Lexi leaned over towards me slightly and whispered, “All that because I said the wordmoist?”
Cough.Fucking Lexi.“You’ll pay for this,” I promised under my breath as I grabbed her upper thigh under the cover of the tablecloth.
“Mmmhmm.” She smiled coyly and went back to eating her meal, ignoring my touch. Then, I glanced at Dylan, who was staring at me with a smirk.Busted. There was no way he didn’t catch that little back and forth. I quickly scanned the rest of the table, but everyone else was engaged in conversations.
I managed to make it through dinner without choking to death, so I considered that a win. After everyone had finished, I started clearing the plates. If you cooked in this house, you didn’t clean, so I already knew I was in for some dish duty.
“I’ll help,” Lexi said as she stood from the table.Well, that was unexpected.I’d assumed that once we entered my dad’s that she’d avoid me like the plague, but there she was offering to help me with the dishes.
In the kitchen, we stood shoulder to shoulder at the sink. I washed, and she dried. “Are you sure it’s safe for us to be in here together?” I whispered. “Aren’t you worried Daphne will suspect something?”
“I may have to tell her soon,” Lexi said, and then chewed her lip. I almost dropped the dish that was in my hand.
“And what prompted this change of heart?” I asked.
“It has nothing to do with my heart. She’s my best friend, and I feel like an asshole for lying to her. I really didn’t think we’d still be going at it.”
“What’s going on in here?” Dylan said loudly as he walked into the kitchen, startling me. The dish I was washing slipped through my soapy fingers with a crash.
“Shit!” I quickly scrambled to pick up the dish. Thankfully, it hadn’t broken.
“Jumpy much, bro?” Dylan laughed. “Hey Lexi, you’re a guest. You don’t have to do the dishes. I can’t believe this rude asshole roped you into dish duty. Why don’t you join the others in the back room? I bet Coco Baby would love some snuggles by the fire.”
Lexi looked up at me in question. We really needed to finish our conversation, but it wasn’t the place or the time. “Go, Dylan and I’ve got this,” I assured her. She nodded and strutted off to join the others. I couldn’t help but watch her as she went, hips swaying all the way.
Dylan took Lexi’s spot next to me and nodded in her direction. “So, what’s going on there?”
Well, shit.“Nothing, why?” I replied almost too quickly.
Dylan laughed. “Holy shit! You’re fucking her!” Thankfully, he kept his voice low enough so I didn’t think anyone else heard him.
“Shhh. Jeez, Dylan,” I scolded. “She doesn’t want anyone to know.”
“Ooooo, so you’re her dirty little secret. Hot! But very unlike you.” Dylan placed his hand on his chest. “I’m so proud.”
“Oh, fuck off. It’s not like that. I really like her.”
“Does she know that?”
“No. I don’t know. Maybe. It doesn’t matter. She’s notinterested in more than what we’re doing, so I’m trying to keep things casual.” I let out an exasperated sigh. “But I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.”
“You aren’t cut out for my no-strings-attached lifestyle, my friend,” Dylan chuckled. “Wait, why doesn’t she want anyone to know? Who cares if you guys are hooking up?”
“I don’t know. She made some promise to Daphne about not fucking me,” I relayed, shaking my head. I still didn’t understand the whole situation.I mean, why should it even matter who Lexi slept with?
Dylan sputtered, “What the fuck? I’m so confused.”
“You and me both, brother. But it doesn’t really matter. Lexi doesn’t want a relationship, anyway.” I shook my head and passed Dylan a plate. “But you’re right. I’m not cut out for this casual shit. I want more.”
“See, that’s your fatal flaw. You and Nathan both, actually. You let your heart lead you, whereas I let something else lead me.” He waggled his eyebrows, resembling Groucho Marx. “If you know what I mean?”
“Unfortunately, Idoknow what you mean,” I laughed.
25
LEXI
The back room was the perfect after-dinner hangout spot. It was so warm and cozy, complete with a roaring fire and plenty of comfortable seating. Through the large windows, a light dusting of snow fell gently, creating a peaceful backdrop. Nathan and Daphne were all snuggled up on a loveseat.Bleck. Mr. Pierce, Dane as he insisted I call him, was in his leather recliner, leaving another recliner and a larger couch open when I entered the room. Coco was lying on the floor by the fire on her back, looking as happy as a clam. I didn’t want to disturb her, so I sat on the couch. I settled in and pulled a blanket up over my legs. To my surprise, Coco immediately hopped up and curled up on my lap, purring loudly.Damn, she was cute.
