Chapter 24
brANDON
Looking down at Lexi and seeing her like this cracked my heart wide open. Maybe she was softening toward me. Maybe this could work. I leaned in to kiss her as she seemed to come to her senses, her eyes wide. She pushed her hands against my chest.
“Brandon, don’t.”
Fuck me. Right when I thought she was letting her guard down, she went back on high alert. I shouldn’t have pushed my luck. Going in for a kiss at that moment was too much, and she was shutting me out. Again.
I stepped back and pulled at the back of my neck. “Lex, I’m sorry, it’s just—”
Her hand shot up. “It’s fine, really. Let’s just go, okay?” She turned and walked off.
I hung my head for a breath, defeated, but quickly shook it off and followed her back toward the shop and my car.
We arrived at my dad’s place about thirty minutes later.
The drive wasn’t awkward or quiet. In fact, Lexi didn’t seem affected by what had transpired at all.
I appeared to be the only one freaking the fuck out.
Thankfully, I kept my spiraling thoughts to myself as I attempted to show no outward signs of my internal turmoil.
My dad’s place was all decked out. It was always Mom’s favorite holiday, and she made Dad get up on a ladder each year to put up lights—a tradition he’d continued since her passing.
“Wow. This looks great,” Lexi commented as we walked up the few stairs to the front door.
“Yeah, Dad always goes all out.” I opened the door and guided Lexi inside.
“Hello?” my dad called from the kitchen.
“It’s me and Lexi,” I replied as I helped her out of her coat.
Daphne, Nathan, and my dad rounded the corner from the kitchen to greet us. Everyone took turns hugging one another. Lexi tried to shake my dad’s hand, but he pulled her into one of his famous bear hugs. He wasn’t really the handshake type.
She handed him the sketchbook she’d gotten him at the market as we started towards the kitchen. “Lexi, this was very thoughtful. I love it, but you didn’t have to bring anything.”
“My mom always taught me not to show up empty-handed, and I thought you could use this for your art,” Lexi replied.
“Sounds like your mom did a great job with you,” Dad said as we reached the kitchen.
Dad didn’t host a fancy sit down dinner like Mom would’ve. That wasn’t his style, but the food looked and smelled amazing, and was set up buffet-style in the kitchen.
“Did Nathan help you with all of this, pops?” I asked.
“And Daphne. They’ve been here most of the day helping me get ready,” Dad answered while pulling Daphne in for a side hug.
Daphne animatedly shook her head. “Oh, no. This was all you guys. I was solely here for moral support and to taste test the wine,” Daphne joked. “Speaking of wine—Lexi?”
“You don’t have to twist my arm,” Lexi answered.
The front door opened, and moments later Dylan walked in with his cat, Coco, in tow—decked out in her Christmas best. I’m not kidding.
This cat came prancing in on a freaking leash, wearing a plaid jacket with her head held high.
I’m not exaggerating when I say that that cat was spoiled with a capital S.
A squeal cut through the air. I turned to see Lexi with her hands on her cheeks and the ungodly noise emanating from her. She ran and dropped to the floor in front of Coco, who began aggressively rubbing herself all over her.
“Oh, isn’t she the sweetest?” Lexi cooed. “What’s her name?”
My brother beamed proudly. “This is Coco Baby.”
Lexi plopped back onto her butt and allowed Coco to climb into her arms. “Who’s the prettiest baby? You are. Aren’t you? Oh, my God. You’re so sweet.”
This continued for several minutes until my dad cleared his throat. “If you’re done fawning over my grandkitty, dinner’s just about ready.”
Lexi looked up, her cheeks reddened. “Oh, shit. I’m sorry. But seriously, has there ever been a prettier cat?”
“No, there hasn’t. She’s definitely the prettiest,” Dylan chimed in proudly and then offered his hand to Lexi.
As her hand slipped into his, a pang of jealousy shot through me.
I couldn’t remember a time before Lexi when I’d ever felt jealousy.
Now every time another man even looked at her, I felt it.
But this was my brother, and I had no reason to be jealous. Lexi and I weren’t even a thing.
“Now that everyone’s here, let’s eat,” Dad said as he clapped his hands together.
We filled our plates and then gathered in the dining room to eat.
The table looked like Mom had set it, complete with her favorite Christmas tablecloth and centerpiece decorations.
There were even candles lit, which I attributed to Daphne’s presence this year.
Dad still decorated for Christmas, but didn’t keep up with all the details Mom would have.
“This all looks great,” I mentioned as I took my seat and, through no scheming on my part, Lexi and I ended up sitting next to one another.
The table fell into easy conversation. It was awesome having Daphne and Lexi here to celebrate with us this year.
The holidays with my brothers and dad were nice, but since Mom’s death, there was an underlying sadness to our celebrations.
This year seemed different with the ladies present—lighter even.
