Chapter Twelve - The Start of Something

I loaded the dishwasher slowly, my eyes fixed on my mother and Alex. They were laughing at something on my mother's phone, completely engrossed in their shared moment. My mother rested her hand over Alex's shoulder and said, "It was really funny."

I watched as Alex cleared her throat and then stood up. "Maybe we should help her in the kitchen," she suggested.

My mother snorted. "What is she? 6?"

"With how you yelled at her when I first arrived, she might as well be 5," Alex said, taking the rest of the dishes and walking to the kitchen. She handed me the dishes, making sure our hands touched. "Here. Do you need help?"

I smiled and decided to joke. "What am I? 6?"

Alex turned to look at my mother and then took a step closer to me, leaning in to whisper, "don't you dare, last I checked you were 29 charming a 48-year-old?"

The proximity of Alex, her warm breath against my ear, sent a shiver down my spine. My heart fluttered, caught between the playful banter and the deeper, unspoken connection we shared. The kitchen, filled with the soft hum of the dishwasher and the distant laughter of my mother watching something on TV, suddenly felt like an intimate cocoon.

I glanced at Alex, a smile tugging at my lips. "Uhm... If she is charmed who cares about the age?" I whispered back, my voice barely audible.

Alex's eyes sparkled with mischief and something more, something that made my pulse quicken. She stepped back, giving me a conspiratorial wink before turning to grab the pots she used to cook. The moment lingered between us, charged with anticipation and the thrill of secrets kept just beneath the surface.

As I continued cleaning up the kitchen, I couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. The evening held a promise, one that made my heart race and my thoughts whirl. I glanced at Alex again, catching her gaze, and knew that whatever happened next, it was going to be crazy.

I knew there was no turning back, and the fact that my mother forced me to sleep over because I had more than one glass of wine didn't help. I was sure about this, but at the same time, I wasn't. A little part of me was scared as much as I was excited. I looked over at Alex and found her laughing at something on TV.

"This is stupid, how can people do these?" Alex said, her laughter echoing in the cosy living room. My mother shook her head, "Beats me. But I guess that's how they enjoy life these days, by doing pranks on each other to test their love for each other."

I sighed. "I don't know how I'd react if someone I liked pretended to be interested in someone else just to see how I'd react. Can't they act like grown-ups and talk instead? What if I lost interest, thinking they were really into the other person? And the cheating one—I can't even imagine how insecure it would make me if someone I was with cheated on me."

Alex nodded. "I fully agree with you. I know what that did to me; it made me unable to trust at all. That's exactly why Steph and I were in an open relationship. After my first relationship, I couldn't fully trust anyone again."

God! It seemed like we were going deep now. I wasn't sure how this was going to go because I knew exactly that Alex was talking about her relationship with my mother. The atmosphere suddenly changed, and my mother fell silent, looking uncomfortable.

Alex sighed when she realized the shift. "I have moved on, Miranda. I'm okay now, and I think during my business trip a few months ago, I got to meet a side of myself I didn't know still existed. A side of me I want to explore." She said the last part looking at me.

I could guess what that meant, but I also wanted to know more. I wanted to ask, but I knew that would be too obvious. I looked at my mom and asked the most uncomfortable question, making the atmosphere even more tense, "Why did you cheat, Mom?"

The room fell into a heavy silence. The dim light from the lamp cast long shadows on the walls, making the space feel smaller. My mother's face went pale, and she looked away, unable to meet my eyes. The ticking of the clock on the wall seemed louder, marking each second that passed without an answer.

My heart pounded in my chest as I waited for her response. I could see the discomfort etched on Alex's face now, but I also saw a glimmer of understanding in her eyes. This moment was raw and vulnerable, and the weight of the question hung heavily in the air.

"I... I don't know what to say," my mother finally stammered, her voice barely above a whisper. "It was a mistake. A terrible and stupid mistake."

Tears welled up in her eyes, and I felt a mixture of anger and sorrow. I wanted to understand because she described Alex as amazing and kind and loving. If that was all true, then why did she cheat? I didn't know how Alex felt back then, but I could imagine it.

