Chapter 45: Chapter 45

She had thought of herself and all the men in her life. She had compared them to each other even though she doesn’t want to do that. She had stayed up all night, thinking of whom she wants to be with. It’s crazy how in just a year, everything had turned upside down. How did she even get into this mess at the first place?

How did she let them get comfortable enough to come close to her and treat her the way they feel like?

She was tired of everything.

She needs a real relationship—a real mate, one that is loving and has no ‘best before’ date, one that sales on no matter the weather. And her mind keeps wondering back to Dominic each and every time she imagines how her perfect mate would be. It wasn’t only because she had been with him the longest or because he was her first time essentially knowing a man. There’s something different about him that attracts her more to him.

She had never expected him to come all the way from home to come see her. He’d proven that he she’s still a whole book in his life—his favourite book. For her, she wants him to be just a chapter in her book of life but it’s impossible when everything reminds her of him. He’s everywhere, he looks like every tall guy with black hair she sees walking toward her.

It's more annoying whenever her phone rings or vibrates and the first person she’d hope calling her is him. Wasn’t she the one that shunned him away after he had taken hours of journey to come mend things back between them?

Alice sighed in agitation as she massaged her eyes to her temple. She had been in bed, awake since 4am in the morning. It’s almost 7am and she has to be out before 8am.

She tossed the quilt off her and got out of the bed. If she wasn’t going to sleep back, she might as well make breakfast for Max and herself.

She slipped into her slippers and stepped out. She flipped the lights on as she made her way to the kitchen.

She doesn’t even know what she was going to make but whatever it was, she knew Max would eat it—even if it was the nastiest thing ever. The way he tolerates her in implausibly startling. Last night, she tried making donuts but failed. She was too tired from working last night and went to bed instead of cleaning her mess.

Now, she was standing in a spotless kitchen. He cleaned it last night even after having a hectic day at work.

She opens the pantry and instantly thought of what to cook. She was making breakfast burritos. Max thought her how to make it and she had tried it a few times. She wasn’t the best at it but it was eatable—that’s what matters after.

She brought out the ingredients and didn’t waste time to make it. She was almost done making it when she heard Max’s bedroom door opened. She hears him sigh as he walked toward the kitchen. He halts when he spotted her by the kitchen island, making a plate for them.

She smiles at him. “Hey, you’re up,” she said, glancing at the kitchen wall clock. It was past 7am which means she needs to get ready in a couple of minutes if she wants to be at work on time. The last thing she wanted was to be on Ryan’s bad side as he has not been talking to her since he caught her almost kissing Max.

It's been a week since it happened and none of them were ready to speak about it. Not even Max. She wants to talk about it but now wasn’t a great time. She would be late if she keeps standing here and looking at him.

“You made breakfast.” He points at the burritos. She exhales, coming back to certainty after realizing she has been staring at him.

She nods her head, giving him a tight lip smile. “Yes,” she said as she walked over to the sink to wash her hand. “I’m gonna take a quick shower and come back,” she told him before walking to her room.

By the time she was out and back in the kitchen, Max was already dressed, eating the burritos she made. She doesn’t question him on how he got ready before her. She waves it off and joined him on the bar chair in the kitchen.

She took a bite of her breakfast before opening the fridge to get herself a drink. He’s watching her as she did that. He’s watching her every movement because it’s the only thing he gets to do. It’s the only thing he enjoy.

She turns around and their eyes locked. She sends a sly smile his way and sit back down.

“Do you have any day off?” He asked her. He takes the last bite of his breakfast and gulped it down with his coffee. Now, he can put his complete focus on her because she’s the only thing that matters.

She shrugs, her face falling. He doesn’t know what just upset her but he’s regretting asking her that. “Not really. We work from Monday to Saturday so, we technically don’t have any day off except Sunday.” She was looking down on her plate as she spoke. She had suddenly lost appetite of it because he just reminded her of Ryan and how she has to see him at work today.

