Part 41
Riding down on the elevator, Stormy began to regret asking Kevin to take her home. He was cordial but not overly friendly. One plus he had was he was easy on the eyes but that didn’t do much for the uneasy feeling she had. She tried to convince herself that it was because she was hungry and tired. After all, this was the guy that Alex credited with saving his life and Alex loved his ‘brothers’.
In Kevin’s rental car, he asked, “Do you like Italian food?”
“Sure. Why do you ask?”
“I thought I’d take you to Lil’ Anthony’s for dinner. It’s quicker than trying to fix something and if I know Alex, there’s nothing in his kitchen other than junk food.”
Stormy couldn’t help but laugh because when she first got there, that’s exactly what it was like. “Use to be true but I’ve been doing the shopping since I’ve been with Alex.”
“So, how long have you two known each other?”
”Safe question so why do I feel nervous?” thought Stormy. “About a month now.”
As Kevin pulled out of the parking lot of the hospital, “How did you two meet?”
“Oh great…here we go. I tell him that I knowingly brought those guys into Alex’s life and he’s going to hate me.” Guardedly, Stormy said, “He spotted me in the parking lot of ‘Tabu’ and followed me to a park where I collapsed. He took me to the hospital and then home. We’ve been together ever since.”
“What were you doing in the parking lot and why did you collapse?”
Stormy turned in her seat to look at Kevin. “Why do you want to know all this?”
“Just curious. I want to get to know you and understand your relationship with Alex.” Stopping at a light, Kevin glanced at her watching him. He could tell by the way she was carefully answering the questions and the way she was looking at him that she was on to him. “Okay. I have my doubts about you. Alex’s track record with women isn’t all that great.”
“I know that.”
“I’m just trying to look out for him. He’s worked hard to straighten out his life and I don’t want to see him screw it up.”
“I respect that and I don’t want him to screw it up either but it’s not going to do anything to convince you that I’m not like his other girlfriends by my telling you how we met. I love Alex because he’s caring and warm and he makes me laugh and he didn’t push me to give him something I wasn’t willing to give….NOT because he’s a famous pop singer or because he’s got money or because I want to be a singer. You’ve obviously started to form your opinion of me which leads me to wonder….do you REALLY trust Alex?”
Pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant, Kevin said, “To a certain degree, no, I don’t trust his judgment where women are involved. Alex craves attention and acceptance and he tends to fall quickly for a beautiful woman who gives him just a little of that. You two have only been together for a month and you’re already talking about marriage and children.”
“Don’t you believe in knowing when the right one comes along?”
“Sure, but nurturing a relationship is key to making it last and a month is NOT enough time to build a lasting relationship.”
“Before you finish passing judgment on me, I’ll answer all your questions but at least give me a chance.”
“Fair enough.”
“And if I don’t convince you, what then?”
“I’ll tell Alex how I feel but it’ll be up to him what he does with my opinion and I’ll stand behind him no matter what he decides.”
“It’s going to put a strain on things if you and I don’t get along if Alex and I stay together.”
Kevin shook his head, “I won’t let it interfere. Let’s go eat.”
Kevin helped her out of the car and they walked in together where the host immediately recognized him. Stormy had become use to this with Alex so she wasn’t surprised when they were seated immediately ahead of the others who had obviously been waiting for some time.
Over dinner, Stormy told Kevin about how she’d come to Orlando and meeting Alex. She explained her past, how her brother had left home and how she hadn’t spoken for fifteen years and how she had been with her brother for the last year. He asked questions that she answered easily about her past and her life in Virginia and it seemed to her that she was convincing him that she wasn’t like all the other women in Alex’s life.
As the waitress cleared their plates, Kevin asked, “Would you like some dessert?”
“Ummm, I’d KILL for a brownie with hot fudge and ice cream but I’m stuffed.”
“How about a midnight snack? I could stop and get the stuff to make the brownies and the hot fudge and ice cream.”
“No need to stop. I already have everything at the house. You could make them while I soak in a hot bubble bath if you want.”
“Sounds like a plan. Let me pay the bill and we’ll head to Alex’s house.”
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