Welcome to New Haven (77 page)

“Ass?!
Ass?!
I’m
the ass? Really…
Devon
? You only try to cause an argument with me, and I’m getting tired of it!”

“
I
cause an argument? Ha!
Everything
you say to
me
is to get a reaction. So it should be me that’s tired of it, and do you know what…
Benjamin?…”
Dev over emphasized his name as he had done to hers. “…I am. Tired. I’m done.”

“Done? What’s that supposed to mean…Done?” He asked.

Dev’s eyes were welling up. She looked ready to cry, or to hurt Ben physically.
 

“Ben. Stop it. Now.” Said Alex, warning in his tone. Even though he now knew why they fought, he couldn’t stand by and watch his sister hurting.

“Done!” she screamed. “Hecho!” She said, and Alex and Holly both knew it was bad when Dev started to speak Spanish.

From being friends for so long, Ben obviously knew too.
 

“Ya he terminado con usted. Vete y déjame en paz! Maldito idiota!” Dev stormed out of the dining room as her tears began to fall.

Ben looked saddened as he turned to Alex.

“What did she say?” He asked, quietly, as he cleared his throat. “I couldn’t catch everything.”

“Um…” Alex didn’t want to tell him in front of everyone.

“Alex, we should get going. Let us know what you guys need, ok?” Said Ryan as he led Riss to the door.

“Yeah, uh, thanks for having us over.” Said Kyle as he led Kayla out of the room and the house.

Alex held onto Holly so she wouldn’t leave.

“I’m not going anywhere, babe.” She said. “But I do need to see Dev.”

Alex loosened his grip, and Holly glared at Ben as she walked past him.

“Ben…” Alex said gently. “…I know there’s something going on, and I’m not trying to press you to tell me, but man, you’ve upset Dev…again.”

“I know. I’m sorry, Alex.” Ben looked close to tears himself.

“You need to fix it because, from what she just said, she’s done with everything.”
 

“What did she say, Alex?”

Alex paused. Waiting to make sure that Ben
really
wanted to know. The expression on his face showed that he did.

“She said, and I quote, ‘I’m done with you. Go away and leave me alone, you fucking idiot.”

Ben’s head dropped as he looked down. Pain evident on his face.

“I’m sorry Alex.” He said. “I can’t help it. She drives me crazy. All of the time”
 

“I know.” Alex replied.

“She constantly hits a nerve.”

“I know.” Alex was trying to hide a smile.

“She pushes my buttons as if on purpose.”

“I know.”

“Why do you keep saying that?” Ben asked, confused.

“Because of all the things, you told me…I know.”
 

“My head is kinda messed up, so I’m going to go. I’ll text you later.” Ben turned to leave but only went a few feet before he paused.

Come on Ben, just say it.

He wanted Ben to admit, more to himself, what he actually felt.

Ben turned and walked back.

“Look, Alex. I’m sorry, I can’t do this anymore. It’s killing me. I know she’s your sister, dude, but…I can’t help it…”

Alex walked upstairs, after Ben left, to see his sister.
 

He went into the room and saw her lying down on her bad; her face turned into her pillow. Holly sat next to her stroking her hair.

Alex sat on the other side of Holly.

Dev’s cries had quietened to hiccups, and he stroked her head.

“Your friends’ an ass.” She said between sniffles.

“I know.” He replied.

“He gets on my nerves.”

“I know.” He replied again as he looked to Holly.

“He drives me crazy enough to shout in Spanish, like Mom.”

"I know.” He chuckled.

Holly was beaming at Alex as she squeezed his hand.

“Dev, I know you like Ben. You’ve liked him for a while and, yeah I didn’t like it at first, but I don’t want to keep you from being happy. If Ben is the one that makes
you
happy then
I’m
happy.”

“Really? But, we keep fighting!”

“Yes really, and I’m sure if you both actually
talk
to each other, the fighting will stop.” Alex stroked her hair again as she looked up at him, her eyes red from sobbing.

“But I told him I’m done with him.”

