Dear Enemy, You're My Mate

Chapter 28 **

Alice

"You can't stay locked inside your room forever, Alice. And you need real food! It is not healthy for you to keep eating sugar all day. Please, will you stop eating ice cream for dinner? No wonder you're so short!"

I put aside my bowl, feeling hurt because Dior hit the bullseye. Whatever Ben & Jerry's is how a girl survives. I take another bite, talking with my mouth full. "You're not my mother, Dior!"

The man glares at me, crossing his bulging arms across his chest. I'm not too fond of his fit physique right now. Damn him standing there looking like fitness materialized while I'm eating pure diabetes for dinner.

"I'm trying to be a good friend, Alice."

I sigh and push away the ice cream once more. "I know! But I'm not in a good mood today. The world sucks."

The mattress creaks when my uninvited guest sits down next to me. He is heavy, and I sink into him. Dior blinks at our sudden contact, and I sit straighter, clearing my throat.

"Sorry..." I mumble.

"Don't mention it."

I glance at Dior through thick eyelashes, wet from tears. The older Dior is by my side like a loyal dog, leaning his back against the wall while I hug my legs. It's weird, but loneliness doesn't gnaw at my throat when he is around to keep my brain from overthinking.

"And the world doesn't suck."

I lift my chin, daring to challenge Dior's resolution by frowning. "My mate rejected me..."

Dior exhales in frustration. "And? You still have time to win him over. It is not the end of the freaking world."

I shake my head, already close to tears. "No, because he doesn't like me!"

"Didn't William tell you he did?"

I snort a laugh when I realize the weirdness with Dior knowing William's name and my problems. He is the closest I have to one of those sisters by choice—if you turn a blind eye to his masculine charm.

"He did," I say.

Dior hands me a kind smile. "There you go."

Is it weird that I find Dior's tone comforting?

A smile tugs on my lips upon noticing him taking in my furniture. I have stuffed animals sitting next to him in my bed, making the grown-ass man seem out of place.

"What are you hoping to achieve by becoming friends with me?" I ask in a hushed tone. "You must have hidden motives."

Dior picks up a teddy bear, scrutinizing it. He looks mildly entertained.

"They aren't that hidden." his blue eyes are stunning when he shifts to meet my gaze. "I want to stay in this world, and I'm hoping you can help me someday."

Disappointment cuts into my heart. I already consider Dior to be my friend, but I guess it's rather one-sided. He only cares about Patricia and no one else.

"I see."

"I also care about you."

I smile down at the floor, murmuring in a hopeful tone. "Do you think girls and boys can be friends with nothing romantic going on between them?"

"Of course."

My smile widens, and I put my heart on my sleeve. "Good, because I could use a friend right about now."

I lean my head against Dior's arm. He doesn't seem to mind. The guy is adorable, and I already trust him.

"You have Patricia."

I sigh. "Patricia is busy falling in love with the other you."

Dior winces. "Even more reason to make her hang out with you," his tone is all light humor, and his smile playful. "No, but you seriously need to give Patricia more credit. Let her in. The other you didn't have many friends, and if you want to change the future, then you need to trust people."

I lift my head to mutter at him. "You make it sound so easy."

Dior chuckles at the pout on my face, forming creases on his face. He has dimples.

"You're choosing to make friends with me—how hard can it be to talk with Patricia?"

"Hard," I deadpan. "Besides, you already know me. Sorta."

Dior sighs. "Promise you will try."

"No..."

"Please?" Dior pleads.

"Never." My voice is set.

"For me?" Dior pokes my ribs, smiling down at me with his teeth showing.

"Fine!" I exclaim. "But only on one condition!"

"What do you want?"

Before Dior has time to react, I throw out my arms and hug him. With a smile on my face, I dig my cheek into his sandalwood-smelling cut jacket while he turns to stone.

"You're... Hugging me?"

I beam up at his weirded-out expression, laughing. All those years spent in the other dimension without friends and his pack have made him unused to being touched. He reminds me of a neglected animal that had had no human interaction in years.

"I thought you could need it." I shrug with my arms still around him, beaming like a child. "Besides, I don't think you're entirely evil."

Dior breathes a laugh. "No, only ancient and lonely."

It's my turn to laugh. "You're not old!"

"It feels like it."

I giggle. "Well, how about we watch something on Netflix with old people, so we seem younger?"

Dior snorts. "Deal."

I grab the remote. "Excellent!"

Tomorrow I will tell Patricia everything that happened during Dior's birthday party. But today, I will enjoy the strange friendship blossoming between the older Dior and me.

"No, please, hell no! You tricked me!" Dior grimaces when I put on bridesmaids. "Why would you do this to me? You said we would watch old people, not a woman humiliating herself for more than an hour straight!"

I inch closer to him. "Shh, I need humor in my life to move past this gloomy cloud above my head."

There is another loud sigh, probably the millionth for tonight. "You owe me after this."

A smile plays over my lips. "I thought as much."