The Italian Catalyst -CASTELLANO SERIES: ALEXANDER’S STORY

Chapter 5

Alexander’s POV

It was nostalgic moment when we were standing back at where we were at the same spot last year because of a dare that went a wrong—I would say, the cause of it all.

A year ago I had kissed Andrea Bennett here, hoping she’d not leave and stay—and that wasn’t all but that wasn’t something I wanted to think of right now.

I know what I did to her required an explanation but the thing is, every time when I wanted to talk about it, something would come up and I would chicken out and then not too long later, she left for a good long year.

I wasn’t sure why I did what I did; if it wasn’t for that dare, I think I would have still done the same. I wasn’t sure what I wanted from her either, all I knew was what I wanted her to stay with me and I was confident enough I could make it happen.

Was it for my own selfish needs? Yes, because I don’t know what I would do without her.

She stopped walking, turned around took look at me and I almost bumped right into her. “Do you realize what you have just done?” she asked, not sounding the least bit pleased. I shrugged out my jacket and threw it around her shoulders, not wanting her to freeze out here.

“I just punch a guy in the face on behalf of you, you’re welcome.” I said, hoping she would thank me instead of giving me another lecture that I didn’t need. Or maybe I did because I was always acting rashly.

“Alex, I could have handled that myself and I was about to! I’ve told you not to stick your nose into my personal business and clearly you do not take my words seriously.”

“Well I’m sorry I didn’t know that you could be this ungrateful when all I tried to do was protect you. The bastard had his hands on you and was saying things that weren’t very nice in case you didn’t hear it clear enough.”

“Yes I know he was but you didn’t have to hit him like that Alex!” she now sounded frustrated. “You’re Captain of the Varsity team, not just any University but Harvard itself. It’s so easy for a boy like yourself to get his name tarnished especially when the board of the entire University has high hopes on you. Coach already has his eyes on you and another slip up is all you need to get your title removed, don’t you know that?”

I went silent as I began to process her words. Andrea was right—I was so hot headed earlier and all I wanted was to beat the s**t out of the pathetic excuse of a human when I heard him say those words to Andrea but I didn’t stop to consider the consequences of it.

“I’m f****d, aren’t I?” I said, grinning, hiding my bruised fist behind my back. She sighed as she took a step closer to me, pulling my hand in hers gently and held it. She smoothed the bruised skin with her delicate fingers and I let out a low hiss.

“You okay?” she finally asked, the look of annoyance as long disappeared and was replaced with concern.

“Kind of hurts, but if I were to ever to do it again, I would.” I admitted.

She sent me a pointed look and I sighed exasperatedly and relented. “Fine, I’ll walk away from the next fight and that’s only because you asked me to.”

“There won’t be a next fight. I just don’t want you to get into trouble because of me, it’s not worth it.”

“It is if it comes to you.”

“Alex, please don’t say things like that to me as if you care.” She said quietly. “What do you mean as if I care? I do care Andrea.” I looked at her as if I was trying to figure her out. “I do care if someone treats you like crap or say stupid s**t to hurt or disrespect you.” I frowned as confusion etched on my forehead when she let go of my hand but I caught hers instead.

“There’s no need to. I’m perfectly capable of taking care of myself—I was in a foreign country on my own for a year, I think I can handle a little insult thrown my way.”

“Why are you so afraid if I actually were to care about you Andrea?” I asked. She let go of my hand once again and craned her neck up to look at me.

“Because I’m afraid I’d overthink it again like how I did the last time. And the last time that happened…”a sad smile crossed her beautiful face before shaking her head, her long red locks flowing around her. “It didn’t turn out so well, did it?”

“Andrea help me out here, you’re confusing me. What did not turn out so well? And what was it that you thought so much about?” I felt like I was pleading with her for clarification with her words. “Baby please…” I tried but I didn’t get to finish before someone else interrupted us.

“Hey guys…”Lexi’s voice was loud and clear which startled Andrea for a bit, causing her to take a step away from me. “Didn’t meant to interrupt but I heard this scum talking over the phone about getting the Varsity Captain into trouble by spreading rumors about him sleeping with his Vice Captain’s sister? He found out about it and that you beat him up to threaten him?”

Bryan followed up behind, dragging the kid who I had practically beaten black and blue by his collar. The boys on the Varsity team were all well-built, toned and muscular compared to the boys who were in the band club, and clearly this one belonged to one.

