by Alex Jane
Alec didn’t move, didn’t look to Jack, just smiled at Ethan confirming everything that Jack said and Ethan released the grip on his arm.
Alec took the envelope and turned it over in his hands for a moment before rapidly pulling out the pages and unfolding them. He flicked back and forth between them scanning the columns of numbers looking for the pertinent part and when he found it he froze.
The silence was filled with nothing, but the rustle of the papers in Alec’s hands and Jack shifting in his seat until he blurted out, “Jesus, Alec, what does it say?”
Alec could hardly tear his eyes away from the page as he held it out. Jack tentatively took the proffered page and ran his eyes over the numbers and text. He slumped back in the chair, his mouth gaping open. “Oh God.” He was breathing like there were more words to come but nothing happened.
Alec reached out and took hold of his hand, then turned to Ethan and Kate. “Do you mind giving us a minute? I think we need to —”
“Of course, of course.” Ethan interrupted, already scraping back his chair and struggling to get around it. Alec shot out his free hand and took hold of Ethan’s forearm as he passed. “Ethan. I—” Alec paused but it was enough. His friend visibly relaxed and covered Alec’s hand in relief.
After Kate led Ethan away, the silence in the kitchen was suddenly deafening. Alec sat and stared at the ring on his finger and the way Jack’s fingers slotted perfectly between his until Jack sat up and placed the letter face down on the table.
“Well,” Alec looked up and stared into tear-filled eyes, as Jack asked, “So, what do you want to do now?”
Alec leaned over and kissed him. He pulled away and let his forehead rest against Jack’s for a moment. Then sitting back, he let out the smile that had been building inside him and half-said, half-laughed out, “Everything. I want to do everything.”
<•••>
THE END
<•••>
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About the Author
After spending far too long creating stories in her head, Alex finally plucked up the courage to write them down and realized it was quite fun seeing them on the page after all.
Free from aspirations of literary greatness, Alex simply hopes to entertain by spinning a good yarn of love and life, wrapped up with a happy ending. Although, if her characters have to go through Hell to get there, she’s a-okay with that.
With only a dysfunctional taste in music and a one-eyed dog to otherwise fill her days, Alex writes and walks on the South Coast of England—even when her heart and spellcheck are in New York.
www.alexjane.info
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Also by the Author
The Alphas’ Homestead Series
#1– Home Is Where You Are
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‘Tis the Season
The Alphas’ Homestead Series - Book One
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As the weeks pass, it seems that Jacob’s arrival might not be the coincidence it first appeared. Jacob has an agenda. One that involves Caleb. And if Caleb agrees to it – if he can let go of his past and his prejudices – it will change Caleb’s whole world. Maybe even for the better.
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Ex-detective John Right likes to watch.
There’s no harm in it.
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Can John get to the bottom of the mystery without giving away his own dirty secret? And without giving in to his urge to do more than simply watch?
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Ex-soldier Ryan Jones likes precisely two things—his kitchen and the music his father taught him to love.
After spending too many years running from his past, he’s found something like peace. Working all day as a short-order cook in a dying town, then drinking himself to sleep at night isn’t much of a life but he thinks it’s all he needs, until the day he notices the kid.
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Ryan’s not the sort of man to be anyone’s white knight. But as it turns out, what Ryan is capable of, is exactly what Lucas needs.
Info Link