Chapter 43: Chapter 43

Alice rolled her eyes back in her head and smacked her lips. She looks at her screen again as they wait to hear her answer. She doesn’t answer immediately because she hasn’t gotten used to talking about a guy other than Dominic with his sister, Lily. She seems so cool about it but Alice will never get used to it even after Lily assured her that she doesn’t care—her happiness is what matters.

“I mean, he’s hot… really hot. But I can’t say that I like him that way.”

“Bull-crap,” it was Lily that said that. Miley nodded through the phone.

“Yeah, don’t expect us to believe those kinds of words coming out of your mouth. I mean, look at him again.”

She shouldn’t have sent them a picture of him. Now, they won’t let her rest until she gives them every detail about him.

“Have you guys kissed?” Miley asked enthusiastically, making Alice to gape her eyes out as she gasped.

“He is my boss.”

“But he’s hot,” Lily clarified.

“Imagine spilling ice cream all over his body and licking it up,” Miley said with a dreamy sigh. Lily moaned in agreement, closing her eyes to visualize it.

She could swear her jaw was on the floor while she stared at them daydreaming about her boss. “You guys are disgusting. I can’t believe I’m friends with you,” Alice said, feigning maddened but they brush it off.

“Boo you, Alice. You’re are no fun. How could you mention Dominic to him when he asked whether he was your boyfriend? Isn’t Dominic your ex?”

Alice stared at Lily’s face on the screen for a sec and took her eyes off. It still doesn’t feel right to start seeing someone. It will never feel right to date someone other than Dominic. Not even Aaron—it was one of the reasons holding her back from taking Aaron back. It felt as though she was cheating on Dominic because she has grown fond of him that no one knows what she wants better than Dominic. No one would ever treat her right better than Dominic. Yet, she doesn’t want Dominic.

“Ryan is human. I’m not.”

“You’re half human. You can be with him as long as he doesn’t pee his pants when he finds out about your identity and you’re the daughter of one of the strongest Alpha’s in Halibut Cove, Alaska.”

Alice scoffed at Miley’s statement. It reminded her of Aaron’s reaction when he found out she was a werewolf. He ended up shunning her away and neglecting her. She is not making that mistake.

“Yeah, I think I’m going to pass.”

“Well, at least have fun with him. Don’t let this hot stuff slip away, Alice.”

She rolled her eyes and sighed. Ryan isn’t a werewolf. He isn’t Dominic and he isn’t strong enough to handle her true self.  “Lily, you need a man. Speaking of a man, where’s Justin?” Alice had totally forgotten about him.

Lily shoulder shrugs and take her eyes off her phone screen.

“He cheated… with an omega. I filthy one,” Miley blurted out. Alice gasped, covering her mouth with her free hand. “Oh, no.”

Lily glared at her through the phone. “Thanks a lot for making me feel stupid.” She leaves the group video call.

“But I…” her words failed her. Alice shook her head when she saw the remorse on Miley’s face. “It’s obvious she’s hasn’t completely gotten over what happened. I’ll talk to her later. It’s easter and we’re having dinner at Max’s mother’s house. We’ll talk tomorrow, Okay?”

They end the call. She heaves a sigh and dropped her phone on the side drawer.

If only they knew what happened between her and Ryan just last week, they would’ve been head over heels.

She had been here for two months and working for five weeks. She got her first pay check and was so excited about it. Ryan invited her to his office to celebrate and they ended up kissing. He kissed her! And she kissed him back!

It felt good! It felt so good at the wrong time! It felt so wrong but only after she had realized what was happening. She pulled back, breathlessly and stared at him. He was staring back at her, like he was about to crush their lips again. He wanted to because he leaned in to kiss her again but she stopped him and stormed out.

They haven’t spoken about it since then. And it has been exactly one week. Today is Friday but they’ve been given a week off for easter. She was happy about that because he’s the last person she wanted to see. She doesn’t even want to see him again because she felt remorseful for what happened between them and how she rejected him when he tried to kiss her again.

She hears a knock on her bedroom door and she knew it was Max. He told her they were leaving at seven and it’s almost seven. She sighed and got off the bed as the door opens.

“Ready?” He asked, looking at her clothes. She was wearing white long chiffon dress with pearl-beaded neckline. A smile sneaks out the corner of his mouth as he takes in her appearance.

“Too much?” She asked worriedly, smoothing the dress as if it’s wriggled.

He shakes his head, his eyes moved from her dress to her face. “You look amazing,” he commented.

A smile spread across her face. She loves it when Max complements her because his words are always genuine.

She grabbed her purse and they head out together.

He paused by the door and look at her. “Just one thing…”

She doesn’t like the slight panic look on his face because he’s about to say something that’d upset her. Oh God, if he invited Dominic again, she’d kill the both of them. She’s rip out their insides and shove it down their throat.

