I sat down and immediately grabbed a slice of pizza.
He arched a brow.
“I’m so hungry, you wouldn’t believe it.”
Alex grinned and motioned to the pizza. “Help yourself.”
I gobbled down several slices. My cheeks burned once I’d finished. “Sorry.”
“No problem. I wasn’t that hungry anyway. Filled up on beer. Don’t even know why I ordered a whole pizza for myself.”
“What are you doing out? Decided you just wanted some pizza tonight?” I asked, trying to steer the conversation away from my own gluttony.
“Perri’s at Carl’s house.”
“But you aren’t staying in his house, right?”
“No, but you know, it’s still strange being close by.” He grimaced. “Plus, he left a window open, and I kept hearing things.”
I laughed. “Seriously?”
“I wonder if he wanted me to hear.” He shrugged.
We both laughed at that.
His smile and laughter flowed over me like a relaxing wave. The feeling was comfortable and familiar. We’d been like this before in high school, two people completely at ease with one each other. It was almost strange to me how quickly we fell back into it.
“Hey,” Alex said. “If you’re finished, how about we take a walk around?”
“A walk?”
I didn’t mind walking, but I did worry about walking alone with Alex. Then again, if we were walking around town, it shouldn’t be a big deal. Not like we were going to do anything in public.
“Sure,” I said. “Sounds like fun.”
* * *
The great thing about Livingston was that it was small. Sure, a car helped, but you could walk most anywhere in a half hour.
I’d never thought of that as a downside before, even when some people complained about people walking instead of driving leading to things having a slow pace. I
’d always thought that a little slower pace of life was good.
Now, 30 minutes later as we stood in front of my house, I wondered for the first time if the ease of walking around my town was a good thing.
I swallowed. I hadn’t even planned on walking Alex there. My feet just moved, and the next thing I knew, we were at my home.
I thought about saying we should continue on, but it’d be too obvious that I didn’t want him in my house. The last thing I wanted to do was make him mad after we’d started getting comfortable with each other again.
Then again, the idea of being alone in an empty house with Alex sent my heart racing.
“Um, thirsty?” I said awkwardly.
Alex shrugged. “A little.”
I nodded toward my house, and we walked to the front. I unlocked the door and motioned him inside.
He took a seat on the couch, and I went into my kitchen to pour him some sweet tea. The last thing either of us needed in that situation was alcohol.