39

                                    

                                          
L U K E
                          
"I love you." I whispered in Alex's ear as she led me through the crowded mall. I grabbed her hand, and She turned, and smiled a little. "What do you want?" She asked, and I tilted my head. "Usually when your being all lovey-dovey in a public place, you want something." She said, and I laughed. 
                          
"I just wanna go home and cuddle." I said, taking Carter from her arms, so she could look at something she was buying for the kitchen. I forgot what she said she needed. 
                          
"Well, go cuddle with Carter over there.." She said, and pointed at a little area of chairs. "I'll wait for you. I think Carter's getting sleepy anyways." I said, and walked over, and took a seat, letting Carter rest his head on my shoulder. I rubbed his back, and whispered to him as he fell asleep, with one of his fingers hanging from his mouth. 
                          
"Is that your kid?" I heard, so I turned, and saw a girl with ginger hair. I smiled a little, and nodded. "He's precious." She said, noticing the way he snuggled up to me. I smiled, and looked up. "His name is Carter." I said, and she nodded. "How old?" She asked. "Just turned two." I said, and she cooed. 
                          
"Where's his mom?" She asked, and sat beside me, her friend beside her. "Um.. Me and his mom split up a while ago." I didn't wanna tell her his mom is a lunatic and somehow found her way behind bars. That would just be weird to talk about, and I really didn't wanna. 
                          
"Oh, I'm sorry. I bet it's hard raising a kid on your own, huh?" She asked, and I laughed a little. "It has its down sides, but I'm okay with it. He's a good kid." I said, and she smiled. "That's really sweet. You two are adorable together."  She said, and I awkwardly smiled, blushing a little. 
                          
Alex would not like that comment. 
                          
"I'm Bella, by the way." She said, and I nodded. "I'm Luke.." I said, and was about to ask for her friends name, but at some point, she left, leaving me and Bella. 
                          
Bella scooted closer on the bench, and rubbed Carter's back softly. She crossed her legs, one accidentally overlapping mine. I don't think she noticed. 
                          
"Do you have a babysitter for him while you go to work or anything?" She asked. "No. I'm not employed right now. I sing, and play my guitar for tips down on the corner. It's not much, but it's enough." I said, and she nodded, looking genuinely fascinated. 
                          
"You can sing, play guitar, and raise a kid by yourself. That's cool." She said, and I smiled. 
                          
I looked down, and Carter sat up from his short nap. "Dad.." He mumbled, and held onto my face. "Kissy.." He said quietly, so softly kissed his nose, and he did it back. "Love." He said softly, and I smiled. "Love." I said back, and he continued to play with my lip ring, giggling as his finger touched the cold metal. 
                          
"Listen, it was really nice talking to you. How about you give me your number, and we can talk another time?" She asked, and without thinking about it, I agreed. 
                          
As she walked away from me, and Alex's eyes met mine, I realized exactly what I had done. 
                          
"Don't talk about it. I saw what happened. Let's go." She said sternly, and I stood up, following her through the mall. She went in five more stores, and I was honestly exhausted. 
                          
"Do you need me to carry your bags?" I asked, and she added another one to the growing collection in her hand. "No Luke." She mumbled. 
                          
I internally rolled my eyes as I saw us enter the same store that Bella and her friend were in. I stayed hidden, but I couldn't help but notice the way Alex looked at Bella. She didn't look angry, or jealous. She looked upset, and discouraged. I didn't wanna talk about it though. She told me not to say anything. 
                          
After many hours, and Carter drooling on my shoulder, we finally got to leave. My feet were hurting, and I just wanted to go home and lay down with alex. 
                          
We took a taxi here, so we called one to pick us up, too. 
                          
Once it arrived, and we got settled in, I let Carter lay on my shoulder again, and I looked over at alex. "Are you tired?" I asked, and she shook her head. I nodded, and then laid my head on her shoulder. It was already getting dark, and we had to drive to the other side of town to get back home. 
                          
-
                          
"Luke. Luke wake up." I heard Alex's voice say. I sat up, and rubbed my eyes. I noticed we were still in the cab, so I held onto Carter, and grabbed the bags while alex paid the driver. 
                          
When we got back up to the apartment, I took Carter's sleeping body to the guest room, and laid him down gently. 
                          
I went back to Alex's room, and she shut the door right before I could come in, and I heard the lock twist. 
                          
"Alex?" I asked, but I got no respond. "Alex. What's wrong? Please open the door." I said quietly. I heard her sigh, and unlock the door. I opened it, and saw her go and lay on the bed with her back facing me. 
                          
I didn't mean to flirt with that girl. I didn't even realize I was doing it. I honestly don't even think I was flirting. I was talking about Carter. I love talking about Carter. Maybe she was flirting, but I just didn't realize it until I absentmindedly gave her my number. 
                          
Once I had brushed my teeth, and washed my face, I walked back out into the room. I crawled under the blankets next to alex, and wrapped an arm around her waist. 
                          
"Luke please don't." She whispered, and I sighed, taking my arm away from her. "I'm sorry alex." I said softly, but she still wouldn't even look at me. "Baby..." I whispered, but I still got no reply. 
                          
"Luke I'm not mad." She mumbled, and I sighed. "Yes you are. You won't even talk to me." I said, and she sighed, turning around, snuggling into my chest.  I held her tightly, and just let her lay there. "I'm not mad. It's just- she is so pretty, and I-" 
                          
"Stop." I whispered, and kissed her forehead, letting my lips linger there. "You're so much more beautiful than her." I said softly, and rubbed her back. "She just kept asking me about Carter, and you know I love talking about Carter. I didn't mean to make it look like I was flirting." I said softly, and she sighed. "But you gave her your number." She said, and I nodded, holding her tighter. "I know. I didn't realize what had done until I saw you. I hate seeing you upset." I mumbled, and kissed her forehead again.