Page 10 of Her Embarrassed Bear Mate

“I went out drinking. And I met someone.”

“Okay…? I’m sensing a but.”

“We met in a bar, she seemed in a really shitty mood, I was in a shitty mood. One thing led to another, we went clubbing and ended up kissing.” Alix was well aware she was rambling and delaying what she really needed to say. She took another big gulp of her margarita for liquid courage. “We almost slept together.”

Aditi gave her a typical Aditi look, with one perfect eyebrow cocked and icy glint in her eyes. She suffered no fools. “I don’t see what this has to do with needing an alibi. It’s not like your mum is going to be upset that you had a little one-night-stand.”

“I almost slept with the hot step-sister. Emphasis on almost because I was so drunk, I couldn’t get it up. Metaphorically,” Alix blurted out. Under different circumstances, she would’ve been pleased thatshe’d made the unflusterable Aditi look so surprised, but it only drove home how awkward and absurd this situation was.

“No!” Aditi looked genuinely mortified. “You’re lying. No!”

Maria just cackled. “Oh, Alix…”

“That dinner was the most awkward night in my life. When I told Lena—” she promptly swallowed her sentence. “Sorry.”

Aditi smiled but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “Why are you apologising? I know you’re still hanging out with her. I don’t expect you to stop chatting just because Lena and I broke up. We were all friends first.”

Alix grimaced. “Still, I know it’s a sore spot.”

“I’m over her.” Aditi’s left eye twitched. She was lying and everyone knew she was lying.

“Alix, tell me more about your new step-sister,” Maria said tactfully.

“Don’t call her that.” Alix held out her empty glass for more margarita from the jug. “Her name is Veronica and she’s ridiculously gorgeous. Like, insane. Honestly, she’s up there with Aditi.”

“Stop.” Aditi scoffed, somehow genuinely oblivious to how beautiful she was just because she didn’t meet the typical beauty standards. But anyone witheyes could tell she was stunning with her flawless brown skin, elegant nose, and those soulful dark brown bambi eyes.

“I’m serious. Objectively, you could be a model.” Alix sighed thinking about Veronica and her magnetising gaze. “But Veronica isfiiiiine! Smoking hot. I honestly thought I was going to combust on the spot when I saw her.”

Aditi snorted. “Wow, hello, smitten kitten. What did your mum say about all this?”

“I didn't tell her! How awkward would that be? By the way, mum, I slept with the daughter of your fiancé?" Alix got second-hand embarrassment for herself. "Veronica and I agreed to keep it a secret from everyone so don't tell your mum either because then she'll tell my mum.”

“I won't,” Aditi promised.

Alix complained a bit more about the evening while Aditi complained about her job and Maria grumbled about being pregnant. There was comfort and relief in sharing their frustrations, even if they weren't able to find solutions. It was just nice to know someone cared.

After Maria went home to rest, Aditi made another pitcher of margaritas. Alix happilypoured herself another glass, glad to let her hair down after the stressful eventful week she had.

“I’m hungry. Do you want to order pizza?” Alix proposed.

Aditi shook her head. “I ordered pizza last night but I have leftovers from my mum in the fridge if that’ll do?”

“Ooh, yum. Did she make her saag paneer?”

“Yes, she knows it's your favourite.”

Alix got up and swayed towards the kitchen, slightly unsteady on her feet thanks to the margaritas. She grabbed bowls from the cupboard and shamelessly opened the fridge. There was a kind of comfort and familiarity that came from their mothers being friends and practically growing up in each other’s houses.

Sometimes, she thought of Aditi more as a sister than Trixie.

It wasn't that she didn't love her little sister but the big age difference meant they hadn't grown up together whereas Alix and Aditi had.

After they devoured the reheated food at the kitchen table, Alix felt sleepy and relaxed. She rested her head on the table, her mouth tingling ever so slightly from the food. Saag paneer wasn't spicy-spicy but as always, Alix had a few bites of the vindaloo and that had left her tongue burning.

They also had more margaritas which explained why they were downloading a dating app on Aditi's phone and picking out pictures for her profile. As beautiful as Aditi was in real life, she did not like taking photos and she wasn't good at it either. Or maybe photos just couldn't capture how gorgeous she was.

As they looked through Aditi's gallery, copious pictures of her and Lena filled the screen.

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