The Way Back To You

Chapter 32

A L E X

We stop at a red light and I turn halfway to face her. Her eyes are glued straight ahead and she doesn't seem to want to engage in conversation with me. Not entirely sure why, although my theory is proven false a couple seconds later as she moves her body towards me and puts a hand on the dashboard.

"You know this isn't changing anything right?"

"What do you mean?"

"With-With those guys. If they ever come back or anything you have to let me know and we'll file a police report or something."

I chuckle under my breath. Not gonna lie, I'm touched she still cares. It's all a ruse, of course, but I need to do a better job hiding my cuts and bruises.

"I'm serious. Don't think saying you want to meet Ethan will take me off your track or whatever it is you're planning."

I sigh and press on the gas as the light switches to green, feeling around for the bend. After I turn onto another road I pause to give her a response.

"What I'm planning to do is meet your brother. I've been wanting to for a while. Honestly. Even before you asked me. I don't know I've just been thinking about him a whole lot."

And it's true. I have. Maybe not him in the physical form but the general feeling of helplessness and Ethan embodies that feeling. To me, he embodies the younger version of myself and maybe it's just the hero complex talking but I need to send him a help line. I need to look out for him in the way no one ever looked out for me.

She looks at me and we make eye contact for a brief moment before I turn back to the road and take another turn, trying to remember the exact street on which her house is situated.

I kind of remember the location from when I dropped her off from the ring, and I'm really just hoping she doesn't make the connection between it and me as a boxer.  But seeing as how she hasn't really said a word I think I'm fine.

"Oh, it's a block over."

April leans forward and points to the left, flapping her hand to accentuate the direction. I move to where she tells me to go and park in front of a beautiful colonial style home. It's a vibrant shade of blue with white shudders and a neat, unnaturally green front lawn.

It's small and urban, but very homely. It reminds me of the house I used to live in and I sit there staring at it for about half a minute before she unbuckles her seat belt and takes hold of one of my arms.

"Okay, let's go inside! They should be home by now."

"They?"

I start to panic, thinking her parents are in there. I'm not ready to meet her parents. Meeting her parents would insinuate stuff and that's not an impression I'm trying to leave with her.

Wait. Is it? Would it really be so bad.

Yes, of course it would. Because you're not staying here. In a year from now April and her brother will be nothing but a memory.

She looks at my panic stricken expression and smiles. "Yeah. Ethan and my sister? Don't worry. Parents are out on a business trip. They're never really home anyway."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I'd been holding and she laughs, opening the car door and beckoning for me to do the same. I step out and stand there for a couple seconds before shoving my hands in my pockets and attempting to block out the buzzing that's already started in my head.