Then Came Indecision (Southern Love #2) (20 page)

“I care about the lives I lose, not the ones I save.”

“Then that’s a stupid way of thinking,” he said simply. “You’re an unbelievable woman and nurse. It’s a shame you are purposely not reaching your full potential. “ He pulled his hand away.

“Just give me time to put myself back together.”

“Baby, it’s been months. I bet you can’t find one person who will tell you that you shouldn’t be a nurse. Not one.”

“Drop it, Paul.”

He narrowed his eyes at her then looked down.

The waitress brought the check and Paul paid for it like he usually did. After they left the restaurant, the drove home to the property.

Paul glanced at her. “Does Martha know?”

“I don’t think so.”

“I wonder how she’ll react.”

“She’ll either shoot me for being stupid, or shoot me for being stupid,” she said.

Paul laughed. “That sounds about right.”

When they arrived, they walked into the house and saw Martha reading the paper.

“Do you have something you want to tell me?” she asked.

Alexandra glanced at the newspaper. When she saw the headline, she realized her aunt already knew everything. “The car was smoking when I pulled them out, not burning.”

“Did you bring a bullet proof vest?” Paul whispered.

Alexandra rolled her eyes.

Martha stared at her for a long time before she rose to a stand. She stared at Alexandra, looking into her eyes with a foreign expression. Alexandra had never seen it before. “I’m honored to have you as my niece, more than I already was, at least.” She wrapped her arms around Alexandra and hugged her. “I’m so proud of you.”

Alexandra
was speechless. “You aren’t mad at me?”

She pulled away with a smile on her face. “Why would I be? You’re a nurse. They give their lives so others may live. We need more selfless and brave people in the world.”

Alexandra swallowed the lump in her throat. “I’m glad you aren’t upset with me.”

“I could never be. You’ve grown into such an amazing young woman. I know Mike would be very proud of you.”

She felt the tears bubble under her eyes but she kept them back.

Martha looked at Paul. “You’re a lucky man.”

He wrapped his arm around Alexandra’s shoulders. “I know I am.” He kissed her forehead.

She smiled then grabbed her purse. “I’m off to the grocery store. Do you need anything?”

“No,” Alexandra said.

“Since I’m your aunt, I’ll probably get everything for free.” She winked then walked out.

Alexandra remained rooted to the spot.

“You’re probably going to get a lot of attention from now on.”

“Ugh,” she said.

He laughed. “You’re such an introvert.”

“Always have been, always will be.”

“Do you want sit on the porch and not discuss it at all?”

“That would be wonderful.”

He smiled then grabbed
the ice tea from the refrigerator. They went outside and sat in the lounge chair, the dogs sitting beside them. Paul grabbed her legs and placed them on top of his. His rested his hand on her thigh, drawing circles into the skin.

She sipped her ice tea and stared across the property. The breeze was blowing the American flag over the warehouse. The flapping noise echoed and traveled to their ears.

Alexandra remembered when Aunt Martha and Uncle Mike used to sit on the porch for hours. They wouldn’t speak, just stare across the fields in absolute silence. Alexandra always wondered if they were bored, but they seemed content. Sometimes Aunt Martha would look at Mike but she wouldn’t say anything. They seemed to speak with their eyes, loving being in each other’s presence.

“Alex?”

Alexandra shook the memory way then looked at Paul. “Yeah?”

“I love you with my whole heart.”

Chapter Twenty Three

When Blaise drove by his house, he saw Cole’s truck in the driveway. He had work to do, but he didn’t want to see his brother. He was so angry that he was afraid he might shoot Cole in the head. He took off and drove to town.

After he ordered a drink at Rob’s, he joined Ray in the booth.

“Why are you here?” Ray asked. “It’s the afternoon.”

“Cole is at my place.”

“Oh. That bastard.”

“Yeah,” Blaise said. He sighed. “My life is so fucked up right now.”

“I heard…”

Blaise ran his fingers through his hair.

“So, what’s up with you and Danielle?”

“We’re done,” he said quickly. “We’ve been done for a while. I was just trying to protect her, but fuck that.”

Ray stilled at the venom in his voice. “I’m sorry.”

“And I lost the first girl I really loved. She hates me.”

Ray drank from his glass but said nothing.

“I never wanted to kill anyone before, but now I have a list that just keeps increasing.”

“I hope I’m not on it,” Ray said.

“Don’t give me a reason to put you on it.”

Ray smiled. “I’m trying.”

Blaise drank half
his glass then put it down. When he looked across the room, he saw Evan sitting with a few guys at their own table. He was staring at Blaise, smiling. Since Blaise was already wound up, he looked away. There was a shotgun in his truck. All he had to do was go fetch it.

“Who’s this girl?”

“Alexandra.”

“That girl who saved those people?”

He nodded. “The very one.”

Ray whistled. “That girl is fine.”

Blaise’s eyes widened in anger.

“She’s fine at saving people’s lives…” Ray looked away to dissipate the tension.

Blaise dropped his hateful stare. “I miss her.”

“Then get her back.”

“There’s no point. She doesn’t believe me.”

“I admit you’re an asshole but you aren’t
a liar.”

“Tell her that,” Blaise said.

“I can try but I don’t think it will do any good. You should try to kiss up to her friends.”

“Her friends?”

He nodded. “Girlfriends tell each other everything, even what they should and shouldn’t wear. They definitely have input on who they date.”

“I guess that’s true.”

“You’re desperate, right?”

“I’m more than desperate,” Blaise said.

