Page 44 of Mistle-Ho

Leo scoffs. “Are you fucking kidding me?” His voice amps up—both in pitch and in volume. “You’re supposed to be on my side, man.”

“I am on your side.” I keep my tone calm, like I’m placating a toddler. “I just know how easy it is to get tunnel vision when you care about someone.” My eyes drift to where Alexis stands, watching me with an odd look on her face. “It can lead to stupid decisions.”

I have zero room to judge him. Hell, I might as well be living in a glass house because I’m making my share of stupid decisions. And—like Leo—I can’t seem to stop.

“Keeping Maddie safe from that bastard will never be a stupid decision.” Leo sounds disgusted, but I don’t know if it’s with me or Maddie’s ex. “I gotta go.” He doesn’t say goodbye, just hangs up.

So he was disgusted with me then.

I release a slow breath, letting my head fall back. As if I hadn’t already fucked up enough, now I’ve made Leo feel even more alone.

“You didn’t say anything wrong.” Al’s words are gentle. Soft. “I know he feels like everyone’s against him, but he’ll figure out we’re not soon enough.” Alexis rests one hand in the center of my chest. “Give him some time to cool down. Once he does, he’ll realize you really are on his side.”

I drop my eyes to where Alexis stands in front of me. “Am I?” I motion around her apartment. “Because it looks a whole hell of a lot like I’m fucking around with his sister behind his back.” I scrub one hand over my face, as frustrated with myself and my situation as I am with Leo and his. “And he’s so wound up he’s going to lose his shit when he finds out.” The words are out of my mouth before I fully comprehend what I’m saying.

I didn’t sayif. I saidwhen. Like there is some sort of scenario where Leo can discover what’s going on. Like there’s some wayI can have it all. The family I’ve claimed as my own. My best friend.

And Alexis.

I don’t think it’s possible. Especially not now.

But Alexis doesn’t seem bothered the way I am. She lifts one shoulder and lets it drop. “Like he said. What goes on in someone’s personal life is no one else’s business.” Her chin tips higher, making her look stunningly defiant. “And that includes us.”

Could it really be that simple? Can Alexis and I do what we want and keep it between us? “He did say that, didn’t he?”

Al’s lips curve into a slow smile. “Yes, he did.” Her smile turns into a snarl. “But I am kinda with him on wanting to get my hands on Maddie’s ex-husband. I’ve only met her a time or two, but she always seemed really sweet. I can’t imagine what sort of douche canoe would threaten someone like her.” Her eyes narrow, nostrils flaring. “I probably couldn’t do much, but I’m pretty sure I could stab at least one eyeball out.”

I start to chuckle, the vision of Alexis as a whirlwind of rage and violence way cuter than I will ever admit to her, but then my stomach drops.

Because I fucking forgot there’s a one-eyed lizard trapped in my bathroom.

“I gotta go.” This happens every fucking time. I get my hands on Alexis and everything else falls out of my fucking brain. All I see is her. All I want is her. All I think about is her. It’s hazardous for my health, my friendships, and now, my newly remodeled bathroom.

Alexis follows behind me, face filled with concern. “What’s wrong?”

I pause, turning to her so I can cradle her face in my hands. “It’s a long story, but there’s a five-foot long, one-eyed lizard in my bathroom, and I need to go take care of it.”

Al blinks at me a second, then she starts to laugh, wiping at the corner of one watering eye. After a few seconds, she sobers, brows pinching. “Oh my God. You’re serious.”

“Unfortunately, I am.” I lean in, catching her lips with mine in a kiss that escalates quickly. It takes everything I have to pull away, but it has to happen. Al and I might be able to keep this thing between us, but staying the night will still have very real consequences. As much as I want to hold her close and wake up to her sleepy face, I can’t leave Cilantro alone with Popeye the one-eyed dinosaur that long. Not when it could chew through the door for all I know.

But—

“You could come with me.” The offer slides free, and once it’s out there I hold my breath, anticipation and fear fighting for the upper hand.

So far it’s always been me coming to Alexis. Me showing up on her doorstep. Me seeking her out in the bar.

This would be her coming to me. With me. To my home.

To my bed.

Alexis blinks at me a few times, lips parted, blonde brows pinched in confusion. “You want me to come home with you?”

There’s too much surprise in her voice. It makes me wonder how she views this thing we’ve got going on. “I do.”

Alexis nibbles on her lower lip, uncertainty replacing the confusion that pinched her pretty face. “I’m not sure how I feel about dealing with your lizard.”

Al is a serious person. Has been forever. She’s not one to joke around, but she’s great at accidentally setting me up to tease her, and I’ve never been good at resisting it. Even now. “You don’t have to deal with my lizard. Promise.” I reach for her, pulling her close. “We can just cuddle.”

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