44. Alexis
CHAPTER 44
Alexis
I giggle as I trip over my feet, slamming into Bentley’s back. “Oops. S-Sorry, Bent.” My voice slurs slightly as he turns around, his brows raised.
“Lexi. You need to slow down.” He shakes his head when I reach for the drink in his hand.
“That’s my drink.” My brows draw in as I teeter in my high heels.
“You don’t need any more. You’ve had enough.” He holds the bottle higher when I jump for my wine cooler, then grabs my arm, keeping me upright when I nearly fall over.
“Oops. I’m not very graceful.” I laugh, deciding to try a different tactic. “It’s why my mom didn’t name me Grace.” I walk my fingers up Bentley’s arm, batting my long lashes at him. “Can I have my drinkie back? Pretty please.”
Bentley smirks, looking over my shoulder. “Nope. I’m sure Evan agrees with me.”
“Stop teasing me,” I lightly smack his chest. “Evan’s not here. Now stop being a buzzkill and give me my drink.”
“I’m not here, huh?” Evan’s voice shakes from anger, his hot breaths blowing over my ear. He grabs my arm and spins me around so I’m facing him.
Oh shit. Grumpy’s here.
Normally, I’d be terrified of the rage burning in his charcoal eyes. But not tonight.
My body is warm and loose from the alcohol, and I’ve been having a blast drinking and dancing with the girls.
“What’re you doing here?” I glance over my shoulder, my eyes narrowing on Bentley. “Did you call this asshole and invite him here to spoil my fun?”
Bentley chuckles. “I didn’t need to call or text him. He knew where you were.” He reaches over, fist-bumping Evan before his gaze returns to mine. “He had me watch over you to ensure your safety until he arrived.”
I pout. “Damn it, Bentley. I thought we were friends.”
“We are, Lexi. His desire to ensure you’re safe isn’t a bad thing.”
“Bentley’s a smart man.” A genuine smile is on Evan’s face. “Thanks for watching over her. She’s a handful.” His gaze drops to me, eyes narrowing. “Time to go.”
“No. I’m not going anywhere with you.” I try pulling away from his tight grip, but my efforts are futile.
“Like hell you aren’t.” Evan tosses me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. “Thanks again, Bentley.” His gaze moves to Sophia, who stands beside Bentley. “Do you have a ride home?”
She nods. “Yeah. Trent’s coming to pick me up.”
“Good. Don’t leave with anyone else.” He pats Bentley’s shoulder. “Make sure she behaves.”
Bentley takes a swig of his beer. “You know it.”
I beat my fists against Evan’s back. “Put me down.”
He ignores me, spins on his heel, and carries me through the crowd. I wave at Sophia and blow her a kiss, making her giggle.
The cold night air hits my scantily clad body the second Evan steps out the door. As refreshing as it feels to my overheated skin, a shiver rolls through me.
Evan doesn’t say a word as he strides to his car, then tosses me onto the passenger seat. His dark eyes lock with mine as he pulls the seatbelt across me. “You’re in so much goddamn trouble.” He clicks the belt into place and then steps back, slamming the door in my face before I can say a word.
Fucking asshole.
I try to undo my seatbelt as he rounds the car, but my coordination isn’t the best. Considering I rarely drink alcohol, what I consumed gave me a nice buzz.
Evan slides into the seat, fastens his seatbelt, and fires up the engine. “Stop fucking with your seatbelt. You’re not getting out of this car.”
“Fuck you,” I spit. “Don’t tell me what to do.”
He laughs, shaking his head before he throws his car in reverse and backs out of the space. I can’t help but be impressed as he shifts and we fly out of the parking lot. “Sit there and shut up.”
I don’t listen. “Why did you drive here? You could’ve walked.”
He turns on the heat when he sees me shivering. “Because you’re wearing skimpy clothes and high heels. You’d freeze and break an ankle if we walked.”
I lean back in the seat, enjoying the drive. “Awe. Concerned about me, huh, stepbro?” I bat my eyelashes at him, enjoying the ride.
He surprises me by saying, “I’m always concerned about you. I look out for you more than you realize.” His eyes move from the road to mine, his face serious. “I’m so fucking pissed at you for what you did tonight, Lexi.”
