LOGIN~LUNA~"Nah-uh!" I shook my head vigorously, waving my palm at Mia in firm refusal. "No way in hell am I giving that a third thought. I can't afford another heartbreak." I added when her brows furrowed in confusion, her gaze narrowing at my last words."Another heartbreak?" She echoed. "Are we talking about the heartbreak that asshole Eric dished out, or was there another one I didn't know about?" I continued staring at her with a blank expression, but was fully aware that I inadvertently made her aware of my first issue with Alex. Unless her mind didn't register the first words—"Wait..." She held up her hand. "What do you mean by third thought?" Her lips parted in a knowing grin as she started tugging on my hand that was splayed on my lap. "Come on, Luna. Spill!" Great! Good luck thinking that she didn't pick up on my first words. Of course, she did. If not, she would cease to be Mia— my hyperactive best friend.Now, how do I start narrating that I was actually calling Alex out to
~XANDER~Immediately I stepped foot into the house, I went straight to my study, aiming to immerse myself in work. Instead of using the study in my room, I figured it was best I stayed downstairs, a little far from her.That way, I would be able to keep the raging animal inside of me that wanted nothing but to wrap my arms around her and whisper sweet things to her.The fact that I was even considering that scared me, even more than the awareness that the person who wiped my family from the surface of the Earth was still out there, and might be looking for me....if he hadn't already found me.Instead of heading to the desk as I intended, I made a beeline for my mini bar, desperate for some alcohol reinforcement.This evening was ending the way I'd hoped. We were just getting along after what happened last night. And now? We were back to square one.Square fucking one!!A frustrated growl tore through me as I grabbed the bourbon sitting pretty in the secluded part of my mini bar, jaw
~LUNA~It took several minutes but I was able to pull myself together. That was when it occurred to me that Mia had been waiting for me. Shot!"But she said she would be waiting at the front porch, right?" I asked rhetorically as I glanced around the spacious porch and gasped when I saw her huddled on one of the comfy cushions in a corner of the porch.She pressed her lips together as she held my gaze, sinking into the couch as though she wanted to disappear into it."Ace wanted to show me to your room, but I realized I didn't collect the key from you." She explained, batting her eyelids pleadingly. "Plus, I told you I would be waiting for you here so..." Her voice trailed off as she tilted her lips from side to side. Well, she knew I was about to murder her for being here all this time and not saying a word, while I poured out my heart in hopes that I was alone.But quite frankly, I had zero strength for that. On a perfect day, when my heart wasn't shredded to pieces and handed over
~XANDER~For the first time in an insanely long time, I felt tears burning at the back of my eyes. That had bloody never happened, not since after I witnessed my parents' death. Emotions became a thing of the past to me— turned off and never to be resurrected again. But today, right in my parking lot, I felt the irresistible urge to cry as I watched her leave. I felt like my insides were practically burning and my body was being ripped out of me. It didn't feel good. With each step she took farther away from me, my heart shredded. I wished I could take back those words. That I could tell her the real truth. That she fucking meant everything to me.But that was the problem. It was very wrong and dangerous for me to admit that, because I wasn't supposed to feel in the first place, remember?Andy had drummed it in my ears a thousand and one times, and that was enough to set my heart straight. I had made my mistake of letting myself go deep into her that night. I was supposed to let i
~LUNA~The heat that radiated off his body, as well as the warmth brought about by his big hands that were wrapped around my slender body, was so soothing that I totally lost myself.I leaned more into his embrace, wanting to soak up that warmth and heat if possible. I didn't realize how afraid I was, and how much Eric's threat had affected me till I was latching onto Alex's body as though he held the keys to life itself.The way he wrapped his big hands around me indicated he was all fine with it, and the words he whispered into my ears."I got you, Dewdrop." It took me right back to the scene outside the country club when he swung in to save me from Eric's perverted hands.I wanted him to save me again. Every other day if possible. I wasn't ashamed of my desires. I needed him. We fit right together, like two pieces of a puzzle waiting to be fixed. But his words in the kitchen last night kept ringing in my ears. Plus, his dismissal.Perhaps, he didn't mean it. I wanted to attribute i
~XANDER~My ringtone blared in my ears just as I slipped into the passenger seat of Andy's car. We didn't waste time deciding to pay the bastard a visit immediately. I needed answers to the question that gnawed at the back of my mind for years. Why did he do it? Was it acting alone? If not, who sent him? I needed answers to those questions as soon as possible. Andy was as eager. He had already turned on the ignition by the time my butt hit the passenger seat. A curse slid out of my lips as I snagged the phone from the pocket of my pants, surprised to see who the caller was."Ace?" I said out loud while wondering why he would be calling me all of a sudden. Looking up to meet Andy's gaze, I gestured towards the phone. "Let me get this. It's Ace." He nodded, holding off on stepping on the pedal after hitting 'reverse.'"What's up, man," I said immediately, pressing the phone to my ear."Hey, Xander. Sorry to bother you. I just thought I should inform you that I'm taking Luna home and
~LUNA~I was in Mia's arms in the backseat throughout the ride home. Ace offered to drop us off at Alex's house, and I was genuinely grateful for that. He even helped convince Mia to just go with the clothes she had tried on and finish the shopping online.Heck, she didn't even need more convincing
~LUNA~The sight of him, alongside that annoying smirk of his, drove a pang of rage through my spine. I felt my whole body stiffen, hands curling into fists on their own accord. He smelled of spice, a fragrance I was hitherto addicted to, but now abhorred. I resisted the urge to puke as I stared h
~LUNA~ I could feel Mia's gaze boring into me from the mall entrance to the department store where we would be checking out some clothes. Ace decided to stay at the mall entrance in case Eric decided to show up, which I doubt he would, because Alex had given him a run for his money. Speaking o
~LUNA~Stepping outside the mini-bar, I noticed a familiar car in the parking lot, and my breath hitched. The only place I had seen that car was at Alex's house. The model of this Mercedes was rare and, dare I say, very expensive.Could Alex be here?The possibility was very slim because I didn't t







