Emily could feel Alex’s burning eyes at her but it was alright. It didn’t affect her much. In an innocent tone, she replied, “I didn’t do anything! A friend browsed through my gallery, saw it and showed it to everyone. She spread rumors that I had a boyfriend. I said you were my cousin. Would you believe that these prim princesses want your number?”
“No.”
“They do!”
“No, I don’t want to hear it!”
Alex placed the phone back, ruffling her hair in frustration. Emily cackled until she ran out of breath. She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye, “You’re so popular here, I can’t. What a natural ladies’ man you turned out to be.”
“Don’t have fun with this” Alex reprimanded her and began to change into her PJs. She debated whether to remove the compressor and switch to a regular bra or not. Alex grabbed a seamless sports bra from the drawer and replaced the compressor with it. Then, she wore a loose black shirt and a checkered pair of sweats.
“I already am.”
“Please stop it.”
Emily chuckled at Alex’s helplessness. It was too adorable, “Don’t worry. I said you’d reject them on the spot. Your standards in women are too high plus that person needs my approval. If they can’t get past me, they stand no chance.”
Alex shook her head. There was no stopping her cousin and she knew it. Also, she loved her too much to ruin her fun, “Well, just keep it under control”
“Your reputation is intact, cousin. I squeeze in a fact or two about how nice, sweet and gentle you are whenever I get the chance.”
“Em!”
Emily giggled, “Good luck, couz! Hope things work out for you”
As soon as the call ended, Alex hung her head. Her sly cousin really had too much imagination but, at least, Emily said she was her cousin and not her boyfriend. She had no need to come to Emily’s school to prove it was true.
Why couldn’t she have thought of a better plan rather than saying she was her own twin?
But was there really a better idea?
Alex took her laptop from its drawer and sat on the bed. She needed to get some homework done for distraction. At least school works usually only had one correct answer. She didn’t need to analyze more than the formulas provided for her.
Halfway done with her Math assignment, the doorbell echoed inside the house.
Alex’s eyebrows scrunched together. They rarely had visitors—especially unannounced ones. Alex walked down the stairs in no hurry to answer the door, hoping that the person only came to deliver something and leave soon after.
When she reached the bottom floor, she hesitated. She could see a shadow shuffling through the bottom of the doorway.
The person rang the bell again and she had no choice but to answer it. Maybe it could be something for her aunt. Since her aunt still didn’t know about the phone, she might have messaged her in the old on and Alex missed it. As a lawyer, Aunt Lilly received confidential documents that needed a recipient’s signature.
Alex walked up to the door and turned the knob slowly. She peeked through the open space.
She widened her eyes then, attempted to close the door with force.
A hand pushed from the other side to stop her and the entire conversation took place with both parties leaning on the door.
“Geez, Alex. We have a project due, remember? I still don’t have your number yet. And! May I remind you that you told me to drop by instead!” Logan yelled.
As an answer, Alex mentioned her new number in one breath, “There! You have my number! No need to drop by anymore! Goodbye!”
Logan struggled to push the door open but at the same time try not to harm Alex because of it. He couldn’t use all of his strength in fear that Alex would fall but damn. Alex was strong as Max had said. No wonder she had a home run.
“Hey hey hey! What makes you think I can remember that? I haven’t written it down yet.” He huffed, remembering to breathe.
Alex tried to turn so her back faced the door instead but every shift of muscle made the door inch closer to her that she decided to stick with her side, “Maybe you should stop leaning against the door and type it in your phone while it’s still fresh in your mind!”
“You seriously lack hospitality, Alex. Can’t you let me in like a normal person? What have I done to offend you? Aren’t you Romeo already? What else do you want from me?”
“Why don’t you give back my sister’s phone, dammit?”
“I’ve already told you why!”
“Don’t you think you’re asking too much?! You think my sister can just show up here at anytime she wants?! You think I’d be staying in this house if she lived close by? Why do you have to be so unreasonable?!”
“Meow~”
Alex looked at the floor. The cat she met earlier casually slipped through the crack of the door. She watched as it made its way to the living room. It hopped onto the sofa and circled a little before settling its legs underneath its stomach.
That momentary distraction was enough for Logan to overpower Alex.
The door pushed Alex backwards just like Logan predicted. Her bottom hit the floor first then, her back did. Since Logan still leaned with the same amount of strength, he stumbled as well when the door suddenly showed no restraint.
As it swung, his hands separated from the door and landed on the floor instead. They landed on either side of Alex to be more specific.
Alex froze.
Logan froze.
The situation dangled dangerously on a thin line.
And that line suspended over Alex’s chest area and under Logan’s nose.
Both stopped breathing.
Blood rushed into Logan’s cheeks.
Dread filled Alex’s head.
Time stopped.
The world stood still.
Only this moment existed.
Nothing else mattered.
