Page 3 of Make Me Stay

“Want to have a cook-off, Lex?” I grinned.

“You’d lose.” She turned her attention to her brother. “Did you want to eat out here with the game or inside?”

“Game,” me and Wyatt both said in unison.

“Yeah, yeah. Hockey.” She disappeared back through the door.

I went to the fridge, stuffed into the corner of the garage. The ancient ice box was probably as old as the house, but it was perfect for drinks. I pushed aside some energy drinks and soda, then popped the back off the case and pushed the whole twelve pack into the fridge before I collapsed the cardboard and pitched it into the recycler. “Lex into beer?”

“Nah, she likes her frou frou wine. She’s got a bottle in the house.”

“Cool.” I grabbed two beers for us and handed him one. “You cool with me staying?”

“If Lex is. She moved in a few months ago when she broke up with Duane.”

Hell, I needed to find a place instead. I couldn’t be in the same space as Lex both at work and here. Not if I wanted to keep my hands to myself. “Duane who?”

“New addition to the Valley. He’s a fuckwit,” he muttered under his breath. “Glad she came to her senses.”

My hand tightened on the bottle. “Did he hurt her?”

“No. Just was a lazy fuck who didn’t have a job most of the time. Always expected her to do everything and pay for everything.”

“Fucker.”

“Exactly. She’s too nice for her own good.”

“You should have seen her practically swing at that Milton guy at her old job. Threatened him with a stapler.”It was hot as fuck,I almost added aloud.

“Yeah, I can’t thank your brother enough for giving her a job after that fiasco.”

“She’s saving our ass, man. No worries there.”

“And paying me more than the realtor office. So much more.” Lexi’s voice lifted with wonder and appreciation.

I set my beer down and ran over to take the big tray of fajitas from her. “This smells awesome.”

Her cheeks pinked up. “Thanks. Hope you like it hot.”

“Hotter the better.” I grinned before turning to set it on the huge coffee table. She’d left the sizzling peppers, onions, and chicken in a skillet. A trio of sour cream, guacamole, and shredded cheese bowls were arranged beside a tin foil stack of steamed soft tortilla shells. It was a nicer spread than a few taco trucks I’d frequented over the years. “This looks great.”

“Eat up. I have more inside.”

We turned on the television and scarfed food while we watched the hockey playoffs. I noticed that Lexi only ate two half stuffed fajitas.

“Is that all you’re having?”

She lifted her glass of wine. “I am compensating for the carbs in here.”

“Who the fuck cares?” I frowned.

“Losing sixty pounds required a lot of work. I’m not backsliding, thanks.”

I put down my food. “Wow. Good for you. You always looked great to me.”

Wyatt gave me an arched brow.

I cleared my throat, and a goal saved me from my stupid mouth.

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