章 113: CHAPTER 113: Do You Love Me?

　　As I climbed into the passenger seat of the car, Alexander shutting the door behind me, the familiar scent of Alexander's cologne, a mix of citrus and woodsy notes, filled my senses.

　　"Where's Julian?" I asked when he got into the driver's side, my voice barely a whisper.

　　He shut the door with a soft click, his gaze flickering to mine for a fleeting moment before settling on the road ahead. "He drove back to New York after he got here. I, uh, drove myself."

　　"Oh," I said, the single syllable hanging heavy in the air.

　　He cleared his throat, the sound rough and uneven. "I was hoping to take you to dinner somewhere nearby. There's this Italian place with amazing reviews, would you be interested?"

　　"Okay," I finally managed, a small nod accompanying the word.

　　The car pulled away from the curb, and I found myself watching Alexander's profile. His jawline was etched with worry lines, and his normally vibrant blue eyes held a haunted quality.