10. Lexi
Chapter 10
Lexi
Kai didn’t come home that night.
I waited up, staring at the fan all damn night.
This was why I shouldn’t have gotten wrapped up in him. As if I could keep sex and feelings separate. What had I been thinking?
I rolled out of bed and swung my door open and rushed down the hall to the kitchen and found my brother and my best friend macking on each other like they’d never come up for air.
“Nicole!”
They busted apart. “Hi.” She licked her lips, and her sensitive skin was pink from my brother’s scruff. “Um, I can explain.”
Wyatt pulled her against him. “Nothing to explain. We’re together.”
Nicole turned to him. “We are?”
He frowned at her. “Yeah, we are. You didn’t think so?”
“Okay, wait. How did this happen?” I put my hands on my hips.
Nicole spun back around, and her face flamed when Wyatt put possessive hands on her hips. “We, sort of, accidentally matched on a dating app.”
“Accidentally?”
Wyatt cleared his throat. “It was anonymous at first. Neither of us knew who the other was.”
I held up a finger and went to the fridge for my wine and poured a healthy glass, took a deep drink, then I turned back to them. “Okay, go on.”
Nicole rushed forward and grabbed my free hand. “Are you mad?”
I shook my head. “No. I knew you always liked Wyatt.”
Her face flamed harder. She hunched her shoulders as she looked back at Wyatt, but instead of his usual grumpy face, his face was softer.
He crossed to her, rubbing her arms as he gently pulled her into him, both still facing me. “You’re not the only one, Nikki.”
I met Nicole’s eyes, which might as well have hearts in them. I set my glass down and wrapped my arms around both of them. “I’m happy for you guys. If you’re happy, I mean.” I pulled away.
Wyatt tucked her hair around one shoulder and kissed the one he bared. “Happy. Very.”
Nicole spun in his arms and wrapped them around his shoulders. For once, she’d finally found a guy who was good with her height.
My brother locked his arms around her back.“Glad you’re okay with it, Lexi.”
I picked up my glass again. “I’m not sure who I need to warn away from hurting the other but just don’t fuck it up and I won’t have to break up with either of you.”
Wyatt chuckled. “I’m going to damn well try not to fuck it up.” He grinned at me, then he linked hands with Nicole. “We’re going to head to bed.”
I wagged a finger. “I don’t want to know.” Then I spun on my heel and headed back to my room with my glass.
At least now I knew why my brother had been such a bear for the last few weeks. God, now I was going to be the weird third wheel. Because Kai certainly wasn’t going to stick around.
And I wasn’t entirely sure Wyatt would be as cool with learning me and Kai had hooked up.
Right.
Just hooking up.
Sure.
“Ugh!” I collapsed against my door. Maybe I should just go back out into the kitchen and get the whole bottle. Instead, I drained the glass and set it on my bedside table, then I flopped onto my bed.
There was just enough wine flowing through my veins that I eventually dozed off. When morning came, there was a cheerful Wyatt and Nicole giggling in the kitchen, but no sign of Kai.
I left the new sex vibes in the kitchen with a cup of coffee to help with my muzzy head. I hadn’t consumed enough for a hangover, but between wine and little sleep, I was going to need a fortifying shower.
I slipped out the back door of the kitchen after I got ready. I couldn’t listen to their happy chatter anymore, not when I was so damn miserable.
I didn’t even know why Kai had gotten so pissy last night after that incredible moment on the bench.
Or maybe that was the problem. Did he think I was getting too clingy?
Maybe I was.
I drove to work with my music blaring, to match my mood. When I got to the warehouse, Sully and Cash’s trucks were parked across the street. I found a spot near them and hustled across the street. It wasn’t even eight, so I wasn’t late. When I slipped inside, I heard Cash talking.
“It’s too big of a job for just me. When the hell is Gus coming in?”
Sully grunted. “Storm in Costa Rica pushed back his timetable. Probably sometime in July.”
