Landon clears his throat, and Eli tears his mouth away from the woman’s to grin at us.
“Hey, bro. Hey, Peps.” He steps to the side, wrapping his arm around the woman’s waist and pulling her against him. “Let me introduce you to this lovely lady.”
Mystery woman smiles at Landon and me. She’s pretty, tan, and fit, with bleach-blonde hair and a scattering of tattoos up and down her arms and legs. In her short—and I meanshort—jean cutoffs and a crop top covered in skeletons doing gymnastics, she’s exactly the kind of girl I’d imagine Eli would go for.
“Eli, come over here,” snaps Landon.
“But-”
“Now.”
Eli rolls his eyes and whispers something to the girl, who giggles in response. He shuffles over to us with a big, broad smile on his face. “What’s up?”
“Eli, when I told you that you could stay here during the storm, I meantjustyou. Who the fuck is that?”
“Relaaaaax, bro.” Eli puts his hands on Landon’s shoulders, squeezing them a couple times. I wince at the murder in Landon’s eyes. He doesn’t like to be patronized. Or touched. “It’s just Lemon.”
“Lemon?” Landon repeats.
Eli gestures behind him. “Yeah, Lemon.”
Landon stares. “You are not dating a girl namedLemon.”
Eli raises his hands in front of him. “Woah, hold up with the labels. We’re not dating. Simply having a good time.”
Landon’s jaw ticks. “Even more of a reason why she shouldn’t be here.”
“Wait,” I chime in, recalling the conversation we had in the hot tub a while back. “Isn’t Lemon the girl whostoleyour wallet and then made you climb through her window in yourunderwearto get it back? Or am I not remembering that correctly?”
I was drunk that night, sure, but not drunk enough to make upthat.
“Yeah!” Eli nods, grinning that charming, dopey grin. “That’s the girl!”
“Are you kidding me?” Landon mutters.
“Eli! That’s the girl you’ve been seeing?” I cry in disbelief. “I thought we talked about all the,” I lower my voice to a whisper, “red flags.”
“Guys, it’s fine,” Eli assures, waving off our concern. “Don’t worry so much. The whole wallet thing was ahugemisunderstanding.” He leans closer. “Plus, the sex…the sex more than makes up for it. She’s fuckingunbelievablein bed. Like an animal.”
“Eli, I swear to God,” says Landon, his tone severe. “If she steals anything from this house, I’m making you climb out the window in your underwear during the goddamn storm. Got me?”
“Relax, relax,” Eli says. “She’s not going to steal anything.”
We all glance at Lemon, who’s utterly oblivious to our conversation about her, even though we’re only three feet away. Instead, she’s eyeing a crystal glass in her hand with perhaps a bit too much intensity.
“You’re paying for whatever she takes,” snaps Landon. “Now, help me move the patio shit inside.”
Landon strides across the room to the back door, not sparing so much as a glance at Lemon as he passes her.
“He’s in a mood,” notes Eli.
I snort, shaking my head at him. “Yeah, I wonder why.”
Together, the four of us collect all the outdoor furniture, moving it into the now empty dining room. Landon and Eli lift the couches and chairs while Lemon and I grab the smaller items that could turn into projectiles, and it’s a team effort all around. When everything is properly secured, Landon disappears upstairs to his office. Eli and Lemon make themselves comfortable on the living room couch, and by comfortable, I mean it’s about five seconds before they’re making out again.
Sighing, I head to my room to wash off my shift and change out of my stained work uniform, making sure to charge all my devices before jumping in the shower. I’m kind of hungry, but I have no desire to witness the mating ritual downstairs, so instead, I slip on sweats, braid my wet hair down my back, and curl up under the covers with my phone.
I have a voicemail from Dad, who must have heard about the hurricane on TV, so I give him a quick call back to assure him that everything’s okay. I tell him Mel has it all under control, and the lie leaves a bitter taste in my mouth.
