Page 23 of I’ll Find You

“It’s not like that,” I say quickly.

“Really?” she snaps, venom lacing her words. “Because it definitely looks like that.”

I feel his presence behind me. “She needed somewhere to stay,” he says calmly.

Chelsea’s gaze snaps to Alex. “Was she the one you were talking about?”

“Yes.” One single word. No hesitation.

It lands a brutal blow to her ego. The nice Chelsea we’ve known is gone. She lets out a small, humorless laugh. “Wow.” When she looks back at me, it’s more hurt than anything else.

I feel guilty. I knew she liked him, but it wasn't like that. She doesn't know the history between us or that I met him first. The realization hits me before I can stop it. Somewhere along the way, he'd started feeling like mine.

Still, I try to save the friendship. “It wasn’t planned,” I explain weakly because I’m not even trying to deny anything anymore. Alex notices the moment my composure slips.

“I should go,” she says, not looking at either of us. But before she does, she lands one last blow. “You’re just like Lucinda.” Then she’s gone.

I move one leg forward, calling out, “Chelsea⁠—”

Alex grabs my hand, stopping me. I hang my head as his fingers thread through mine, offering silent support. I stand there staring at her retreating form, wondering how I managed to lose three friends in just a few weeks. Beside me, Alex doesn’t move. He doesn’t say anything. I feel his phone vibrate and frown, wondering who it might be. He doesn’t check it. His focus stays on me, reminding me that I'm not facing this by myself anymore. Suddenly, I don't feel as alone as I thought I would.

“Hey,” he tugs my arm to get my attention. “Are you okay?” he asks, his brows lifting, concern clear in his eyes. I nod once. We don't speak as we leave, but his hand stays wrapped around mine, a simple reassurance that I'm not alone. I don't pull away. Our fingers lace together easily, like we've done it a hundred times before. His grip is firm, anchoring me to this world as if I'd drift away if he let go.

I should let go. I don’t, and if I’m being honest, I don’t want to. My mind is still back in the library. She was cruel, but maybe she wasn’t wrong.

You’re just like Lucinda.

That’s all I can hear, and the devastation in her voice. I guess she really liked Alex, but he even told her that he was into someone else. I knew who he meant. I felt it too that day at his parents’ house. I should never have said yes to Maxwell. I knew it was never going to work out. Maybe I’m as much to blame as he is.

My chest constricts. I didn’t do anything wrong. Nonetheless, the guilt creeps in. I stare straight ahead as we walk, barely registering where we’re going.

“Hey.” Alex’s voice cuts through the loud, intrusive thoughts in my head. I don’t respond. His thumb brushes slowly across the back of my hand. “Rose.”

I blink, pulling myself back to the present. “What?”

“Where’d you go?” He stops walking, pivoting toward me, guiding me toward the brick wall where the foot traffic thins.

“I’m right here,” I answer, confused as to what he means.

“That’s not what I meant. You’re in your head,” he says.

I shrug. “I’ll be fine.” Looking away, I realize I’m fine because he was there. He heard it all and the cruel words she spewed, but he’s still here.

“Are you, though?” He reaches up to turn my head back toward him. I open my mouth to explain, to tell him I am, but his phone buzzes again. He frowns slightly, pulling it out. I watch his expression change while he reads the message. His eyebrows pull together as he reads the next message that comes through.

“What?” I ask, bracing for bad news until he lets out a laugh, shaking his head.

“No way. You’ve got to be kidding me.” He seems, dare I say, excited.

“What is it?”

“My cousin,” he says, still looking at his phone. “He’s here.”

“Here?” I look around.

“Yeah. Apparently, he decided to surprise me before we head home for Thanksgiving.”

I raise an eyebrow. “That sounds…ominous.”