“Hell, I haven’t found a day-laborer who can do what Gus can do with a roof. I have three houses that need new ones, and the flashing is FUBAR’d on two of them.”
“I know, Cash.” Sully noticed me hovering inside the door. “Hey, Lexi. Did you get the window order in?”
“Hi, Sully, hi Cash. No, it got delayed, but it’s coming in today.”
“Good. Send me a text when it comes in. I need to put them in today if they don’t come in too late. I’m heading to the post office. Some sort of leak in the lobby.”
“Need me?” Cash asked.
“Yeah, if you’re open.”
He nodded. “Yeah, until this afternoon. I’m waiting on parts.”
“Is Kai on a project?”
My heart tripped at his name. “I haven’t scheduled him with a new project yet.”
“Okay, I’ll text him to meet us. I can use his electrician’s hat.” Sully pulled out his phone, his fingers flying.
I nodded. “Okay, I’ll keep his morning clear.”
I pulled out my water, and I sighed when I realized I didn’t bring my coffee with me. One almost fight, and I was already off my game. God, I really was stupid to think we could keep things separate.
I dug around and couldn’t find my lip gloss, annoyance riding me as I opened my drawer and dumped my purse in there, slamming it closed.
When I looked up, Sully’s eyebrow was arched. “Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just a rough morning. You know what, I’m going to go grab a bagel and coffee. Need me for anything?”
Sully shook his head. “We’re good.”
I opened my drawer and grabbed my debit card, instead of taking my whole bag. When I got outside, I collided with Kai.
He gripped my arms and that sweet spice wrapped around me. He was still wearing his jeans from yesterday, even if he’d swapped his shirt for a Murdock Brothers one. His eyes were red-rimmed.
“You didn’t come home last night.”
He glanced away. “I know. I fell asleep in my truck at the lake.”
“You slept in your truck?”
“Not the first time. Probably won’t be the last.”
“Right, because you’ll be on your way soon.”
He sighed. “Something like that.”
“Your brother’s looking for you.” I wiggled out of his hold.
“Which one?”
“Sully.”
“Yeah, I got his text.”
“Good. I’ll be back in a few.” I practically ran down the street to Bite Me.
Eloise looked up from the counter, her red hair bound up in a funky scarf. “Hey, Lexi. How’s it going?”
“Better with your largest cold brew.”
She laughed. “That kind of morning, huh? Sure. Anything else?”
“I’m having a fuck it day. Everything bagel with cream cheese too, please.”
“Regular or jalapeno?”
“Do you have to ask?”
She laughed. “Got it. Hot it is.” She tugged on hot pink gloves, then grabbed a bagel and cut it cleanly apart, shoving it into the commercial grade toaster. “How’s things going on in hot Murdock brothers land?”
I leaned on the counter since there was no one else in the shop. “Busy. Nora managed to take another viral video. This time, Cash was the star. He’s much more comfortable with being the center of attention than Sully.”
She poured the cold brew into a tall cup and added a splash of cream and pinch of brown sugar before shaking it up and sliding it my way. “Pretty sure all of them like the camera more than Sully. Too bad he’s so damn hot.”
I laughed. “It’s not a hardship working with all of them. Mostly.”
Eloise chucked. “Working with men has its perks.” She smeared on a healthy dollop of cream cheese on my bagel and quickly wrapped it in deli paper, setting it on the counter before tugging off her gloves.
I tapped the screen with my card. “You coming to the lake this weekend?”
“Wouldn’t miss it. I don’t have to make the sandwiches for once.”
“See you there. Thanks.”
Instead of heading back to the warehouse, I sat at one of the tables outside and quietly ate more carbs than I usually did in a whole day. Why the hell did Kai have to look so good?
And why had he thought he couldn’t come back to the house last night?
The shelf life on our fling was less than a gallon of milk.
Maybe it was better that way. I was already catching feelings for him.
That couldn’t be good for either of us.
Resolute, I headed back to the warehouse.
It was better this way.