Until Alex by J. Nathan Read Free Book Online

“Okay.”
    My head shot back. “Okay?”
    He nodded, his scheming eyes dancing. “I’ll let you thank me.”
    “Good.” I think. “Where am I taking you?”
    His lips quirked into a sly smile. “It’s a surprise.”
    I tilted my head. “Well, what time am I picking you up?”
    His smile remained in place, but I could see the wheels at work. “Seven. Don’t be late.” He stepped back into his apartment and closed the door.
    I might’ve been left standing alone. But this time I knew I’d be seeing him again very soon.
    * * *
    At two minutes to seven I stood outside Hayden’s door, seriously rethinking my decision to ask him out. I lifted my hand to knock, but his door swung open before I touched the surface.
    My eyes glided over the faded jeans hanging low on his hips and the navy blue shirt clinging to his chest. His tousled hair screamed he’d just rolled around with one of his one-nighters. But even still, he owned the look.
    My eyes weren’t the only ones perusing. Hayden’s made a slow ascent, sweeping leisurely up from my knee-high brown boots over my favorite skinny jeans to my hunter green off-the-shoulder top. The one I’d been told matched my eyes.
    I should’ve felt uncomfortable with his unapologetic inspection, but I didn’t. I actually awaited his judgment when his eyes reached mine.
    As usual, he gave nothing away.
    Why would he? It wasn’t a date.
    Still, I wondered if I should have gone with more than the minimal blush, mascara, and pale pink gloss I brushed on. Or if I should have pulled my hair back instead of letting my natural waves hang loose.
    “Ready?” he asked.
    I nodded, wondering why I felt so let down that he didn’t compliment me.
    Hayden placed his hand on the small of my back and guided me toward the stairwell. Tiny tingles resonated in the spot. Geez. Did his touch need to feel so electric? Like I was special. Like he needed to take care of me.
    I hadn’t seen his hand on that girl’s back he took home the other night.
    “Are you letting me drive?”
    “Nope,” he answered as we descended the stairs.
    Outside, the heat assailed us like a wall of glass. Being inside an air-conditioned building made it easy to forget how painstakingly hot Texas summers were. Even for a coastal town, the thick heat clung heavily to the air and snatched your breath away.
    Hayden guided me to a big black truck in the corner of the lot, so masculine and conspicuous. Just like him. Catching me by surprise, he stopped on the passenger side and opened the door.
    I grabbed hold of the interior handle and lifted myself inside. As he rounded the front of his truck, I tried to make sense of his actions. His quiet appraisal. His hand on my back. Him opening the door.
    Did he consider it a date?
    Did he think I’d be one of those girls who’d go back to his apartment at the end of the night?
    Did he feel sorry for the girl who couldn’t sleep or stop crying for four days?
    If I were a betting girl, I’d take the latter.
     
    HAYDEN
    I could barely focus on the dark road in front of me. Where was I supposed to take Alex looking all sexy like that? If I took her to Baxter’s, the guys would be all over her. And I was in no mood to throw down. I also risked running into girls I’d slept with. Definitely not something I wanted to happen in front of Alex. If I took her to dinner, she’d think it was a date.
    It definitely wasn’t a date.
    I chanced a quick peek over at her nestled in the passenger side of my truck. She stared out her window at the passing stores and restaurants, spinning a silver ring on her middle finger. I clearly made her nervous. Especially in such tight quarters.
    I wondered why she hadn’t mentioned the nineties’ rock blaring from my speakers. Other girls complained the second they got into my truck. Either it was too outdated, too loud, or not country. But not Alex.
    “So where you from?” I asked, needing to break the awkward silence between us.
    Her eyes shot to