kids, doesn’t mean you’ve gotta follow the trend.”
Lexi grins, “Trend?”
“You know what I mean. But yeah, I want them.” My gaze drops to her exposed breast, the other underneath me. Bending to kiss its tip, I ask, “What about you, Cherry?” When she doesn’t answer, my gaze rises with me to search for one.
But I come up empty.
She’s closed her eyes, face relaxed. Like she might fall asleep soon. Or she’s meditating, but that’s not her thing.
No answer, though?
Why not?
She brought it up.
I’m not gonna ask again, that’s for sure. Why’d she ask me, anyway?
The need to know pulls hard, but I won’t give in. I never do. Every time I feel the need to claim her as mine I shut it down remembering this is temporary.
Casual.
This tightness in my chest.
It’s not good.
So I bury my face in her neck again. Breathe in the sweetness. Forget the sting.
“Gage?”
“Hmm?”
“What’re you doing today?”
Silenced by the question because I’m always the one who asks, I say nothing at first. We didn’t make official plans but we normally hang out on Saturdays now. All day.
Goes without saying.
So why is she asking?
I turn my face on the pillow, away from her. “Didn’t make any plans.”
It’s the truth.
So is this fist in my chest.
Growing tighter.
Curious.
Worried.
Excited.
Angry.
Resigned.
Fuck it.
“Why do you ask?”
She sighs, “Well, if you didn’t have any plans, I was wondering if you’d like to do something kinda different with me.”
Rising up on my elbow I look at her nervous expression. “Like what?”
“Well…” She bites her lip, gaze dropping to my arm as she caresses it. “My family is having a BBQ at my grandparents house, and I was wondering…” She swallows and locks eyes with me, hers bigger like a child’s. “if you’d like to come with me.”
I blink at her, frowning hard. “Your whole family?”
“Uh huh.”
My blood is pumping like crazy. That was the last thing I thought she’d say. If her grandparents are there. Then that means parents, too.
I shrug, “Is the food good?”
Lexi grins, dimple deep. “Nope. It’s terrible.” Throwing her head back, she cries out, “I forgot! No lying!” and locks eyes with me, hers bright.
“I’m in.”
“Good.”
“What time?”
Reaching for where she left her copper phone on my nightstand, she taps at the screen. “It started ten minutes ago.”
“Uh…”
“Shower?”
I frown and roll off of her. “That’d be a fucking yes right there.”
On all fours Lexi crawls across the huge bed with me watching and wondering if I’ll ever fully understand her. “Guess what?”
“What, Cherry?”
Standing, she swats my naked hip, and heads out, half-singing, “I brought a change of clothes and everything.”
I stare after her.
Jaw ticking.
And you just now invited me?
Chapter Twenty-Five
GAGE
There’s not one parking spot left near her grandparents’ house so I parked my Bronco on another street, and we’re walking up now, past some of her cousin’s homes. “That’s Hannah’s place. And that one’s Emma’s.” Lexi smiles with pride. “You think that’s big, hold on!” She points and leans as we walk. “Behind this hedge is….wait for it…there! That’s my cousin Ethan’s crazy fucking mansion. Look at that thing!”
My eyes narrow because it’s enormous and very cool. Also, knowing Lexi isn’t impressed by my job, it’s intimidating. And I’m not easily swayed. But that place is beyond my means.
I’d expect one that huge for her rockstar cousin, Gabriel, or the star quarterback, Eric Cocker.
“Ethan?” I ask.
She briefly touches my arm, “Don’t worry, it’s hard to remember them all until you meet them,” before pointing to his home, “He’s the computer genius. He bought this with his patent money. Ethan invented some amazing things and I’m sure that’s not the end of it. You should see his bedroom. There’s an aquarium in it that takes up one entire wall. He has a manta ray!”
Fucking hell.
For the rest of the walk I tune out her light-hearted chatter to get ahold of myself.
Come on, Gage.
You may not be a computer wizard, but you’re a good guy who does the right thing, cares for his people, and has a solid savings and reliable future.
Don’t forget your worth.
Don’t get intimidated.
Fuck that.
You’ve never had a problem with people of status before. Why now? Why defensive? Off balance?
Worried.
Lexi takes my hand, “This is it up here!” and I look at her, watching her explain that this is the place where her father and his brothers grew up.
She’s so beautiful it hurts to look at her. Never hurt before.
But now…
Why now?
Because she doesn’t take me seriously, that’s why.
I barely received this invitation.
Probably was going to get dressed in her car