Chapter 2 – Gavin
2
Don’t Let Babs Punch You
Gavin
“YOU PISSED HER off already?” Leo clicks his tongue, head shaking as he joins me in the kitchen where I stand watching Alexis stomp away. “That might be a record for you.”
“Probably.” I pass him the cup in my hand. I wasn’t really thirsty, I was just looking for an excuse to be where Alexis was. “But to be fair, I think I piss her off by breathing.”
It hasn’t always been that way. Leo’s little sister and I got along when we were younger, but about five years ago, something changed. Our easy, comfortable interactions became tense, scowling exchanges that almost always end with her glaring at me before storming off.
Just like she is now. And damned if I can stop myself from watching her go. That dress Al’s wearing should be illegal. There’s technically nothing revealing about the red plaid garment. It doesn’t cling to her curves or dip low on her substantial tits. Even the skirt of it is a perfectly respectable length.
And yet…
“At least one woman in this world has sense enough not to worship you.” Leo dumps a ladle of the deep red, overly alcoholed punch Babs makes into his cup. “You need to be humbled now and then.” My best friend turns to lean back against the counter, wincing a little as he tips back some of the drink that will be responsible for more than a few rough mornings tomorrow. “I wouldn’t worry about it too much. I doubt she’ll be here long. She always skips out early.”
I shake my head when he offers me a sip. I learned the hard way to avoid that punch at all costs. “She skips out early because she hates this thing.”
Leo’s sandy brows pinch tightly together, creating a crease between them. “What? No she doesn’t. This is our family’s favorite night of the year.”
I almost laugh, but when his expression doesn’t change, I realize he’s serious, and it sends a pang of sympathy for the woman who just left searing through my gut. “It might be your and your parents’ favorite night, but it’s not your sister’s.”
Leo stares at me a second before his face splits into a smile and he barks out a laugh, slapping me on the back. “Dude, you almost had me there.” He turns to scoop out another serving of the punch I’ve puked more times than I can count. “Top off your drink and I’ll introduce you to the Millers’ daughter. I haven’t seen her in years, and she’s looking pretty damn good tonight.”
I turn down both the drink and the introduction. “Maybe later.” I don’t have any interest in meeting some random chick, no matter how good Leo thinks she looks. All my thoughts are on finding Alexis and apologizing for whatever I did to upset her.
Leo studies me a second. “You need to get back into the swing of things, man. I can’t stand you when you’re not getting laid.”
“You can’t stand me when I am getting laid.” I give him a grin. “And maybe you should introduce yourself to Miss Miller, because I’m pretty sure you’ve got a little dry spell of your own going on.”
Leo tips his head from side to side as he considers. “That’s not a bad idea.” He straightens off the counter, drinking down more of the Devil’s Kool-Aid. “I’m going to tell her I make more money than you, and you better fucking back me up.”
“I have lied to your own mother for you.” I lift one hand, holding up two fingers. “Twice.”
Leo gives me the lopsided smile that makes him seem unthreatening despite his size. “And I expect you to lie to her again when she asks if you saw me talking to Miss Miller.”
“Fuck, Leo.” I rake one hand through my hair. “Your mom told you to stay away from her and you were going to throw me under the bus?”
“Hell yeah, I was.” He smooths down the front of the green T-shirt stretched across his chest. “But you missed your chance, so now I’m the one who’ll be under the bus.” Leo gives me a wink as he backs away. “And maybe under Miss Miller.”
I angle a brow as I look pointedly at his shirt. “You sure you want to shoot your shot wearing a ‘Balls Deep in Christmas’ shirt?”
Leo’s eyes drop to the white print scrolled over his pecs. “Shit.”
Forcing away any trace of a smile, I ask in my most serious tone, “You want to trade?”
My best friend scoffs. “Yours says ‘Wanna See My Sack?,’ dick. It’s fucking worse.” Leo looks around, like a less offensive shirt will appear out of thin air, as he slides his empty cup onto the counter. “I need to go raid my dad’s closet. Entertain yourself for a while.”
As he stalks off, I collect his cup and chuck it in the trash then send a few others to the same fate, killing time until he’s out of sight. Then I go on a little search of my own.
Making a quick stop at the enormous Christmas tree positioned in front of the windows spanning the back of the house, I crouch down. Picking through the brightly colored packages stacked beneath the ornament laden evergreen branches, I retrieve the small gift tucked at the very back. I always get presents for Leo’s parents, but this year I bought an additional gift. One that was too perfect to pass up. I didn’t want to make shit weird by bringing it here Christmas morning, so I snuck it in with me tonight, hoping I’d have the chance to deliver it.
