his eye ignited something deep inside me, something I had no business feeling.

"It wasn't my intention to stop talking to you," I said softly. "I just had other obligations."

"I know." He sighed, turning his gaze to the side. "Derek."

The way he said it—like the name itself tasted bitter on his tongue—made my stomach twist.

Was I reading too much into it? Maybe.

But before I could dwell, he shook his head, plastering on a smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. The moment passed.

The waitress returned, flashing a flirtatious smile at Alex, and for some reason, it pissed me off.

It wasn't the first time I had seen women admire him. I had overheard the gossip in Derek's office—whispers of how good he looked in everything he wore.

Still, something about the way the waitress ignored my presence, the way she refilled his glass with a little too much enthusiasm, made my fingers tighten around my fork.

He's not mine.

So what if other women want him?

He seemed oblivious to it all, completely unfazed, which slightly amused me more than it should have as she walked away.

"Looks like the waitress has a crush on you," I said, watching his reaction.

His brows furrowed. "What are you talking about?"

I blinked. "Are you serious? You didn't notice the way she was looking at you? She was practically undressing you with her eyes."

A deep crease formed between his brows. "Uh... I guess I just didn't notice." He shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable, and I found it adorable how nervous he seemed.

I narrowed my eyes playfully. "Only one thing can make a man that blind..." I paused, analyzing him. "What's her name?"

His lips twitched, a chuckle slipping past as if my assumption amused him.

"I don't have anyone in my life."

I stared at him, taken aback. "You're joking, right?"

Alex was, by far, one of the most interesting people I knew. The stories he had told me, the experiences he had lived—there was no way he had no one.

"I wish I was," he said, a small, almost wistful smile tugging at his lips.

"Okay, so... are you secretly living a double life? Are you a serial killer? What's so wrong with you?"

He laughed, and something in my chest warmed at the sound. I could get used to that.

"You want the honest truth, Raquel?"

The way he says my name...

I nodded, not trusting my voice.

"Well, I'm single because the one I did find..." His gaze locked onto mine, unwavering. "There'd be far too many people forming an opinion of us and it could be too much in the end for us to make it."

I couldn't breathe.

Couldn't move.

The stars in my sky just fell.

***

For the past week, Alex and I had settled into a rhythm. He no longer took the bus. Instead, he became my riding buddy, sliding into my car without hesitation.

Sometimes, before dropping him off, we'd grab dinner.

I liked his company. I liked it too much.

Nothing had happened between us, at least nothing I could put a name to. Our interactions were friendly.

But our hugs?

Those didn't feel friendly at all.

It became dangerously easy to ignore Derek's excuses—why he couldn't make dinner, why work kept pulling him away. I stopped trying to make plans, stopped hoping he'd prioritize me.

At least he promised to be my escort to the annual ball where I was receiving my award.

It felt surreal, knowing my work was finally being recognized. The little girl who once hid under the covers at night, flipping through fashion magazines, dreaming of this moment—she would be proud.

My dad wanted to be there, but an urgent matter with a friend—someone named Daniel, if I recalled correctly—pulled him away. He had to be out of town.

My mother, however, had yet to confirm. I had given her an invitation weeks ago, but I wasn't holding my breath.

Whether she showed up or not, I was going to enjoy my night.

I glanced at my phone, and for the first time in a long time, I smiled.

I had been doing that a lot lately.

Got my cast removed yesterday. Going to pick you up. Tell Philip he just lost his job. – Lex