“Then give it a shot.”

Blaise glanced over and saw
Lisa and Hannah sitting in a booth. They looked like they had just gotten out of class. He wondered why Alexandra wasn’t with them. He finished his glass then left the booth. “Wish me luck.”

Ray nodded.

Blaise approached their table, his hands in his pockets. “Hey.”

Lisa
glared at him with pure hatred. “Go away.”

Hannah looked equally pissed.

“Can I have a minute of your time?” he said politely.

“No,” Hannah snapped. “You fuck with our friend, you fuck with us.”

“And I couldn’t care less if you might be my brother-in-law someday. Alexandra is family to me.”

“Look,” he said. “I told her the truth about everything. Danielle isn’t in my life. I was only with her to give her protection. Nothing happened between us. I have no reason to lie.”

“I’m sure…” Lisa shook her head.

Blaise was growing desperate. “I love Alexandra. I would do anything for her. Please talk to her for me.”

“Fuck off,” Hannah said.

He turned to
Lisa. “I’ll give Cole another chance if you do this for me.”

Her eyes widened. “How dare you use that as leverage. You’re a pig.”

Blaise sighed. “I really love her. Please help me get her back. She might listen to you two.”

Hannah shook her head. “We love Paul so why should we help you? He treats her right, makes her happy, and he’s honest. You lost your chance.”

Blaise felt his heartbeat skyrocket. The sweat appeared on his palms, and his hands slightly shook. “What?”

“You heard her,”
Lisa said.

“Her ex-boyfriend, Paul?”

“No, her
current
boyfriend,” Lisa said. “You’re wasting your time trying to get her back. She already moved on.”

“What the
fuck are you talking about?” Blaise felt his panic rise. “He’s here?”

“He’s been living with her for a month,”
Lisa said. She smiled. “It sucks being kept in the dark, doesn’t it?” She turned back to Hannah. “Now get the fuck away from us.”

Blaise felt his heart drop into his stomach. The adrenaline coursed through his veins and ignited him in an unquenchable fire. The worst pain he ever experienced was nothing compared to this. It was a million times worse. His breathing increased until he was practically hyperventilating. The room started to spin. He couldn’t think straight.

He left the restaurant and stormed to his truck. When he started the engine, he peeled out and drove past the speed limit on the road. He was so upset, he couldn’t think straight. His heart was beating so fast, he thought it would give out completely. Time seemed to pass so slowly.

When he finally spotted Martha’s property, he didn’t s
low down as he crossed the dirt driveway. Before he came to the porch, he slammed on his breaks then jumped out. When she saw Alexandra, he stopped in his tracks. She was standing on the porch, a man standing right beside her.

Blaise couldn’t articulate his thoughts or emotions. Just seeing her stand so close to him was heartbreaking. The idea of her kissing him, touching him, sleeping with him…
.made him shake with pain.

Paul stared at him with a stoic expression. His shoulder was touching Alexandra’s, and he was watching Blaise closely.

Blaise stepped closer to the porch. “You’re with him?” His voice conveyed all the anger and pain he felt. “This entire time?”

“No,” she said quickly. “I’m not back together with Paul.”

“Then what the fuck is he doing here?” He narrowed his eyes at Alexandra. “He’s been living with you and you didn’t say a damn word?”

“Wow,” Paul said. “You’re the biggest hypocrite I’ve ever seen. I don’t remember you telling Alexandra anything when you were living with Danielle for the entire span of your relationship.”

Blaise marched up the stairs, ready to rip his throat out.

Alexandra placed her hands on his chest. “Don’t touch him.”

He pulled away and glared at her.

She turned to Paul. “Please go inside and give us a moment.”

Paul didn’t move. “Are you sure, baby?”

The name made Blaise clench his fists.

“Please go inside,” she said gently.

“Let me know if you need me,” Paul said. “I’ll kill him at your command.”

Alexandra fell silent and waited for him to leave.

Paul walked inside then shut the door behind him.

Blaise crossed his arms over his chest. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She put her hands in her pockets then looked at her feet. “It’s none of your business, Blaise. We aren’t together anymore.”

“Yes, we are,” he snapped.

“No, we aren’t!”

He gripped his skull. “What about when you kissed me the other day? It seemed like we were together then.”

“Don’t throw that in my face. You initiated it.”

“And you enjoyed it,” he snapped.

“That’s beside the point, Blaise.”

“So, he’s been living here for a month?”

She nodded.

“And why is he here?”

“He came here to bring me home.”

“And yet he’s still here,” he said bitterly.

“He won’t go back unless I go with him.”

“Then he’s wasting his time.”

She sat down
on the steps of the porch and rested her arms on her knees.

Blaise didn’t move from his spot, staring her down. “Has anything happened between you?” His voice was quiet, like he hadn’t spoken at all. A part of him didn’t want to hear her answer.

“My personal life is none of your business.”

He glared at her. “Knock it off, Alexandra.”

“No,” she said. “I still don’t know what happened between you and Danielle.”

“Don’t go back to him.
He cheated on you, remember? How can you just forgive him for that?”

“You did the same thing.”

“No, I didn’t!” He gripped his scalp in frustration. “I didn’t! I didn’t!”

“And he just kissed the girl. And it’s my fault it happened.”

He stepped closer to her. “Don’t let him manipulate you, Alexandra. He was the one who chose to be with someone else. It wasn’t your fault. That’s no excuse anyway. Couples fight and they go through a hard time. That’s normal. There’s absolutely no justification for his actions. You deserve better, Alexandra.”