Everything But Love

Elena woke to sunlight streaming through unfamiliar windows and the scent of fresh coffee. For a disorienting moment, she forgot where she was-then memory flooded back. Alex's penthouse. His arms around her. Falling asleep talking as dawn broke.

She sat up quickly, looking around. The couch was empty except for her, a cashmere throw draped over her legs. Her phone showed 10 AM-she'd slept for four hours. She had to be at work at four, which gave her time to go home, shower, check on Ollie.

"Good morning." Alex appeared from what must be the kitchen, carrying two mugs of coffee. He'd changed into jeans and a soft gray t-shirt that made him look younger, more approachable. His hair was slightly mussed, and there was stubble along his jaw.

He looked perfect.

"I can't believe I fell asleep," she said, accepting the coffee gratefully. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be. You were exhausted." He settled beside her, close but not crowding. "I would have let you sleep longer, but I thought you might panic if you woke up alone."

"Thoughtful and accurate." She sipped the coffee-it was perfect, the way she liked it. Had she told him that, or had he just noticed? "What time did you get up?"

"Around eight. I had some emails to handle." He gestured to a laptop on the dining table, open and clearly in use. "The joys of running a company-work never actually stops."

"Don't you have an office for that?"

"I do. But I didn't want to leave while you were here." His gray eyes were warm, sincere. "And I have a meeting at one that I can't miss, so I wanted to maximize our time together."

The meeting with Victoria. Elena remembered what he'd said last night about complications and obligations he couldn't explain yet. She wondered if Victoria was one of those complications.

"I should go anyway," she said, setting down her mug. "Let you get ready for your meeting. And I need to check on Ollie."

"Let me drive you."

"Alex, you don't have to-"

"I want to." He took her hand, threaded their fingers together. "Besides, I like the idea of people seeing us together. Is that selfish?"

"Maybe. But I kind of like it too."

His smile was worth any complications that might come.

They drove to her apartment in comfortable silence, his hand resting on her knee, her fingers playing with his. It felt natural, easy, like they'd been doing this for months instead of days.

"What are you thinking?" he asked as they pulled up outside her building.

"That this is happening fast. That it should probably scare me more than it does."

"Does it scare you?"

"Terrifies me," she admitted. "But in a good way. Is there a good way to be terrified?"

"If you find out, let me know." He squeezed her hand. "Dinner tonight? After your shift?"

"You're going to pick me up again?"

"Every night, if you'll let me."

She should say no. Should slow this down, put some distance between them before she got too attached. But looking at him, at the hope and warmth in his eyes, she couldn't make herself do it.

"Okay," she said. "Every night."

His kiss was soft, sweet, a promise of more to come. When she finally pulled away and headed up to her apartment, she was smiling like an idiot.

Ollie was awake, eating cereal and watching television. He looked up when she entered, his expression knowing.

"The walk of shame," he said, grinning. "Never thought I'd see the day."

"There's no shame in falling asleep on someone's couch."

"Is that all you did? Fall asleep?"

"Yes, actually." She dropped onto the couch beside him, stealing a bite of his cereal. "We talked. About everything. And then I fell asleep, and he let me sleep, and this morning he made me coffee exactly how I like it."

"So he's perfect."

"Nobody's perfect."

"But he's close." Ollie studied her face. "You really like him."

"I really do. Is that okay?"

"Why wouldn't it be okay?"

"Because he's complicated. Rich. From a different world. And we've known each other less than a week."

"So? Mom and Dad got engaged after three weeks."

Elena blinked. She'd forgotten that-her mother's favorite story about how their father had proposed in a rainstorm because he couldn't wait another day. It had seemed romantic when she was young, reckless when she got older, and now...

Now it seemed like maybe love didn't follow a timeline.

"Fair point," she conceded.

"Besides, you've been miserable for three years. If this guy makes you happy, I'm not going to complain about the timeline." Ollie's expression turned serious. "But if he hurts you, I will figure out a way to destroy him, cancer or no cancer."

"Very protective. I appreciate it."

"That's what annoying little brothers are for."

She hugged him, breathing in the familiar scent of his shampoo and the faint hospital smell that never quite went away. "I love you, you know that?"

"I know. I love you too." He pulled back, his hazel eyes concerned. "Friday's appointment is at ten. Dr. Kim wants to run some tests, see how the treatment's working."

"I'll be there."

"You have to work."

"I'll call in sick. You're more important."

"Ellie-"

"Non-negotiable." She stood, stretching muscles sore from sleeping on a couch. "Now I need to shower and change. Try not to judge me too harshly for my life choices."

"Too late. Already judging."

She threw a couch pillow at him, which he caught with a laugh.

In the shower, Elena let herself think about what she was doing. Getting involved with a man she barely knew. A man with money and power and a life so different from hers they might as well be from different planets. A man with complications he hadn't explained yet.

It was stupid. Reckless. The kind of thing that ended badly.

But for the first time in three years, she felt alive. Really, truly alive.

Maybe that was worth the risk.

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