If Only...

SPICING IT UP

I bite my lip and look between Stella and the kitchen's back doors.

"Are you sure she won't be back when we're gone?"

"Yes, Alex! I'm pretty sure. Now, get in!" Stella barks with an air of finality, but I'm still looking back, almost like I'm waiting for Alison to materialise out of thin air (No, scrap that. It's thick air. So damned cold . . . ).

What would it look like? I had given Ian my word that I'd be dedicated this month and I'm already going away for three days and now I'm--

"Today, Alex!"

"Okay!"

I get into the passenger seat and bang the car door shut.

"It's your car, genius."

Damn.

Stella chuckles, and then the air falls silent. It's at least a couple of minutes before she sighs, but I've had to drag myself back to the present.

"What's wrong?"

"I won't be seeing you guys for the next three days . . ."

Oh. I remember what she had said about being lonely. Stella had lost her parents at a young age and her aunt brought her up, who passed away just before I met her. She was on her own. She had been through as much as I have.

"You can be my plus four." I smile, though she really has her heart set on not coming along.

"It's not an Irish wedding, Alex . . . . Wait, is it?"

I chuckle.

"No. But Danny's dad was."

"Well, that explains the genes."

"What genes?"

"The smoking hot genes." Stella giggles and punches my arm playfully.

"By some miracle I'm okay with this." I mutter and roll my eyes. All of Stella's definitions of Danny happen to be the various adjectives of the word hot. She had come this close to pulling one out of me today. But I had stayed strong.

And a liar in denial.

Adds Scruple, much to my dismay. Bug I shake it off, just as we're pulling into my apartment.

I keep mum and ask Stella to do so too, afraid that Rosie might already be aslee--

"It's only 6 o'clock, Alex." She rolls her eyes.

Right.

I clench sheepishly, and walk through the front door, and then straight up to them seated on the couch and watching cartoons.

"Mommy, look what I found!" Rosie blares and thrusts a multi-colored rock into my face.

"Wow! That's beautiful, sweetheart! Did you find it at the lake?"

"Uh-huh! Danny said only lucky people find them." She says, examining the rock; it's beauty coming out only because of a little color.

"I guess we are . . ."

I smile at Danny, and he kisses my hand.

"Come on, sweets. Let's go pack for tomorrow."

Rosie nods energetically and runs inside. I move to follow, but Danny's still holding on. I gasp unintentionally.

I meet his eyes; ardent and intimidating, and then that smile comes.

"Come here . . . " He pulls my lips down to his before I can react.