Only Human

Chapter 11

When I wake up the next morning, Alec and I are still wrapped around each other. I tilt my head to look up at his sleeping face — so calm, so peaceful, almost childlike. I take a mental picture, wanting to always remember him this way.

As if sensing my eyes, Alec stirs and slowly opens his hazel eyes, a sleepy smile forming. He brushes his fingers across my cheek tenderly… then I suddenly feel his erection pressing against my leg.

That wicked grin spreads across his face, his eyebrows raising suggestively. Before I can even roll my eyes at him, he pulls me close and kisses me — hard, passionate, perfectly in sync. My body responds instantly.

I swing a leg over his hip as his hand trails up my thigh, slipping beneath the hem of my panties. He gently shifts me onto my back, tugging them away in one swift motion. I yank my shirt over my head, and Alec pulls me onto his lap so I’m straddling him.

His hands grip my waist as he lowers me onto him, both of us moaning at the delicious rush of connection. My nails drag lightly down his back, every movement deeper, more consuming.

Alec cups my face, running his thumb across my lip, never once breaking eye contact. I start to roll my hips against him, his breath hitching with mine.

“I love you, Jess,” he whispers.

I crash my lips to his, the kiss dizzying and desperate. For a moment, the world disappears — no beginnings, no endings, just us. Lost in each other, intoxicated by every kiss, every thrust, every whispered word until we unravel together, gasping in each other’s arms.

We collapse back onto the bed, clinging tightly, not ready to let go.

---

After a shower, we dress and wander into the kitchen, where Alec is already humming to Always by Bon Jovi while flipping pancakes. He notices me watching and turns the spatula into a makeshift microphone, belting out the words off-key.

When he finally reaches me, he presses his forehead to mine, dropping his voice to a low, tender whisper as he sings:

“I know when I die, you’ll be on my mind… and I’ll love you, always.”

He kisses me softly. My heart nearly bursts from the sheer sweetness of the moment.

“How did I get so lucky?” I murmur, smiling so wide my cheeks hurt.

Instead of teasing me with a smart remark, Alec just smiles back and holds the moment with me.

“Listen,” I say, “Ruby and Flash want to go prom dress and suit shopping tomorrow. We don’t have plans, do we?”

Alec grins and suddenly scoops me onto a stool at the counter, making me squeal. “Sit. I’m making you breakfast.”

I pout. “I hate being picked up.”

“Which is why I’ll never stop doing it,” he says with a smirk. “Go shopping tomorrow. Have fun.”

I kiss him a few times before letting him check the pancakes.

“I hate that you can’t take me to prom,” I mutter.

The look on his face mirrors mine — disappointed, frustrated. “I know, babe. I want to. I never even went to my own prom. But hey, I’ll technically be there… just cleaning.”

“It’s not the same. I don’t want to go alone.”

“You won’t,” he says firmly, squeezing my hand. “Go with Ruby and Flash. Make it your night.”

I sigh, then nod. “You’re right. We’ll go as a group. It’ll be fun.”

Alec leans over the counter and kisses me. “And in a couple of months, we won’t have to hide anymore. I’ll be right by your side for every event after this. Promise.”

I giggle. “Now flip those pancakes before they burn.”

“s**t!” Alec scrambles back to the stove. “They’re just a little brown!”

“Uh-huh. Burnt.”

“Brown,” he insists, glaring playfully.

I laugh, shaking my head. “Whatever you say, Master Chef.”

Soon enough, he sets down two plates stacked with pancakes, topped with strawberries, blueberries, and a drizzle of maple syrup.

“For madame,” he says with a mock bow.

“Why, thank you, good sir.”

We eat together, and for a little while, everything feels simple and easy.

---

After breakfast, while washing dishes, my phone buzzes. My dad.

“Hey, Dad.”

“Jessica, your mother and I are at the house. It’s nine a.m. — where are you?”

Panic flutters in my chest. “I… went out for breakfast. I’ll be there in fifteen.”

He sighs. “Be quick. I need to be on a plane to Chicago by one.”

He hangs up before I can respond. Typical.

I hurry down the hall where Alec is working on his laptop. He’s been building a website for summer lawn maintenance jobs — extra cash for college.

“Your webpage looks amazing,” I say, wrapping my arms around him.

He spins in his chair, pulling me onto his lap. “Thanks, babe. Maybe I should do this full-time.”

“You’d be brilliant at it.” I kiss him once, then sigh. “I have to go. My parents want me at the house.”

Alec rubs my back, concern flickering in his eyes. “Okay, baby. I’ll see you when you get home.”

I smile. “I love that you call this place home.”

As I grab my bag, Alec hesitates. “Jess?”

“Yeah?”

“I’ve decided… I’m going to see my dad next weekend.”

I drop my bag and rush back into his arms, kissing him. “I’m proud of you. You don’t have to go to his house, but just talking to him might help more than you think.”

He nods slowly, managing a small smile. “Maybe.”

I kiss his forehead, then finally leave.

---

Pulling up to my parents’ house, I spot both cars in the driveway. Rare. My stomach tightens.

Inside, they’re waiting at the counter. My mother leaps up to hug me, gushing about Emerson — apparently Ruby’s mom spilled the news. My dad stands there, strangely tense, holding paperwork.

We sit down, and that’s when the bomb drops.

They’ve separated. He’s transferred to Chicago. They’re getting divorced.

The “good news”? They’re signing the family home over to me.

But to me, it feels like a bribe. A distraction. A way to make up for the fact that the family I barely had is now broken for good.

“You can keep your empty house,” I snap through tears. “The only memories it holds are lonely ones.”

I storm out, ignoring their voices — until I nearly step into traffic. Strong arms yank me back. My heart pounds against a broad chest, and when I look up, horror crashes over me.

Dean Clarke.

I jerk away from his grasp, disgusted.

“Taylor, you okay?” he asks, still breathless.

Flick is at my side instantly, her face etched with worry. My parents hover in the doorway, calling after me. I can’t do this.

I shove past them all, insisting I’m going home. My dad tries to pull me back inside, but my mum stops him. Flick slips her arm through mine and leads me away.

Dean follows.

We walk, the tension thick until Flick breaks it with a gentle nudge. “So… that was some show. You wanna talk about it?”

Tears sting my eyes. “All I’ve ever known from them is abandonment and lies.”

Flick hugs me tight, whispering, “Families. Me and Dean get it.”

I glance at Dean, doubtful. But then Flick playfully smacks him. “You’ll be glad to know I told my naughty cousin to behave. He promised.”

Dean smirks. “But picking on Taylor is kind of our thing.”

“Not anymore,” Flick says firmly.

Dean sighs in defeat. “Fine. I’ll lay off.”

For the first time ever, we share a smile — small, uneasy, but real.

Back at my car, Dean dangles my keys just out of reach before handing them over. Flick hugs me goodbye.

“Drive safe, Jess. If you need to talk, I’m here.”

I thank her, mutter a reluctant “you too” to Dean, and finally head back.

---

When I walk into Alec’s apartment, he’s making lunch. His smile softens when he sees my puffy eyes.

“You’ve been crying. What happened?”

We sit, and I tell him everything. Every detail.

He holds me, saying little, but I see his jaw tighten when I mention Dean. I know it eats at him, but he stays quiet, letting me have this moment.

For hours, we just talk. We hold each other. And for a while, I finally feel calm again.

But deep down, I can’t shake the image of Dean’s arms around me in the street — and I know Alec will never see it the way I did.

Sooner or later, he’s going to find out.