“You do.” Xander’s grin widened. “Oh my god, you’re both so far gone for each other. How did I not see this before?”
“We were being careful,” Dex said.
“Clearly not that careful if I just walked in on... whatever this was.” Xander gestured at the couch again. “But seriously. You two?”
“Is that a problem?” I asked.
“A problem?” Xander laughed, and this time it was pure joy. “Leigh, this is the happiest I’ve seen Dex in years. And you...” He looked at me with genuine warmth. “You’ve found someone here, someone amazing, and I couldn’t be happier for you.”
I glanced at Dex, then back at Xander. “Yeah. He is pretty great.”
“But you didn’t think we’d be okay with this?”
“We didn’t want to complicate things,” Dex said. “Leigh’s trying to figure out her place in the family, and I didn’t want to make it weird by…”
“By falling for her?” Xander interrupted. “Dude, that’s not making it weird. That’s making her even more part of this family.”
“It’s temporary,” I said, the word catching in my throat. “I’m leaving in August. My life is in Blue Point Bay.”
Xander’s smile faltered slightly. “Temporary?”
“We agreed,” Dex said, but his voice was hollow. “Just for the summer.”
“Right.” Xander looked between us again, and I could see the wheels turning. “Does it feel temporary?”
Neither of us answered.
“That’s what I thought.” Xander moved closer, clapped Dex on the shoulder. “Look, I’m not going to pretend to understand the logistics or how you’re planning to make this work. But I’ve known you my entire life, and I’ve never seen you look at anyone the way you look at her. And Leigh...” He turned to me. “You’re family now. Not because of DNA or obligation, but because youchose to be here. And if you’re choosing Dex too? That’s just one more reason I’m glad you’re here.”
My throat tightened. “You’re really okay with this?”
“I’m more than okay with it. I’m happy for you. Both of you.” He grinned again. “Though I am traumatized by the couch situation. I’m never sitting there again.”
Dex groaned. “Xander…”
“I’m kidding. Mostly.” Xander laughed. “But seriously, you’re telling the others, right? Because Trace is going to lose his mind when he finds out. In a good way. He’s been worried about you for years,” he said to Dex, then looked at me. “And he’s already attached to you. Knowing you two are together is going to make his day.”
“We’re planning to tell them,” I said. “This week. We were actually just talking about it before you showed up.”
“Good. Because you’re both clearly terrible at keeping secrets.” Xander headed for the door, then paused. “And for what it’s worth? I think you’re good for each other. Whatever happens in August or after... right now, this? This is good.”
After he left, Dex and I stood in the living room, staring at each other.
“Well,” I said finally. “That went better than expected.”
“He’s happy for us.”
“He’s really happy for us.”
Dex pulled me close, resting his chin on top of my head. “One down. Three brothers to go.”
“And my mom. And Jasper. And basically the entire town.”
“We can do this.”
I wrapped my arms around him, breathing in his scent, letting myself feel safe for a moment. “Yeah. We can do this.”
Even if I had no idea what “this” was going to look like in three weeks. In three months. In the future that was rushing toward us whether we were ready or not.