Tucking the item close, I duck off to the side of the tree, using it as cover to slip out the back door unnoticed. Stepping silently onto the dark deck, it takes my eyes a second to adjust to the change in brightness. Between the tree, the string lights, and the illuminated decorations stacked on every available surface, the interior of the house is like being under a spotlight. Out here, there’s just the glow of the windows to break up the night, and I’m blinded by the sudden shift.
After a few blinks, the woman I’m seeking comes into view. As I expected, Alexis has retreated to the darkest corner of the deck. She’s got both elbows propped on the railing, her clasped hands supporting her chin as she stares across the backyard that still sports the swing set and treehouse she played in as a kid.
“Hey.” I keep my voice low so I don’t startle her. I don’t want her to think I’m sneaking up on her. Trying to steal the peace she came here to claim.
Alexis sucks in a breath as she turns my way. Her eyes narrow when they land on me. “Am I in your way of enjoying the deck now?”
Shit. I knew she was gonna take that wrong. Sometimes I forget I can’t tease Al. Not the way I used to. I don’t know why things changed between us, but I’m hoping my peace offering will change them back.
“You weren’t in my way earlier.” I cross the distance between us. “I was just trying to joke around.”
Her blue eyes remain cool. “It was hilarious.”
I wince a little. “That’s why I’m out here. I want to apologize.” I hold out the box, watching her reaction. The sage green paper taped around it feels almost like velvet. An evergreen sprig and two small gold pinecones dangle from the deep green bow tied at the center. I thought it was a little much, but the chick at the gift-wrapping counter assured me a woman as stylish as Alexis would love it. “I got you something.”
Al’s eyes drop to the package before coming back to mine, still narrowed but now also filled with suspicion. “What is it?”
“Open it and find out.” I tip it from side to side, trying to entice her to take it. “Unless you’re scared.”
Al’s brows lift. “Should I be?”
I shake my head. “Not of me.”
For a second, her expression softens, but then it snaps right back to the mask of irritation she wears whenever I’m around. “Somehow I don’t believe you.”
She takes the present anyway, giving me one more look before going to work unwrapping it. I don’t miss how careful she is to not tear the paper or how gently she slips the bow off one side. Guess the wrapping lady was right.
Once the box is free, Alexis cautiously lifts the lid and pulls back the tissue paper to reveal what’s inside.
The seconds tick by and I start to think I missed the mark. That maybe I don’t know the woman in front of me any better than her brother does.
So I start explaining.
“Last Christmas, I noticed the scarf you always wear was starting to look a little rough. I saw this one when I was out shopping and it looked just like it, so I thought maybe…”
My words slow as she frowns down at the soft cashmere knit. I don’t know what else to say, so I accidentally fall back on what usually works best for me. “It was either that or lingerie.”
Al’s eyes snap to mine. “Stop it.”
The venom in her tone almost sends me back a step. “Stop, what?”
“You know, what, ” she snarls at me, looking way more dangerous than any man I’ve faced down on the field. “It’s not fucking funny when you pretend to flirt with me.”
I’m surprised at her reaction and it throws me off even more. Making me confess something I know better than to admit. “I’m not pretending.”
She stares at me for a second, the silence stretching out between us. Then she starts to laugh. But not in an amused way. This laugh is a little unhinged, and I’m starting to fear for my life.
Funny thing is, the idea of Alexis having at me isn’t nearly as unappealing as it should be.
“Right.” She squares her shoulders and steps close enough we’d be nose-to-nose if she wasn’t so short. “All the bullshit you say to me is completely serious.” The words drip with sarcasm.
I manage to keep my dumbass mouth shut like I should have earlier, which she takes as an admission of guilt.
Al snorts. “That’s what I thought.” After slamming the scarf box onto the railing, she starts to storm away. “Stay the fuck away from me, Gavin.”
Something about her snapped request makes me react, and before I know what I’m doing, my hand is holding her arm, stopping her escape. “I’m not pretending, Al.”
Warning lights and sirens are going off in my head, but I ignore them the way I’ve never been able to ignore the woman now shooting daggers from her eyes.
Alexis pulls her arm free, but instead of continuing her earlier path, she comes back toward me, bringing the lush curves I know are hiding under that dress right against me. “Yeah? Prove it.”
She thinks she’s calling my bluff. Expects me to back down and admit my guilt.
I should. Acting on how fucking appealing I find every inch of her won’t end well for me. But, yet again, I find myself saying something I shouldn’t.
“Fine. Treehouse. Fifteen minutes.”