Alex returned ho and was relieved to find Sara seated at the dinner table with Jordan. He stopped at a distance and watched them interact. Although Sara wasn’t the sa as she was fifteen years ago, she smiled less and was a lot colder. But the smile was still there.
Right now, all he saw was a broken woman seated and forcing herself to smile, trying to ease the worries of her father. In her eyes, he could see the emptiness in them. Nothing like what they used to be.
He took a step forward only to stop and take a second to look at him. There was nothing wrong with his clothes and hands, but he felt he needed to change clothes and a bath if that wouldn’t make him late for a family dinner.
As he took his steps backward, the sound was heard by the duo at the table, and they both turned to look in his direction.
"Alex..." Jordan called, and he stopped. Turning and he walked over to them. "Welco back," Jordan said, and Alex nodded his head, but his eyes were locked on Sara. "Why don’t you join us for dinner? The more the rrier, right?"
If soone else heard that, they would certainly think Alex was the guest and Jordan who was offering him dinner. Alex smiled and inwardly shook his head. "I was planning to do thay after a change of clothes, Uncle," Alex replied, and Jordan gave a soft hum.
Even amidst his smile and caring voice, Alex could see that Jordan was not okay. As a father, he was worried for his daughter, and the incident had brought back mories that he had tried to bury. But he was putting on a bold front.
He turned his attention to Sara, who hadn’t stopped looking at him but said nothing to him. Just as he opened his mouth to speak, she beat him to it.
"I would like to speak with you later. Is that all right?" She asked and fur a mont, Alex didn’t reacr.
Her voice ca out distant and detached. Her eyes, even though she was looking at him, he felt otherwise. "I am all yours," he finally replied, forcing the painful ache in his heart away.
Sara felt flustered at his choice, a warm color appearing on rhe otherwise pale complexion of her cheeks. The two n noticed this but none comnted on it.
He sat down and started eating although he still felt uncomfortable. Mrs Lawson didn’t hesitate to serve him and wore a proud smile on her face when she saw the three eating together.
Once dinner was over, Jordan was taken to a guest where he would spend the night while Sara and Alex returned to theirs.
Alex stood by the door after turning the lock. He didn’t move, but his e6es followed her movents, every step that she took, knowing the exact mont her body turned rigid due to his gaze until she sat on the edge of the bed.
If this was before, he would have certain pinned her on that bed, but now... not until she was fine again.
Sara said down and stared at her hands, checking her nails and biting the inside of her cheek very much aware of his eyes on her. She felt like running from this room, knowing it was his—her boss’ room. But this room gave her comfort. There was warmth in here, and she was afraid of staying anywhere else.
He took his steps to her, and she held her breath. She had intended to speak with him before going to bed, but now the words were stuck in her throat. He stopped right in front of her and squatted down so that he could look her in the eyes.
His face appeared right in her line of sight with a small smile on his lips. He held her clenched fists, and her breath caught in her throat as the warmth from his hands sipped into hers.
"You are nervous," he stated, but she didn’t reply. "Don’t worry about anything, love. You are safe here with , and I won’t be the cause of your discomfort," he gave a gentle squeeze to her hands, and she closed her eyes.
Opening them, she t his gaze. "That’s not it," she said. She felt anything but discomfort with him around. She never did. Not even a few days ago. It was just her trying to guard herself against him. Against how she felt around him, afraid that she would get hurt again.
He tilted his head to the side, patiently waiting for her to continue.
Sara saw the understanding look in his eyes and just knew, even without him uttering a word. She understood him. His silent support and encouragent. "I am not uncomfortable, Alex," she said, and he nodded. "It’s just... I am sorry."
He arched a brow. "What are you being sorry about?" He asked genuinely confused.Sara pursed her lips and clenched her fist further, but it only tightened her hold on his hand hand. "Sara," he called, but she looked away from him. He loosened his grip on her hand and placed a finger under her chin, gently raising her face and their gaze locked. "You have nothing to be sorry about. I should be the one apologizing for not making it to you in ti."
Sara could hear the self bla on his voice and felt her heart constrict, at his words. Even his eyes droopdd down as if 7nabje to look at her again. But just as she was about to speak. He raised his gaze again, eting hers with a soft smile on his lips.
"I promise you that next ti... no, there won’t be a next ti. That is a promise," heart skipped at his words. She found hard to believe but she could feel that he ant every word.
"You know about my trauma?" she asked, she looked at him hopefully but also feared the what the answer might be. How could he know sothing like tha when nit even Her best friends knew about it? Alex was not there when it happened so...
He train of thoughts ca an abrupt stop when he replied and she stared at him, shock evident in her eyes.
"I do," he replied. Seeing her shock, he smiled fondly at her, moved his hand to her cheek and gave a gentle caress. "There is so much I want to tell you, Sara, but the ti is not right. Not yet. Maybe one day, you will rember it all and I won’t have even have to tell you," he said but she just continued staring at him.
"Don’t dwell on it. You should rest," he raised his body and kissed her forehead. "Rest now my love, it will help," he said and stood up but she grip his hand preventing him from going any further.
"I don’t rember you," she said, hurt evident in her voice. Her grip on him tightening as she tried to rember sothing. Anything at all that from whatever ti he was talking about but nothing. She would have doubted hom had he and Jordan not acted so familiar with each other. They must have t sohow, sowhere and maybe they were more than just...
He placed a hand on her forehead, imdiately taking her out of her own head. "Don’t try to force it. Let the past be in the past. What matters is now. mories if the last can stay buried. We can always make new mories," he squatted down again so she wouldn’t strain her neck looking up at him. "I have you here now, and you have . I am not going anywhere again. Not without you."
’It’s not fair,’ she tried to say but the words couldn’t make it out of her mouth. She could only look at him, there was this pain in his eyes but it was quickly replaced as he smiled at her.
"I need you to get better. Whatever you want to ask, you can do it then, okay?" He asked ans he nodded. He stared into her beautiful obsidian eyes and wished that the sparks return to them.
"The doctor advice to I get you a psychologist, but I want your opinion on it before doing that," she looked taken aback by his words as she didt think she needed one. Being here was calming enough. Having him around and his touch like this—it was more than enough for her. "Should I?" He asked.
Maybe she did need a psychologist. Maybe they could help her rember what she had forgotten. Then she would know what their past relationship was ans why he wouldn’t give up on her even when she pushes hom away.
"Yes," she replied, deciding that she needed one.
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