“I don’t think that’ll matter, honey.” Added Holly. “You’ve both gotten under each other’s skin enough to say some things to piss each other off. Just wait and see what tomorrow brings, ok? I’m sure it will work out.”

“Thanks guys.” Dev sniffled again. “You’re right. Hopefully, he won’t try to piss me off on my birthday.” She snorted a laugh as she sat up to hug them both. “Anyway, enough with me, you two need to get ready for you date, so you better get going.”
 

So Holly and Alex left an upset, but getting better, Dev so Alex could drop her home.

Holly remembered her new underwear and collected the bags from the trunk of the car.
 

“A little peak?” Alex asked with a cheeky smile.

“Nope. You’ll just have to wait and see.” She said and laughed as Alex dropped his head back and groaned.

“I’ll pick you up at five thirty. My Mum said I can use her car.”

“You sure? I could come and get
you.”

“Nope. I’m taking
you
out so I’m picking you up.” She said as he walked her to the door.
 

“I can’t wait.” He brushed the loose hairs back from her face and rubbed his thumbs across her cheekbones.

“I love you, Holly.” He said as he looked right into her eyes, causing Holly’s heart to skip a beat.

“I love you too, Alex.”

They shared a tender kiss, and then he left, but not before sneaking a pinch of her butt.
 

“See you soon.”

Holly pulled up to Alex’s house and Dev opened the door.
 

“Wow! Holly you look fucktastic! Are you
trying
to give Alex a heart attack?” Dev asked as she let Holly in.

Alex walked through from the living room, and Holly gasped.

His hair was mussed all sexily, just the way she liked it. He was wearing a navy blue, long sleeved T-shirt that fitted him flawlessly and showing his sculpted body without being too tight.

Fuck! Does he know how to wear his clothes or
what?!

His black, worn denim jeans hugged… Holly swallowed hard as she knew she was drooling over him. His entire lower half was dripping with so much heat he gave her very,
very
lustful thoughts.

Holly bit her lip as she imaging him removing his clothing…

“Oh my God.” Alex whispered.

Holly had worn her hair loose, with the front clipped back, away from her face.
 
Her red scoop draped, sheer chiffon blouse had a v-neck that stopped right at the top of her twin peaks, showing only the tiniest amount of cleavage, but enough to make Alex’s blood boil. The material curved at the waistline with the fabric doubled to keep the front covered, but see-through everywhere else. Her hair hid the back.
 

Holly teamed that with shiny black leggings that clung to
every
line and curve of her hips, scrumptious ass and toned legs. The black open toe sandal with cork wedges looked amazing on her too.

Alex was still in shock and awe that this delectable creature was his.

“Well are you two gonna stare at each other all night, or are you going to go out?” chuckled Dev.

“You look…um…well…” Alex stuttered.

“Thanks
 
You too.” Holly just about whispered.
 

Alex took the last few steps to reach her and held her face whilst he kissed her long and soft.

”You’re going to be late guys.” Dev spoke again. “Have a good time. Back before midnight, school night, blah blah. See you later!” She said, closing the door as they walked to Holly’s Mum’s car.

Alex whistled.

“Is that an Audi Q5?”

“Yeah. Do you like it?”

“Yeah, it’s cool!” He said as he looked over the gun metal grey car, with five-spoke alloy wheels.

“Hang on.” Holly said as she reached for Alex’s door to open it for him, and he chuckled. “Hey, you open doors for me so…” she gestured for him to get in. “Besides…I get a great view.” She smiled, tongue between her teeth, which made Alex laugh even more.

Alex watched as Holly walked around the front of the car, his jeans already tight, when a gust of wind blew against Holly, causing her blouse to press to her body.
 
He could see her silhouette and
wow
was it red hot!

He flinched as his groin ached. He stared as she got into the car.

“You ok babe? You look little…flushed.” She asked as she shut the door.
 

“Yeah just…you look…the wind caught your um…” He glanced towards the ‘ladies’.
 

Holly snorted
 
little laugh.

“You had me worried for a second.”
 

“
I’m
worried.” He said. “Worried I won’t be able to keep my hands off you.”

