Most women had many experiences with the highs and honeymoon period of dating a new guy, and all the fun and euphoria that entailed. Not Lexie. John was her last serious boyfriend. She’d known then and there, if he couldn’t put up with the drama in her family, no one could. Kade had swept in and just taken over, and for now, with her sister occupied with a new guy whom Lexie had yet to meet, she could enjoy their time together. Still, knowing her sister was on a high, even with new meds, Lexie waited for the next fall. Even with the real fear in the background, she felt like she was living a dream, and she didn’t want to wake up.
Her job stayed the same. She would arrive before Kade and wait to bring him his coffee, but with the shift in their relationship, he seemed to find more ways for her to help him out—and spend more time with her during the day. At night, they went out for dinner after work and often ended up at his apartment for a Mario Party match or other video game he patiently taught her.
One night, his father surprised him by showing up and inviting them to dinner. Kade hadn’t appreciated the interruption, but she’d convinced him to go, and he’d wanted her with him. That he’d want her around his family made her feel warm and fuzzy inside.
More than once, she’d battled with herself over how much to tell him about her sister. It wasn’t that she was embarrassed. After all, she’d already admitted the painful truth about her mother. It’s just that she knew in her heart that Kendall would eventually force Lexie to choose between helping her or being there for Kade. Bringing Kendall into her relationship with him could happen later. For now she wanted to live in her happy bubble a little while longer.
Even if that bubble still included picking up his dry cleaning, dropping it at the store, and delivering the clean clothes back to his apartment every Tuesday and Saturday.
She had lunch plans with her sister this particular Saturday, because Kendall had been busy with Jay and Lexie had spent many late nights with Kade. They hadn’t really talked in a while.
“Kendall, let’s go! If we’re going to make our lunch reservation, we need to get this dry cleaning run finished!” Lexie called from the kitchen.
“Coming!” Kendall came out of her bedroom, a broad smile on her face … wearing an outfit Lexie had never seen before. A pair of tight jeans, a style Kendall had never chosen before, a purple top, and a white leather jacket. “Ready!” her sister said, joining her in the family room.
Lexie liked seeing her sister in a good mood and bit her tongue on the new clothes. She already knew there’d been shopping bags in her sister’s room, and Kendall had blown off the conversation when Lexie mentioned it earlier in the week. She wasn’t going to get anywhere now, and it would only ruin their day.
“Okay, let’s head out,” Lexie said, grabbing her handbag and slinging it over her shoulder.
“I can’t believe you pick up your boyfriend’s dry cleaning, drop it off, and head back to his place again with his clean clothes.” She wrinkled her nose in disgust.
“I prefer to think of this as just doing my job. Kade isn’t home. He’s at a business meeting with an investor who’s in from out of town.”
“Oh, I get to see where your boyfriend lives!” Kendall said, sounding excited by the prospect.
Lexie grabbed her keys from the entryway credenza as they passed. “You can see the building from the taxi. You’re not coming inside.”
Kendall frowned. “Party pooper.”
Ignoring her, Lexie followed her sister into the hall. A little while later, they’d stopped at Kade’s to pick up his dirty laundry. As she’d requested, Kendall waited in the cab, bitching about being left behind. They headed to the cleaner’s, where Lexie handed in his clothing, giving specific instructions about his shirts and pressed pants, despite the fact that the same store cleaned his clothing every week. He required the instructions be said out loud each time, so she followed his directions exactly.
Finally, they returned to his apartment, Kade’s cleaning spread out on Lexie’s lap. She climbed out of the cab. “Be right back. Please wait again,” Lexie said.
She’d warned the driver ahead of time there would be a lot of errands and waiting. Kade didn’t mind the bill. Lexie climbed out of the car, lifting the cleaning higher so it didn’t drag on the ground.
As she approached the doorman, her sister ran up beside her. “Get back in the car,” Lexie said, annoyed.
“Oh, come on. I just want to see where your rich boyfriend lives,” Kendall said, too loud for Lexie’s liking.
She turned to face her twin. “There’s no reason for you to come up with me. I’ll be right back.”
Kendall pursed her lips in a pout. “Come on, please? Time’s wasting and the meter’s running. Let’s just go. Please?”
Lexie groaned. “Fine. Just stick close,” she muttered, glad Kade wasn’t home. The first time she introduced him to her sister, Lexie wanted time to prepare herself for any eventuality.
Lexie disarmed the alarm and let them inside.
“Oh, wow,” Kendall said, her mouth opening wide as she took in the large apartment. “Talk about a big screen!” she said, heading straight for the den area. “I love this cinema-like sofa!” Without asking, she threw herself into one of the seats and hit the electronic button that moved her seat back.
“Kendall, get up!” Lexie said, beyond annoyed. “You’re wearing dark jeans. New dark jeans. They could rub off on the white leather. Don’t go near anything else.”
The electronic whir of the seat followed. “Man, you’re uptight. Is he that much of a stick in the mud?” Kendall asked.
“No. You just weren’t invited here.” Lexie shot her sister a glare. “I’ll get the clothes put away, and we can be on our way.”
Lexie took the clothes into the bedroom and stepped into Kade’s walk-in closet. She pulled the plastic off his shirts and hung them up, taking care to leave the same amount of space between each and to line them up by color. She did the same with his slacks. There weren’t too many because he was a casual guy and Helen did his everyday laundry. Still, he’d had meetings, so he’d used his dress clothes a few times this week.
“This bedroom is gorgeous!” Kendall’s voice carried. “I bet this bed is ultra-comfortable too.”