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“I like the sound of that.” Lex glanced my way and gave me a breathtaking smile.
Mom ushered her inside. “Have you eaten yet?”
“No, but that’s not necessary.”
Mom clapped and tucked a piece of blonde hair behind her ear. “Perfect. I’ll get something prepared while Drake gets you settled. Drake, take Alexa upstairs. She can sleep in whichever room she wants.” We started up the steps when Mom called, “Drake, are you going to stay the night?”
“Yeah, I am.” There was no way I was leaving here until Lex left with me.
“Perfect. I’ll call up when dinner is done.”
We made it to my bedroom door. Lex’s cheeks were a little red as she touched the doorknob. Many nights we’d spent in here, making love when my parents were away. When I moved out, after Lex graduated high school, she stayed with me at my place.
“This feels like old times.”
I rubbed the back of my neck as images of Lex spread beneath me flashed through my mind. Fuck, I was going to have to take a cold shower tonight. “I could never forget a moment we spent together. Not one.”
She gasped and pressed her lips together. Without responding, she opened the door to my bedroom. I watched as she walked in the room and looked around. If something had changed, I wouldn’t notice. Mom had been insistent on keeping our rooms as they had been when we lived here. She wanted to make sure we felt welcome to come home whenever we wanted. I only stayed out here when Dad needed help during the winter. I helped chop wood, clear the snow so Mom could drive, make deliveries, and help some of their elderly neighbors who weren’t quite as mobile as they used to be.
Lex walked over to a framed picture of my brothers and me. “How’re Hayden and Kane?
It was probably smart to change the subject. “They’re good. Hayden’s still flying planes and helps Dad. His business has grown a lot over the last couple of years. Hayden has three planes and has hired a second pilot. Kane’s still doing the executive hunts and hates people in general.”
It was amazing how different my brothers and I were from each other. I had never been afraid of relationships and wanted the commitment I’d seen in my parents my whole life. Hayden wanted the freedom to be with whom he wanted when he wanted. And Kane… who the hell knew? He kept his shit close to the vest.
She set the picture down with a laugh. “Kane is probably counting down the days until he can go hide in his cabin in the woods.”
Kane loved the harsh winters. If it were up to him, he’d live off the land and only visit us sporadically. “Yep. He came back from a hunt today. I’m surprised he hasn’t stranded some poor bastard in the woods.”
Being a guide up here paid well. And it allowed Kane to hide away from the world more often than not.
Lex laughed. “Me, too. And I bet Hayden is sad that the tourist season is coming to an end. Have you met his flavor of the summer?”
“Come to think of it, I haven’t. He hasn’t said anything about a girl this year.” That was odd. Normally, Kane and I couldn’t get him to shut up about his bachelor life.
There were footsteps on the stairs, and I leaned against my desk. From the sound of it, Dad was coming to say hi. A few second later, he appeared in the doorway, wearing a huge smile. Kane and I favored our dad in coloring. Hayden was blond like my mom. “Aren’t you a sight for sore eyes. Amie mentioned you were coming.”
Lex smiled at Dad and hugged him. “Hey, good lookin’. How are you?”
Dad chuckled and hugged her back fiercely. Lex’s and my separation had been hard on all of us. Mom and Dad’s relationship reminded me of Lex and me. We never fought much. Yeah, we disagreed, but we worked it out.
Dad patted Lex on the back as he released her. “I’m good. Glad you’re back in town, kid. Drake told us what you were doing. Mighty proud of you. Your dad would be proud of you, too. He was always telling me how you were going to make a difference with your fancy degree.”
Lex blinked a few times to keep the tears away; it was clear my dad’s words had touched her deeply. “Thanks. That means a lot. Hopefully, you can stop by the clinic sometime to meet Hollis. Skagway is lucky to have him as a doctor.”
“I’ll be sure to stop by soon.” He gave a wink. “And I’ve heard the Twiner sisters think mighty highly of him, too… so it must be true.” There was a pause, and Dad smiled as Lex shook her head. “They had a juicy excerpt on you two, as well.”
Lex blew out a breath and threw her head back with a groan. “I swear they are part bloodhound.”
Dad and I chuckled. Everyone loved those stupid newsletters. But it was a pain in the ass when you were the subject matter.
Dad gave Lex another hug and walked to the door. “I’m going to see if your mom needs any help. Dinner should be ready in about ten minutes.”
When Dad left, the room grew silent again. I opened the dresser drawer Lex had claimed once upon a time, and just as I’d expected, her stuff was still there. Mom probably hadn’t been able to bring herself to throw it out. It had been so long since I lived there I couldn’t say what was in most of the drawers. I found a pair of her pajamas and placed them on the bed. “Looks like you’re in luck. Mom never throws anything out.”
Lex played with a stray thread on my bedspread, and it was clear there was something on her mind. Let her work it out. My nerves were frayed after the day I’d had, waiting and wondering where her mind was. It took everything in me not to demand she tell me what she was thinking.