I was obviously still sad Mom wasn’t with us, but hearing Lexi’s laugh throughout dinner seemed to ease the pain in my chest.
Lexi moaned next to me, drawing my attention. “Oh, my God! This is soooo good. Who made these mashed potatoes?” she asked.
“Nathan and Daphne did,” my dad answered her. “The only thing I’m taking credit for this year is the turkey. I deep-fried it this time, and it turned out pretty good, if I do say so myself.”
Lexi continued to moan, “It’s soooo juicy. Like seriously, I’ve never had turkey this moist before.” I choked a little on my drink and began coughing.
“You okay there, Brando?” Lexi turned toward me, looking not at all concerned.
I couldn’t seem to stop coughing, but I attempted to talk in between fits. “Just—cough—went down—cough—the wrong—cough—pipe.”
“I remember my first drink,” Dad joked, and everyone around the table snickered.
“Thanks—cough—for nothing, Dad—cough cough.” Tears built in my eyes as another fit of coughing overcame me. It must have been at least a full minute more before I finally stopped coughing, and conversations started back up around the table.
Lexi leaned over towards me slightly and whispered, “All that because I said the word moist?”
Cough. Fucking Lexi. “You’ll pay for this,” I promised under my breath as I grabbed her upper thigh under the cover of the tablecloth.
“Mmmhmm.” She smiled coyly and went back to eating her meal, ignoring my touch. Then, I glanced at Dylan, who was staring at me with a smirk. Busted. There was no way he didn’t catch that little back and forth. I quickly scanned the rest of the table, but everyone else was engaged in conversations.
I managed to make it through dinner without choking to death, so I considered that a win. After everyone had finished, I started clearing the plates. If you cooked in this house, you didn’t clean, so I already knew I was in for some dish duty.
“I’ll help,” Lexi said as she stood from the table. Well, that was unexpected. I’d assumed that once we entered my dad’s that she’d avoid me like the plague, but there she was offering to help me with the dishes.
In the kitchen, we stood shoulder to shoulder at the sink. I washed, and she dried. “Are you sure it’s safe for us to be in here together?” I whispered. “Aren’t you worried Daphne will suspect something?”
“I may have to tell her soon,” Lexi said, and then chewed her lip. I almost dropped the dish that was in my hand.
“And what prompted this change of heart?” I asked.
“It has nothing to do with my heart. She’s my best friend, and I feel like an asshole for lying to her. I really didn’t think we’d still be going at it.”
“What’s going on in here?” Dylan said loudly as he walked into the kitchen, startling me. The dish I was washing slipped through my soapy fingers with a crash.
“Shit!” I quickly scrambled to pick up the dish. Thankfully, it hadn’t broken.
“Jumpy much, bro?” Dylan laughed. “Hey Lexi, you’re a guest. You don’t have to do the dishes. I can’t believe this rude asshole roped you into dish duty. Why don’t you join the others in the back room? I bet Coco Baby would love some snuggles by the fire.”
Lexi looked up at me in question. We really needed to finish our conversation, but it wasn’t the place or the time. “Go, Dylan and I’ve got this,” I assured her. She nodded and strutted off to join the others. I couldn’t help but watch her as she went, hips swaying all the way.
Dylan took Lexi’s spot next to me and nodded in her direction. “So, what’s going on there?”
Well, shit. “Nothing, why?” I replied almost too quickly.
Dylan laughed. “Holy shit! You’re fucking her!” Thankfully, he kept his voice low enough so I didn’t think anyone else heard him.
“Shhh. Jeez, Dylan,” I scolded. “She doesn’t want anyone to know.”
“Ooooo, so you’re her dirty little secret. Hot! But very unlike you.” Dylan placed his hand on his chest. “I’m so proud.”
“Oh, fuck off. It’s not like that. I really like her.”
“Does she know that?”
“No. I don’t know. Maybe. It doesn’t matter. She’s not interested in more than what we’re doing, so I’m trying to keep things casual.” I let out an exasperated sigh. “But I don’t know how much longer I can keep this up.”
“You aren’t cut out for my no-strings-attached lifestyle, my friend,” Dylan chuckled. “Wait, why doesn’t she want anyone to know? Who cares if you guys are hooking up?”
“I don’t know. She made some promise to Daphne about not fucking me,” I relayed, shaking my head. I still didn’t understand the whole situation. I mean, why should it even matter who Lexi slept with?
Dylan sputtered, “What the fuck? I’m so confused.”
“You and me both, brother. But it doesn’t really matter. Lexi doesn’t want a relationship, anyway.” I shook my head and passed Dylan a plate. “But you’re right. I’m not cut out for this casual shit. I want more.”
“See, that’s your fatal flaw. You and Nathan both, actually. You let your heart lead you, whereas I let something else lead me.” He waggled his eyebrows, resembling Groucho Marx. “If you know what I mean?”
“Unfortunately, I do know what you mean,” I laughed.