“What the hell, Ethan?”Lexie grits out.
“I’m just saying,” he argues.“For twelve grand, I bet he’ll have you tied up on his bed all weekend.”
“That’s enough, Ethan,” Lexie starts, but I raise my hand, stopping her.
“Pretty boy and I are just friends,” I tell him.I don’t know why I feel the need to give the guy any kind of clarification.But it’s clear something changed during the auction.The sooner I get off his radar, and we can go back to before he realized I existed, the better.
Moving even closer, Ethan crowds me in the waiting room.He’s big.Massive.Like a bear.And clearly, he’s unafraid of using our height difference to his advantage.Slowly, he lifts his hands as if considering touching me, but doesn’t go through with it.Not yet.His gaze falls to my lips.“Or maybe you have a magic mouth,” he murmurs.“I mean, turn off the lights and a solid blow job’s a solid blow job, right?”
Bile glazes my tongue, and I battle my instinct to cower away from his hand.It hovers an inch from my face, and a not-so-small part of me knows he’s baiting me.Trying to freak me out.To tattle to Ford as if he actually cares.Heck, maybe he does.Not in a romantic way, but in a, no one messes with my friends kind of way.And adding gas to the fire already raging between Ethan and the Harden boys?It’s the last thing they need.
With that in mind, I stand strong and hold my ground.“Lexie, we should get started.”
“Good idea.”Lexie begins to push me toward the back area where the dental chairs are kept, but stops and faces her brother.“Dear wise one, may we please get to the reason why we’re here so we can go home before the game starts?”
We?
Does Ethan still live with Lexie?Not so long ago, Ethan won Violet’s childhood home, which happens to be right next door to where Lexie lives.I assumed she’d have the place to herself again.Am I wrong?
His nostrils flare before he lowers his hand and runs his fingers atop his close-cropped hair.“Be quick, all right?”
“Sure thing.”Lexie gives him a mock salute, then turns back to me, pushing me toward the small cubicles we use for cleanings.I veer to the right, where the dentist usually performs more intense procedures.This room has an actual door for privacy.
And boy, do we need it.
17
JUNE
Once we’re inside the small private room, I close the door behind us and give my friend a pointed look.“Are you okay?”
“Shouldn’t I be asking you that question?”Lexie tosses back at me.“I don’t know what that was, but I do not approve, and I am so sorry he was acting like an ass.If it’s any help, he’s all talk.Not that it’s an excuse, but you know what I mean.”
Is he?Is he all talk?I want to push.I won’t, though.It’s not her fault her brother appears unstable.And speaking of which…
I purse my lips, unsure whether or not opening a second can of worms is a good idea.
Fiddling with her shirt, Lexie finally says, “There a problem, June?You look like you’re about to crap your scrubs.”
Don’t say it, don’t say it, don’t say it.
“Since when do you ask for permission to do…anything?”I ask.
Welp.I said it.
With a frown, Lexie stops fiddling and looks up at me.“What are you talking about?”
“Oh, wise one, can we please go clean my teeth?”I mimic her.
She waves me off.“I was joking.”
“Were you?”I push.
“Yes, I was, okay?And even if I wasn’t, my brother’s a little amped up because we’re in Harden territory, and I was trying to de-escalate.No big deal.”
Feels like a big deal.And since when is it Lexie’s job to corral her brother’s emotions?
“Is he still living with you?”I question.“Because if you want to stay in Violet’s room, I’m sure?—”
