Then Came Alexandra (Southern Love #1) (4 page)

Blaise hadn’t told anyone about the classes he was taking. If it got out, people would assume he was selling the business. The vultures would descend. “I had to get manure for the fields.”

“The nitrogen is bad?” Ray drank from his beer then glanced at the TV.

“It’s always bad,” Blaise said. “It’s just really bad this year.”

“Perhaps your renowned cotton isn’t going to last.”

“My family has tilled that earth for generations. I’ll make sure the quality is continued.”

“Dude, you are so lucky you have the family business. I’m going to school and I have no idea what to do with my life. I wanted to be a doctor but now I’m thinking about being a professor. I just don’t know.”

Blaise rubbed his fingers against the glass of his beer. “That’s how it should be,” he said quietly.

“What are you talking about?” Ray asked. “You have that beautiful country house and a beautiful woman that lives with you.”

“And I can’t get rid of her,” Blaise snapped.

Ray laughed. “She’s driving you crazy?”

That was an understatement. Only his closest friends knew he lived with Danielle, but he had to keep her secret. Danielle didn’t want anyone to know about the man hunting her. He promised he wouldn’t say a word and he never has. But unfortunately, he couldn’t think of any other excuse why she would live with him. So he had to act like they were still together. “We have our problems sometimes.”

“Throw her out on her ass,” Ray said. “She isn’t your problem.”

Blaise sighed. “I can’t do that.”

“Why not?”

“She has nowhere to go. I can’t just abandon her.”

“Tell her to get a job,” Ray said.

“I did.”

“Be firm,” Ray said. “So, when did it die?”

“What?”

“The love, or whatever.”

“It never began,” Blaise hissed. “I only became serious with her when I thought she was pregnant. But that didn’t work out.”

“It sounds like a blessing.”

Blaise wouldn’t say that. Danielle had a miscarriage and lost the baby after she was three months pregnant. He didn’t love Danielle but he was depressed that his child had suffered. It still made him upset.

Ray drank from his beer. “Do you think she was ever really pregnant?”

Blaise eyed him. “What?”

“Do you think she lied so you wouldn’t leave her?”

Danielle had done and said a lot of horrible things, but Blaise couldn’t imagine her stooping that low. “I don’t think so.”

“I don’t know…”

“Danielle wouldn’t lie about something like that.”

“Did you ever see any tests from the doctor’s office? Any sonograms?”

“No, I always had something to do for the property. But I know she went.”

Ray didn’t look convinced. “I would call the doctor’s office and find out the truth.”

“I wouldn’t invade her privacy like that. And we aren’t married, so I wouldn’t be able to find out anyway.”

“I’m sure you could offer something…”

Blaise drank from his beer. “Let’s drop it.”

“Okay…” Ray tapped the wood of the table with his fingers. “Are you going to the cornfield party this weekend?”

Blaise shrugged. “I don’t know. To be honest, I don’t really care.”

“Seriously, I feel like you’re an old person. You never want to go out or do anything.”

Blaise laughed. “It seems that way, doesn’t it? I guess the property just takes a lot of my time. Maybe you shouldn’t be envious after all.”

“Too late,” Ray said. “I don’t know exactly how much money you make, but I know you make bank.”

Blaise drank from his beer and averted his gaze. He never told anyone how much he made. People were always weird when it came to fortunes. He kept it to himself, not telling a single soul.

“Is your uncle still after it?”

He sighed. “He’ll never give up.”

Ray rolled his eyes. “The will clearly said you were the recipient of the company. How can you argue with that?”

Blaise shrugged. “Technically, he’s next of kin. He thinks he has a good case. My great grandparents were the ones who started it. So, he’s right that it should belong to him.”

“Too bad your dad was older,” Ray said with a smile.

“I wouldn’t mind just giving it to him.” The words flew out of his mouth before he could stop them.

“What do you mean?”

“Nothing,” Blaise said.

“Then why haven’t you?”

“I don’t think he would take care of the company. He would run it into the ground. I can’t let my family’s legacy turn to shit. He’s a horrible entrepreneur. He would inflate the prices because he’s greedy then dilute the quality to save money. I know how he is.”