“Let go of me!” the bastard struggled but Bryan held him firmly. “Not so fast, not until the Captain decides what to do with your scrawny ass.”

For once, Bryan recognized me as Captain.

“The bar tender was nice enough to provide a tape that will show the evidence of you harassing Andrea back in the bar, you surely don’t want me to bring this to the authorities now, do you? Lexi taunted.

“This kid is just 17 and clearly he wasn’t supposed to be drinking either, what the hell are you doing at the bar when you should be sleeping at home?” Bryan asked, tilting his face to look at the boy.

“No please, don’t do that. I’ll lose my spot on the school choir…”

“I didn’t know you guys had a choir?” Lexi grinned and Andrea smiled.

“So you’re from a choir?” I scoffed, looking him dead in the eye while I stuffed my hands into my pocket. “You surely messed with the wrong team, boy. However, I’ll let you go on one condition but if you don’t agree to it, I’m sure my team mates behind you will send you screaming in soprano.”

The rest of my team mates shuffled out from the bar all looking perfectly sober; especially by now, they would’ve gotten wind of what happened. No one messed with anyone of us here and gets away unharmed.

“Cap, do we have a problem here?” one of them asked.

“I’ll do anything, please.” The bastard begged, turning to Andrea who this time stood at my side, watching him quietly.

“Rest assured we won’t touch a single hair on your head if you stay the hell away from everyone on my team—that includes Andrea here and Lexi considering the fact she has now caught you red handed and I’d hate to tell you the consequences if you decide to go against me. Are we clear on that, Beyoncé?” I bent my back to take a good look at him. Bryan shook him while grabbing his collar when he didn’t answer at first.

Shakily, he answered. “Yes, you have my word. I’ll stay out of your sight and I promise not to say a word about this.”

“Scram.” I ordered.

After band boy raced off into the night, I turned to Lexi, “State law mentioned that no security cameras should be place anywhere near a public bathrooms where privacy is expected, please tell me you were bluffing when you said you have the tape earlier.”

“I was.” She grinned. “It’s a good thing he doesn’t study law or he’ll be able to call our bluff.” Lexi winked. Bryan had now moved over to Andrea to ask if she was okay, seems like she didn’t need me her anymore.

“Are you alright?” Lexi now turned to Andrea who smiled and thanked her for stepping out to help her. “I’ll take her home.” Bryan said to me but I held Andrea’s arm firmly. “I believe Scott would trust his sister with me instead, next time buddy.”

I was relieved when Andrea didn’t say no to this. “I’ll see you tomorrow Bryan.” Andrea smiled before they shared a knowing smile. I for one, stood in between them because I didn’t like it when she smiled at any other guy. Petty Castellano.

“You can’t go back to your apartment.” I said when we both got into my Audi. “Why not?” she asked, attempting to pull her seatbelt across her chest but it was stuck, so she yanked it a couple of times out of frustration. I sighed, leaning over, I put my hand over hers and pulled it a little gentler this time.

“At this rate you’re gonna destroy everything in my car.” I said under my breath. I was acutely aware that our faces were pretty close to one another and my nose took in a hint of her perfume, recognizing the scent instantly—it was the Chloe perfume I had bought for her on her birthday two years ago. I had a small knowing smile plastered on my face as I pulled back.

“What’s with that look?” she asked as I started up the engine.

“Nothing.” Was all I said.

“You still haven’t told me as to why I can’t go home?” she asked.

“Unless you want to hear your brother’s latest chic screaming his name into the night, I suggest you might as well stay over at my place.”

“I could stay over at Bryan’s.” she said cheekily.

“I wouldn’t allow it even if you begged me to.” I said, taking the next exit, turning to look at her briefly.

“Oh stop going all big brother on me, I can do whatever I want and I sure as hell do not need permission from you.”

“Of course you can do whatever you want baby, it’s your brother that I’m more worried about. He’d be on my ass if he knew I allowed you to go home with lover boy.”

“He’s not my lover boy yet, and don’t call him that.”

“Then what should I call him? Title stealer? Or little virgin? Hey did he say anything when you did that little…” I mimicked her finger wriggle this morning at the library and she smacked me on the arm.

“Stop it Castellano! Must you remind me of every single embarrassing thing I did?” she protested.

“What? I just thought it was cute.”

“You literally went ‘oh god’ on me, how could you have thought that was cute?”

“It is cute and I wanna claim it as my own.”

“What does that even mean?” she asked, turning her head to look at me.

