Chapter 103
“I’ve learned that a lot of people in this town are actually pretty kind,” I admit to Alexander. “It doesn’t take much convincing- they genuinely want to help.”
Alexander hums as he takes in my answer, studying me for a moment. However, our attention is then directed elsewhere as a woman walks up with her husband, asking if they could offer a money donation instead.
After an hour, we have quite a long list of people wanting to donate. Therefore, Alexander and I take a break from drawing in volunteers and instead help with sanitizing or grabbing anything the nurses need.
“Don’t drop that,” Alexander teases as I carry a vial of blood to another nurse. “You’ve always been quite the butterfingers.”
“Oh, ha ha,” I reply, safely handing off the vial. “You’re the one who broke your grandmother’s one hundred-year -old vase at your thirteenth birthday party.”
“Because you tripped me into it,” Alexander tosses back.
I hum. “I don’t remember that part,” I offer.
Actually, I do. Only, I hadn’t tripped him intentionally. I think we’d been laughing about something and somehow tripped each other.
“You’ve always been a pest, Evie,” Alexander says, bringing a hand to tickle my side. I jump at the contact – I’ve always been extremely ticklish.
But more than that, I realize that Alexander has unknowingly broken my five feet apart rule. As I step away and Alexander busies himself with something else, I glance around for some sort of hidden camera. Thankfully, I find nothing.
However, as much as I try to keep my distance from Alexander for the rest of the afternoon – just in case I somehow seem to keep bumping into him. His hands touch my waist as he passes by me in tighter spaces or he puts a hand against my back while telling me something.
At one point, he even tucks a loose strand of hair behind my ear and I feel a lump form in my throat. The whole thing makes me slightly uncomfortable. Alexander is like my brother and I want to keep things professional. The last thing I need is for anyone to get the wrong idea about us.
Finally, Alexander and I are able to step away as we take a quick snack break. We stand near one of the flower booths as we both eat buttered loaves of bread from another booth. The bread is delicious as I take my first bite, causing me to smile.
“Have you heard anything from your father?” I ask Alexander as we continue to eat, wanting to feed my curiosity.
“About what?” he asks.
“My mother’s will,” I clarify, “It’s okay if you haven’t asked him yet. I just figured I’d check.
“Oh, I- I did ask,” Alexander begins. “But uh, he said he needed some time to look into it. He seemed to think it sounded familiar.”
“Really?” I ask, my brows raising.
“Yes,” Alexander says with a nod. “But he should know more next time we talk.”
“Thank you, Alexander,” I say sincerely, “You don’t know how much that means to me.
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This could be a promising lead. I could finally figure out where my mother’s secret will is and make some headway. Delight fills me to my core, making me grin.
“Like I told you,” Alexander says then, his tone becoming softer. “Anything for you, Evie.”
As he finishes his words, Alexander’s hand comes to my face, the back of his knuckle gently brushing my cheek. In response, my spine straightens and I can’t help but shift an inch back.
However, I try to recover by offering a laugh. “I never noticed how touchy you are,” I say, trying to keep things light. “You seem to keep touching me today.”
As the words leave my mouth, it suddenly occurs to me that I’m being insensitive. I realize that I’ve made a mistake – Alexander was quite a touchy kid. However, he tended to touch me mainly when he was feeling anxious by clutching onto my arm, tugging on the back of my shirt.
“Oh Goddess, Alexander,” I start. “I’m sorry. You get that way when you’re feeling anxious or stressed. I forgot. Are you feeling anxious now?”
As I wait for his answer, I note how Alexander shifts awkwardly, making me feel like an even worse jerk.
“Oh, uh, a little,” he states. “I just don’t know these people as well as you do…you know…’
As his words trail off, I nod. “Don’t worry. I get it. If you’d like, we could probably head out. Since they have so many people on the list now, I don’t think they need us anymore.”
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