Chapter 26 You just make me believe

The next morning …

flashback

'Once you let yourself fall. That's it, you're done for'.
'You don't really believe that.'
'I've got no reason to believe anything else. First there was Tracey, then Claire. Sometimes I feel like I'm still falling.'

'You know, I bet you change your mind about women. You'll meet at least one who you can be friends with and at least one more who you fall in love with.'
'You are sure about that, are you?'
'You've got to believe in love. Even when they break your heart. You've got to keep believe in it.'

flashback

Alex was looking at her and his fingers were playing softly with a curl of her hair. She looked so peaceful. It was still early, so he didn't really wanted to wake her, but he couldn't fall asleep again. This view was too beautiful. She turned around and faced him, still fast asleep, but there was this content smile on her face. The one Alex had too. He was leaning on his elbow and couldn't resist moving a bit closer to her. She felt it and snuggled up to him. He bended forward to place a kiss on her hair.

Really slowly her eyes opened and she stared in his right away. 'Hey sunshine', he whispered. A huge smile appeared on her face. 'You've been staring at me ...', she pulled up the blanket a bit. He nodded and smiled. 'Good to see you're not throwing me out and wondering what on earth happened last night', he said teasing referring to that night months ago. She moved closer to him and looked up. 'Cause you were right, I would remember it immediately'. They both laughed softly. 'So you liked it?', he played with her hair again. 'A lot'.

'I can't sleep any longer', Alex said, 'I'm starving'. Though he could watch her like this whole morning he really was starving. 'I could make you some breakfast', he said pleased. It sounded so good to him. 'That would be nice, just one moment ok?' He could feel her crawling up against him.

Alex was making breakfast in his boxers. Eggs and bacon it would be. Jodi was still half a sleep when she entered the kitchen, distracted by the lovely smell that was coming from it. She looked at the scene, looked again, rubbed her eyes and uttered; 'Oh my God, Alex'. 'Good morning Jodi!'. She pulled her bathing-wrap tighter, though she was totally covered already. It was probably an automatic response on seeing an almost naked Alex, cooking in their kitchen.

'What are you doing here?', she asked, sitting down at the kitchen table. But she didn't got any attention from Alex, cause his eye has caught something, someone else. Stevie was standing in the doorway, only wearing his shirt. It made him smirk.

And maybe it's a little too early to know if this is gonna work
All I know is you're sure looking good in my shirt
That's right you look good in my shirt

'Hey', she said softly biting her lip, looking shyly and sweet at him. She walked towards him and Jodi's eyes grew width. Stevie wrapped her arms around Alex, intending to kiss him. He wanted to go on with that moment, but he also saw a Jodi with her mouth open almost falling from her chair. 'Oh my god, you two! When did that happen!'

Stevie looked behind her for a moment, than looking back at Alex laughing. 'Uhm, last night ...' He looked down at Stevie who was still holding him. '... and it was pretty satisfying, was it?' She nodded and kissed him. 'That's gross!'

Alex and Stevie laughed about it. 'Hey I could make you some breakfast too', Alex said, just wanting to tease Jodi a bit more. 'No', she shook her head right away,' I think I just lost my appetite.' She marched out of the kitchen and bumped into Kate, who noticed Jodi's pale face immediately. 'Don't go in there. I warned you. They make me wanna puke'. Kate looked at her friend seeing her walking away. What was that about?

But not much later she got her answer, standing frozen to the ground, watching Stevie and Alex who didn't seemed to have moved a bit when Jodi had run off. 'Wow!' 'Good morning Kate!' 'Uh ... what, how ... when?' Saying that last word she remembered her and Dave's bet. 'Oh my ...' she started to count. Her friends looked amused at her, no idea what she was doing. 'Two weeks!' 'What?' Stevie asked. 'When did you fell of your horse? That was two weeks ago, was it?' 'Uhm yeah, that was on a Sunday'. A huge smile appeared on Kate's face. 'That's more than two weeks.' She saw the confused expression on their faces. 'I mean, that's great, you two, that's great!'. 'What's she babbling about?' Alex whispered into Stevie's ear. 'Got no clue.' Kate squealed. 'I've got to call Dave!'. She ran off.

'Did I miss something?' Alex asked again, but Stevie started to smile. 'I'm not sure, but maybe they had a bet or something ...' 'About us?' Stevie nodded and Alex still looked confused.

They had breakfast and a shower and found an excited Kate in the kitchen afterwards. 'I really have to go', Alex said, still buttoning his shirt. 'Please wait just a bit longer', Kate said staring outside. Dave could be here any moment and from her excitement on the phone and the fact there was no trace of Alex, Dave already figured there was something going on.

Alex and Stevie couldn't really wait, so they stood at the front of Drovers. Kate was leaning against the wall, hoping Dave would get here on time.

'That's pathetic', Stevie said, holding Alex' hands, 'our friends making bets about us'. 'Well, that explains Dave's strange behavior... oeh, you don't think Kate interrupted us on purpose that night, do you?'. He glared at her. 'No, silly, Kate wouldn't do that'. 'She sure was annoying', he stated. It made Stevie smirk. 'That doesn't matter right now'. She pulled him closer, gazing into his eyes.

Behind them they could hear a Ute driving on to the property. 'That would be our lovely betting vet', Stevie said. Alex saw Kate almost jumping. He wondered what that bet had been about. Dave walked to her, than seeing his best friends really, really close. To make fun of him they kissed. 'What!' He started thinking. 'I've found them this morning in the kitchen'. Kate told him. 'Wait that means last night ...' A huge grin appeared on Dave's face. 'That means I've won. Yeah, I won it!'. Kate looked confused. 'No you didn't. It's more than two weeks!'. 'No it isn't', Dave replied.

Alex and Stevie had followed their friends' conversation. 'Hopeless', Alex said. 'You're both right!' Dave and Kate looked up. 'We are?' Stevie looked at Alex. 'Well, Dave's right, we've kinda got together last week.' Alex smiled at her, knowing she was right. 'They don't need to know that'. Stevie laughed. 'Good!'. 'Yes, you're both right!' Stevie shouted at the two who still were all confused about the result of their bet, and they continued having words.

'Hey Alex, you're not at home this evening, hey?' Dave asked, knowing he didn't wanted Alex around when Kate and him would try to find a solution. Alex looked at Stevie, pulling up puppy eyes. She smirked. 'Yes you can stay with me.' 'Jolly!'.

They kissed again before Alex would leave to Killarney, but they both didn't wanted to end this moment. When they stopped, Alex still kissed her lips for a sec. Than he looked at her seriously. 'Thanks', he said softly. 'For what?' Stevie asked, looking a bit confused at him. He waited a moment, caressing her face ... exploring her face, noticing how perfect she was.

'Thanks for making me believe again.'

THE END

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