F O R T Y - F O U R

ARABELLA.

"That wasn’t so hard, was it?" I smile as I drop the grocery bags in Alex’s kitchen, but when he enters and I see the expression on his face, my smile fades.

After my question earlier in the car, the atmosphere between us changed.

~EARLIER~

Alex stares at me with a blank face. "What?"

"Sofia. Who’s she to you?" I repeat my question and he blinks twice before he looks away from me, turning his head to the front. "No one important."

"Alex–"

"Arabella, please. I don’t want to speak about it. Just drive." There’s a slight edge to his tone that tells me if I push it more than that, it’d result in something I wouldn’t like and a fight with Alexander is the last thing I want today which is why I sigh and turn back to the steering wheel.

~PRESENT~

Alexander was silent the entire ride to his place, and he refused to meet my gaze or even glance at my side. His head was against the car window and he didn’t speak a word to me.

Up till now.

I can feel my annoyance growing with