“Oh…” he pauses for few seconds. “I wanted to take you to my office and show you around,” he said. “But I could talk to your boss and see if he could give you any day off.”

She throws her head back laughing. It was a disbelief kind of laughter. It was a ‘I don’t think so’ laughter.

“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she said, raising her head and meeting his gaze.

“Why because he almost caught us kiss?”

She shoots her eyebrows upward, taken aback by his words. She was never expecting Max to bring this up. She never wanted to speak about it because it was too embarrassing.

They almost had a meaningless kiss, because it won’t lead to anything. They both knew they can’t be more than friends—at least she knows that. But she doesn’t know if he thinks that way because even if he were to ask her to be his mate, she’d reject him without because their friendship is the most perfect thing she loves and cherish. She’d never betray their friendship for anything or anyone. They’re meant to be best friends not lover.

“That’s not what I mean…”

“I’ll drop you off at work when you’re done.” He cuts in like he wasn’t the one that just brought the topic up. He walks back to his room to finish getting ready while she finished the breakfast she had lost appetite for.

**

She looks at him closely for more than what seems ten seconds. He raises his head from his phone and they locked eyes. He smiled. “What?” He asked her. He actually thought she’d drop out from the car the moment he pulled over at her work. But instead, she sat there looking at him.

She tilts her head and smiled also. “I never thanked you for everything you do for me,” she told him and his smile immediately widened.

“You don’t have to…”

She lounges forward and embrace him in a hug. “Thank you,” she mumbled.

He breathes out, relishing her body against his. He relaxed his hands on her back and gently stroke it. They stayed that way for longer that than a hug should last before she finally climbed out of the car and waved him goodbye.

She pushes the door and Ryan was the first person she encounters with. He was standing in the middle of the room, staring at Max’s car zone out of the place. He doesn’t look angry nor does he look happy. His face was just apathetic. He seemed too relaxed for what he just saw. Or maybe he didn’t.

She breathes out and walked over to him. “Good morning,” she said, walking passed him.

“I see your little boyfriend decided to start acting right.”

She halts midways, taken aback by his revolting statement. She looks around, they were the only ones in the room. The café hasn’t opened until twenty minutes.

She turns around but he doesn’t. He’s still facing the entrance door with his hands in his black pants pocket.

“What?” She breathed out. She could swear her jaw was about to drop on the spotless cleaned tiles because she never thought Ryan would be as trifling as he seems to be.

She watched his body fall back a slightly. He was chuckling because he just got the reaction he needed. He finally turns around and face her with an outlandish smirk on his face.

“Get to work. The coffees aren’t going to make themselves.” He brushed passed her and head to his office. She stood there in disbelief on what just happened. It’s implausible because Ryan was just acting up for absolutely no reason. He’s blaming her for what’s not even her fault and it’s funny that he isn’t joking about his reactions, because if he was, he would’ve gotten tired of his jokes.

The room isn’t silent anymore because someone just walked in and it was Brooke. Her smile immediately falls when she noticed the look on Alice.

“Are you always in shock?” She said approaching her. Alice brushes it off and went to the back to change before the shop opens.

She spent the next twelve hours ignoring Brookes questions. It’s was tiring because Brooke wasn’t easy to get tired out or give up. She loves to nag especially when she loves that thing. Alice hates how curious she could get and how she observes the little things in everything.

“I don’t know what Ryan’s telling you but do not mix business with pleasure.”

They had just closed and were out of the café. Brooke offered to take Alice home before she left even though it was literally a five minute walk to Max’s place.

They climb into the car. “Look, there’s nothing between me and Ryan. He’s my neighbour and my boss. That’s technically it.” Alice sighs and relaxed back on the warm leather seat.

“Should we grab dinner? I’ll buy us dinner and bring you back home.” She puts the car on drive and zone out of the place without even waiting for Alice answer.

