夏至 [10] / [17]
Alexander got a taxi, and let Ed go on in. Ed's last words troubled his mind a bit. But Ed is a cop too. If he didn't want to lose his job forever, he wouldn’t commit a crime. What about Anna then? Taking a picture or video without permission from the person is illegal as well, and Ed did it.
If Alexander reported that, Ed would be in deep trouble. He still could make neither heads nor tails about Anna being in the video or not. He didn't want to be around Ed any longer. Alexander slowly turned back, and began to walk home alone.
His mind was plagued with thoughts about Violet and, as much as he tried to force her image from his mind, he still felt something for her. It was remote and purely residual: he was certainly not in love with her, that much he knew. Still, what he saw awakened some kind of dormant protective impulse to ensure her safety.
That video just sickened Alexander, and made him question again why he wasn't harsher with Ed. They were friends and coworkers to be sure, but something has to give, right? He thought this to himself as he slowly made his way back. Cynthia was still waiting on him, and if he were being honest with himself, she seemed, at least in that moment, to be an afterthought for Alexander; paling in focus to Violet. He was conflicted.
When Alexander returned to the apartment, Cynthia asked,
"Hey, how did everything go with Ed?"
"Huh?" Alexander asked in a distracted voice,
"Oh, yeah, we had a great time. Ed seemed like he was doing a lot better than the last time we all met up.”
Cynthia noticed that he seemed to be lost in thought, but she didn't want to pry.
Alexander also thought that her expression was dark, not as usual. When he crawled on the bed next to her after a shower, and started to massage her breasts gently, she put his hand aside lightly, saying flatly that she was too tired. She seemed to fall asleep almost immediately. He had no choice but to retreat from her. He didn't know what he might have done wrong to her. He fell asleep despite himself while thinking of Cynthia and Violet, both.
He didn't know how much time passed, but opened his eyes. Cynthia was touching his cheeks.
"Hi,"
she said affectionately.
"Hey,"
Alexander answered. She smiled.
She kissed him deeply on his lips. It seemed that she had taken an early shower already. Alexander smelled her deeply. Fresh peach, leaf, musk. This adorable combination of scent made him excited. He found himself awakened by this wonderful fragrance. Cynthia seemed to notice this too.