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st her. “A kick to the groin,” I barely manage to choke out.
The room spins as we stand here, holding each other up. Images of the last time we were in this room with my hands on her assault me. The sounds she made, the way she fit so perfectly against me.
I dip my head down, placing a soft kiss where her shoulder meets her neck all the while staring deep into her eyes in the mirror. “Lex.”
“Mmmm?”
“I’m sorry.” She frowns as I lift my head up, moving my hands and wrapping them around her waist from behind. “I’ve been avoiding you after—”
She spins around, cutting me off. “I know,” she says softly. “I understand.”
I work my throat, trying to swallow against the building lump. “I’ve never… I’ve never told anyone.”
The palm of her hand cups the side of my face, her thumb brushing along the top of my cheek as she stands on her tiptoes, pressing a soft kiss to my lips. “Thank you for telling me.” She pulls away slightly, letting her breath fan over me and eliciting a shiver to roll through me. “For trusting me.”
A sound escapes my throat as I crush her body to mine, holding onto her like she’s a raft and I’m in the middle of the ocean stranded. She’s the thing that will bring me to safety: make sure I stay afloat and not drown in my memories.
“Come to Sunday drinks,” she whispers in my ear, holding me just as tight as I’m holding her.
I pull back slightly. “They still do Sunday drinks?” I ask, chuckling to myself. Ever since I can remember, Dad, Pop, and Livvy have had Sunday drinks.
“Yeah.” She lifts her hands up, capturing my face. “Will you come?”
My nostrils flare as I try to hold in my laughter. I could make a joke here, it’s on the tip of my tongue, but I refrain. Her eyes shine with apprehension as she waits for my answer.
“I’ll come… to Sunday drinks.”
A breath whooshes out of her at my answer before she steps back. “I need to finish cleaning.” She hesitates a second before shaking her head. “You’re so distracting.” She walks past me, letting her hand trail along my arm before leaving me standing in the middle of the room, wondering if I’ll ever get enough of her.
I busy my hands, cutting tomatoes and placing them with the rest of the salad in the bowl before moving on to the coleslaw that needs to be mixed. I can hear everyone sitting outside, laughing and drinking as West fires up the grill again. It’s like every other Sunday—only it’s not. This one is different because Evan will be here any minute and then we’ll be with his family and mine.
The last time we were in the same room with his dad and pop, he was with Geena and I was just the girl who had come out of prison. It’s different now: I’m not just that girl, I’m me—Lexi—not a statistic, not another number within the system.
I mix the coleslaw together, setting it in a dish and looking around the kitchen for something else to do, something to keep me busy.
Maybe I could make some brownies?
“Lexi?” I jump at the sound of Livvy’s voice coming from outside. “What are you doing?”
I clear my throat, placing my shaking hands in the pockets of my maxi skirt, trying to get my nerves under control.
“I—” A knock at the door cuts me off and I take a deep breath, pushing my shoulders back and making my way through the house before pulling the door open.
My eyes scan him: slogan t-shirt, dark denim jeans paired with his trusty combat boots and a huge grin on his face.
He steps forward, wrapping his arms around my waist and picking me up, walking inside and shutting the door behind him.
I chuckle when he places his lips against my neck and blows a raspberry on my skin, his throaty laugh surrounding us as he continues to walk with me, my feet a few inches off the floor.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask, staring into his eyes as I clutch his shoulders.
“Seb said you haven’t come out of the kitchen for three hours.” He raises a brow, walking us through the kitchen as a blush rises on my cheeks.
“How did Seb—”
“He texted me.”
“Oh.” I squirm in his hold, my eyes flitting away from his. “I was nervous. Last time we were both with your dad and pop…” I trail off as he stops a few feet from the door that leads into the backyard.
