Chapter Forty-Five

Alice gasped. The FBI?! What the hell were they here for? She glanced at Keanu, who had a serious look on his face. His lips thinned as he thought about it and fear crossed Alice's mind.

"Do you think that Rachel could've?" Alice asked Keanu.

"Let me answer the door," Keanu said, walking towards it. He unlocked the door and swung it open. Two men stood there in uniform, nodding their heads at him and flashing their badges.

"That's not the FBI," Alice said, shooting Leonard a look. "They're the local police." But Leonard only rolled his eyes.

"Is there anything I can help you with, gentlemen?" Keanu said.

"We're here because your neighbours reported a domestic disturbance," one said. "Is there something going on?"

"No, we're fine."

"They heard shouting and crashing noises coming from your place. Is there an explanation for that?"

"It was nothing. Just a regular family fight, nothing that can't be unresolved. I apologise for the false alarm."

"Will this be a recurring thing? The fights."

"It won't be a problem anymore. Please don't worry about it."

"Alright then," the other said. "Please remember to keep it down. We hope not to visit again."

"Thanks," Keanu said and they left his front door. Keanu closed the door behind them. Before he could turn around, Leonard came from the side and opened the front door again. Keanu grabbed onto his arm, stopping him. "Where do you think you're going?"

Leonard gave him the side eye. "Chill, I'm not gonna do anything. I'm just going to find Mike."

"And say what?"

"It's none of your business," Leonard said, shaking his arm free of Keanu's grasp. He stepped out of the front door and left, disappearing down the pavements. Keanu closed the door and returned to Alice.

"That was one hell of a fight," he said. "Thank you for standing up for me like that, Alice."

"He needed to hear those words long ago," she said. "It's time he realise how lucky he is." She shifted on her feet. "What do you think they're going to talk about though? He's obviously going to mention us to Mike."

Keanu ran his fingers through his hair. "Man, I don't know. I don't even want to think about it."

The worry stayed with Alice for the rest of the night, and it only intensified when her father sent her a text telling her to stay over at Keanu's place for the night. She had no idea why he would say that. Was he planning something horrible? Or had he somehow decided to give them his approval? She didn't know how to reply, so she simply texted him an 'ok'.

As she spent the night at Keanu's, he tried to get her mind off things by watching some of her all-time favourite movies, but her mind was constantly elsewhere. When they finally decided to turn in, she slept next to him on the bed and he held onto her hand tightly while he talked to her about random things.

The next morning, she woke up to the smell of eggs and bacon. Heading to the kitchen, Keanu whipped up some breakfast for her and she ate it, smiling happily. She chatted with him with joy, hugging and kissing him. Her mood finally lifted, but it drastically dropped again when she received a text from Leonard.

It read: Mike and I are heading over now.

Her heart sank to her stomach and she showed the message to Keanu, who pursed his lips. He shook his head and put the dishes away. "We won't let them break us apart, Alice, don't worry."

She nodded and waited for them to arrive. When the doorbell rang, she jumped and walked over to answer the door as she braced herself. Mike and Leonard entered the house and they stood in the middle of the living area, their faces tense.

"We've come to tell you what we've decided to do about the situation," Mike said.

"And what decision is that?" Alice asked.

"We don't approve."

Alice folded her arms. "Well, no shit. Like I said, we're not backing down. We want what we have."

"We knew you'd say that. So here is our response," Mike said. "We're going to give you guys an ultimatum."

Alice and Keanu waited for them to continue.

"Either you guys break up," Mike said. "Or Alice is getting kicked out of my house and Leonard is moving out of Keanu's."

Alice's jaw dropped.

"That's low," Keanu said.

"It is what it is," Leonard said.


"Well, I hate to break it to you but we won't be breaking up," Keanu said. "Right, Alice?"

Alice stared at him blankly. Shaking her head, she sighed. She thought about it.

"Alice?" Keanu said again.

"I'm sorry, Keanu."