Alex reached out and placed her hand on my mom's shoulder. "Sometimes, people make choices that hurt others. It doesn't make it right, but it's part of being human. We all have our flaws Miranda; besides, we were kids back then. Don't do this to yourself now. It's all forgiven."

I nodded, my eyes meeting Alex's. There was a depth in her gaze. "I am sorry for poking old wounds, guys. I just wanted to know how one could let something good slip, you know."

My mother smiled a sad smile. "I understand, honey. I was stupid, honestly. I won't lie and say I was pressured to do it, but I hurt Xander in the most awful way, and I'd do anything to take that back. This is why I advised you to follow your heart earlier. Sad how my stupid decisions made me lose this one, she is the one that got away."

My heart felt heavy as my mother told us that. What was I supposed to do with that? And how would Alex feel hearing that?

Alex smiled. "It's okay. Look at where we are now. I'm happy here, and I have a feeling that things are going to get even better for me. I'm starting to feel like my old self again. Soon, I'll be ready for love, and I won't hold back."

My mother nodded and smiled. "That's great to hear. I'm sure you have a list of people already waiting in line for you."

The three of us laughed, and Alex suggested, "Instead of these cheating pranks, how about we watch some action?"

My mom sighed. "You know how much I hate that Xander. But you two can watch since it's Lizzy's favourite too. I'll go to bed. I need to answer a few emails as well."

I felt bad that my mother was leaving. I initially thought I played a role in her not being in the mood to stay up and watch a movie.

Alex laughed. "Miranda, come on. You're not 18 anymore. I thought you outgrew that. Action is really amazing and fun."

My mother shook her head, now genuinely smiling. "No, you two enjoy coz you both like it when people physically hurt each other. Goodnight, baby, I love you. Goodnight, Xander." She planted a kiss on my forehead making me smile.

"Love you more, Mom, nighty." I said blowing her a kiss and watched her as she left the room, her footsteps fading down the hallway.

Alex and I were left alone in the cosy living room. The room felt warmer and a bit different now. The soft glow of the lamp cast a gentle light on Alex's face, highlighting her features in a way that made my heart skip a beat.

"Well, I guess it's just us then," Alex said, her voice soft but filled with a playful undertone.

"Yeah," I replied, feeling a mix of nervousness and excitement. "And Alex you do know that my mother hates action movies, right?"

Alex grinned. "Of course, I do, I used to tease her about it. So, how about something with a lot of explosions and a bit of a plot? Maybe..."

"So, you suggested this knowing she'd leave." I said cutting her off and understanding what just happened, as I settled into the couch next to her.

"Okay, even though I was hoping she would, I didn't know she actually would leave, I mean we haven't seen each other in 29 years," Alex said with a smirk on her face. "Also, I didn't know it was your favourite." She paused, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Actually, I don't know much about your favourite things. I'd like for that to change."

I smiled, not quite sure how to react. I loved the fact that Alex had indirectly created time for us to do something together without raising any attention. "Fine, whatever, Miss 'I'll be ready for love and won't hold back.' Do you want to share a blanket?"

"You know I won't say no to that," Alex replied, scooting closer to me and getting under the blanket. Our thighs touched, and we looked at each other.

The room felt more intimate, with just the two of us under the soft glow of the TV. The warmth of the blanket and the closeness of Alex made my heart race. I could feel the heat from her body seeping into mine, and it was both comforting and electrifying.

"So," Alex said, breaking the silence after she pressed play on the remote control, "tell me about your favourite things. I want to know everything about you."

I chuckled softly, feeling a bit shy but also excited. This was somehow taking me back to us in Paris after we met, "Well, let's see... In addition to what I already told you in Paris, I love rainy days, especially when I can stay in with a good book or just be lazy in bed with some action movie on. I adore sunflowers; they always make me smile. And I have a weakness for lemon cake and ice cream."

