Page 78 of Hate It with You

“Jesus Christ,” Alex breathes out, his fists coming to his mouth as he holds one hand in the other.

I can’t help the corners of my mouth turning up as I watch him react the same way to my story as I felt when he told me his.

“It’s okay,” I say.

“It’s not,” he responds.

I nod. “I know. But it’s over now?” He looks at me, as my eyes plead for him to say yes. He stands, only to scoot his stool closer to mine, his arm brushing against my shoulder as he does.

Placing his hand on the back of my neck, he leans down, planting a kiss on my lips before saying, “I promise. It’s over. You will never have to see that man again so long as I’m alive.”

I have no words to match the overwhelming warmth that spreads through my chest. So instead, I pull him down for another kiss, lingering only until my stomach growls.

We both laugh, Alex sitting when he says, “Eat. We have a training schedule to get back to, and you need protein.”

I laugh him off as I take a bite of my eggs, savoring the perfectly spiced food as I run through my training sessions over the last year. I might have initially frozen last night, but for once, I fought back. My body remembered skills I worked hard to learn for so many months. I will never be able to thank Alex enough for the skills he’s given me.

“So you want me to stop by later today?” I ask after we’ve both finished our plates of food.

Alex lets out a low chuckle. “No.”

I look at him, my brows furrowed in a question I don’t need to voice.

“We’ll get back to training soon enough, but I was thinking you could take the week off. Tiffany said she’d cover your store for the week, under my payroll, so you could get some rest.”

I open my mouth a couple of times before I finally find the words. “I don’t know what I’d do. I’ve been working the bookstore for the past year. I’m not sure how to spend my time.”

Alex stands, a smile spreading wide across his face. “I have exactly what you need.” Before I can ask what that is, he’s pulling open the front door to my apartment, exiting into the hallway. Only a few seconds later, he’s waltzing back in, a tall stack of books balanced in his hands as he kicks the door closed behind him.

With a loud thud, he sets the stack of books down on the counter in front of me. A glance at the titles, and I notice that these are all the books he purchased from me all those months ago. Pushing away my empty plate, I pick up the first book from the top of the stack.

“I have a confession,” Alex says, as I begin to flip through the pages, noticing the various pen and highlighter markings throughout the book.

“I’ve read all of these books before. Some of them a couple of times.” Alex’s words send a wave of shock through me.

“What?” It’s all I can say as I process his words. I set the book I’m currently holding down on the counter as I grab for the second, flipping through the pages to find even more written notes, markings, and highlighter stripes.

“I annotated them… for you.” It’s the most hesitant I’ve seen Alex. His usual confidence wavers as he stands tall before me, watching as I flip through the pages of my favorite books. “I thought you could take the week, get some rest, and read through these again, this time with my commentary.” He chuckles at himself.

“This is the most thoughtful thing anyone has ever done for me,” I say, flipping through another book before grabbing another from the stack, unsure of which book to start with.

Alex laughs again. “I’m glad you like them.”

I finally peel my eyes from the books to look up at him. “Like them?” Unable to contain my excitement any longer, I jump up, throwing my arms around his neck. The sheer force I put into my efforts throws him off balance, causing him to take a step back and turn us so that his back is against the counter.

“I love them,” I all but squeal into his ear. His laughter grows at the same rate a smile spreads across my face.

When I finally pull back, he says, “I have to get down to the gym. I have a few clients I’m meeting with today, but I’ll check back in when I’m done for the day.”

I’m looking at the books as Alex holds me in his arms, my hands itching to flip through the pages of each one.

Nodding, I respond, “Okay, see you after work,” as I can’t help but reach for another book.

Before letting me go, Alex gently grabs my chin, forcing my eyes away from the pile of books on the counter. I’m still smiling when he kisses me, his smile matching my own.

“Have a good day, baby. Enjoy the books.” He pulls away from me slowly, like he doesn’t want to leave, but I’m already picking up the stack of books and taking them to my reading chair as he exits my apartment.

“I will.” I call after him, throwing a blanket over me as I dive into the first book.