Chapter Ten
Lissa was pacing, pausing occasionally to stare out at the ocean, only to start pacing again.Once she'd calmed down, she'd called Alex's cell, only to get a message that he was "out of her area". A call to his house got the answering machine. She was hesitant to call the Boys. She wasn't sure of what answer to give them as to why she was looking for Alex. After their last conversation, she wondered if she and Alex had a future together.
Her arms curled protectively around her middle. Even if their future together consisted of nothing more than visits, they would have this child together.
Unless he didn't get over his...what should she call it? Shock? Yes, that was a good word. It didn't do a hell of a lot to make her feel better, but that was a good explanation for his attitude. She'd shocked him, and he was dealing with the news.
So he couldn't stop a minute to answer her page?
Unable to stand staying in the house a moment longer, Lissa snatched up her cell phone, made sure it was on, and headed out the door.
The music was loud. The air was full of stale smoke. Alex could make out dozens of rings left on the table made by countless bottles of beer like the one sitting in front of him. Condensation beaded on the side of the bottle, then slid down to pool into another ring. It was so close he could smell it, remember the taste. His hands shook with need.
He hadn't touched it yet. Only stared at it. Foolish, he thought. Don't do it. Don't ruin all those months of sobriety.
Then he thought of Lissa, sitting there, staring up at him with wounded eyes telling him he was going to be a father.
The bottle beckoned.
"Damn," Alex growled, shoving the chair back, and escaping from the bar.
He drove through brightly lit streets, and down dark alleys. He didn't consciously have a destination in mind, so was somewhat surprised when he found himself at Kevin's house. He pulled up the drive, and sat behind the wheel for a moment after cutting off the engine. Closing his eyes and resting his head on the steering wheel, Alex drew a deep breath. His hands were still shaking. He could almost taste that beer.
Alex climbed out of the car. At the door, he rang the bell, and waited. He glanced at his watch, then rang the bell again. His gaze roamed over the front of the house, and he rang the bell again.
"Okay, okay!" Kevin roared, his voice drawing nearer. Alex could almost see the big man's dark brows drawn down in a frown as he came to the door. The door swung wide. Kevin stood in the doorway, his mouth hanging open for the second it took to recognize the man standing on his doorstep. "Well, don't you look like hell?" he said by way of greeting.
"Flatterer," Alex shot back. The smile on his face wavered, then disappeared. "Kev, can we...I need," he sighed, "I need help."
Kevin ushered Alex into the house, leading him into the living room. He didn't miss Alex's shaking hands. "How close?"
"I had the bottle on the table in front of me." His lips curled into a bitter smile. "Open, and so close I could almost taste it." He ran a hand through his blond hair.
"But you didn't?"
Alex shook his head. "I didn't."
Kevin waited for more, but when nothing was forthcoming, he probed, "what brought this on? You were doing so well."
Alex hesitated. Pulling a pack of cigarettes, he shook one out of the pack, noticed Kevin's glare, then put it back. "Sorry," he murmured, " I forgot."
"Alex?"
Dark eyes met emerald. Alex could never hide anything from that gaze. "Lissa."
One dark brow rose in question. "Lissa?" Kevin asked, surprised. "But, you two..."
"She's pregnant."
Kevin sat back. "Well," he said, then not sure of what to say next, said it again, "well." He cleared his throat. "As I'm pretty sure, I'm not going to ask how this happened."
Alex ignored Kevin's attempt at making him smile. "She just told me a few hours ago."
Kevin watched his friend, his brother, fidget on the couch. "Oh, go ahead and light up, for crying out loud."
"Kris..."
Kevin shook his head. "Let me worry about her. Go ahead, you seem to need it."
Grateful, Alex shook out a cigarette, and lit up. Exhaling a cloud of smoke above his head, Alex sighed.
Kevin watched Alex smoke, then asked, "What happened when she told you?"
Alex started guiltily. "We...had words."
"From the look on your face, I can imagine what kind." Kevin shook his head, dark locks bouncing on his shoulders. "I think you need to talk to Lissa more than you need to talk to me."
"But, Kev..."
"I'll come with you, if you want," he reassured the younger man. Alex's grateful smile was answer enough. Kevin sighed. "Let me go tell Kris that I'll be with you."
Kevin drove to Lissa's house. Alex was too jumpy. Kevin had an idea of just how upset Alex was when Alex handed him the keys to his black BMW convertible, and told him to drive. Alex never let anyone near the steering wheel of that car.
Lissa's house was dark when they pulled up. Both men exchanged glances. "Maybe she went for a walk on the beach," Kevin offered. "She likes to do that sometimes...doesn't she?"
Alex shook his head. He didn't think she'd be out on the beach. A warm wind had come up, and sand was blowing everywhere. "Maybe she went with Kat," he said. "Lemme call Howie. He'll know." He reached into his pocket, only to realize he didn't have his cell with him. In a flash, he remembered leaving it on the table before heading out the door to Lissa's earlier. "Where the hell can she be?"
"And I left my cell at home," Kevin muttered, disgusted. "Let's go to Howie's. Maybe Kat brought her over."
Alex nodded, his eyes on the house. She wasn't home. Where the hell was she?
Kevin backed out of the driveway, headed down the unlit street. "Too dark," he muttered, squinting as he noticed a shape moving in the darkness...a shape he recognized too late, exposed finally in the glare of the headlights. "Damn!" He slammed on the brakes, but it was too late. The car jolted as the dark figure came in contact with the front fender, then disappeared. Kevin jumped out of the car, raced around to the front. "Damn," he murmured, turning the body over.
Lissa's face shown white against the darkness.