“It means, you are only permitted to do that little finger wave for me and me only.” Now in front of the red traffic light, I turned my head to look at her and I had a good look of her rolling her eyes at me, gone are her green eyes and they were replaced with amber colors under this moonlight.

“No you can’t claim something like that! I think I’m just gonna keep that for Bryan.” She stuck out her chin defiantly and I pulled her chin towards me gently, the tips of our nose touching and her eyes darted left to right.

“The hell you’re gonna.” I said quietly.

“You can bet your ass I will.” She said in utter defiance and a proud smirk lifted the corners of my lips and she moved her chin away. “You better get going, the light’s green now.”

“You are so going to get it Andy.”

“I hope by now you should know that I’m not afraid of you.”

“You say that now.” I said quietly, turning my attention back to the front view of the cae and stepped on the accelerator, hearing the engine roar.

I was parked and Andrea got out immediately—she hated it whenever I opened or shut the door for her, something about her being perfectly capable doing that on her own. I took two quick strides around the hood of the car and scooped her up with one arm and threw her over my shoulder, making sure I took the private elevator up since I didn’t want anyone looking at her bum.

“Castellano, put me down!” she commanded, smacking her hands against my back. “What is wrong with you god damn it!”

“You sure are a mouthful baby.” I said holding her still as the metal box took us up all the way up to the penthouse. “What was it that you said about betting my ass again?” I asked and I heard her groan in frustration.

“Alexander David Castellano, you are so f*****g egotistical. You have every other girl on campus wrapped around your little finger and even if you didn’t, they’d fall prostrated at your feet. Will you at least not hog the one girl that doesn’t want you?” she protested and I walked towards my door and scanned the keycard against it. The little alarm sound went off and the door unlocked.

“Who doesn’t want me?” I asked, letting her down on the couch, my hand not moving from under her knees as I hovered just above her with my other arm on the backrest of the couch. “I don’t, why does that hurt your ego knowing that there’s actually someone who doesn’t like you very much?” she countered.

I scoffed out loud, trying my best not to laugh at her comebacks but this girl was really something else. “It doesn’t hurt me that much, don’t worry because I don’t like you either.”

“Great! The feeling’s mutual. Now if you would please move aside, I would like to wash up and head to bed, considering the amount of drama you put us in had taken up most of my night already.” She tried to get up, I all but pushed her back down.

“Me? Causing a drama? Excuse me but I wasn’t the beautiful little lady in a red dress who got followed by a scumbag.”

“Why? Do you want to try this on?”

“Sure, but in order to do so, you’re gonna have to actually take it off.”

There was a tension brewing in between us and frankly my eyes were now only focused on her lips, wanting to taste them so badly but I wasn’t sure what she would think of me. The last time we did this, she ended up leaving to London. If I did that again, she would probably move to somewhere across the world and never return.

So no, Castellano, keep it in your f*****g pants for crying out loud.

“Isn’t that your favorite line for every other girl you sleep with?” she shook her head, pressing her lips into her thin line.

“How do you know that? Were you perhaps spying on me?” I asked, my head lowering as I couldn’t hold back any longer. But she was quick, holding her finger out and pushed it against my forehead. “It doesn’t take a genius to find out those common lines and lies you tell your women before sleeping with them.”

“It doesn’t?” I raised a brow, trying to play it cool as if like I didn’t just get rejected.

“Please, you must have told them things like they looked even more beautiful without clothes or make up on, or the fact when they bend over, they probably bent it better than Beckham.” She pushed herself off the couch, her lips barely grazing my cheek and I felt a spark of electricity shot up my spine at a mere touch from her.

“Don’t just stand there Castellano, go get me a towel and some clothes to wear. And trust me when I say I’d like to keep them on for the whole night.” She drawled, flicking her red long hair over her shoulders and I held a hand close to my chest. f**k it’s as if I’d been hit like a truck with that mere gesture alone.

I grudgingly walked past her, sent her the stinky eye to only see her smirk right back at me. This woman will be the death of me—and this was something I knew many years ago.

We both had a late class tomorrow morning so we stayed up for a little while longer just watching an old movie—Bad Boys 2. It was Dad’s favorite movie ever and I probably watched it more than 50 times over 2 decades of my life, mom said he even made us watch it while we’re just infants, as if we actually understood what was going on.

I made us some popcorn and she made us two cups of hot cocoa—it was the best and hers was the only cocoa I would drink.

