Lexi Cocker - Faleena Hopkins Page 0,31
“Funny looking!”
“Come here.” I pull her to me and make that gloss a waste of her fucking time.
In the distance we hear Samantha hurrying off to give us space. Lexi pulls back, eyelids heavy. “You ready to go?”
“I’m ready for whatever you give me, Cherry.”
As she searches my eyes, her smile comes slow.
Uh oh.
Chapter Sixteen
LEXI
Our upscale dinner turned into wrapped up takeout from a restaurant that wasn’t made happy by our last-minute cancellation.
But I was inspired.
I’m ready for whatever you give me? That’s an open door I’ll walk through whenever given the key.
Speaking of keys…
I point to an old street sign overgrown with weeds, “Take a left right there,” warm Georgia wind blowing back my hair. My gaze travels to the sky’s glittering stars, attention drawn to its brightest ones. “Such an amazing night!”
Slowing down to turn the wheel, Gage agrees, “We lucked out. Was supposed to rain.”
“They never know, do they?” I wistfully smile, staring up at galaxies whose mysteries I’ll never fully understand. “Mother Nature laughs all she can, doesn’t she?”
“Best way to live,” he quietly says while concentrating on a forgotten road skipped by renovation’s selection despite old rumors that this area would grow to be hip one day. Atlanta expanded several other directions instead, leaving these early twentieth-century buildings to decay until further observation.
Lifting my head to look out the windshield again, I point to a large metal warehouse strong enough to withstand time. “That huge one on the right, Gage, park there.” With windows designed too high for easy breakage, the only damage done has been minimal, just some artless graffiti.
Atlanta’s well known, beautiful murals are abundant elsewhere, done by street artists with incredible talent — their work preserved by the city’s officials as well as community.
Whoever tagged this place knew nothing of art. But it was a long time ago, weathering even their paint.
Gage puts the truck’s gear in park as he glances around silent weeds and cracked asphalt, eyes landing on a single door. “Why this one? What is this place?”
I shuffle through my clutch bag for the key ring, selecting and holding up the only one I added tonight after he inspired me.
Black eyebrows twitch. “Don’t tell me…”
“Just another reason I made you wait with Sam in the living room while I gathered up some fun!”
“How in the fuck do you have a key to this place?”
“I’m not telling.”
A grin flashes, but is quickly subdued by cool detachment — the man who must know everything, back. He’s not sure how he likes being purposefully kept in the dark about my treasure.
So exciting!
I wave the special key. “Are you going to open my door or aren’t you?”
Playing along, he volleys back, “Which one?”
“If you open my car door, I’ll let you open that dirty old metal door, too.” Slicing the air with it I smirk, “Interested?”
Gage jumps out, “Deal,” shaking his head with amusement since he was going to come get me anyway.
I snatch our take-out bag, hand it to him, carefully lifting my backpack to keep for myself.
“What’s in that?”
“I’m not telling.”
He grumbles a funny, “Grrrrr,” helping me down to slide into his arms for a quick kiss before he snatches the keychain.
“Hey!”
He strolls away. “You said I could.”
Shutting the passenger door I call after him, “Giving it and taking it aren’t the same!”
“You said you’d give it, so I took it.”
“Rude!”
Jamming it into a rusty lock, Gage inspects the metal, “You should’ve been more specific,” and turns the key. I make it to his side as the door creaks open, darkness our eerie welcoming. “Cool!”
I jump up and down before following him inside, quickly unbuckling my backpack. “The second surprise.”
Appreciation glints his crocodiles as I present a lantern. Pushing its small button, light chases shadows away.
He takes it for a closer look. “That’s a powerful one!”
“My cousin Ben gave it to us for outages.” I widen my eyes for comic emphasis, because I never feel helpless. “Because we’re three girls living alone.”
Gage walks the two steps to lock up, twisting a dead bolt that fights back. He pockets my keys for later. “Sounds like he’s protective of you.”
I roll my eyes, voice echoing, “I’ll say!”
“That’s a good thing, Cherry,” he says in all seriousness. “Your family should look after you.”
I blink at him, voice quieting, “I know.”
He stares off for a moment like his mind traveled elsewhere. “Speaking of looking after you,” he announces, strolling by me to check out the place. “I’m gonna make sure we’re alone here.”
“There are only