Love's Tangled Web by Donna Taylor

Chapter 84

Uncontroally, Alex leaned in closer. Ellie felt a rush of warmth his breath neared her, and her mind was racing to keep up.

Then, just when things were getting tense, Alex’s phone rang. El gasped and quickly shoved Alex away. His chest was rising and falling fast, betraying the desire brewing beneath his cool facade.

“Blushing like that. Ellie. You’re not thinking I’m going to kiss you, are you?” Alex joked, trying to brush off the moment. He watched for her reaction, but as soon as she looked up at him, he quickly turned his gaze away, answered the call, and left.

Once the door clicked shut behind him. Ellie felt her whole body relax as she sank to the floor. She closed her eyes, with Alex’s unique scent still lingering in her nose. Her heart raced just thinking about their almost–kiss

Deep down, she knew it was just one of Alex’s childish jokes when he was bored. He had pulled similar stunts before. Even though she knew he was kidding, she couldn’t help but feel tense and her heart would beat faster.

Taking a deep breath, Ellie felt a wave of frustration wash over her. In the adult world, all those ambiguous moments seemed to have their own hidden reasons.

Every time Alex touched her, it went beyond normal friendly interaction. She knew he wasn’t interested in her romantically

-it was just a habit he’d had since they were kids–but she still didn’t stop it in time.

him, holding onto hope with every accidental touch. But now things were different; they were adults, and he already had someone he liked. She couldn’t let it

slid a bucket of ice across the coffee table to

you

doctor. Why are you throwing ice in everything you drink lately?”

Layton a glare and filled

some slack. You’ve already tackled him three times, and just as he woke up,

incident is causing quite a stir in our circle. Trevor’s parents came to my house yesterday, asking my dad to mediate between you

my mom yelled at me for not finishing off that jerk the first time.”

was left

glasses of ice–filled red wine, Alex fixed his intense stare on

private room–it was just him and Alex Alex’s intense stare made Layton uneasy. “Quit staring at me like that! You’re giving me

didn’t move. “If a guy suddenly starts having those feelings for a girl… does it mean he likes

gotten pretty close lately. Don’t tell me you two haven’t

“Not Haley.”

then it