“Those two main characters are like you and my brother.”

“I’m Marcus, your brother is Mike.” I nodded, having an arm over her headrest.

“Why can’t you be Mike? You both look just as…” she rolled her lips in said no more but a smile broke out not long after. “What were you going to call me?” I asked, tugging at her sweats, pulling her towards me.

“Nothing.” She denied, flicking a popcorn at me which I caught it easily with my mouth, chewing on it.

“I literally run faster than Scott, I probably am the better detective, I’d like to think I’m the funnier one out of the both of us and I can shoot pretty well—best archer on the range.” I bragged.

“Funny yes, but shooting? Define it because in a term for you as a man who sleeps with many—it could very well mean different things.”

“Now now baby, you have a mind of a gutter. Please do enlighten me as to what my version of ‘shoot’ means?”

“Are you meaning to tell me that aside from being dumb at math, you’re also dumb in deciphering double meanings? She turned her head and gave me that pointed look and I stared at her, flexing my jaw as I tried to find the perfect comeback but there was none.

“Andrea Bennett!”

“Yes baby?” she parroted me.

“I’m heading to bed, you can finish the rest of the movie all on your own.” I said, getting up but she pulled me back down by my shirt. I turned to look at her, excited at first that she might apologize and ask me to stay with her but she got up instead—she clearly enjoy this game of cat and mouse.

“I’m taking the bed while you are taking the couch, hopefully your idol on TV would be able to teach you a thing or two about, aiming.” She whispered the last word to me and my eyes widened, clearing my throat when she begin to walk away.

“The bed is big enough for two people!” I protested.

“So is the couch. If you’re that lonely, remember that you’re just a phone call away from one of your wide range of lady friends.”

“Fuckin’ hell.” I cursed under my breath as I watched her hips sway from left to right when she headed up the stairs. I tried to look away, I really did. But it was difficult when a gorgeous woman like herself was right in front of me, teasing me on purpose—first it was the dress and now this, in my own clothes.

Fuck this night is gonna be longer than I think it would be.

**

The next morning, I jolted awake to the ringing of my phone. I blindly smacked around the table for the sound and slid my finger across the screen. “What?” I said lazily, knowing there was only one i***t that would dare to call me this early—Scott f*****g Bennett.

“Dude, is my sister with you?” Scott asked, I heard a girl talking indistinctively in the background—she sounded like she was angry about something. Leave it to Scott to piss a girl off bright and early and then act dumb about it.

“Yeah she’s probably still asleep in my room.” I yawned, wiping the sleep from my eyes. “Now, before you go all protective brother bear on me, I was sleeping on the couch last night and no, we did not sleep together.” I said, pulling the blanket over myself.

“I wasn’t gonna ask about that.” I heard him say gruffly when I heard the girl on the other line asked if he was talking to ‘Alexander’. Well seems like Scott brought home a nosy chic. “I heard what happened at the bar last night after I left, something about some dumb band boy harassing Andrea and you took a swing at him?”

“Yes that did happen and don’t you worry, our boys made sure he’s not gonna give us any trouble from here. Also, did you have a good shag last night?”

“A real good one, she’s… hold on…” Scott said to me and I think he may or may not have insulted her by asking her ethnicity and her name. “She’s Russian but that’s not the point Castellano! Stop diverting me from the topic. Is everything okay with you and Andrea?”

“Don’t worry, we handled the situation pretty well. You sometimes forget who these outsiders are dealing with, come on, it’s the Varsity team. They’d know better than to mess around with us, now if you would excuse me, I would like to go back to sleep.”

“Thank god. Anyway, I’ve got to get back in bed, I’ll see you later at practice.”

“Don’t miss me.”

“Don’t kiss my sister!” was what he said before hanging up.

It’s a good thing he hung up because I would’ve told him I’ve already done that and it’s a little too late for a warning now.

I couldn’t sleep anymore, thanks to my dipshit of a best friend who woke me up at the early ass c***k of dawn. Kicking the blanket away from me, I did a quick 15 minute on the treadmill maxing out the speed limit and did at least 50 push-ups and 50 sit-ups before I hit the showers.

Tying the towel around my waist, I headed upstairs to get dressed but was surprised to see the bed empty and the water running in the en-suite.

She was up early.

I took my own sweet time pulling out a fresh pair of boxers and jeans over myself and did my hair and s**t. Yes I did my hair despite everyone thinks my hair was effortlessly styled, it’s highly impossible, f**k I need to get a haircut soon.

