CHAPTER 16
The apartment was quiet except for the soft hum of the heater and the occasional clink of mugs as Alexander and I sat on the living room floor, leaning against the couch. Between us, a half-empty bottle of red wine sat on the coffee table, next to a plate of half-eaten cheese and crackers. The night was peaceful—almost too peaceful.
Alexander had been charming all evening, cracking jokes and telling stories from his childhood that had me laughing until my sides hurt. For a moment, it felt like nothing had happened, like we hadn't argued the night before, like the tension that had taken root between us didn't exist.
But even as I laughed and smiled, a part of me couldn't ignore the small, nagging feeling at the back of my mind. Something felt off.
---
"Okay, okay," I said between giggles, holding up a hand to stop him mid-story. "So you're telling me you actually climbed out of a second-story window because you were trying to sneak out to a party?"
Alexander grinned, his blue eyes sparkling with amusement. "Yes. And I got caught because I miscalculated the jump and landed right in my neighbor's flower bed. Mrs. Harper was not impressed."
I laughed, shaking my head. "You're lucky you didn't break a leg. Or get grounded for life."
"Oh, I got grounded," he said, leaning back on his hands. "For an entire month. But it was worth it."
I raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Worth it? What kind of party was this?"
He shrugged, his grin widening. "A good one. Let's just leave it at that."
---
We fell into an easy rhythm of conversation, trading stories and playful jabs. It felt good—normal. Like we were back to being us.
But as the night went on, I couldn't help but notice how often Alexander glanced at his phone. It was subtle at first—just quick glances whenever the screen lit up—but it started happening more frequently, and I found myself unable to ignore it.
"Are you expecting a call or something?" I finally asked, trying to keep my tone light.
Alexander looked up, startled, as if he hadn't realized I was paying attention. "What? No. Not really."
I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes at him. "Then why do you keep checking your phone?"
---
He hesitated for a moment, then shrugged, placing the phone face down on the coffee table. "It's nothing, Isabella. Just... work stuff. I'm waiting for an email about a contract."
I nodded slowly, though I wasn't entirely convinced. "Is it urgent?"
"Not really," he said quickly. "It's just something I need to finalize before tomorrow."
I studied him for a moment, trying to read his expression. He seemed calm, but there was a tightness around his mouth that I couldn't quite place.
"Okay," I said softly, though the uneasy feeling in my chest didn't go away.
---
Trying to shake off my doubts, I decided to steer the conversation back to lighter topics. "So," I said, leaning forward to pour myself another glass of wine, "what other mischievous things did teenage Alexander get up to?"
He chuckled, relaxing slightly. "You really want to know?"
"Yes," I said, grinning. "I feel like there's a lot about you I haven't uncovered yet."
"Well," he said, rubbing the back of his neck, "there was the time I accidentally set off the fire alarm at school because I thought it would be funny to see everyone panic."
My jaw dropped. "You didn't!"
"I did," he admitted, laughing. "It was a stupid prank, and I got detention for a week. But the look on everyone's faces was priceless."
"You're terrible," I said, laughing despite myself.
"You love it," he teased, reaching over to tickle my side.
I squealed, swatting his hand away. "Stop! I'm serious!"
---
The playful moment eased some of the tension I'd been feeling, and for a little while, I let myself relax. Alexander seemed more like himself—charming, funny, and attentive. He even helped me clean up the wine glasses and snack plates, which was a rare occurrence.
As we settled back on the couch, he pulled me into his arms, pressing a soft kiss to my forehead. "I missed this," he murmured.
"Missed what?" I asked, looking up at him.
"This," he said, gesturing around the room. "Being here with you. Laughing, talking, just... being us."
My heart softened at his words, and I leaned into his embrace. "I missed it too," I admitted. "It feels like things have been so... complicated lately."
"They don't have to be," he said, stroking my hair. "I promise, Isabella, I'll do everything I can to make things better. For us."
---
His words were reassuring, but that small, nagging feeling of doubt still lingered. As much as I wanted to believe him, part of me couldn't shake the memory of how secretive he had been lately—or the way he had avoided eye contact when I asked him about the phone call.
"Alexander," I said hesitantly, "you'd tell me if something was wrong, wouldn't you?"
"Of course," he said without hesitation.
"And you're not hiding anything from me?"
He frowned, looking genuinely puzzled. "Why would you think that?"
"I don't know," I said, shrugging. "It's just... you've been checking your phone a lot tonight, and it makes me feel like there's something you're not telling me."
---
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Isabella, I already told you—it's work. I'm waiting for an email about a contract. That's all."
I nodded slowly, forcing myself to believe him. "Okay."
"Hey," he said, tilting my chin up so I was looking at him. "I don't want you to worry about anything, okay? I've got everything under control."
I managed a small smile, though I still felt uneasy. "Okay."
---
The rest of the night passed in a blur of stolen kisses and quiet laughter. Alexander seemed determined to make me forget my doubts, and for a while, I let him. But as we lay in bed later that night, with his arms wrapped around me and his breathing slow and steady, I couldn't help but stare at the phone on the nightstand, its screen dark and silent.
Something wasn't adding up, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was missing a piece of the puzzle. But for now, I pushed those thoughts aside and let myself drift off to sleep, hoping that tomorrow would bring clarity.