Alex listened intently, her eyes never leaving mine. "Rainy days, sunflowers, lemon cake and ice cream. Noted. What else?"

I thought for a moment. "I love exploring new places, even if it's just a new café down the street. And I really enjoy painting, even though I'm not very good at it as my mom. It's just... relaxing."

Alex smiled warmly. "I think I`ve heard that and it`s wonderful. And I'd love to see these paintings sometime."

"Maybe, maybe not," I said, feeling a blush creep up my cheeks. "What about you? What are your favourite things to do?"

Alex's eyes sparkled. "Well, I love the feeling of freedom when I'm riding my motorcycle, you know that already. I enjoy cooking, especially trying out new recipes. And I have a soft spot for old classic movies."

"Motorcycles, cooking, and classic movies," I repeated, smiling. "Noted. I so want to taste more of your cooking."

She winked, “stick around and you will find out.”

This was like getting to know her all over again but this time it was different; we weren't in a hurry to take each other’s clothes off, although I wouldn’t mind that really. But this time, we wanted to really know each other.

We fell into a comfortable silence, the movie playing in the background almost forgotten. The connection between us felt palpable, charged with unspoken words and emotions. As our eyes met again, I felt a surge of courage.

"I'm glad you came, Alex," I said softly. "This... this indirectly means a lot to me."

Alex's expression softened, and she reached under the blanket to gently touch my hand. "I'm glad too, Elizabeth. More than you know."

The moment lingered between us, filled with possibilities and the promise of something more. As we settled back into watching the movie, our hands still touching under the shared blanket, I felt a sense of contentment wash over me. This was just the beginning, and I was ready to see where it would lead.

"You know," Alex said softly, breaking the silence, "I've always wanted to travel more. There's so much out there to see."

I turned to look at her, our faces only inches apart. "I've always wanted that too. Imagine all the places one could explore... maybe together."

Alex's eyes sparkled with excitement. "How about we start planning a trip? Just the two of us. We could go anywhere—Italy, Japan, or even a city here in South Africa for starters."

The thought of traveling with Alex made my heart flutter. "I'd love that. And I'd love to see you on your motorcycle. Maybe you could take your bike with us, if you have it here?"

Alex grinned, her eyes lighting up. "Oh, it`s on its way, and you’d love it. The feeling of the wind rushing past, the freedom... it's incredible. And I’d definitely love to take you for a ride."

The idea of being so close to Alex, holding onto her as we rode through the city or countryside, made my pulse quicken. "I'd really like that," I said softly.

Alex moved closer, her eyes searching mine. "Lizzy, I think... I think we could have something special. From day one this felt different."

I felt a surge of emotion, the memories of Paris flooding back. The magic, the connection, the way we made each other feel. "I think so too, Alex. I've never felt this way before."

Our faces were so close now that I could feel her breath on my skin. Slowly, tentatively, our lips met in a soft kiss. It started gentle, exploring, but soon deepened, filled with all the unspoken feelings we had been holding back. I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her closer, losing myself in the warmth and intensity of the moment.

The kiss grew more passionate, our hands roaming, our breaths mingling. We kissed until we couldn't breathe, until the world around us faded away. There was only Alex and me, and the overwhelming emotions between us.

When we finally pulled away, gasping for air, we rested our foreheads together, our eyes still closed, savouring the closeness. "Elizabeth," Alex whispered, her voice husky.

My heart skipped a bit, already feeling exactly how she felt. I smiled when she didn't say anything. Maybe she did feel what I felt.

We stayed like that for a while, wrapped in each other's arms on the couch, the world outside forgotten. It felt like the beginning of Paris all over again—the magic, the connection, only this time better, with a promised tomorrow. And as we sat there, under the blanket, I knew that this was just the beginning of something. We were ready to explore the world together, to take risks, and to see where this would take us.

But for now, we needed to try and actually watch this movie. I felt a hand on my face and turned to look at Alex she smiled, "I want to kiss you again." I smiled too and leaned over so that our lips were touching again. Or we can kiss. That was also okay.