Page 83 of Not Fooling Anyone

She bites her bottom lip, unsuccessfully hiding her amusement.

Tyler joins us, sprawling out on the loveseat, and turns on the TV, navigating to the on-demand movies.

“You like horror?” I ask Lexie. “You didn’t mention it in your likes and dislikes at the diner.”

She takes another cookie from the plate. Good. Even though it’s late, should I offer her dinner, too?

“I haven’t watched many horror movies.” She glances at Tyler, but he isn’t paying any attention to us as he searches for the movie. “We didn’t have cable growing up. Or sometimes a TV,” she adds in a lower voice.

That sounds… awful. But as bad as it is, I can’t help the small glow in my chest that comes from her opening up and sharing that with me.

“We’ll get you caught up. Tonight’s a classic.” At least, that’s what Tyler told me. I haven’t seen it myself.

Stifling another yawn, I settle into the couch cushions, cursing their pillowy softness for further relaxing me.

Mia joins us, bringing in a second batch of cookies along with her, Tyler immediately making grabby hands at it. She holds it out of his reach, offering it to Lexie. “Guests first.”

Lexie grabs two fresh-out-of-the oven ones, handing one to me, but I decline, as delicious as it smells. “Nah. One’s my limit.”

“You don’t like my baking anymore?” Mia asks good-naturedly. “You’re usually worse than Tyler at clearing the plate.”

Yeah, that’s true. But I can’t inhale carbs and sugar the way I used to anymore. “I, uh…” Crap. They’re all staring at me. “I’ve got an upcoming match I’m training for. Have to eat clean.” Wow, that excuse is coming in handy.

“That’s right. Tyler mentioned that. Sorry for the temptation, then.”

“No problem.” Besides, I have bigger temptations to deal with.

Namely, Lexie.

CHAPTERNINETEEN

ETHAN

Tyler presses playon the remote and pulls Mia in close to him, the two of them settling in on the loveseat together.

Next to me, Lexie is stiff, crossing her arms over her chest as the movie begins.

I lean in to whisper in her ear, “You can relax a little, you know.”

“I know.”

Ten minutes later, she’s still not much better. Unfortunately for me, I can barely keep my eyes open. Damn my sleepless night.

I have to stay awake. It’s a miracle I got Lexie to agree to come tonight at all. If I fall asleep, she’ll be pissed.

I just have to get into the movie. Something about a brutal murder in the house thirty years ago and now with a new family moving in, evil spirits are arising. I don’t know if it’s unoriginal, or too many things have been done like it since, but it can’t hold my attention, my body continually sinking deeper and deeper into the cushions. My eyelids are heavy, sand slowly filling them, and I eventually stretch out, unable to resist any longer.

“I’m not in your way, am I?” Lexie asks drily as I bump into her for the third time.

“I’m trying to get comfortable,” I whisper back, not wanting to disturb Tyler and Mia. “Here, if you just move…” I reposition her leg slightly, but it doesn’t make a difference. “Just come down here with me.”

I tug her until she’s horizontal on the couch, half-surprised she willingly complies, and situate myself behind her so I’m spooning her, my arm slung over her waist. “There, perfect.”

She turns slightly, looking at me over her shoulder, her eyes wide in awhat the hell are you doingexpression.

“I’m comfortable now,” I tell her before she can protest.

“Your friends are right there,” she whispers.

---