The next Tuesday Alice was back at AA sitting across from Paul. He smiled at her sweetly and she smiled back surprised to find herself almost blushing.
Alice was honestly having a hard time paying attention. She could only focus on Paul. Everytime he spoke it was always something kind or inspiring. He gave her a strange mix of emotions. On the one hand she felt a sense of admiration for him and on the other hand she felt a sense that her lips had gone without a good kiss for a long time.
Paul had gotten pretty good at not really paying any notice to the glances on an attractive woman. He had higher things on his mind usually then thoughts of kissing cute girls. That isn't to say it wasn't a thought; it was just something he chose not to pay attention to. Just like the way he'd chosen not to pay attention to the voices that told him he needed to drink.
They exchanged goodbyes by Alice's car again that evening.
"So, did you have fun at the wedding?" Paul asked smiling.
"I don't know. You tell me." Alice crossed her arms and leaned up against her car door.
"It was alright I guess. I left early" Paul shrugged.
"Yeah, I noticed." Alice said but stopped herself short of adding that she was rather upset to find he'd left.
Paul smiled thinking that Alice noticed his absence. He had to admit he'd grown a little fond of her. On the one hand he felt an urge to protect her and on the other hand he felt an urge to hold her.
On Thursday morning, Paul gets an unexpected call at 2am on his mobile.
"Hello?" He answered groggily and half asleep.
"I'm an idiot, Paul." Alice's voice speaks to him on the other line.
"What's wrong?" Paul is beginning to feel worried .
"Can you come pick me up, please." Alice sounds like she's in a loud place. "I fucked up!" she yells. "Sorry" she whispers.
"Where are you?" Paul is looking for some clothes to change into quickly. "I'll be there as soon as I can, Alice"
Paul drives for a half hour to find Alice sitting on a curb outside a noisy club.
"Oh, Paul!" Alice stumbles her way up to the car and peeks inside an open window. "You're so beautiful" she whispers as she gets in the passenger seat.
"What are you doing out here, Alice" Paul asks slightly worried by his new friend's severely drunken state.
"I don't know, Paul!" Alice's volume control is off. "Ruining my life, probably!"
"It's ok, Alice. I'll take you home. Which way to your house?" Paul begins to drive.
"Can I stay at your house?" Alice smiles.
"Why's that? Is there something wrong with yours?" Paul smiles back.
"Hey, baby wherever you want to go is fine by me, ok." Alice reclines the passenger seat back and lays down.
"I can't really take you to your house if I don't know where it is I'm going." Paul chuckles at Alice's drunk attempt at holding a conversation.
"Can I stay at your house?" Alice repeats herself.
"You already asked that. Why can't we go to yours?" Paul rolls his eyes but he's still smiling.
"Have you ever taken a girl home before, Paul?" Alice is too drunk for discretion as she puts her hand on her hip and delivers her line flirtatiously.
"You really want to go to my house?" Paul avoids answering her question by asking another.
"Answer my question." Alice was drunk but she didn't miss his attempt at dismissing her question.
"No, Alice. I have never picked up a girl from a club in the city and taken her back to my house." Paul avoids a direct answer again and decided Alice wasn't going to cooperate so they were going to his house.
"Ok." Alice closes her eyes and falls asleep.
Paul had only been living at the house at the bottom of the hill for a little over a year and to answer Alice's question; he'd never taken a girl there. That's not to say he's never taken a girl anywhere before but it's been a few years.
"Alright, here we go" Paul leans in to help Alice stand up and walk to the front door.
"Thanks" Alice stumbled her way to the door "Boy, do I feel silly" she laughs but quickly changes her tone. "I feel like a total idiot." she plops herself on the sofa and lays down with the back of her hand up to her forehead. "Am I hot to you?"
Paul's taken aback by the question until he realized Alice was asking about her temperature. Paul leaned in and put his hand on her forehead. "You'll be fine but you're probably dehydrated. I'll get you some water."
He places a glass of water on the small coffee table beside the couch. "Alright now drink this and try to get some sleep. Maybe I can get some sleep too. That would be great." he smiles.
"I woke you up, didn't I?" Alice made a drunk pouty face. "I'm so very sorry. Really, I'm sorry." she sincerely asked for forgiveness.
"No, I was actually awake when you called. I rarely sleep. I seem to suffer from terrible insomnia." Paul found himself sitting down at her feet on the edge of the sofa.
"Really?" Alice sounded worried. "Why do you think that is?" She sat up and grabbed the glass of water on the table. "Insomnia can be a sign of stress or depression." Alice takes a big sip of water. "You aren't depressed, are you? I used to take pills for it but for the last month I've just been drinking." she laughed.
Alice had never said anything like that in AA. She'd said she never had a drinking problem before but from the sound of it she was on her way to developing one. Paul scooted up to sit beside her and took her hand.
"I'll keep you in my prayers, Alice" Paul squeezed her hand reassuringly. "Now I'll let you get some rest." He stands and places a kind hand on Alice's shoulder. "Sleep well"
"You sleep well too, ok?" Alice whispered to him with a sleepy smile and rested her head back down on the couch cushions.