[Of course Alex would pick up on the subtle nuances of the tone he took when talking about Howard. The inflection, the deep-seated anger toward the man was too ingrained, even if it was Richard's fault that he and Coralee had been kidnapped. The bite came out without him even knowing it, and he'd hoped that Alex would have taken the tone as his self-deprecation.
She knew better than that, though. Which would always feel strange; Richard always thought he was good at keeping his emotions hidden and not expressing them, yet Alex seemed able to figure him out in an instant. At least that had been the case in the latter part of the last two years.
That may have been because he'd stopped running away. There had become an understanding that, no matter what, Alex would be by his side; even if he tried to push her away. It was an understanding that he once thought he had with others, with Coralee, but that had not been the case. With Alex though, it was different. She'd proven time and again that there was no way she would budge.
It wasn't hard to let her drag him off to the bench, the back of his mind noting just how ridiculous the scene must have looked to any onlookers. It was at least some time to decide how to phrase what he was going to say.]
Howard isn't part of this, and I already told you I wouldn't say you what you don't remember.
no subject
She knew better than that, though. Which would always feel strange; Richard always thought he was good at keeping his emotions hidden and not expressing them, yet Alex seemed able to figure him out in an instant. At least that had been the case in the latter part of the last two years.
That may have been because he'd stopped running away. There had become an understanding that, no matter what, Alex would be by his side; even if he tried to push her away. It was an understanding that he once thought he had with others, with Coralee, but that had not been the case. With Alex though, it was different. She'd proven time and again that there was no way she would budge.
It wasn't hard to let her drag him off to the bench, the back of his mind noting just how ridiculous the scene must have looked to any onlookers. It was at least some time to decide how to phrase what he was going to say.]
Howard isn't part of this, and I already told you I wouldn't say you what you don't remember.