“You’re up early baby.” I said while looking at her through the reflection of the mirror; she had a towel wrapped around her head and she was wearing my clothes with no pants on—I swear to god the temptation was real and it was impossible not to look away especially when her hips were swaying when she approached me.

“Yeah, I just finished a little work out and I was all sweaty by the end of it.” she muttered, grabbing the hairdryer next to me, pulling out the turban with one swift move of her hand.

“Did you sleep well?” she smirked. I looked at my bed with the messed up pillows and duvet, doesn’t take a genius to realize she had a good time hogging the entire bed to herself.  “No, why can’t you let me sleep on the bed as well?” I asked.

“Of course not. Friend’s don’t do that s**t, it’s weird.”

“Weird? How is it even weird? It’s not like we’ve never slept in the same bed before? Remember nap time?”

“Alex that was years ago and you were cuddling Scott in the corner of the bed.”

“No we weren’t cuddling!” my brows furrowed. “I think it was the other way around.”

“I’m not going to argue with you on that and we are most definitely not sleeping together, ever and that’s final!”

“Who said anything about sleeping together?” a big fat smirk crept its way to my face and I watched her narrow her eyes at me. “Castellano, it’s 6 in the morning and can we for once not start our morning by you harassing me with your nonsense?”

“Why not? There’s no one else that I’d rather do it with.”

She groaned in annoyance and turned on the device and ran my brush through her hair. I watched her in interest as she moved around my room, using my things as if they were hers. She knew exactly what was where and she didn’t even bother asking when she used them now and trust me when I say I’m totally fine with it.

“Insufferable, that’s what you are.” She pointed the edge of the hair brush at my chest and I pulled the other end, kissing the tip of her nose. “And yet despite it all, you still put up with it.” I said, stepping back before she realized what just happened. “Let’s have breakfast at Joe’s, shall we? I’m craving for that piccolo latte.”

“I can’t.” she said, turning away from me as she pulled on a pair of sweats, my sweats. Leave it to Andrea meeting another boy wearing my clothes.

“Because you’re afraid we’d have to share another croissant?” I reasoned.

“No, it’s because Bryan had asked me to head to Joe’s with him this morning.”

“Trevors?” I raised a brow as I pulled a jacket over myself. “Cancel it.” I said without giving it much thought.

“I’m not gonna. I pretty much left him alone at the booth for the better half of last night and after all, he did play a part in saving your ass last night.”

“I would’ve settled it one way or another with or without his help baby. Trevors’ was just doing us all a favor, it’s not like he owed it help us.”

“And so did Lexi.” Andrea said calmly as I fixed the collar of my jacket, looking at her. “What are you saying Andy?” I asked.

“I’m saying, the both of them did us a huge favor last night by making sure that band boy doesn’t go around trashing your name and reputation.” She explained.  “So I’m merely returning his favor by thanking him with breakfast and so should you.”

“So should I what, Andrea?”

“You should thank him too for saving your ass, you arrogant twat.” She said bristly. Andrea Bennett was the only girl who I allowed to speak to me like that and she knew it very well and was making the most out of it.

“Very well, then I will.”

“You would?” she raised a brow to see if I was gonna go back on my word.

“Yes, but then I would need to call Lexi to breakfast as well. If today we’re about to return one another’s kindness, I guess I would have to thank Lexi real well, after all, she too saved my ass.” I countered.

I watched her hollow out her cheeks and her eyes darkened at the mention of Lexi’s name. “Fine, go on ahead and invite your girlfriend to breakfast.” She said girlfriend like it was a dirty word, two can play at that game Andrea.

“Great, because I already invited her.” I made a face before throwing a jacket at her where she caught with ease. “Hurry up baby or we might need to share that croissant again.” I said, walking right out of my room.

**

Andrea and I took our separate ways after leaving my place.

Trevors was waiting for her at somewhere close by my building, dressed in a plain navy colored t-shirt and jeans, he even had a stalk of flower for her. I frowned as I began furiously texting on my phone and dialing Lexi’s number.

“Would you just give me a minute? I’m just having my car parked.” Lexi was annoyed.

“Hey grab some flowers for me on the way here would you?”

“Whatever for princess? Think I don’t appreciate you enough?” she said jokingly.

“Less questions, more moving Stone.” I said in a sing song voice as I watched the two of them walked towards the direction of the café. I heard Lexi sighed exasperatedly and I heard her car door slam. “Its 6:30 in the morning Castellano, what sort of florist would be open at this time?”

