Total pages in book: 47
Estimated words: 43536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43536 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 218(@200wpm)___ 174(@250wpm)___ 145(@300wpm)
I hated to think of her feeling unwanted, of her combing through old magazines for some kind of food that would make them all feel like they had a family for one night. I scooped her up into a hug, noodles and all and she laughed.
“Wait till you taste the dessert I’ve got planned for tomorrow night. There’d be plenty for Penny if you want to invite her. I’m going to do this chocolate pudding with layers of Oreos and whipped cream in it. Girls love that stuff. You might get lucky,” she teased.
“Oh, with Penny, getting lucky is a sure thing,” Leo said. “Those two have been on and off for about a year. Mostly off, but she shows up here for breakfast every once in a while.”
“Shut up,” I muttered. I didn’t want Lexi thinking about me with Penny. Not that I thought Lexi had sexual thoughts about me or Leo. Just because I didn’t want her to have to consider finding some strange woman in the house one morning.
“Come to think of it, she hasn’t been around for a few months. Are you giving up on casual sex, bro?” Leo asked.
“Penny and I had fun for a while,” I said. “But it was never going to be long term.” I hoped that would explain enough of it, enough of the fact that when I was given the choice, I’d rather eat pot roast with my roommates than hook up with Penny again. I had a woman in my life, even if it was platonic, and it would feel weird to go out with some girl, have sex with some girl with Lexi in the next room.
“Don’t tell me you dumped her because of me. I do not want to cock-block either of you. Just say the word and I’ll go to the library or stay in my room or something,” Lexi said.
She was cool about it. That just made it harder. Harder was a word that gave me problems—as in the more she draped her legs across my lap or hid her face in my shoulder during a scary movie, the harder I got.
Lexi was my friend, and this was the closest to a home she’d ever had. I was determined not to mess that up for her. Even if it meant bolting suddenly to the bathroom and staying there to calm down. Even if it meant rubbing one out in the shower during a commercial break so I could settle in for cozy night with her. I liked her, and I wanted her to feel comfortable at home with us. She was here so we could keep her safe. That meant I could never make a move on her.
I’d just pass on any plans that came my way. Evenings were our time. We binge-watched dumb singing contests and one about some rich ladies who all had Botox and drinking problems. Leo was with us most nights too, trash talking the bad singers and the women who passed out in their chicken salad.
Lexi made me laugh. All the time. The more time I spent with her, the deeper my feelings for her grew. I hid them pretty well, even from Leo, who prided himself on knowing when I was even slightly interested in a member of the opposite sex. I was careful not to stare at her too long, not to let my eyes roll back in my head and my mouth drop open with lust when she rubbed my shoulders after a long day. If I spent way more time at home since she moved in, I told myself that was just a coincidence. Or if I hurried home after teaching a class because I knew she was there waiting for me, that was just the novelty of it. It would wear off. I’d go back to hanging out at the bar with the other trainers eventually. If it ever sounded the least bit appealing again.
Leo got called in to cover the night shift one evening, so he’d sleep at the station. When he left, Lexi sprawled out on the couch full length. “At last, room to stretch out,” she giggled.
“You take up a lot of room for a tiny person,” I said.
“Hey, I keep all my makeup and girlie crap in a basket, I don’t leave it in your bathroom,” she laughed.
“I don’t mind your girlie crap half as much as you think I do,” I said honestly. “I like having you here.”
“I like being here. In fact, I love it. I love you. Both of you,” she said quickly. I saw the flush creep up her neck and fan over her cheeks. I wanted to kiss her mouth so much that I clawed at my chest a little where it ached. I cleared my throat, took a swallow of my beer.