The Soldier's Roommate

Chapter 18: Oh my god!

Alice

I didn't think living with Elijah could get any more adventurous, but since our date things have been... Heated, to say the least.

We didn't see much of each other over the weekend since I caught up on work and spent some time with Felix, but the times we did run into each other... Well let's just say it was hard to stay away from him, to not indulge in the not-so-accidental touches we kept on giving one another. And the way he looked at me all the time felt like he was trying to undress me with a simple glance, his eyes burning straight into my soul when he took me in, appreciation always glimmering in his irises.

He asked me if we wanted to go on another date tomorrow, and I happily accepted the invitation. I honestly can't wait to be alone with him in the proper setting again. Living with him makes this all so much more complicated, especially considering his father pays me to be here... There's a lot we need to talk about.

"Alice?" Dean's voice brings me out of my thoughts, and I refocus my vision, the blush creeping into my cheeks from my daydreams as I look at him.

"Oh, sorry... Here I am, asking you to lunch so I can apologize for last week, and then I daydream half the time," I joke, and Dean just laughs along with me, taking a bite of his sandwich as he shakes his head.

"Nah, you good. So, how have you been doing?" he asks, watching me with curiosity.

I stir the coffee in front of me, suddenly not feeling like eating anymore. God, I hate talks like these. "I... Um... I'm good, really. I just... I want to apologize for last week. It wasn't nice to just leave you hanging like that, especially since you were stuck on that highway. It was just... Elijah asked me out, and I just, uh, I couldn't say no, somehow. And now I feel bad for using you like that and..."

"Okay, I'm gonna stop you right there, Alice," Dean says with a smile, placing his hand above my own. "I know what you want to say and I already told you, you're not using me. You were open enough about what's going on that I knew there was someone else in your life, and that you were confused about things. It's just my luck that the guy wasn't dumb enough to let me have a chance." He winks, and I can't help but laugh at that, somehow being mind-blown by his understanding attitude.

"And you didn't use me. Give me some credit here, I knew what I was getting into. I'd love to be friends with you if that's okay - and who knows, maybe the guy screws up one day."

Another chuckle escapes my throat and I shake my head, trying to wrap my head around this all. "Are you sure?"

"Very sure. I like you, Alice. I'll still like you, even when we're not dating."

Damn. Thor is a nice guy.

Life would be so much easier if I was attracted to him instead of the broody soldier at home. But who wants easy, right?

We enjoy the rest of our lunch, and for the first time in ever my heart actually feels light, like things are finally falling into place, right where they belong.

But of course that feeling couldn't last long, because as I walk to my truck after a long day at the office, I hear this specific voice calling out for me. It's the voice I neither wanted nor expected to hear right now, and I instantly feel the bile rise in my throat when he speaks. "Alice?"

I lift my head, my heart tumbling in my chest when I see the tall blonde man leaning against my truck. "Lee? Lee Kovalt?"

"Damn, Alice Epione! I surely did not expect to see you here!" He waves around, obviously meaning the large office buildings around us.