“Just find one, or better, just gather those flowers you see outside Miss Betsy’s store, she wouldn’t mind.”

“Great, I’m taking orders over the phone to commit crime?”

“Alexis Stone, you have exactly 5 minutes and 30 seconds left, hurry up.”

“I’m gonna f*****g kill you when I get there if you don’t give me a good enough explanation as to why I’m stealing flowers, bye!” she said, hanging up.

I waited impatiently at the corner of some bakery, checking my watch for the 5th time now. Just as I was about to reach for my phone, Lexi showed up with a bunch of flowers in hand and a glare. “You’re 10 seconds late.” I said, showing her my watch.

“And you’ve got exactly 10 second to live, now answer me as to why you wanted me to get these?” she shoved the sunflowers into my hand and I glanced at the stalks. “No reason, come on, breakfasts on me.”

“Oh it’d better, especially when you just made me go all ‘happy farm’ at 6:30 in the morning.”

“6:30 and 45 seconds now.”

“Oh will you just shut it?” she scolded and I all but threw my arm around her shoulder as we made our way to Joe’s.

Before we got in, I saw Andrea seated with her crush at a table outside. I made sure to clear my throat real loud, hopefully it would get her attention and it did. She looked up just in time to see me passing those stolen flowers to Lexi. “For you Lex.”

Lexi looked at me with wide eyes and she looked like she was ready to hit me. “Castellano, I swear to god I will…” she begin.

“And he most certainly do not appreciate you swearing at him. Smile now and pretend to laugh and thank me for these.”

“No why the hell would I even..?” she looked confused as ever as she looked around and her eyes landed on Andrea. “Oh Castellano, who hurt you …?” Lexi sighed as she patted a hand on my shoulder out of mock pity,

“Two coffees and I’ll order the most expensive breakfast on the menu for you.” I squeezed her arm and pulled out a chair for her. “Make that 3 shots of espresso, I need all the strength to deal with your childishness.” She said, putting the flowers down on the table.

“Yes ma’am.” I saluted her playfully and walked into the café. While ordering, I watched Lexi head over to Andrea’s table to greet her. They were both smiling and laughing about something and Andrea turned to look at me, shaking her head—I just hope it wasn’t because I got ratted out on the flowers.

I walked back out of the café after ordering and made my way to Andrea’s table. “Oh hey, didn’t see you here, Trevors’.” I nodded to Bryan. “If you’d excuse me, I’d like to have Lexi back now.” I hooked a finger into the loop of her jeans and pulled her back. “I’ll see you tonight then, at the gig.” Lexi said to Andrea.

“You’re playing tonight?” I asked as we both took our seats. “Why haven’t you said anything?”

“It was a really last minute thing Alex. My friend—the lead singer of another is down with a case of a really bad flu and their bassist called me this morning; I mean tickets have been sold out a week ago and I can’t possibly say no to an old friend now, can I?”

“You said the tickets were sold out, so how are you gonna get us in?”

“I am the lead singer tonight after all, I’m pretty sure I can still get you three a table.”

“Three?” I did the math. “Oh you mean as in Scott too?”

“No. If I remembered correctly, Scott has a night tutoring to be at and since Trevors’ was at the table so…”

“No, come on, Lexi…” I sighed. “You mean to tell me you invited him as well? Are you trying to get us to be best friends or something?”

“I am most certainly not.” She said bristly. “I mean I know you don’t like that guy..” she trailed.

“It’s not that I don’t like him Lexi. I just, well I just feel that something’s a little off with him. No one switches from one prestigious University to another just so he could play for their Varsity team.”

“Yes I’m aware of all that. But in case you didn’t notice, Andrea seems to like him a lot.”

I looked over to their table and I watched her playing with the petal of the single rose that she had gotten from Trevors earlier. “I don’t know what the hell has gotten into you , but if you really meant what you said from a year ago and if you still feel the same way now, then why aren’t you doing anything about it Alex?”

“You know I can’t Lexi. You clearly don’t know how protective Scott is with his sister. The minute he finds out that we had previously…”I trailed.

“Why do I have a feeling that it didn’t just stop there Alex?” she asked a little bit more seriously now, leaning against her seat after two coffee glasses was placed right in front of us. Lexi was right, there was more than just that kiss and I happened to leave that part out.

“You’re right, it didn’t.”