The Man he could never be.

The man he could never be (Chapter 5)

The man he could never be

Chapter 5– The Line They Shouldn’t Cross

The house was quiet again after Daniel left.

Too quiet.

Kayla leaned against the kitchen counter, arms folded, trying to slow her heartbeat.

Alexander stood across the room, watching her carefully.

“You handled that well,” he said.

Kayla snorted softly.

“I hung up on him and hid in his dad’s house. I wouldn’t call that graceful.”

Alexander’s voice stayed calm.

“You didn’t run back to him.”

“That bar is extremely low.”

Alexander walked toward the window, looking out over the wide Texas fields.

“You’d be surprised how many people still choose the wrong person.”

Kayla studied his back.

There was something different about him now.

Before, he had been calm.

Controlled.

Now there was tension in his shoulders.

Like he was holding something back.

“Are you mad at him?” she asked.

Alexander gave a quiet laugh.

“That would imply this is new behavior.”

Kayla frowned.

“So he’s always been like this?”

Alexander turned back toward her.

“Daniel has always believed the world belongs to him.”

“And you?”

Alexander’s eyes rested on her again.

“I believe you earn what you keep.”

Kayla swallowed slightly.

The way he looked at her made her feel warm and nervous at the same time.

Like she was standing too close to something dangerous.

She pushed off the counter.

“I should probably figure out what I’m doing next.”

Alexander didn’t move.

“You’re staying here.”

Kayla raised an eyebrow.

“That sounded less like a suggestion.”

“It wasn’t.”

Kayla laughed.

“You can’t just decide that.”

Alexander stepped closer.

His voice dropped slightly.

“I can offer you a place where you’re safe.”

“I wasn’t unsafe before.”

Alexander’s expression darkened.

“You were with someone who disrespected you.”

Kayla opened her mouth to argue.

But stopped.

Because he wasn’t wrong.

Alexander stopped only a few feet away now.

“Stay,” he said quietly.

Kayla held his gaze.

Her heart beat faster.

“Why do you care so much?”

For a moment, Alexander didn’t answer.

Then he said something that made the air between them feel heavier.

“Because when I see something good,” he said slowly, “I don’t let it be ruined.”

Kayla’s breath caught slightly.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

She stepped around him quickly.

“I need air.”