Page 44 of The Vow

“Alex...”

“I’m kidding! You should see your face right now,” she said through a mischievous grin. “There’s an open bottle of red on the table. I’ll be right back. It seems a little uncivilized to eat naked. You can watch me while I walk away.”

I did and relished every second. A Whitney Houston album was paused on the turntable. I flipped it to the other side, lit two candles, and surveyed the feast that Alex had prepared. I gained weight simply looking at it. She had made roast pork, mashed potatoes, two sides of vegetables, a European salad, and what looked like homemade bread. I was not about to disappoint her. The diet could wait.

“Remember this?” she asked, twirling like a ballerina.

“How could I forget? The thrift store made fifteen bucks off you that day. You look gorgeous,” I said, handing her a glass of wine.

“Thank you, kind sir. So? What did Cable want?”

“Let’s not talk about him,” I said, indulging in the wine.

“But I want to know! We’re supposed to share everything, Pip. Not just our spit.”

“Our spit? Are you sure you write romance?”

She punched me in the arm. “Tell me.”

“I fight again in two weeks. It’s an easy win.”

“Well, that’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Except that I have to work my ass off in the gym. I’ll be away quite a bit.”

“Oh.” Alex walked over to where she kept her cigarettes. She pulled one from the pack and held it unlit. It was another nervous habit of hers.

“The winner gets a thousand bucks.”

“Sounds like a good payday.”

“What’s wrong?” I walked over to where she was standing and gently took the smoke from her hand.

“Nothing. I’m glad. You can’t stop boxing because of me. I can finish the book in no time if you’re not around to distract me. It’s great news.”

“Then why are there tears in your eyes?” I asked, wrapping a piece of her hair around her ear.

“Fuck,” she said, swiping at her eyes. “I’m such a mess!”

“Alex, talk to me.”

“No.”

“What? I thought we were supposed to share everything.”

“No, I mean... this is our night. I’m fine. I promise. We should eat before everything gets cold.”

“Are you positive?”

“Cross my heart, and hope to die,” she said, placing her hand over her breast.

Alex walked over to her side of the dining room table and stood next to her chair. I pulled it out for her and smiled internally. I sulked the first time she sat down on her own. Pulling her chair out for her was our thing, and it pleased me to feel like a gentleman in a world full of lotharios.

“This looks amazing, baby.”

“Hold that thought until you taste it!”

“You’re too hard on yourself. Did you make the bread?”