Lexi Cocker - Faleena Hopkins Page 0,51
lot of parties…”
“I miss the ocean. Haven’t been back in two years.”
“But investing in nice things — always worth it. You feel good using them. That feeling lasts longer than they do.”
Ryder rattles his ice at the residents of House Three who are talking with Paige, Lexi’s boss and their cousin’s wife. I met her earlier. Nice. Her husband, Gabriel, is doing a charity show in Saint Louis. Not sure I’ll ever meet him. “What d’ya think they’re talking about, Gage?”
“Dunno.”
Casually glancing toward the unpopulated buffet as if considering getting more food, he steps closer to them.
Smooth.
I join him.
Also smooth.
But his timing was shit.
Because at this exact moment, Zoe and Sam walk off toward the house, and I’m expecting Cherry and Paige to follow. But they stay.
My ears perk as my date confesses, voice quiet, “It’s really hard to say this, but I just want something more. You understand, right?”
A fist forms in my gut.
“Of course!” Paige smiles. “Everyone knows this is only temporary.”
I feel Ryder cut me a glance, but I’m locked on Ethan and his family. His wife, Charlie, is a powerful redhead. Not hard to make the leap in comparison.
I strain to hear Lexi quietly sigh, “I don’t know what to do now. I hate the admit this. It’s really hard to say aloud because then I’ll have to do something about it. I’m happy, but I’m starting to feel a little stuck.”
Can blood freeze and boil at the same time?
Paige’s tone is gentle. “Feeling stuck is never what you want. Don’t rush any decisions. More will be revealed by time. The one thing I learned when I started dating Gabriel — you remember that whole thing with Ben — was that you can’t push what’s not meant to be.” She hurries to add, “I know it’s not the same thing. But it’s when I learned that lesson, the hard way.”
Lexi mutters, “Who can forget?”
They watch the party for a second before I hear Paige ask, “Where does Gage work?”
My teeth grit.
Cherry says, “Um,” and rakes her hair back.
Paige laughs, “Do you even know?”
“No, I don’t.”
“Lexi, you’re too funny!”
There’s a fist in my gut.
I glance to Ryder.
He’s staring at his ice.
“I’m a mechanic.”
He blinks up to me. “I know.”
“Oh my gawd, I’ve got a total food coma,” we hear Lexi say, turning to see her approaching us, hair shining in the sun, green dress making her eyes glow brighter than ever. “How about you?”
“No more appetite.”
“How could you, after two helpings.”
Ryder offers in his normal, friendly manner, “That veggie thing your Aunt Meagan made was out of this world.”
“Good to see her cooking again.”
“She should come out of retirement.”
“Or we’ll just have her all to ourselves.”
“That works, too,” Ryder smiles. “I’m gonna get a refill. Gage, want me to fill you up?”
“Nah. Thanks.”
As he departs, Lexi takes his place, and a breeze lifts the smell of my shampoo mixed with her natural scent up to cloud my brain, try to make me forget what I just heard. “You want to take a walk down by the trees?”
My gaze slides to them. If she’d have asked me ten minutes ago, I’d have jumped at it. We’ve had zero time alone. Not that I expected us to. But over the course of the afternoon I’ve enjoyed watching her interact with her huge family, and I wanted some time by ourselves to kiss her. It’s been hard not to admire how she shines, relaxed and happy.
Except now I know a secret — she feels stuck. We’ve kept things casual. Said it all the time. Gave the ‘out’.
But I don’t want out.
Can’t stay in either.
Not like this.
“You okay?” She reaches to push away hair the breeze blew over my eyes. “Something bothering you?”
“Nah, I’m good.”
“Sure?”
“I’m sure.”
A smile erases her frown, “Take a walk with me. Let’s talk.”
Oh fuck.
Let’s talk.
This invite might be to my end.
Can’t have that happen.
Not here.
With an audience.
“How about we get dessert.”
She frowns, looking toward the trees. “But I wanted to talk.”
“That table, too good to pass up.”
Tilting her head she asks, “Thought you weren’t hungry?”
“Always room for Cherry pie.”
A smile tugs at my distracting her with thoughts of sex. “I’m glad my dad didn’t hear you say that.” Taking my hand as we walk to the buffet table, she adds, “Couldn’t care less if Max or Caden heard. In fact, why don’t you tell them?”
“Another time.”
“I was kidding.”
“Oh.”
She side-eyeballs me, fingers loosening to a light hold. They slip apart as we make our choices, filling two small