Chapter Forty One

I couldn't have heard him properly. I keep my eyes trained on him suspiciously but when his face doesn't break into laughter, I know it's real. He isn't joking. So I do that laughing instead. It bursts out of my chest in a loud rumble and that's when I really begin to feel the humour. Alex wants me to follow him….to see his family. Talk about the funniest things in the world and I'm definitely going to mention that line. I throw my head back and let the laughter rock my body and by the time I'm done, I literally have tears coming out of my eyes. Now that was funny. I look at him through the blur of my tears and I see that his expression is the same as ever. He's staring at me plainly, his eyes flat and humourless.

"I appreciate the humour". I say in between pants. "That's the hardest I've laughed in a long time. Thank you".

"I'm not joking, Nicole". He says coldly.

"No…no..no, you have to be. And I understand. I really do…..".

"I'm. Not. Joking…..Nicole". That has me pausing. Whatever