“Why don’t you sell it?”

“I can’t do that either.”

“You could give it to a friend.” Ray winked.

“You don’t know the first thing about cotton,” Blaise said with a smile.

“I could get a picture book and figure it out.”

Blaise laughed. “I can’t do that either. I’m stuck with it.”

“I don’t think “stuck” is the right word. You should be grateful you have something so lucrative.”

Blaise had a different opinion but he kept it to himself.

6

When Alex went to class the next day, she felt anxious. She just graduated from college, but she was a student again. She sat in the back row and opened her laptop, typing all her notes on the computer. She didn’t have any classes with her friends, which she was sad about. It would be nice to see a familiar face.

“Are you new?”

She turned and saw the guy sitting next to her. He had brown hair but it had a red tint to it. When he smiled, two dimples were in his cheeks. And his eyes were blue and bright, easily noticeable. “I really stick out, don’t I?”

He laughed. “A little.” He extended his hand. “I’m Gabe.”

She shook it. “Alexandra.”

He nodded. “So, where are you from?”

“New York.”

“Wow. Do they really have amazing pizza there?”

She smiled. “I don’t know. I haven’t tried any here to compare.”

“Well, I’ll have to take you out sometime.”

Alexandra looked away.

“Are you an English major?” Gabe asked.

“Yes.”

“And what do you want to do with that?”

She shrugged. “Be a writer. What’s your major?”

“History,” he said. “And I want to be a teacher.”

“That sounds nice.”

He took his notebook and flipped through the pages. “We should get lunch after class.”

Alexandra didn’t know what to say. The last thing she wanted was to date anyone. Luckily, the professor addressed the class, letting her sink back into her chair without responding. She took her notes on the computer and didn’t look at Gabe. She didn’t want to be rude, but there was no way to reject an offer without being dismissive. She hoped he would just forget about it.

When the class was over, she grabbed her belongings and bolted out of the classroom. When she thought she would escape, she ran into Lana.

“Hey, how’s your first day of school?”

Alexandra looked over her shoulder, seeing Gabe come toward her. “Uh, it was good. I gotta run.”

“Wait. When’s your next class?”

Gabe approached them and hugged Lana. “How’s your first class?”

“A major bore,” she said as she rolled her eyes.

Alexandra stiffened when she realized they were friends.

“Have you met Alex?” Lana asked.

“Yeah,” Gabe said with a smile. “We have English together. We’re just about to get lunch.”

“Let’s go,” Lana said. “I’m starving.”

Now that Lana was coming, Alexandra didn’t feel so awkward. They left the campus and went to a restaurant across the street. Hannah met them a few minutes later. When Gabe sat next to Alexandra in the booth, she was grateful she wouldn’t have to look at him across the table.

Gabe turned to her. “So, what’s in Georgia?”

She smiled. “I came here for school.”

“It must be a culture shock compared to New York.”

“Well, I grew up in Atlanta, so it isn’t that surprising.”

“Oh,” Gabe said. “I’m glad you ended up here.”

“So, what’s New York like?” Lana asked.

Alexandra shrugged. “Like any other big city. The people there are different. They are frank and blunt about their desires. They don’t beat around the bush like they do here, gossiping behind your back. It’s a great place to get sushi at three AM and a hooker right in the morning.”

Gabe laughed. “And how would you know?”

Alexandra smiled. “I know my way around.” She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “The subway has the most interesting people. After being used to the wide open spaces, I felt claustrophobic at first. The clubs are really expensive to get into, even if you’re a girl. My favorite time of year is the summer. It’s humid and hot, just like it is here. But the nightlife is so much different.”

Gabe stared at her. “If you love it so much, why did you leave?”

She was quiet for a moment. “I needed to go to school.” She couldn’t think of a better reason.

“I would love to go someday,” Hannah said. “I’ve never left Georgia.”

“We went to Miami for spring break,” Lana said.

“Oh yeah,” Hannah said. “But that doesn’t count.”

“We could go together sometime and I could show you around,” Alexandra offered.

“That would be cool,” Gabe said.

“Have you ever been mugged?” Hannah asked fearfully. “I hear people get mugged a lot.”

