The afternoon sun bathed the sky in brilliance as I sat in my room, attempting to focus on my studies and banish thoughts of Jake from my mind. Suddenly, the doorbell rang, and I instinctively knew it was Alex. Rushing down the stairs, I reached the door before my mom.
"Hey," Alex greeted me with a warm smile. He sported a casual outfit, a plain t-shirt paired with shorts.
"Nice shorts," I complimented him, my gaze briefly shifting from his shorts to his face. His smile faltered momentarily as his eyes wandered past me.
I glanced back and noticed my mom trying to get a better view of Alex. With a tight smile, I introduced her, saying, "This is my mom."
"Good afternoon, Mrs..." Alex hesitated, his gaze shifting nervously between my mom and me.
I subtly shook my head, recognizing that he didn't know my last name. Under my breath, I muttered, "Miller."
"Mrs. Miller," he echoed, trying to regain his composure.
