I carefully walk down the stairs and feel a little bit uncomfortable. Mom brought me a blue thigh-length dress with a sweetheart neckline. It’s backless with lace sleeves. There’s also a small belt and it’s kind of cute. I originally wanted to change into some jeans and shirt, but Mom left a note in the bag telling me that we’re going to eat some place nice. I don’t want to look like the idiot in jeans.

I grab on to the handrail for dear life and try not to wobble in my heels.

I hear footsteps walking towards me and I yell, “I’m coming. Keep your panties on!”

I walk down slowly and stop for a bit when I see how Alex looks.

He’s wearing a black suit with a white dress shirt. He’s trying to fix his tie and he looks up at me.

We both just kind of stand there for a moment.

I’ve seen Alex in a suit before, I’ve seen him at prom. He looks good because he’s tall, he’s got broad shoulders. But there’s something about how he looks tonight that’s different.

I clear my throat and start walking, “Tie problem?”

He looks away, “No. I got it.”

I get to the bottom of the steps and I watch him struggle with the choking device. He might actually choke on it if I don’t help.

I sigh, “Give me that.”

I pull on his tie to try to fix it, but he’s so tall that I’m having a hard time seeing if it’s centered.

He sees me struggling and I let out a gasp when he grabs me by the waist and lifts me back up to the last step on the stairs.

We’re almost at eye-level now since I’m wearing three-inch heels.

I drop my eyes to his tie and just focus on fixing it.

I start blabbering because I can feel his eyes on me, “I do this all the time with Dad. You just have to cross it over, loop it, loop it again and pull.”

I pull the knot up and fix it under his collar.

I don’t know why I do it, but I run my hands over his chest, “There.”

I look up at his eyes and instantly regret it.

There’s something about how Alex stares, it’s unnerving. It makes me feel all woozy.

What the hell?

I’m uncomfortable again so I push at his chest with a little more force this time, “C’mon. Dinner is waiting.”

I walk past him, but he stops me with a hand on my arm, “Wait.”

I stare up at him.

He puts his hands in his pockets, “We need to appear okay later, right?”

I nod.

He sighs, “I’m annoyed with your right now, so I don’t know if I’ll be convincing.”

I roll my eyes, “So what do you want me to do?”

He shrugs, “I don’t know. Tell me a joke or something.”

I scoff, “Are you kidding?”

He sighs, “We need to appear to be getting along, I think my Mom will immediately see something’s up with me when she sees me.”

I just stare at him with raised brows.

He walks past me and huffs, “Forget about it.”

He’s right. Jane would take one look at him and know that he’s just pretending to be okay. He’s so transparent.

I follow him and before he reaches the door I pull at his arm, “Okay.”

He looks back at me with his hands on his hips. Waiting.

I clear my throat, “I’m sorry.”

He raises an eyebrow.

“I’m sorry for being such a bitch earlier,” and then I squint at him, “but that’s kind of your fault actually since you disturbed my nap.”

He chuckles, “That’s kind of a lame apology.”

I relent, “Fine. I’m sorry. I’m really sorry for saying you’re getting on my nerves. I’m blaming it on the sleep deprivation.”

I nod, “Also, thank you for staying with me and waiting for me to get up. And for giving me the bag Mom left for me. That’s kind of nice.”

He smiles.

I feel my tummy contract.

It feels weird.

Did I just get butterflies?

Shit.

I nod to him a couple of times and slap his arm, “That enough for you? Can we go now? You good?”

He offers his arm and I take it, “We’re good.”

#

The dress is warranted. Thanks to Mom I’m properly dressed.

We eat at a fine restaurant near the resort. 

I sit beside Alex and we talk while eating. It’s nice not to have an enemy for a change.

My Dad and Sam made speeches for us, it was kind of embarrassing since they stood up and stuff, but it was really sweet.

Our parents are enjoying themselves making conversation with the other people in the restaurant. They keep asking about the nice tourist spots here and what activities we can do as a family.

I whisper to Alex, “I thought we were supposed to have some time away from the Momsters? They’re planning activities now. If I know my Mom, she’s going to have an itinerary ready by tomorrow morning.”

Alex chuckles, “You have no faith.”

He sits up straighter and whispers, “Watch.”

“Mom,” Alex calls Jane.

“Yes Honey?”

He looks at me looking apprehensive, “Uhm, I know you’ve probably got some plans laid out for the week, but can we maybe do some activities on our own? Just Allie and I?”

They all stare at Alex. Dumbfounded.

Alex shrugs, “It just looks like you’ve been making friends here already. People your age. Allie and I can check out the sights, while you go do your thing.”

Sam interrupts, “Did you just call us old?”

Dad snickers.

“Of course not, Dad. I’m just thinking Allie and I won’t be seeing a lot of each other in the next years so better make the most of it and just hang out.”

He looks back and forth to Mom and Jane, “Isn’t that what you want?”

Mom and Jane exchange looks and they both say, “Okay.”

I grin.

He is a genius.