In Case You Didn't Know

Chapter 39

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Nathaniel

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"She doesn't know that I'm talking to you right now." She clicks her tongue in disapproval and I'm tempted to tell her to forget it, that it was a bad idea to begin with and hang up the phone mid-sentence.

But I'm tired, I'm sick of seeing Alexia looking so miserable. Even more so knowing that this is something that I caused. If I have to swallow my pride to get her out of this situation, and maybe risk getting her even more upset as I do so... I'll do everything I can to keep her safe. I'll always do.

"What exactly do you want me to do?" My free hand sweeps through my hair in frustration.

"Just make it stop." All I want to do is to see Alexia's rosy lips curved into a smile.

I've been pacing the apartment like a caged animal all night and the longer that the minutes draw by, the more convinced I am that I'm getting mad. I can't stand the hurtful comments directed at her. I cheated. I did this. It makes me want to punch a hole into the wall that she's paying for it.

They should be blaming me. They should be slandering me. Their disappointment and anger should be directed at me. They don't get to talk about her like that, they don't know her at all and I've had fucking enough. I want to protect her and make her happy and right now I'm shit at both.

Despite of her trying to keep a strong front, I know that the situation is getting to her. She stormed out of the apartment a while ago and I still don't know where she is. She did send me a message to let me know she'd be back for dinner, but that was hours ago and I can't help worrying. In fact, it's slowly but surely driving me painfully insane.

She found out that I had lunch with Lauren a few weeks ago. At first sight it looks bad, but I swear that it's not like that. I didn't tell her because I saw no point in it, I didn't want to get her upset over me picking up a few items and sharing a coffee with my ex-girlfriend. Fuck, it does look bad. Anyhow, we get into our first real fight and she just leaves?

She's used to do things on her own. She has made amends with her parents, but they're still not that close. They definitely don't talk about things like these. Abigail is on the other side of the country, and I don't think her friendship with Amelia is that strong yet. In any case, I am the one that she should be talking things through with right now.

I most certainly don't want to be upset at her, she's already going through a lot, but how the hell is she just going to leave in the middle of an argument and then proceed to ignore all my calls? Again. This is precisely what we promised not to do and we're already fucking up. What if something bad happened to her, what if she was in a car accident? What if...

"Are you still there?"

"Yes." I huff my response.

"I'm sending something to your e-mail. Let me know once you've seen it."

The front door slamming shut makes me jump. The air that I've been holding for the past hours leaves my lungs when I see Alexia walking in. Safe, whole, unharmed. Again. The hurt and aggravation that I've been feeling starts to unroll once again in the pit of my stomach as I see her walk in so casually.

"Thanks." Without further ado I get off the phone, stashing it into my pocket and approaching Alexia. She bends down to pet Atticus who has run off to her, barking and dancing around her feet. Traitor. You're supposed to be on my side.