My Hometown Love

Chapter 13 – Being Brave

Lexie’s P.O.V

I stood there absolutely stunned by the question that Kevin just asked me. He had asked me to be his date for the wedding, totally out of the blue.

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to suddenly throw you off like that. It just popped in my mind and I just blurted it out.”, Kevin said apologetically as he rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly.

“Yeah, that sure came as a surprise.”, I said as I sighed deeply while gazing far away.

Honestly, I wanted to say yes. I mean I have been waiting for this moment my entire life. All my old feelings for him felt like it was bursting to come up again, but it was locked in with a big huge gate. The gate I built to avoid getting hurt again by Kevin Walker, because somehow when he does something that hurts me, I feel my heart breaking into a million pieces. So far, I have never been hurt like I was because of him. I mean, people have hurt me after that but I never felt the same kind of hurt that he caused me.

“Lexie? You okay?”, Kevin’s voice brought me back to the current situation at hand.

“Oh yeah. I’m fine. Sorry, you were saying?”, I replied oblivious to the fact that I had ignored everything he was saying.

“Listen, I didn’t mean to surprise you. It’s okay if you say no. I know technically we are supposed to be together for the wedding being the best man and maid of honor and all. But, I wanted to formally ask you, as my date for the wedding.”, said Kevin as he started blabbering away.

Before I could cut in, he continued explaining himself and justifying his intentions.

“I wanted the wedding to be like a first date, where we both are strangers to one another. I want to start things fresh. I want to get to know you, without all the drama and history we had with each other. So, will you consider it at least?”, Kevin asked me again with those cute puppy dog eyes.

I knew that I had to move on and forward from everything. Since he wanted to start fresh, I wanted to do so too. That’s when I felt the feelings I had for him make a tiny hole through the gate and escape out, filling me with the warmth of affection as I felt the blush creeping up my cheeks.

“Well Dr. Walker, you certainly make a fine proposal. Looks like I’m gonna have to say Yes. I will be your date to the wedding.”, I said much to Kevin’s surprise as I extended my hand to shake upon it.

“Why, thank you, milady. You shan’t be disappointed.”, he said as he took my hand, but instead of shaking it, he pulled it up to his lips and planted a soft kiss on the top of my hand.

I eyed him skeptically before bursting out in laughter, followed by Kevin himself slapping his head in embarrassment and joining me in laughing our hearts out. Little did he know, I was absolutely smitten and was hoping my laugh would mask my reddened cheeks.

“I’ll see you around, Lexie”, Kevin said as he walked to his car and drove out of the driveway, but not before giving me a small salute.

My eyes trail his car until it disappears in the distance. I bit my lower lip shyly as I smiled to myself. I finally peel myself away and locked the backyard gate.

*************

Kevin’s P.O.V

It’s been two days since Lexie agreed to be my date to the wedding. I can’t believe she agreed to go on a date with me after everything that’s happened. Honestly, I’m happy that we are moving away from the past and going forward with a fresh start.

Anyway, that happened on Wednesday. Since then, we have been working hard to get all the last minute things organized and ready. Today is finally the day of the wedding rehearsal and Jake, Sam and I just finished our final fitting session for our suits. I hang back to discuss some details with the tailor while Jake and Sam head back to work. A short discussion later, I finally make myself out of the boutique and let the sunlight soak into my skin.

“Hey stranger!”, I hear that familiar voice that makes my heart skip a beat from behind me.

“Lexie! What are you doing here?”, I ask as soon as I turn around to greet her.

“Jake told me that you were all here. I wanted to ask if you wanted to go check the wedding cake together since our shop is just 2 blocks away from here.”, she asked as she nervously played with her watch.

“You’re just finding excuses to spend time with me, aren’t you? Ha-ha... I’m just messing with you. Let’s go.”, I say as we walk down the street towards her parents’ bakery.

We made small talk as we strolled down the street in the sun, soon with only one more block to go. Alas, good things must come to past. I realized that when my eyes suddenly caught sight of an unsettling familiar face that was walking to us from a distance.

“Liliana.”, I hissed under my breath.

I felt the aura of Lexie tense up as she too caught sight of Liliana who was now approaching us with a vibe of arrogance and pride.

“Well well well, lookie here. It’s the handsome Dr. Walker and his puppy that always follows him around, Alexandra.”, Liliana said as soon as she approached us, even after we dodged away from the street and slightly into the alley.

