“Oh yeah, what else did she tell you?” Lexi questions and then looks at me whispering, “I’m going to murder her.”
“She said she wants to come down and watch the game when Matty is in town so we can all be together.” Lexi rolls her eyes. “I’m making the plans today.”
“Oh, that sounds like fun,” she replies and I walk to her, kissing her neck quietly before walking out of the room and toward the bedroom. I start the shower and take off my boxers before stepping in. I shower quickly and grab a white plush towel, wrapping it around my waist before I grab another one for my head. I walk out to the bedroom and see her sitting on the side of the bed, wearing one of my T-shirts and her legs are crossed under her. “When I was with Trent, he hated that I would talk to my family.”
“Well, that is because he was afraid they would see what he was doing to you.” I toss the towel to the side.
“He would hate when I was on the phone and I would always feel pressure to end the call.” I hate that for her, hate she went through it. “It got to the point I would only call my father early in the morning before he was up, or when he left to go to work.”
“Lexi,” I say and she holds up her hand.
“I have a big family,” she says.
“I know, I met most of them on the ice and some off the ice.”
“And we are extremely close and sometimes overbearing.”
“Okay. The only family member I have is Kylie. She’s the only one I have and I would never stop having a relationship with her for anyone. She’s a bit overbearing and she’s in my business all the time. Does that bother you?”
“Of course not.”
“Because it’s normal,” I say. “It’s normal to speak to your family. It’s normal for them to be in your business if they love you. It’s also normal, and more importantly, extremely healthy for the other person to also be involved with your family.”
“They are coming down for Matty’s game, and we usually have Sunday lunch.”
“Okay,” I reply, not sure I want to know where this is headed. “You better not be asking me if you can go,” I huff out, “because?—”
“I’m not asking you if I can go. I’m going.” I smile at her forcefulness. “I’m just not sure it’s a good time for you to come.”
“So I don’t come,” I say, trying to let her know I’m okay with it. “It’s not going to be the only time I can meet them. When you feel ready, then we take that step. I plan on being here with you for a long, long time”—my whole life, I almost say—“I don’t mind taking things slowly.”
“Just like that?” she asks, shocked.
“Just like that,” I assure her. I take off my towel. “Now, I’m off all day today and my goal is to continue getting to know every inch of your body.” She nods at me, trying not to smile but then smirking and her blue eyes light up. “But I think we should go and get something to eat and then come back here, so I can get started on that.”
“Fine.” She rolls her eyes, getting on her knees. “If you have to.” She walks on her knees toward the end of the bed. “But I need to stop by my house and change my clothes.”
“We can do that, but only if you grab something to wear to work tomorrow.”
“Are you asking me to sleep over again?” She gets off the bed and bends to collect her panties.
“I’m hoping I can persuade you,” I tell her as she puts on her panties.
“Is that so?” she asks me, taking off my shirt and tossing it to the side. “And how is that?”
“I mean, I could tell you, but it’s so much better if I show you.” I lunge for her, and after what feels like an eternity but is really thirty-five minutes, we are heading out and toward her house.
I walk out of the elevator with two cups of ice coffee in my hands, headed toward the office door. Opening it and stepping in, I look around and see that both lights are on in the office. “Hello!” I shout out and then hear a groan coming from one office while in the other office is a laugh.
“Ugh, you again?” Kylie moans. “You were here two days ago.”
I shake my head and head toward her office first. “Does that mean you don’t want the iced coffee I bought you?” I ask her and she looks up from her desktop. “If so, I can enjoy it.”
“Give me the coffee.” She extends her hands and then winces. “Fucking Pilates workout,” she mumbles. “Lexi, your boyfriend is here again.” I shake my head. “He’s being really annoying too.”
A laugh comes from Lexi’s office and I just smile and walk toward her. “Hi,” I say, sticking my head into her office. She looks over her shoulder before she turns her chair around and my eyes travel up her legs that are crossed. “I was in the area.”
“You were in the area?” She gets up and I take her all in. She’s wearing a tight tan skirt around her hips that flares out and falls to the middle of her thigh, with a white short-sleeved, button-down shirt. “Is that so?”