Alice doesn’t bother to give her an answer also. She knew Max wasn’t home yet and she’d need the drive also. She looked out the window as Brooke drive them to wherever she was taking them.

“I knew you guys kissed,” Brooke said and Alice almost snapped her head while turning to look at her. She throws her head back as she laughed at Alice’s reaction. “I didn’t tell a soul at the café, I swear. You’re my only friend.”

Alice gulps as her heart began hammering in her chest. It might be building something. Maybe a fence between her and Ryan. A stainless steel fence.

“How… how did you find out?” She asked and Brooke shrugs. Her eyes were fixed on the road as she tapped her fingers on the steering wheel. She seems too casual for this situation.

“I don’t know much about you but I swear your life is complicated. From your video chats with your girls, I know you have like four men after you. Aaron the jerk, Dominic, Max and Ryan. I mean I don’t blame them, you’re so beautiful.” Brooke finally looks at Alice for a second and fixed her eyes back on the road. She smirks and chuckled softly.

“Is there any guy you haven’t kissed amongst them?”

Alice should be angry at that question but she doesn’t. In fact, she lets it slide because she was right. Max was the only one she hasn’t kissed and she would have if Ryan didn’t show up. She’s kind of thankful he did because it would’ve ruined everything.

“You were wearing lip gloss that day. You came out of his office with it smeared all over your mouth. Thankfully, you noticed before anyone did.”

Alice sinks in her seat and cross her arms over her chest. Her face flushes as she turned away from Brooke. This has to be the most embarrassing thing she has to find out.

“Your life may be shitty right now, but trust me there are other people with more shitty lives than yours, no offense.”

Alice laughs out softly and shakes her head. She could imagine herself with Brooke, Miley and Lily having a girl night. But it’s never going to happen because Brooke isn’t like them. Brooke can’t shift into a large furry beast like they can. Brooke doesn’t howl when she sees the fool moon. Brooke can’t change her orbs colour when she’s angry. Her point is Brooke isn’t just a werewolf.

“The point is; challenges are what makes life interesting. Overcoming them is what makes them meaningful.”

Alice nods, grooming on those words because they have a meaning and Brooke was right. She heaves a sigh and it made her feel ten times better that she felt before. Maybe she needs to be reminded of how she got this and how strong she is now and then. One thing she loves about herself is she’s easily influenced by good advice—not all but the ones that’d make her have a good night sleep. Like for Brooke’s words, she was sure she’d got to bed with a clear mind and happy heart. Until someone ruins it.

She grimaces because Aaron just crossed her mind and a text from him might ruin her night. Or seeing Ryan in the lobby or on their floor, looking at her as he unlocks his apartment door. He’d done that too often. He’d leave before her and wait till she comes home. She come out of the elevator and meet him by his door trying to unlock it while sending her a pejorative look. She never let any of those looks get to her though.

“And sometimes, we lose people just to find them again. Sometimes the second time just makes more sense. Honestly, that timing in life has a lot to do with everything. Sometimes, you just aren't ready for each other yet, and that's okay. Now you are. Make it magical, make it amazing, and appreciate every moment…”

She halts in the drive thru as they wait for their turn to order.

Alice was looking at her with a sardonic look because what she had just said doesn’t make sense or fit what they were talking about. “I don’t… I don’t quite get you, Brooke. What does second chance has to do with what we were talking about?”

Brooke grins from ear to ear. “You know who and what I’m talking about. You just have to let it seep into your body.” She drives forward and stops at the window. She rolled it down and ordered for them.

Alice was staring at her the whole time because she had just realized what she meant. She was talking about Dominic. She doesn’t know why Brooke would talk about him but she was definitely referring to him. She had heard them talking about him with Miley so many times when Lily wasn’t available. She must’ve put two and two together and figured things out.

Alice had told her a couple of things about him but she didn’t go into detail. She didn’t tell her exactly what Dominic did but she has an idea about him for sure.

She sighs and faced the window again. This is a challenge she has to find a way to overcome it.