Alpha Hero - Hope Ford Page 0,8

never know what happened… but I will never doubt you did your best.”

She squeezes my hand and I reach up to wipe a tear from my cheek. “I’m supposed to be the one consoling you, April.”

She pulls back then and I can tell that what she’s about to say is rough. “I’ve had longer to deal with it. You were out of it for a few days. But also, you have to know that Allen and I, well, let’s just say I knew about his extracurricular activities. We were working on it, but I’ll just leave it that I will always love him.”

She blows a breath out. The silence fills the room and I don’t know what to say to her. She’s tried to relieve my guilt, but even that makes me feel guilty.

She claps her hands together softly. “Let’s talk about you and Jane.”

I tilt my head to the side. “What about her?”

I slide to the end of my seat.

I can hear the smile in her voice. “Did you not see her when we were hugging?” But then instantly, she’s apologizing. “Oh my God, Mack, of course you didn’t. I’m so sorry.”

I wave it off. “No, no, don’t be sorry. I’m still getting used to it myself. What do you mean, did I see her? What did she do?”

She hesitates, but it sounds like she leans closer and she tells me quietly, “I’m sure this is going against girl code or whatever, but she’s totally into you. Her eyes were green with jealousy.”

I interrupt her. “Are her eyes green?”

For the next thirty minutes, I have April tell me everything about Jane—well, at least everything about the way she looks.

When it’s finally time for her to go, I walk with her to the front door, passing by the kitchen. April leans in close. “She’s listening to music if the way she’s dancing in the kitchen is any indication.”

I nod my head and bring my finger to my lips, telling her to be quiet. I follow behind her, trying to quietly walk with my cane. When she walks out the door, I backtrack to the kitchen and just stand there. I may not be able to see her, but I can hear her. I can hear her feet swaying back and forth and every now and then she sings a few words. It’s a popular song, one about love lost.

I slide my feet into the room. Her warmth is pulling me in, dragging me closer to her. I know exactly when she realizes I’m here. She freezes and then turns around, her long hair whipping across my face.

My hands go out and instantly go to her hips. “No, don’t stop.”

“Where’s April?” she asks and I can hear the censure in her voice.

“She left.” I tighten my hold on her and she tries to step back, but I stop her.

Her voice is thick, laced with something that I think is sadness. If April hadn’t told me how she thought Jane felt, would I have even noticed it? “Mack, c’mon, your girlfriend just left and I don’t know what you’re doing, but she seems really nice.”

“She is really nice.” She tries to pull out of my embrace again, but I lock my hands around her. “But she’s not my girlfriend. She’s my best friend’s wife. She’s Allen’s widow.”

My voice almost cracks just saying it.

I feel her breathe in, but I don’t loosen my hold on her. “Can I touch you, Jane?” I hold my hands up then. “Not touch you, but feel your face. I want to know, I don’t know…. Can I?”

She doesn’t answer me. Instead, she leans over and grabs my hands. She holds them for a second before raising them and placing them on each side of her face. I instinctively cup her jaw. Her soft skin under my roughened fingers makes me loosen my grip. I trace lightly over her cheeks, across her small pert nose, on her closed eyelids and her forehead. I trace her puffy lips with my thumb. I wish to God I could see her right now. I tunnel my hands through her hair, bunching its softness between my fingers before cupping the back of her neck.

I’m holding on to her then, gripping her neck possessively. “Can I?”

I don’t know how to ask her. I don’t want to upset her, but I want to kiss her. I want to taste her.

“Can you what?” she mutters huskily.

“Can I kiss you?”

6

Jane

My heart is racing in my chest.