“You don’t believe him?”
“No, I do. He looked genuinely horrified when he found out I was her boyfriend.” I pick at some of the lint on my pants as I grumble.
“And he’s extending an olive branch. Plus if he ends up being your friend and then you happen to introduce him to me…”
“No,” I growl.
She sighs. “All right, fine. Spoil sport. Seriously, though, go have dinner with the guy. He sounds nice, and maybe it will end up being a good thing. It wouldn’t hurt you to have another friend, right?”
Ugh. She’s right. I know she’s right. I’ve lived here for over six months and other than Peyton and the sort of friends from her book club, I don’t know anyone. Having another friend would be nice, and we can’t live next door to each other and avoid each other forever, though if it weren’t for Peyton I would certainly be willing to give it a try. The only reason Peyton and I are friends is because she’s extroverted and adopted me. Even meeting Stacy was because she was a client of mine first and she asked me out.
“You’re going, right? I’m going to ask you how it went tomorrow when I see your beautiful face.”
“Fine.” I wish she could see my face now because I’m working an epic pout.
“Good boy,” she says. “Now, get a nap and don’t forget I’m coming over tomorrow to help you unpack. Bye, babe.”
“Bye.” I end the call and toss my phone on the coffeetable. I grab the blanket and pillow that I brought with me in the car since my bedding is all still in boxes, and curl up on the sofa.
When I wake and check my phone it’s two hours later, so I decide to do a small amount of unpacking. Mainly the necessities. I get my toiletries and towels in the bathroom, find the box with my bedding and get it set up on my king sized bed, get my bedside lamps on my matching nightstands and plug them in, unpack some clothes, and get my television set up on my TV stand.
I shower, change into some fresh clothes, and then make my way out of my apartment and across the hall to Alex’s. It’s literally two steps and I take a breath and let it out before knocking on the door at exactly six pm.
It opens so fast I startle and he grins. “Hey, you came. Come on in.” He gestures inside and I step through the doorway, greeted by the smell of garlic and wheat, and the next thing I know a gorgeous cream and chocolate colored cat is winding its way between my legs, purring.
“Oh, this is Marble,” Alex says. “She’s usually more antisocial than this so she must like you. I’ve honestly never seen her take to anyone so fast before.”
I can’t help the smile that splits my face as I bend down to pet her and her purring gets louder. “Hey, pretty girl.” She stands on her hind legs and paws at me so I scoop her up, and Alex’s eyes go wide.
“Shit, she never lets anyone but me hold her, other than my brother-in-law. Not even my parents and brother. You some kind of cat whisperer or something?”
I shrug as Marble rolls over in my arm, letting me cradle her and giving me her belly. I pet her and her eyes roll back in her head, making Alex laugh. It’s a nice sound and I find it filling me with warmth as we make our way into thecombined living room/ dining room area. The kitchen is just off to the right and there’s a bar with chairs set up. I like how he has the space decorated. Simple and cozy.
Alex reaches over and scratches behind Marble’s ears. “She’s a slut for belly rubs,” he says, and I feel my cheeks heat, but grin at the same time.
“Dinner will be ready soon. I only know how to make like three things, and one of them is pancakes from a box so don’t expect too much.” He’s still grinning as he makes his way into the kitchen. “I even splurged and toasted garlic bread!” he calls out. “Make yourself comfortable!”
I keep Marble in my arm, making my way through the small space. It’s nothing fancy but it’s nice enough. Alex has a beige sectional with a couple different soft looking blankets draped over it, making it look warm and inviting, along with a matching ottoman. There’s a lot of bookshelves packed with different books set up throughout the space. One behind the sofa and against the wall, and a couple more on either side of the electric fireplace, which is roaring. A few small plants rest on the windowsill and bookshelves, and there’s a photo of Marble, and another one of whom I’m assuming is his family. A petite Latina woman with dark hair streaked with gray, gorgeous caramel colored skin and rich brown eyes is standing next to a much taller Caucasian man with fair skin, thick gray hair and blue eyes, and on either side of them are two boys. One is Alex, his hair and skin tone matching his mother’s, and the other looks familiar but it takes me a second to place him.
The bartender from the bar Peyton and I were at when I saw Alex and skippity-do-daw’d out of there. The one who brought our drinks. His complexion is paler, like his father’s, though his hair is as black as Alex’s and their mother’s, and his eyes are hazel whereas Alex’s are blue like his father’s. They’re a striking family.
“This your family?” I ask, as I continue to stroke Marble’s belly, and Alex looks up from where he’s setting the table, grinning.
“Sure is. Come on and sit down, cowboy, it’s ready.”
I blink. “I’m not a cowboy.”
He grins. “Yeah, I figured that, but your accent just makes me think of cowboys. I won’t call you that, though, if you don’t want me to.”
I shrug. “It’s fine.”
His smile gets bigger and he gestures for me to sit again. I’m a little disappointed that I have to put the cat down, but I do and she follows me over to the table, sitting at my feet.
“Jesus Christ, I don’t think she’s gonna let you go,” Alex says with a laugh as he sits and Marble rubs her head against my shin. “If she’s bothering you at all just tell her to go lie down and she will.”
“I don’t mind,” I say, then look at the huge plate of spaghetti in front of me, along with the bowl of salad and the bread. It smells amazing, the steam from the spaghetti wafting up and filling my nostrils, making my mouth water.
“Dig in. If you don’t like it just pretend you do.”
