Chapter 19

**A L E X

Grace steps back into the changing room, the curtain swishing shut behind her. Sophia watches her disappear, then turns to me, her expression conflicted.

“Why are you acting like this?” Sophia’s voice is quiet, but the hurt in it is unmistakable. “She’s just trying to find something that fits.”

I meet my sister’s gaze, feeling a pang of guilt at the sadness in her eyes. I can’t stand seeing her so torn. The realization that Carlisle's attention to Grace Millers is affecting Sophia sets in harder, and I struggle to maintain my calm. *Should I just fire him? Should I ship Grace Millers back to Oxford? *

Before I can decide on a way to stop Grace Millers from hurting my sister any further, Carlisle steps in and cuts off my train of thought. “Yeah, Alex, what’s your deal?”

I turn to him, irritation flaring. Out of the two, he is the one I can safely punish, and maybe that can even help send a message to *her*. I level him with a sharp gaze. “Figure it out,” I snap, not bothering to hide my annoyance. Carlisle looks taken aback by my harsh tone as he should be, if I wasn’t so worked up, I would myself cringe at my emotional outbreak.

Ignoring the confusion and hurt in Sophia's eyes, so I can solve the problem at hand and deal with that later, I address her again. “Do you want anything else?”

Sophia hesitates, debating mentally between ignoring my question because I ignored hers and not caring because deep down she has begun to see that her best friend dearest is not really so much worth fighting for. She nods slowly after a minute. “Yeah, there are a few more things.”

“Go ahead. I’ll finish up here with her,” I say firmly.

Sophia frowns the moment I say that, her reluctance clear. “No, no, I-

“What, you think I’ll do something to your friend?”

She opens her mouth to answer, then closes it back before adding softly, “Just be nice. Or just don’t be anything, let Carl handle–”

“Carlisle will go with you.” I cut her off, struggling to keep my voice steady. She is so selfless and that girl has been taking advantage of that forever.

Sophia’s eyes go wide when she registers my order. She looks awkwardly between the two of us, her face turning red as Carl looks at her, failing to hide his reluctance. “No, I will manage by myself. Or I’ll take Lizzy.” She says quickly looking away.

“Lizzy is working,” I say, my patience thinning. “Carlisle will go with you. Now.” I add the last part looking at him.

Sophia sighs, her shoulders slumping in defeat. She nods and starts to head towards the door, but just then, the curtain to the changing room opens again, and Grace Millers steps out. This time, wearing a sleek black dress that clings to her curves in all the right places. The fabric shimmers under the boutique lights, highlighting every contour of her body. Our eyes meet, and there’s a defiant spark in hers. She knows what she is doing. but too bad that she thinks it will work on me.

Carlisle opens his mouth to speak, but I step forward, cutting him off. I position myself directly in front of her, blocking any further conversation. I look down at her now from a much closer distance, her skin has caught some tan on the way to Naples and the redness is creating a sharp contrast with the night black of her dress. She doesn’t break eye contact the entire time. I hum low enough for only her to hear before speaking. “What do you think?” I ask, my voice low and measured.

“What do you think?” She sends my question back to me in an even lower whisper.
*Wow, Grace Millers, could you try any harder to get in my pants. *

I take another step closer to her, making her back into the dressing room by one small step. “You really think I have time to care about what frocks you are wearing?"Clenching my fists on my sides to prevent myself from doing something foolish. "Besides, we both know clothes don’t matter much between us.” I add the last part in the quietest whisper I could manage, a smirk dancing on my lips.

Grace Millers looks up at me styling some very fresh pecks of red blush on her sunkissed cheeks, clearly taken aback by my directness. “If you didn’t have the patience for this, why did you bring me here?” she whispers, her tone sharp but not sharper than her gaze.

That's it. “Do you think I want you here?” I whisper back through clenched teeth, stepping closer to ensure no one else hears it. She takes another step back in reflex. “Do you think I’d let you be here if it weren’t for my sister, who thinks you’re a saint?”

Her eyes narrow, a flash of irritation crossing her face. “Oh yeah? And what do *you* think I am?” She asks, her eyes challenging.

I stare at her for a few long seconds, conflicted between telling her what I think she is and not letting her get under my skin. I figure the latter is what she wants me to do so I decide to not do exactly that.
"Go back in and try something else” I tilt my head and speak, my tone cold and dismissive. “Something you can wear without twitching every ten seconds,” I say looking her down, making her stop her weird squirming motions, “so we can finish this and move on. We have more important things to do.”

Grace Millers doesn’t answer back at that, and I don't wait for her to, I pull the curtain back coveing her off before turning to Sophia. “Go ahead to the other shop and start shopping."I turn to Carlisle, and flick my finger, which is enough for him to follow after her and take the bags off her hands.

Sophia hesitates but eventually nods, and she and Carlisle leave the boutique. The air feels lighter once they’re gone, but I know the bullshit is far from over. I wait, the seconds ticking by slowly, until Grace Millers emerges again. For a second there I almost realise why they say an empty mind is a devil's workshop when I catch myself wondering what she might be changing into this time.

Worse, I almost find myself imagining it.

Fuck with a capital fucking F.