That made Holly stop laughing and flush herself.

They leaned into each other for a kiss, and Holly moaned.

“We better get going, or we won’t make it away from the kerb.” She whispered.
 

“Definitely.” Alex replied, running his hands over his face and through his hair.
 

Holly pulled away from the kerb, and they started talking about what had happened that day.
 
About Dev and Ben, and how they hoped they would work things out between them. They knew from Ben’s reaction that he was Dev’s first kiss. They wanted to know the details and why they hadn’t said anything before.
 
Ben might not have said anything because of Alex, and Dev had said he didn’t feel the same.

No wonder they bickered!

Ben just needed to pull his head out of his ass.

They were happy that Kyle had finally gotten his girl and how surprised they were at Kayla, kissing him.
 

It seemed the whole group were destined to be coupled, but it took Holly’s arrival to start them.
 
Like she was the final piece to make everything work.
 

As they drove through Seattle, and onto the I-90, Alex realized they were going to Mercer Island.

Holly smiled.

“A new place opened up over there. My Mum drove past last week and told me about it.”

Alex laughed.

“What?” she asked confused.
 

“Oh, it’s just that we both needed our parents to think of places to go.”

“Ha, yeah!” she giggled. “Hurray for parents.”

After a few minutes, and sat nav directions, they pulled up outside ‘Garden Of Eden’.

“Wait!” Holly said as she got out of the car to open Alex’s door, which made him laugh and shake his head.

Holly loved his laugh.
 
It was deep sounding and made butterflies dance in her stomach.

They walked hand-in-hand to the door, and the doorman opened it for them.
 

The outside of the restaurant had white curved awnings above the white framed Victorian arched windows.
 
The wavy edges had the name of the restaurant piped in green cursive writing.

As they walked through the door, they could hear the sounds of birds singing and rushing waterfalls. Round tables and chairs draped with white fabric that had green embroidery around the seams.

In the centre of the building was an apple tree. It was real! Eden’s tree.
 

The ceiling was covered in colours of the sky with twinkling lights dotted about to look like stars.

As the waiter led them to their table, they saw the pathway they walked on was flat, grey, cobble type stones that weaved through the restaurant.
 
The lights were low as lamps adorned the posts of the fencing that surrounded each table.

The whole place looked just like a huge garden that had been sectioned in separate eating areas.
 
Large, leafy plants surrounded and climbed trellis’ that arched over the individual spaces, and potted shrubs lined the pathways.

Once the waiter got to their table, Alex and Holly both gasped.
 

Holly had reserved a booth, but she’d never expected something so beautiful. The booth was a semicircle with bamboo and decorative grass walls, giving them privacy, joining a pagoda style roof that was adorned with lots of tiny twinkling lights interlacing the ivy that was woven through the wood.

The archway into the booth was a wooden trellis, with white and pink silk oriental lilies, in planters at their bases. Long white drapes with dark green tie backs framed the arch, and the round table had a matching cover.

The curved seats and backs were soft, dark green material that was made to look like a freshly cut lawn, but felt like velvet.

They took their seats, and the waiter gave them their menus.
 

“Can I get you any drinks?” He asked. Alex and Holly both ordered sodas and the waiter left them to look over the menus.
 

“This place is amazing!” Said Alex in awe.
 

“It’s really beautiful. I didn’t know it was this nice. My Mum said it looked pretty, from what she saw.”
 

Alex brought his right arm around Holly, with his hand gently gripping her waist.
 

He stroked her chin with the other.

Holly mirrored him, but with her hand on his chest. She could feel his solid muscles beneath her fingers.

“Thank you for doing this.” He spoke gently as he gazed into her eyes.

“You don’t need to thank me, Alex.” She replied in a whisper.

“It’s just…after yesterday; I didn’t think you’d still want to go out.”

He ran his lips across her cheek, tingles running down her spine from the sensation.
 

“
Nothing
would stop me, Alex.
Nobody
is going to ruin our time together…
ever
.” She took a deep breath as Alex’s lips travelled to her jaw.