Maybe her thoughts were too harsh because she was sure Dominic had gone back home the next day after what happened.

“Ryan would be joining us for easter tonight,” he said and he could see the shock on her face. He wasn’t entirely expecting that reaction from her. He thought she’d like the idea.

“He’s just lonely,” he said defensively before she could even regain her vocal and speak up. “I thought you’d like it.”

She shakes her head. “No, it’s okay. I just wasn’t expecting it.” She opens the door and walk out. Max went after her but she was already by the elevator. He briskly locked the door and went after her.

**

They pulled over in the parking lot beside Ryan’s car and stepped out. Alice inhaled a huge chunk of breath and exhaled as he came out of his car. He closed the door and locked the car before. “Hey,” he said. His eyes were on her the entire time he did all that. It obvious he was talking to her but Max stepped in.

“Good to see you, man. Let’s head in. I’m sure they’re waiting.” Max led the way into the penthouse. His mother recently moved in with Jim and it was his first time being here. He hates that they now leave together because he still wasn’t convinced with the man his mom loves. They’ve been together for year now but he still hasn’t adjusted to the idea of his mother being with anyone but his father. Yes, he’s protesting for his dead father.

They enter the spacious living room—it was empty so, they walk in. Max walks toward the kitchen where he heard his mother’s voice whereas Ryan and Alice stayed back.

She hates that they’re left all alone in the living room. If it wasn’t for Ryan, she would’ve followed Max in even though this was her first time being here.

She turns around, her back facing Ryan but she could feel his intense gaze behind her. She closed her eyes shut, like his gaze was piercing in her soul—it was. Because she knows if Max or anyone don’t walk in here, she’d pass out by his smothering scent. He smells so nice—she hates it. It reminds her of how his lips tasted when he kissed her. It reminds her of how he smells like while he pressed his body against hers. Everything feels so wrong whenever she was around him.

“Alice,” he called her out. It’s the exact same way he called her name when she stopped him from kissing her again. It sounded stranded and fragmented.

She turned around and he took steps forward. His closeness feels different than when Dominic steps toward her. Ryan closeness feels smothering, like she needs to punch a hole in the living room just to breathe.

He looks down at her and studied her with a predator’s unwavering attention. That stare made her to shiver because she doesn’t know what it meant. It could be anything—it could be good or even bad. But Ryan is one of the sweetest men she has ever met—he can’t hurt her. He won’t hurt her. The only thing she doesn’t like is how her body responds to him whenever he’s around. She’s trying not to fall for him but with each day passing by, it’s hard not to. He's just hot and everything.

“I’m sorry I kissed you,” he said to her. She could feel his words stabbing her right in the core of her chest because her eyes just screwed shut. She heaves a sigh and shook her head.

“I just couldn’t hold myself…” he sighs as he runs his finds through his wavy hair. “Everything about you is just so damn amazing and I just want to kiss you every time I see you.” He wasn’t even going to lie to her and he wasn’t ashamed that he said that to her.

She’s looking at him now, with a stoic expression. She wasn’t shocked that he said that because his body had already told her even before he kissed her. It was obvious that he’s attracted to her and she’s happy about it at the same time upset. She’s happy that her crush likes her and upset that she wasn’t going to return that same energy.

She is not going to fall for him.

“Alice?” Max walked back in, together with his mother and Jim. She briskly turned around, taking a step back from Ryan’s chocking closeness.

“Oh my God, Alice,” she cooed, walking toward her with extended arms. Alice smiled and hugged her. “Aunt Shannon.”

“I haven’t seen you is such a long, long time. You’ve grown so beautifully. Oh, your hair,” she said proudly, stroking Alice wavy hair. She had straight hair all her life and this was the first time she had done her hair at the saloon and changed how it looked.

“I’ve missed you too, Aunt Shannon,” Alice said genuinely. She hasn’t seen her since they left and it’s been years. This was the first time she was seeing her since she came to New York. Max’s mom has aged so well. It’s scary how they looked so much alike. Max has hair colour of hair, her nose and her thin lips. He even got his charming smile and dimple from his mother.

“Mom, Jim, this is Ryan, my friend and neighbour.”

Ryan stepped forward to shake hands with them. Shannon introduced Jim to her as her fiancé and it didn’t shock Alice alone, Max was shocked. How did he not notice the huge diamond ring on her ring finger?

He swallowed down the aggravation as they moved to the dining hall. He’d deal with whatever it was later.

Moments later, they were eating dinner silently. Shannon decides to break the silence by talking. She had notice how Max has been giving her a disappointing look but she wasn’t ready to deal with his tantrums now and in front of their guests.

