I watch Alex’s throat bob as he chugs half of it, transfixed by the corded muscles. “You don’t drink?”
He shrugs. “I do. I have to keep a pretty strict diet to stay in peak condition. Coach doesn’t let us get too wild. Somehow he always knows.”
Easton snorts. “He’s psychic. Either that, or he’s got the house bugged.”
Alex pulls a face. “The shit we get up to here? I hope not.”
I swallow, curious if he means how many girls have been in his bed. Then my brain helpfully supplies that my brother lives here, too. I grimace.
Easton covers a laugh with his fist and nods to me in greeting. “Hey, I’m Easton.” He offers a lopsided grin. “Number twenty-four.”
“Hi.” I remain glued to Alex’s side.
“This is my girl, E.” He drops my hand in favor of sliding his arm around me, his large hand encompassing the dip in my waist. I’m distracted by the way he massages it with a little squeeze before dragging his hand down to rest over my hip. “Lainey, this is one of our rookies.”
“You left off very promising.” He dodges the empty water bottle Alex chucks at him, ending up circling the island to my side. He tilts his head. “You look sorta familiar.”
“Ever heard of twins?” Theo enters the kitchen from behind us and shoots Alex, then me a tense look.
A muscle jumps when he locks his jaw before rummaging in the fridge for a sports drink. Alex’s arm tightens around me.
Easton snaps and points between me and my brother. “Oh shit, yeah. That’s wicked.”
“Is that Keller in the kitchen? Get in here!” someone shouts from the next room.
Alex peers over my head. “Want to come with me, or hang out in here?”
“Go ahead.” I accept the water Eason gets out of a cooler for me. “It’s less people-y in here. I’m acclimating.”
The corner of his mouth kicks up. He spares Theo a glance before leaning in to kiss my cheek. His lips brush the edge of mine, the same as the first time he kissed me. I squash the urge to stiffen—and the temptation to press against him, intoxicated by the heady, masculine scent he surrounds me with.
PDA. Right. That’s a thing couples do.
His lips linger longer than a quick peck. He pulls back far enough to meet my gaze.
“I don’t want to leave you alone, sweetheart,” he murmurs. “I won’t be long. If you feel up to it, don’t be afraid to find me before I come back for you.”
“Okay.”
He closes the distance between us once more to kiss my forehead. This kiss only lasts a moment before he leaves. I hear the boom of his voice and his laughter when he enters the next room. Easton follows him, leaving me alone with Theo.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were hanging out with Alex?” He stares at me. “You didn’t have to go behind my back.”
“How am I going behind your back?” I stall, unsure what I should say about the cover story. Screw it. I’ll go with what’s closest to the truth. “It just happened with Alex. I didn’t know I needed to tell you anything about it.”
He sighs. “Look, Lainey, he’s?—”
“Your best friend,” I snap.
“Yeah, but that’s not what I meant. I just don’t want you to get hurt because he sleeps around with a lot of girls.”
I narrow my eyes, tearing at the water bottle label. “I’m well aware of his reputation. And his sexual history, since I’m his girlfriend.” Only one of those statements is true. I roll with it since it makes my brother’s face pale. “It’s not really your business, Theo. So back off.”
He holds his hands up. “I just want to know why neither of you thought you could say anything to me.”
I open my mouth with another fierce retort ready to defend my made up actions with Alex, then close it. “I didn’t want to make anything awkward if it didn’t last.”
Because it won’t last. This is only for two weeks until the benefit.