I sigh, knowing he’s about to lecture me and ruin my buzz. “Cause it’s such a crime to have fun.”
“It’s a fucking Wednesday. You have classes tomorrow.” His gaze is back on the road as he drives toward the gate.
“Where are we going?” I point over my shoulder. “The road to our apartment is back there.”
“I know. I was planning to do this after class but was interrupted.”
“Don’t guilt trip me. You didn’t need to come to my rescue. I was doing just fine, having a good time.” I giggle. “I’m a poet and didn’t know it.”
The corners of Evan’s lips tip up. “No way in hell was I gonna leave you alone at a party with a bunch of horny college guys, especially dressed like that.”
I roll my eyes. “Party pooper. I think I look nice.”
“Nice? You look fucking stunning.” His gaze rakes over me before going back to the road. “That’s the problem. None of those assholes are good enough for you. They’d fuck you and dump you if I didn’t protect you.” His hand moves to my thigh, squeezing possessively. “Don’t worry. They won’t get near you.”
Every drop of feminism leaves my body as I bask in the possessive gleam in his eyes.
“But who’s gonna protect me from you?”
His hand glides along my thigh, leaving goosebumps in his wake. “You don’t need protection from me.” His jaw clenches when he mutters, “As much as I thought I wanted to, I’d never hurt you.”
His words echo inside my head.
I’m not exactly sure when things changed, but I went from fearing him to taunting him, confident he wouldn’t hurt me.
My earlier conversation with Bentley flows through my head. “ At his core, he’s a decent person who's had a rough life.”
“You can’t take what you see on the surface and think you know someone based on that. You have to peel back the layers. Otherwise, you never know what you’ll miss out on.”
I bite my lip, glancing over at Evan, debating whether to say anything.
The silence stretches between us as he skillfully navigates his car around the winding turns of the narrow road. “Spit it out, bellissima.”
I can’t stop the smile that spreads across my face. I like that he calls me bellissima. The way the words roll from his full, kissable lips. It makes me feel special.
The worrisome thoughts intrude again, bursting my bubble of happiness. “Well…” I toy with a lock of my hair, wrapping it around my finger.
He glances over at me. “It’s okay, bellissima. Whatever’s on your mind, say it.”
“I think you believe I’m after your father’s money.”
His knuckles turn white on the steering wheel beneath the dashboard lights. His spine is rigid, but he remains quiet.
“I’m not, Evan. That’s not who I am.” I blow out a breath. “It’s an absolute dream to attend SRU. But honestly, I still feel out of place in this world. Sometimes, I’m homesick for the simplicity of my life before this.”
“Has someone been making you feel you don’t belong?”
“No one in particular, other than me. I’m not used to the luxuries. It’s not something I need. I was content before all this was given to me.”
“I can tell. You barely spend any money.” His hands relax on the steering wheel as he glances over at me. “You buy coffee, books, and snacks with the credit card my father gave you. You could easily go on a shopping spree, but you don’t.”
“Why would I? I have more clothes and shoes than I know what to do with.” I tug on the low-cut top I’m wearing. “This is the first time I’ve worn this. I have a ton of clothes hanging in my closet that still have the tags on.”
“I know.” His hand moves to my thigh. “Trust me, Lexi, I know everything you do.”
He turns onto a single-lane road, and when his headlights cut through the darkness and I see the tombstones ahead, I panic.
“E-Evan.” I hate the trembling of my voice as I stare out the windshield at the cemetery. “W-Why are we here?”
His hand tightens around my thigh. “Are you scared, Lexi?”
Typically, I’d deny my fear and pretend to be tough. But with the alcohol still coursing through my veins like a truth serum, I find myself whispering, “Terrified.”
He pulls the car to a stop in front of a giant mausoleum. “Don’t be.” He cuts the engine, and the silence envelopes us.
My mouth is dry as I rasp out, “E-Evan. What’s going on?”
I can’t seem to turn my head away from the imposing monstrosity ahead. It’s the largest mausoleum I’ve ever seen.
The silence stretches between us. My heart gallops inside my chest, beating so loud I’m confident he hears it.
“It’s time for you to meet your stepfamily.”