29 Chapter 29

I wake up the next morning, feeling warm and wrapped up. The blanket must have cocooned around me in the night.

After I roll over I understand that I'm not wrapped in a blanket, blankets don't breathe. Blankets don't have arms and hands. Blankets most certainly don't have pecks.

Oh dear god.

I slide away as quickly and carefully as I can, climbing off the bed to look at Alex as he lays there, his arm still draped over my spot. He moves ever so slightly, his hand wrapping around the blanket and pulling it closer, his face digs into the pillow where my head was. He was holding me, I was in bed being held by Alex Monroe!

He stirs again, making me jump. He lays on his back and pushes the blankets off his bare chest. How he's still asleep is a mystery to me, how he let us fall asleep like that is an even bigger mystery. I fell asleep sitting in front of him, not laying in his arms!

I think I'm going to have a heart attack.

Rushing into the bathroom, I close the door and lock it. I need a minute to think, I need to realize that this really happened and that I'm not dreaming.

"This really happened," I tell myself, "I'm not dreaming, this is real and that happened. Oh god... What else happened? "

I try to push away my fear, thinking I would remember if anything else happened. Nothing else happened. Nothing else happened. Right?

I force myself to take a few slow, deep breaths before standing tall and walking out of the bathroom. I avoid the bed, instead going to pull clothes from my bag. I jump at the sound of the bed creaking.

I need to stop being so on edge. It's embarrassing.

"Good morning," I hear Alex drawl out in a husky, groggy voice, "Sleep well?"

"Like the dead," I try to chuckle but I really just feel I'm chocking on air.

I tug lightly at the clothes in my bag. I feel Alex's hands warm my shoulders as he looks down at my bag.

"Don't know what to wear? I think a t-shirt and some shorts would be totally fine, it is sunny Arizona."

"Yeah, sorry," I shrug his hands off, "I guess I'm not all the way awake yet."

He takes a few steps back and nods, "Neither am I. I don't even remember falling asleep, I could go back to sleep now if I tried."

"If you want to... I'm sure I can handle myself for one day," I face him slowly, leaning against the wall awkwardly.

"No way," he waves his hand, "I'm not going to risk letting something happen to you. I'm sure I'll wake up in a bit."

I don't realize I'm biting my lip until I taste my blood. I know he's talking but all I'm thinking about is how I want him to hold me again.

I watch his mouth move, completely unaware of what he's saying. I'm hypnotized watching his muscles move as he crosses his arms.

Alex is by no means Captain America, but he's still fit and his muscles still noticeable. He's tall and thin, so he doesn't look muscular but when he's shirtless and moving you can see his biceps flex and his abs are incredible to look at.

I force myself to stop staring at him and listen to what he says, "So what do you think? It might be fun."

"Uhhhh," well I'm screwed, I turn back to my bag to hide my confused face, "Yeah, why not? Like you said, it could be fun."

I have no idea what I just agreed to. Whatever it is, Alex is all excited as he keeps talking about how he'll set everything up while I draw today. I nod mindlessly. Even though mindless agreement is what got me in this mess. I need to stop zoning out, but I've told myself that at least a hundred times so I doubt I'll listen now.

"Jules? Are you going to get dressed or... Are you planning to stay there all day?"

"Oh," I look down at the pajamas I'm wearing, "Sorry, lost in thought. Give me fifteen minutes."

He nods and turns back to the bed, shoving his wallet in his pocket. I quickly grab whatever clothes I find and duck into the bathroom. With a splash of cold water on my face, I'm awake and aware enough to speedily get dressed and put on makeup.

Once back in the room, I smile at Alex while I get all my art stuff together. I'm trying not to let onto the fact that I have no clue what's going on.

Alex takes my bag for me as we head in some unknown direction. It takes an hour to find a decent spot to draw but I'm happy because my spot is at a little garden with a table so I can pull out one of the chairs and sit while I draw.

I set up while Alex runs to the Starbucks nearby to get us something to start the day with. He quickly returns with my mango dragonfruit refresher and breakfast sandwich. He's content with his café americano and danish. I can't hide my smile seeing the faces he makes at my pink drink.

"You work all the time, almost never sleep normally, but you don't drink coffee?"

I shake my head, "I tried it, and I'll drink it if I'm like, dying but normally I'm not really a caffeine person."

He takes a big swig of his coffee, his eyes wide and confused. I smile as I bite down on my straw. I'm still thinking about waking up in his arms, I'm still thinking about how when I rolled over, my hands ran down his chest. The cold drink in my hand keeps me on earth but my mind still wanders.

"It was probably habit, how many girls he's woken up next to?" I tell myself, trying to forget about it.

