Page 43 of Mistle-Ho

I slide my takeout container onto the coffee table and scoot closer. “That sounds a little suspect, Al.”

Her blue eyes widen. “You know where I live. Why shouldn’t I know where you live?”

“I know where you live because I helped move your shit in.” I slowly smile. “You know where I live because you’re nosy.”

Alexis sputters. “I’m not nosy.”

My smile turns to a smirk because she walked right into what I say next. “Why else would you want to know where I live?”I hook one arm around her waist, pulling her body to mine. “Maybe because you had a crush on me?” I’m teasing her. Sliding back into the way things were when we were younger.

But the way her skin goes from pink to beet red as she tries to wiggle away makes me pause.

I stare in shock as she squirms free. “Wait.Didyou have a crush on me?”

Her head snaps my way, eyes narrowed. “Like you didn’t know.”

Holy fuck. I stand, needing to be on my feet for this conversation. “Are you serious?” I’m not sure how I feel about this revelation.

What it means.

“Ugh.” Alexis turns away from me, going to her kitchen. “Don’t let it go to your head. I was sixteen and also in love with David Bowie.”

My brows pinch together. “He’s dead.” I glance down my front, comparing my physique to the androgynous rocker’s. “And scrawny.”

“Two more reasons you shouldn’t let it go to your head.” Al collects the container of cream cake from the counter. “Obviously my standards are extremely flexible.”

“I—” My words are cut off when my cell starts to ring in my pocket. I pull it out and my stomach drops at the name displayed across the screen. I don’t want to answer it, but if I don’t, it’ll just keep ringing.

Bracing, I swipe across the screen then press it to my ear. “Hey, Leo.”

Al’s eyes widen and her skin pales.

I get it.

“Seems like someone found another way home.” Leo’s tone is gloating. “You’re welcome for that. I told you going out was a great fucking idea.”

I doubt he’d be thanking me if he knew who took me home.

Leo’s a good guy. A great friend. He wants me to be happy. But there are limits, and I have to guess fucking his little sister is a hard line. Not that I’ve fucked Alexis.

Yet.

“Sorry to disappear on you guys. Something came up.” I rake one hand through my hair, torn between guilt and shame. “Everyone get home okay?”

“They’re all in their beds, safe and sound.” Leo snorts. “And jealous as fuck of you.”

“Not you?” I know more than a few of the guys on our team are itching for something beyond the one-night stands I’m famous for. Something more permanent. And all signs are pointing to Leo and Maddie Miller having something permanent.

“My personal life is none of their business,” Leo snaps. “The less people know about me and Maddie’s relationship, the safer she’ll be.”

I’ve never seen Leo like this over a woman, and it takes me aback. It also worries me. “Has something else happened with her husband?”

“Ex-fucking-husband.” Leo practically yells through the line. He’s loud enough Alexis hears and her brows climb her forehead in response.

Seems like she’s as surprised as I am over Leo’s outburst.

“Last night he started calling every five minutes. Maddie turned her phone off, and when she checked it this morning her voicemail was full.” Leo’s words are sharp. “If I ever get my hands on him again—”

“I think you should work on making sure that doesn’t happen.” I’m starting to see just how in over his head Leo is. Why Dan and Babs are so upset. “You should probably be as uninvolved in that mess as possible.”

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