The car rolled to a stop in the familiar driveway of Alexander's home. The soft glow of the light in the parking lot created an illusion of calmness. But the calm surface misrepresented the storm raging inside me as my mind went back to the events at dinner with George Harris.
Gently, I shook Alexander awake. His eyes fluttered open, revealing a hint of confusion before they focused on me.
"Hey."
"Hey," I replied, giving him a gentle smile, "We're at your place."
"Stay with me tonight?" he asked, his voice laced with a sleepy huskiness.
For a moment, I hesitated. The ultimatum George had issued loomed large in my mind, a dark cloud threatening to rain on my fragile sense of peace.