Lexi Cocker - Faleena Hopkins Page 0,5

have everything.” Mouthing lyrics I only half-know, I check my phone for a text and see one from him:

Hey sexy girl. I’m thinking about you tonight.

Sweet tingles of happiness.

He’s thinking about me.

Nothing better than that!

I text Brad back:

You earned a huge smile just now. We’re having fun. I’ll call you later, k?

Tucking my phone into my back-pocket, Sam and I look at Zoe as she searches for her brother. “Every time I see him I’m glad he’s okay.”

We cock our heads, say in unison, “What?!”

Zoe faces us to confess, “Ever since Nate decided to be a firemen, I’ve been scared.”

My voice is gentle, “Really, Zo?” because we’ve got three brothers, too. Samantha and I love them madly despite their refusal to mind their own business.

If anything happened to them…

Can’t even think about it!

God, when Cadan went to Chicago it tore me up so bad I couldn’t even face it. I ditched the family dinner as soon as it was over, feelings too intense for me.

I keep that shit in check.

Sammy touches our cousin’s arm. “I didn’t know you were scared of Nate being out there.”

“Well, remember Nicholas was in that house-fire and when he ran back in to save Lucky, his hair was singed! That’s how close the flames were! Nate does that for a living!”

Okay, We Are The Champions by Queen is a really weird soundtrack for this moment, and I shake my head to forget I’m hearing it, focus on her instead. “Yeah, but Nathan is trained. He’s a hero.”

Zoe frowns, gaze cast down, “Yeah.”

“And Nicholas was a scammy player out to wet his knob.”

Their heads snap to me, and they both start laughing. “Lexi! “Lex!”

“What?” I grin, holding up my palms in an offering of, “It got way too fucking serious in here. We’re out for some fun, right?! Getting drunk! Saturday night! The stuff dreams are made of! And if we’re gonna be party crashed, at least it’s by a hero, right? I mean, am I right?” I drop my hands, adding, “Not bad!”

Zoe’s smile gets punctuated by a single, grateful nod that says the subject is over and she’s ready for fun.

Samantha, grinning, sifts through our darts by color, “You’re green…” almost ready to hand over mine.

“I’m going to kick your asses again!” I stand on my tiptoes to search the bar. “Where is Nathan with our pitcher? Has he found some girl to pick up on? Oh there he…is.” My eyes widen at the sight of Brad, and narrow at the blonde he’s talking with. He leans in, whispers in her ear, and my skin goes cold as he lingers.

Samantha asks, “What is it, Lexi?” and rises on her toes, much better than I can. “Oh my God!”

“What?” asks Zoe, “What?!” She looks over.

I’m already passing her and pushing through the crowd. “Excuse me.” My throat is on fire. “Excuse me!”

Nathan and I lock eyes as he picks up the pitcher, ready to return. Instantly, by the look in my eyes, he knows I’m out for blood and, since he has no clue why, searches for my probable target.

He’ll never guess Brad.

My lover is handsome, but he’s also a bit of a geek in a too-intelligent-for-his-own-good sort of way.

Also my ex-professor, he’s much older than my brothers would approve of. That’s why he’s always been a fucking secret. Pun perfect.

My cousin Nathan is younger than both me and Zoe and will therefore see Brad as ancient.

This is the very first time anyone other than Zoe and Sam have seen Brad.

If I weren’t so furious I’d care.

But I don’t.

“Who the hell is this?!” I snap, before he even knows I’m here.

Brad locks eyes with me, his in shock. He jumps off the barstool. “Lexi!”

“Who is this?” I look at her and she’s scared. “Who are you?”

Samantha says, “Uh, Lex?”

“What?” I look to where Sammy’s finger is pointing at a yellow hair tie.

Zoe gasps, “Oh no!”

Nathan asks, “What’s going on? Who is this guy, Lexi? He bothering you?”

Three months of kisses.

Three months of lies.

I’m thinking about you tonight.

I croak, throat closing in on me, “This is Brad.”

“The Brad that Caden and Max are always angry about?”

“Yes! And that’s not me he’s with!”

Nathan growls, “Say no more,” handing the pitcher to his sister. He chambers his punch and BAM, knocks Brad backward, teetering.

Firefighter training has him ripped, and that punch landed!

Brad sways, so I push him just a wee bit.

And…

He’s down.

The girl had no clue I existed.

I can tell.

She’s sheepish, even mortified, “I’m so sorry!”

“It’s not your