“Stupid people who walk down dark alleys at two AM,” Alexandra said.

“So you’ve never been mugged?” Lana asked.

“Well, I have, but it wasn’t a big deal,” Alexandra said.

“What do you mean it wasn’t a big deal?” Gabe asked with a laugh.

“When he took my purse, I kicked him and screamed, making him drop my bag as he ran away. So nothing really happened.”

“You actually fought a mugger?” Lana asked.

“Obviously,” Alexandra said. “I wasn’t going to let some thief take my stuff.”

Gabe nodded. “That’s badass.”

Alexandra averted her gaze, saying nothing.

They ordered their food and ate their meal together. Gabe and Lana talked about the cornfield party like it was the social highlight of the year. Alexandra didn’t care either way. Personally, she would rather stay home and read a book, but she didn’t have much choice.

When lunch was over, they went back to class. Alexandra finished her courses until the day was over. She called the hospital to check on her application, but they said it was still in review. She hoped she got the job. That way she could get her own car and not rely on other people for rides.

“Hey, can I take you home?”

Alexandra saw Gabe approach her. “Actually, Lana is giving me a ride.”

“She told me,” he said. “But she said she needed to run an errand. I offered to help her out.”

Alexandra felt cornered. “Oh okay.”

“Don’t get too excited,” he said with a smile.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

“You want to get dinner first?”

Alexandra felt nervous. She didn’t want to piss off the only friends she had left, but she had to be honest. If she wasn’t, she would give him the wrong idea. “Gabe, I’m not dating right now.”

“Okay…”

“I’m sorry,” she said. “You seem like a nice guy.”

He came closer to her then put his hands in his pockets.  “I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I’m sorry.”

“No, I just want to be honest.”

“I’m sorry. I just thought you were really cute. I couldn’t pass up a shot.”

She looked away.

“Now let me take you home.” He opened the passenger door and helped her get inside.

They drove down the road in silence. It was tense for a few minutes.

“So why aren’t you dating right now?” he asked.

She looked out the window. “I’m just not in the right place.”

He nodded. “That’s code for bad breakup.”

She smiled. “You’re good.”

“Well, I really hope you and I can be friends. I don’t want this awkward encounter to make you feel weird around me.”

“No, we’re fine.”

“Cool,” he said with a smile. “But I have to ask. Would you consider dating me if you weren’t in the wrong place?”

She shifted her weight. “I don’t know…”

“I’m sorry I asked.” He turned on the radio and they listened to the music. “I don’t like chick singers very much, but I like Carrie Underwood.”

“She has a beautiful voice.”

“She’s cute too,” he said with a smile.

“Definitely.”

He looked at her. “You’re really cool, Alex.”

“Thanks. You are too.”

He drove to her house and parked his car. The dogs immediately started growling. “I would walk you to the door but they might eat me.”

Alexandra laughed. “Thank you for the ride.”

“Anytime.”

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” he said. “And we’re cool, right?”

“Yes, we’re cool.”

“Excellent.”

When Alexandra walked inside, her aunt was nowhere to be seen. There wasn’t a note on the refrigerator and there wasn’t any dinner saved. She walked down the hallway but saw the open bedroom. She wasn’t home.

Alexandra took out her supplies and got to work on her homework. The sun disappeared behind the horizon until it was pitch black.  As the night wore on, she became more worried. Her aunt still hadn’t called.

When the lights from her truck finally shined through the window, Alexandra breathed a sigh of relief, knowing she was just overreacting. A few minutes later, the front door finally opened.

Martha’s hand was pressed to her lower back and she walked with a hunch. Her face was in a grimace, indicating she was obviously in pain.

“Aunt Martha, what’s wrong?” She rose from the chair and helped her walk forward.

“I really hurt my back today,” she said through her heavy breathing. “I was at the hospital.”

“Why didn’t you call me?” Alexandra demanded.

“Its nothing serious,” she said. “It happens all the time.”

“Then you shouldn’t be working in the fields.”

“I can’t afford to have someone else do it.”

“Then I’ll do it.”

“Absolutely not,” Martha said. “I won’t suck you into this.”

Alexandra guided her to the bedroom. “Then what are you going to do?”