“Max told me what happened to and I just want to let you know that you have our support on whatever you choose, Alice. I am so sorry you had to go through all that in just a year,” Shannon spoke sympathetically, reaching out to grab her hands. She squeezed them lightly and sends her a reassuring smile. Alice glances at Max and he sends her an apologetic look. Ryan pauses from eating, wondering what happened to Alice that she had to relocate and leave everything behind her. He curiously looks at Alice’s face as he picked up his champagne flute to his mouth.

“It’s okay, aunt Shannon. I appreciate your concern. I’m fine now though.”

“Oh, I can tell,” she said, looking over to Ryan. “You guys make a good couple.”

“I agree with you. I really can’t wait to meet Max’s girlfriend also.” It irritated Max when Jim joined the conversation.

Ryan almost choked on his champagne. He briskly dropped the glass and cleared his throat. His head darts down, avoiding Alice’s shocking gaze at him.

“They are not together, Mom,” Max said through gritting teeth. It sounded as if he’d never let that happen. As if he’s against it. Yes, he’s against it. He’s against anyone that’d come near her now because men don’t know how to do anything but break a girl’s heart.

Ryan looks up to Max with narrowed eyes. He’s shocked and annoyed that Max was getting himself worked up over a silly mistake.

“We… we aren’t together, Aunt Shannon. Ryan’s actually my boss. I work at his coffee shop.”

Shannon shoots her eyebrows up like she’s disappointed they aren’t together. She hoped they were just so Max would move on and actually give someone a chance. She knows he likes Alice—a lot. He didn’t tell her but she knew it. His voice and his smile were different whenever he speaks about her. His face lit up whenever he hears her name.

She tried talking to him about it but he shunned the conversation and denied that he liked Alice. Or he was just afraid to ruin their friendship.

“Oh, really? You own a coffee shop?”

Ryan nods his head as he dropped his fork back on to the plate. “Yes, ma’am. I inherited it from my parents after they passed away couple of year ago.”

Her eyebrows grew together as she sends him her condolence.

The rest of the dinner was a silent one but with Jim and Shannon getting into each other’s space. Max was revolted by everything. From his mother indirectly announcing Jim’s had proposed to her to the reference of Alice being Ryan’s girlfriend. Could the night be any worse?

He excuses himself and left the table to get fresh air. The room was too small to endure his fury.

Alice cleared the plate while Ryan helped her.

They were in the kitchen, by the dishwasher. Ryan was watching her every move. He didn’t care that she knows he was watching her. He wants her to know what he was doing. So, he walked toward her to the sink. She was washing her heads—his eyes were on the side of her face. She dried her hands with a towel—his eyes were still glued to her face.

She grips on the kitchen counter and let her head fall between her shoulders. Her heart was beating erratically because Ryan had just placed his hand on her back. He’s stroking her back, watching her reaction. She knew what he wanted to see so; she tried not to give him that reaction he’s looking for. She tried to hide the fact that he’s making her legs turn to liquid and her body warm.

“There’s something about you I can’t explain. But whatever it is, it makes me want you in ways I can’t even describe.”

His words made her stomach to churn because that’s not what she wants. She doesn’t want his attention. She doesn’t want him to acknowledge her. She wants him to pretend as though she doesn’t exist while she drools over the fact that her boss and neighbour is hot. She prefers calling her friends and telling them how they locked eyes at work for two seconds. She’d prefer having sleepless nights daydreaming about him and thinking of the things she’d want him to do to her.

Not this.

She doesn’t want this.

Oh yes, she’s crazy—she loves to suffer when she’s in love. But who isn’t up for a little tension now and then?

They’re staring at each other now, and he looks a little bit nervous. She’s sure he’s wondering if he just pissed her off.

“I want to kiss you,” he told her flexibly.

She blows out a controlled breath, not caring if he knows those words affected her like they did.

He doesn’t say anything again. He just stares down at her until their lips were brushing. And before she could withdraw her mind from its far places, Ryan was kissing her. She wants to pull back. But his mouth was so soft.

He’s a good kisser but he’d never top up Dominic.  She hates that Dominic thoughts creeped up into her head while she’s kissing another guy. It feels like he’s watching them—judging them.

Her heart races in her chest so fast that she felt like it’s going to burst through her ribcage. He groans into the kiss and closed the gap between them by grabbing her ass. She should stop but instead, she loops her arms around his neck and kissed him back. He kisses her, long, deep, wanting… and she responded, arching into him.

“I thought they said they weren’t together?” They Jim’s voice.

Alice briskly pushed him away and turned around. Shannon and Jim stared at them in awe. Half an hour ago, they claimed they weren’t together. Now they were in the kitchen eating their faces up.

“Jim, I think we should give them some space.” Shannon gives Ryan and apologetic smile before drawing Jim out of the kitchen.

Alice couldn’t find the heroism to turn back and look at him. She was afraid if she does, he’d kiss her again and Shannon won’t be the one to catch them—Max would be by the door, looking at them.