I wait for a while, working carelessly on my drawing until it catches a tourists eye. He stops and watches me draw for a bit, not saying anything, and as I'm finishing up the details on the Starbucks building he approaches us.

"That is stunning!" He lets out a deep, bellowing laugh.

"Thank you sir," I smile up at him as I sign my name in the bottom corner.

"How much? My niece would love that drawing," he pulls out his wallet.

"Oh, um," I look at Alex, "I wasn't planning on selling this, I'm out here doing portraits for ten dollars a piece. If you really want this I mean I guess maybe..."

"How's $20 sound, it's all I have on me right now, my wife is back with our tour group," he holds out a twenty dollar bill, the face of president Jackson stares at me.

I hesitantly take the bill, "Thank you," I take my sketchbook and carefully remove the page to hand it to him, "I hope your niece likes it."

"Oh she will, she spends more time at Starbucks with her friends than she does at home. You said you're out here doing portraits?"

I nod, "Yep, ten dollars a piece," I set my pad back on the easel.

"Well I'll have to bring my wife back, make a nice souvenir."

I watch him make his way to a group of people at a nearby shop. He shows the women the drawing and they talk. With one final smile, I turn back to my sketch pad and Alex.

"Well, not a bad way to start your day," Alex pokes my leg gently.

"And all without any caffeine."

He lets out a breathy laugh and shakes his head. I watch him drink his coffee, he's completely care free. Aside from how tense he is whenever I go outside, he couldn't care less about anything. He's said his goodbyes to his life at home, no job, no girlfriend, he easily has let go. He's an enigma to me.

I'm pulled from my thoughts when the same man from before comes up with who I assume is his wife, they sit for a portrait, followed closely by the rest of the tour group.

The day runs by, almost all of the people on their tour wanted a drawing, so to get them all done I take a very short break to eat a sandwich and work until sunset. My hand is cramping badly, but as I hand the last drawing to a young woman, I look at the money in my hand and smile.

"So that was twelve portraits, a new record for the time we were out here. That plus the twenty for your free drawing, you made some decent cash," Alex packs my stuff for me, letting me rest my hands.

"Yeah, plus with the tips I got, I'm proud of myself, but insanely tired," I groan with a pathetic smile.

He wraps his arm around my shoulder, "Food will help, plus there's a pretty good selection of movies out so hopefully tonight will be fun."

"What?" I drag my feet a little, confused and surprised.

He stops to look at me, "Did you already forget this morning? I asked if you wanted to go out tonight, eat and hang out," he looks nervous, "You know, instead of staying in our room."

"Oh, right," well at least now I know I didn't sign up for animal sacrifice, "Sorry I must be more tired than I thought," I give a light chuckle and watch his smile return.

"Awesome, I asked the barista about restaurants this morning and she gave me a great recommendation. I'll call us a cab, we'll go eat and see if we're up for a movie afterwards. Sound good?"

He's all but bounced away to one of the nearby shops, he looks at me waiting for approval before disappearing to call a cab.

"That works," and with those two words he's gone, nothing left but the faint mental image of the smile he tried to hide as he left.

I feel a buzz in my backpack, I reach in and pull out my phone.

"Hello?" I say, no one should be calling me. I call my mother and that's all.

"Jules?"

I look at the number on the screen, not recognizing it or the hushed voice on the line.

"Hello? Who is this?"

The line goes dead. I try to ignore the twinge of fear in my chest as Alex comes back. He seems happy, relaxed, I don't want to ruin that.

I pretend to listen as he blabs on about the restaurant, he talks about the food they're supposed to have.

I don't actually engage in conversation until we're in the cab.

"Alex," he abruptly stops talking at the sound of my voice, "When are we leaving Arizona?"

"Wh-- We just got here last night. I was planning to stay a couple days at least, let you draw, try to maximize our time here. Is everything ok?"

"No, some random person called me and identified me by name. I have no clue who they were or how they got ahold of me," I shove my thoughts down.

"Yeah, just curious, I just want to know what's going on. You know?"

He watches me carefully for a couple minutes, his skeptical, concerned look never leaves his face, "Alright. If you want to leave sooner, let me know. It's not a big deal."

I nod and stare out the window. I should tell him, I want to. I want to tell him I'm scared and want to leave. But I don't. Not in the cab, not in the restaurant, not while my tuna burger sits in front of me and he devours his grilled salmon.

When he asks me if I want to see a movie, I play that I'm tired. So he, being a gentleman, gives me his jacket and escorts me into a cab to take me to put room.

Once there he sets up the bed while I shower and let's me sleep.

I can barely close my eyes.

"Jules?"

"Hello? Who is this?"

I grip my pillow to hide my shaking. I watch my backpack through most of the night, long after Alex falls asleep, waiting and hoping it doesn't ring.