Then Came Alexandra (Southern Love #1) by E. L. Todd Read Free Book Online Page A

words. “I’m just—shy.”
    He sighed. “I have a lot of friends that are girls—platonic friends. I would really love it if you could be another.”
    She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s not you, Gabe. I’m just—on my guard all the time.”
    He nodded. “What happened with this ex of yours?”
    Alexandra didn’t open up to anyone about this. All of her friends were Paul’s friends. But she still felt weird discussing it. “He didn’t love me the way I loved him, basically.”
    Gabe stared at her but didn’t comment.
    “We had a few problems then he cheated on me. When we broke up, he seemed really contrite about it.”
    “Maybe he was,” he said simply. “Sometimes you realize how much you need something only when you lose it.”
    Alexandra shrugged. “Possibly.”
    “How long were you two together?”
    “A few years.”
    “Where did you meet?”
    “In college.”
    His eyes narrowed. “So you aren’t a freshman?”
    Alexandra felt cornered. “No.”
    “Did you transfer, then?”
    “Uh, kinda…”
    Gabe smiled. “I think I’m missing something here.”
    Alexandra felt a strand of hair in her fingertips. It was soft and silky, soothing her. She always touched her hair when she was nervous. She hoped no one else noticed. “I already graduated.”
    His eyes widened. “What? How old are you?”
    “Twenty two.”
    “What did you get your degree in?”
    “Nursing,” she said simply.
    He leaned back in his chair, confusion in his eyes. “So why are you getting a degree in English, something that will probably never be lucrative?”
    Now they were in bad territory. “I—I don’t want to talk about it.” She averted her gaze and opened the textbook, flipping to a random page.
    Gabe continued to stare at her. “I think there’s more to you than what’s on the surface. As your friend, I can’t deny my curiosity. I wonder what demons you’re leaving behind. But I also understand that you came to a new place to start over, make a new life. And I’ll respect that.” He opened his textbook then highlighted a sentence, dropping the subject.
    Alexandra looked up at him, surprised she was let off the hook so easily.  “Can I ask you a personal question?”
    He didn’t pull his gaze away from the text. “I’m an open book, Alex. I don’t keep secrets from my friends.”
    Alexandra was surprised by how quickly she was accepted by the three friends she made. “You guys are the nicest people I’ve ever met,” she blurted.
    He smiled. “Well, Martha is close with Lana and Hannah’s moms, so naturally, they loved you immediately. And I’m friends with whoever my friends are friends with. Your aunt was your ticket.”
    “My aunt is awesome. I’m just surprised she’s so revered by the town.”
    He finally looked at her. “I’m starting to think you don’t know your aunt very well.”
    “What do you mean?” she asked.
    He closed his book. “Savannah has become more of a tourist location every year. The farmland is being stripped for hotels, restaurants, casinos, anything but plots of land. When the state came to Martha and offered to buy her land, and for a huge price by the way, she said no. No one would have judged her for being a sell out, but she didn’t give in. She still works the fields even though she’s fifty. She has our respect.”
    “Wow.” Alexandra looked across the library, not staring at anything in particular. “She’s a badass.”
    Gabe chuckled. “You could say that.” He rested his elbows on the table. “Since you are from Atlanta, why did you come to Savannah instead?”
    Alexandra fidgeted with her hands.
    “Oh sorry,” Gabe said immediately. “The question was innocent. I swear.”
    She breathed a sigh of relief.
    “Maybe you would feel more comfortable if you asked me a personal question.”
    “I feel bad asking for information without giving any in return.”
    “Don’t,” he said. “I understand.”
    “Well, what’s your