My blood began to boil with thoughts about how she hurt Lexie and spoilt things for us the last time we met. I remember how I cursed myself and wallowed in regret for not defending Lexie in front of this monster. This time, I was certain I wasn’t going to let Liliana spoil Lexie’s day, the wedding, or our blooming relationship.

I angrily stepped forward and guided Lexie behind me with my arm to protect her as I faced this snake alone. I came face to face with Liliana smirking at me, as she eyed me up and down. I was about to start shouting at her when I felt a soft cold hand encircling my wrist gently before moving down to hold my palm, pulling me back. I turn around to see this stone-hard angry face on Lexie that I have never seen before. She pulled me back before she moved forward to come face-to-face with Liliana with anger that looked like she was going to eat her head off.

************

Lexie’s P.O.V

I was caught by surprise when Kevin stepped forward to give Liliana a piece of his mind. I felt an air of protection and safety as his arm gently pushed me behind him to protect me from her. But at the same time, I realized how I felt the first time I came back to town and how hard it was for me to deal with Kevin. But now, I was okay and we were starting fresh. So, I knew I had to face my demons and stand up for myself. I wanted to prove my worth and that nothing Liliana could say could ever bring me down again.

So, without even me realizing it, I found myself putting my hand over Kevin’s wrist and holding his hand as I pulled him back and moved in front of him. I was full of rage and annoyance at Liliana’s character and honestly, I was getting sick of her attitude. I stood face-to-face with Liliana as she rolled her eyes at me.

“Listen here, you pathetic excuse of a human being. I am so sick of your same old repeated dialogues about my life and Kevin. You clearly have no other work to do than disturb others. The truth is I feel sad for you. You look like you’re insecure about your life that you use that to pick on others.”, I blurted out in anger and confidence that I never knew I had.

“How dare you, you lousy pi-”, Liliana cut me off, clearly annoyed at my revelation truth about her life.

“Did I say I was done? So, Shhhh!”, I shouted at her before she could start snapping at me.

“Yes, I know what happened 6 years ago. I was there, and it happened to me and not you. But that was a long time ago and I have moved on from that but clearly, you haven’t. So I suggest you work on that and stop dwelling in past memories that didn’t concern you at all.”, I continued as Liliana slowly quieted down.

“As for Kevin, you don’t own him and I want you to stop looking at him with your googly seductive eyes. He’s not the person you think he is, so keep your hands off him. Another thing is, I am not a puppy dog following Kevin. He’s my friend and I am so proud of him.”, I say as my hands find Kevin’s hand squeezing hard as I look up to find him smiling proudly down at me.

I turn back at Liliana and take a deep breath to control my anger as my gentle side starts showing.

“Listen, Liliana, I’m sure there is a great person buried deep down inside masked by this crazy exterior. You have your whole life ahead of you, so don’t spoil it by doing things like these that will backfire at you. Live your life and be happy. When you ready, I would love to get to know the wonderful person inside.”, I said calmly to Liliana as I put my right hand on her arm.

Liliana looks at me quietly for some time before rolling her eyes and scoffing.

“Whatever, loser!”, she says as she looks down at my hands still holding Kevin’s before rolling her eyes at me and stomping away.

*************

Kevin’s P.O.V

I look down at Lexie’s hand still enveloped in mine before seeing how she stared angrily at Liliana stomping away.

I was so freaking proud of this woman.

“Lexie! That was amazing!”, I cried out as soon as Liliana was out of earshot.

“Oh my God! I can’t believe I just did that!’, Lexie exclaimed as she waved her hands excitedly.

“I am so proud of you, Lexie Cooper!”, I said as I picked her up in a hug and twirled her around, forgetting about everyone and feeling that it was only two of us in this world.

She just looked down at me with her beaming smile before tensing up, realizing the situation, and how people were staring at us. I quickly put her down and we awkwardly walked towards the bakery. I occasionally almost brushed my hand against hers with the yearning to hold her hand and make her mine.

But, I told myself that for now, I will have to live with what we have going on right now as I wondered if deep down she had feelings for me. Especially after how she defended me and warned Liliana from staking her claim on me. Maybe by holding my hand when she was saying that, she meant that I was hers?

I shook the thought out of my head but I knew something for a certain. Unlike what I was thinking a few days ago, I wasn’t just toying about the idea of being with Lexie.

I think I might be falling in love with her.