It Begins With Us

35.

Alba:

Ryle's smile dies down and he watches me warily. I walk over to my suitcase, it's still in it's usual spot. I kneel down and push the flap open.

"You don't come after me, and now you're laughing at me." I mumble sniffing and shoving my clothes that are strewn around into the case. "I'm leaving for real this time. All the way back to Toronto. You don't have to come after me if you don't want to."

I can feel him as he walks over and stands behind me.

"Al." He whispers and crouches down right behind me.

I grab another shirt of mine and his boxers come along with it.

"Don't you 'Al' me." I mutter wiping my tears away. "You don't want to come get me, then fine! You'll have to come get your undies won't you!"

We fall silent with confusion.

"Wha-?" He starts but I cut him off.

I've been doing that a lot lately. I turn and the moment his eyes meet mine they soften. So, so much. I quickly shove his boxers in his face and he sort of smiles at them unsurely, as if not knowing what they're going there, almost making me laugh.

"I'll take all of your undies and then we'll see what happens." I clarify and he scoffs pushing my hand away so that he can see me. "What? You don't believe me?" I ask and I can tell I'm far beyond myself here.

I gather up all his boxers in sight and shove them aggressively into my suitcase.

"No, no." He says grabbing unto my hands, his boxers clenched in our fists. "I'm not saying that at all. I believe you, and you can take them, all of them, if you want too."

I blanch at the audacity of him, talking like it means nothing that I'm leaving. I open my mouth to let loose on him, but he cuts me off this time.

"But, if you want, you could take all of me along with you." Ryle smiles and tilts his head. My heart stops and my eyes are as wide as they fill up.

"Don't look at me like that." His smile turns to a flirtatious grin. "I might jump you right here."

"Ryle, stop." I say firmly me hands trembling in his. "Are you for real?"

"I may be an indecisive dick, but I haven't lied to you yet." He swallows nervously. "I want to meet your family, I want to make it up to you." Ryle pulls my hands out of our tangle of clothes, and he stands up, still clutching them tightly.

We stay like that for a moment, him looking down at me with the softest look I've ever seen on him, and I look up at him with bewildered awe. He tugs my hands upwards and I push myself off of the ground. He leads me out of the room and into the living room. I let him sit me down on the couch.

"Did you notice anything?" He asks, his eyes twinkling.

"What do you-?" I start with narrowed eyes and he gives a little chuckle when my eyes snap wide open.

I look around and I can't spot any sign of the bouquet anywhere. I sprint over to the hall and peek in to find the empty wall.

"No way." I whisper.