Page 25 of Mistle-Ho

She lifts one shoulder and lets it fall. “I don’t know.” Al shifts the bottle around in her arms so she can punch in the keycode toopen the door to her building. Her brows pinch together as the deadbolt clicks open. “How did you get in here last night?”

I stay silent because Al’s one of the few people who’s never been impressed with my fame. If anything, it seems to annoy her.

Her focus comes to my face when I don’t reply, and it takes her about two seconds to register what happened. Then she’s rolling her eyes. “I should have known.”

I open the door, holding it as she goes in. “There are some perks to being Mr. The Wall.”

“I guess it saves you the effort of breaking and entering.” She presses the button to bring the elevator to us then turns to me, expression thoughtful. “Doesn’t it get old though? Dealing with people coming up to you everywhere you go?”

“I mean, it’s noteverywhereI go.” There are still some places where no one gives me a second look. Not many, but some.

I can’t think of any, but I know they exist.

“Sure.” The elevator arrives and Al gets in. “I don’t believe that for a second.”

I get in behind her then press the button to close the doors. “I guess I just go with it.” I was never the kind of guy who flew under the radar anyway. I’m six and a half feet tall, for God’s sake. People can’t really miss me. “And it’s kinda cool when it’s kids like your neighbor. I like seeing how excited they are.”

Alexis gives me a dirty look as we get out of the elevator, but the twitch of her lips hints at a smile. “You mean like the one who’s going to start showing up on my doorstep every day hoping for a chance to seeThe Wall?” She widens her eyes when she says my nickname, like it’s the goofiest thing she’s ever heard.

“I’ll bring you some signed shit to give him so he’ll go away.” I grin at the image of Al having to deal with random kids showingup wanting to discuss rugby with her. “But maybe you should talk to him a little first. Actually learn something about rugby.”

Her jaw goes slack and she pauses midway through opening her door. “I know stuff about rugby.”

I lift a brow. “Name one thing.”

Al comes to all our home matches, but most of her attention stays on her phone. Occasionally her eyes will drift to the pitch, but it doesn’t take a genius to know her interest in what I do for a living is slim to none.

“I know your dumb asses don’t wear padding.” She lifts her chin as she walks inside, smirking like she’s just proved herself an expert on the sport.

“That it?” I won’t be shocked if she’s got nothing to follow it up with. Or offended. Al’s disinterest in the thing most people know me for has always been appealing.

It’s one of the many reasons she’s never been in the same category as the rest of the women I know. Nothing against the rest of the female population, Al’s just always been…

Different.

Proving my point, she shoots me a scowl. “And I’m sure you knowall kindsof shit about my job.”

That has me scowling back at her. “I know you work with a dillhole who brings flowers to your apartment on Christmas morning.”

Fucking Dillon. I’d almost managed to forget about him with the shit that happened at her parents’ house, but now that he’s come back up, that asshat’s appearance has my jaw clenched so tight my back teeth might crack. The more I think about it, the more I can’t believe he just showed up here out of nowhere. “It’s kinda weird he would do that unless he had a reason to think you’d be excited to see him.”

Al’s brows slowly climb up her forehead. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Jealousy’s not a good look for me. It’s one of the reasons I’ve been so careful to avoid putting myself in a position where I’d end up wearing it. Because once I’ve got it on, it fits like a second skin.

“I don’t know, Al. What are the reasons you think a guy would show up at a woman’s house Christmas morning? Because I can tell you the only reason I’d do it is because she made me think I had a shot with her.”

“Youshowed up on my doorstep Christmas Eve.” She thinks she’s proving a point, and she is.

Mine.

“And I had you naked in under ten minutes, so it seems like I was right.”

Al’s jaw drops open and I know I’ve fucked up. Know I’ve shown the ass I inherited from my old man. And that’s probably a good thing. Better it happens now. Before I ruin more than just my relationship with Alexis.

Al stabs a pointed finger at her door. “Get out.”

“Fine.” I shove the rolls and champagne onto the counter then stalk out into the hall for the second time today.

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