Chapter 28
brANDON
After spending a few days thinking things over, I decided I was going to just go with the flow with Lexi.
If she wanted casual, that’s what I was going to give her.
I knew I needed to be cautious. Lexi wasn’t a woman who needed a man, and I got the feeling she wasn’t interested in any traditional relationship, so I needed to approach our situation a bit differently.
I needed to keep things casual and fun, showing her how good things could be with us if she would let me in.
New Year’s Eve probably wasn’t the best day for this, but it was a day she had off, and Daphne and Nathan had other plans, so I figured she’d be free. Since we hadn’t spoken since that tense drive back from my dad’s on Christmas Eve, I wasn’t sure how she would react to my invitation.
Me
Hey, got any plans for New Year’s?
Lexi
No. Why, what’s up?
Me
I was thinking we could go to the Basement and have some fun.
Lexi
As long as the night ends in orgasms, I could be persuaded to have drinks with you beforehand.
Me
I can definitely promise you will start off the new year coming all over my dick.
Lexi.
Bet.
That was easier than I expected, but of course, she led with sex stuff.
I wondered whether my response was a mistake.
But at that point, I needed to put in some time with her outside of the bedroom if this was going to go anywhere, and unfortunately, the only way to do that was to make other promises too.
On New Year’s Eve, I offered to pick Lexi up, but she chose to meet me at the bar instead.
I believe her exact words were, ‘That’s too datey.
’ Not exactly how I wanted the night to start, but I brushed it off and went to the bar on my own.
After securing us a couple of spots at the bar, I ordered us both drinks and waited for her arrival.
The door to the bar opened, and a rush of cool air swept by me.
I turned to see Lexi sweep into the place like she owned it.
She looked amazing. Her hair, which was usually wavy or poker straight, was now curled and bouncy.
She wore red lipstick, and her bright blue eyes popped against her bold black liner.
Wearing a black leather jacket over a sequin top that left very little to the imagination, she was a total knockout.
A smile broke out on her face as our eyes met, and she strutted to me.
When she reached me, she placed her hand under my chin and pushed my jaw up. I didn’t even realize my mouth was hanging open, but I wasn’t surprised. She was stunning. “You look beautiful,” I choked out.
“Thanks,” she said as I pulled her seat out for her. “What a gentleman! Oh, and you remembered my drink,” she added.
“I did remember, but this was all Diane. I told her I was meeting you,” I confessed.
“Well, I appreciate it all the same. Thank you.”
“Thanks for meeting me. I wasn’t sure if you would. New Year’s Eve is kind of a coupley thing,” I said with a wince. What was wrong with me? My stupid mouth was going to be my downfall; I knew it.
But Lexi laughed it off, saying, “It’s just another day, Brando.
Don’t make it weird.” She was really easygoing and easy to talk to, and seemed to forget any confrontation or tension we’d had up until this point.
It made me wonder whether she took anything seriously or if she’d ever felt deeply about anyone before.
My thoughts and mouth were once again at war with my better judgment, as I asked, “So you don’t date? Like at all?”
She huffed and turned to face me. “I’m pretty sure we’ve been over this before, but I don’t see the point. I mean, sure, some relationships last, but in my experience, they don’t, so why get emotionally invested in something that has an expiration date?”
“That’s a pretty grim outlook.” I frowned. “And a pretty lonely way to live.”
“I’m not lonely,” she scoffed. “Can we change the subject, though? I agreed to come out for a fun night of laughs and orgasms, not philosophical discussions about relationships.”
Despite my disappointment at her avoiding the topic, I laughed and changed the subject. “So, how about those Birds?”
“Oh, hell no. Ball sports are off the table too,” she laughed.
God, I loved her laugh. Even though she was avoiding opening up, I admired her ability to move on so quickly from uncomfortable conversations. “What’s your beef with ball sports?” I chuckled.
“Don’t get me wrong, if there’s a game on and I’m at a bar with a bunch of fans, I can get into the spirit, but I don’t know players’ names or stats or any of that crap. And don’t get me started on those fantasy footballers.”
“Ha! Dylan does that shit! I never understood the draw myself, though.”
“I never would have pegged him as a fantasy football guy. He seems more likely to play ball sports rather than manage a fake team or whatever it is that they do.”
“He played football in high school, actually. Dylan was the most athletic of the three of us. I really thought he’d go off and play in college and maybe even go pro one day. But he decided college wasn’t for him and started working in the shop right after high school.”
“I could totally see him playing football. Typical jock fuckboy, huh?” she laughed.
I chuckled too, because that pretty much summed Dylan up. “Yeah, I guess so. But art was his first love, and all he ever talked about was working at the shop.”
“That’s so awesome that you guys all work together and that you love what you do.” Lexi finished her drink and waved to get Diane’s attention. “Want another beer?” she asked me as Diane approached.
“One more.” I finished my beer and pushed the glass across the bar.
Time seemed to fly by when I was with Lexi. Despite my having to stay away from the topics I wanted to talk about most, there was rarely a lull in our conversations. Everything felt easy with her. Well, almost everything. Except for the whole ‘she won’t date me thing,’ everything else was great.
Before I knew it, the bar was shouting out the countdown to midnight. Lexi was staring at the TV screen above the bar, counting down along with the rest of the bar, a huge smile plastered on her face. She glanced over at me with a few seconds to go. Was she going to let me kiss her at midnight?
3… 2… 1… Fuck it.
I pulled Lexi into my arms. She looked up at me, still smiling. “Happy New Year, Brando.”
I leaned in close so that our lips were almost touching. “Happy New Year, Sweetheart.”
Surprisingly, Lexi was the one who closed the distance between us and kissed me. Maybe it was wishful thinking on my part, but that kiss felt different. It felt as if Lexi was leaving the door open for more.