Payton
I CLIMBED OUT of the truck before he could make it to my side and waited for him to grab my stuff from the back. Once he had my bag, he took my hand and we headed to the elevator and up to the lobby.
There was a new doorman, apparently, so we went through the normal process of signing in and getting permission to ride up to Macey’s floor, but we did it without the friendly banter that I normally had with the other doorn. I was glad, however, this new person was as diligent as the others.
I knocked on my old apartnt door and my brother pulled it open. "Nice of you to join us, sissy," he said, and pulled in for a hug.
"Shouldn’t you be gone by now?" I asked.
He chuckled. "Soon."
I felt Alex’s hand on my lower back and pulled away from my brother. "Brock, this is Alex."
My brother eyed him up and then shook his hand. "We’ve t."
"You have?" I asked.
"Yeah, long story," Alex said.
"Where have you been for the last twenty minutes?" Macey demanded as she walked into the living room. "You texted to say you were here like six days ago."
I giggled. "You’re funny."
She hugged and then smiled at Alex. "Hey, Hawk."
"Hey, babe."
I introduced Alex to everyone he didn’t know, which was pretty much only Bailey. Alex got around it would seem. Dani, Kim, and Booker were already there, so Booker and Alex gravitated to one another while the rest of us reconnected. Dani looked gorgeous in her killer dark blue dress, knee-length and low-cut that showcased her very full chest... I’d die for boobs that big, alas, I was stuck with my B-cups... and a dark blue pair of peep toe boots that showed off her shapely calves.
Kim was new to and she was gorgeous. I was sure she must be a model, because she was tall, probably five-foot-ten or eleven, with killer legs that went on for days. She had long dark hair, soft brown eyes, and full lips that seed to be in a permanent smile. She wore a skin-tight tiny black dress that stopped just below her butt and stiletto boots that went up past her knees, emphasizing her long legs, and she was super sweet.
"Can I get you a beer?" Dallas asked Alex.
"Nah, I’m good."
"Okay, honey, you can go," Macey said.
"In a bit," Dallas said. "Where are you going?"
"I was thinking Blush," Dani said.
"Fuck ," Booker said.
"Too soon?" she asked, and Kim started laughing.
"I’ll host you at Blush," Booker said. "But another ti when I can keep an eye on you."
Dani giggled. "Killjoy."
There was obviously a story there and I couldn’t wait to find out what it was.
"We’re going to Mississippi Studios," Macey said. "Under Oaks and the City Suns are playing."
"Then where?" Brock asked.
"You’re on assignnt all night, honey. Or did you forget?" Bailey said, smiling up at him.
"So?" Brock countered.
Bailey rolled her eyes at . "So, we’ll be fine."
"Hey, big brother, we can take care of ourselves you know," I said. "Hawk’s playing chauffeur tonight."
"And I got Dani and Kim," Booker said.
As the group talked logistics and my fellow girl posse objected to the sudden need for babysitters, I turned toward Alex and narrowed my eyes at him. He smiled, but he looked guilty.
Grabbing his arm, I faced the group and forced a smile. "Excuse us for a minute." Before anyone could respond, I dragged him into the hallway and crossed my arms. "When did all of this co about?"
"What?"
"You know what." I paced the hall, waving my finger at him. "I’m just curious... do you have to touch your magic rings together to physically beco the Super Protecto Twins?"
"Babe." Alex laughed. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"If you put on glasses, would I suddenly fail to recognize you?"
"Payton."
He sounded a little peevish, but I was going for contrite.
"There is one thing I’ve always wondered, handso." I paused in my pacing and settled my hands on my hips. "Do y’all have to wear those tights? Are they governnt regulation, an aerodynamic thing... or just a lifestyle choice?"
"Fuck ," he whispered as he dragged his hands through his hair.
"So, you didn’t offer to drive just because you were being sweet and wanted to make anything up to , you are essentially a glorified bouncer." Okay, now he was looking mildly contrite. "Right. No argunt. Got it."
"If I could speak, Payton, then I could explain."
"Don’t bother. Go ho, Hawk." All manner of emotion flooded . Irritation that he had ulterior motives to seeing tonight, anger that he felt I needed to be watched and he’d obviously planned sothing with Booker... or worse yet, my brother... and then, just plain hurt. This last emotion deflated sowhat. Partly because I didn’t want to feel hurt by soone I hardly knew. It brought to light that I’d once again misread the situation, sothing I didn’t do, and thought he felt the sa way I did. At this point, I was resigned. If I continued on the path I was on, I’d get dizzy with wondering whether ’he loves , he loves not.’ I had to cut him loose and move on or I’d be in a constant state of emotional nausea.
"Babe."
"Just go," I whispered, and pushed past him to go back inside.
Macey was at my side imdiately, wrapping an arm around , and guiding to her bedroom. "Are you okay?"
"Yep."
"Then why are you crying?"
I gasped. "I’m not."
She grinned and pointed to my face. "Okay, not totally, but you have a little wetness there."
"Bite , Macey!"
She giggled, which ant I did too. Gotta give it to my best friend, she knew how to get out of my head.
"So, what happened?" she asked.
I sighed and flopped into the chair by the window. "He lied. No biggie."
Macey smiled and sat in the matching chair next to mine. "How did he lie?"
"He told he’d call . He didn’t. Granted, Lily was sick, so I get why he couldn’t. And I thought he was being super sweet when he showed up on my porch, all romantic and crap, saying he missed and that he wanted to make this week up to . But now I find out this watchdog crap was all planned. Planned, Mace. His sweetness was all under the guise of backing up his "brother" to keep Dani and Kim safe." I shook my head. "And my feelings are hurt. Damn it, Macey, I don’t get my feelings hurt this soon. Boys suck!"
"It had nothin’ to do with Dani and Kim, Payton," Alex said. He was leaning against the doorfra, his arms crossed, his face unreadable.
I squeaked. "Stop doing that!"
"I’ll give you a minute, hmm?" Macey said, and rose to her feet.
"No, it’s all good," I countered, sinking further into the chair. "Hawk was just leaving."
He smirked. "I’m not goin’ anywhere, Payton."
Macey smiled down at and I glared up at her. "If you leave this room, Macey Stone, I will kill you. Like as in dead, dead. Not figuratively, literally. Murder, Macey. Murder. I will commit it."
"Okay, honey. I only ask you make it quick." Macey grinned and started toward the door.
"I won’t. I’ll make you suffer."
She slid past Alex and he closed the distance between us, sitting in the seat Macey had just vacated and settling his ankle on his knee.
"Don’t get comfortable, bub, you’re not staying."
"Payton, you’re overreacting."
"Don’t tell I’m overreacting, Hawk. I get to feel how I feel." I scowled at him. "Do you know nothing about won? God, you’re infuriating!"
He smiled at . Smiled! Gah!
"Break it down for , baby."
"No."
"Babe, you gotta work with here, or this isn’t gonna work."
I shrugged. "It’s not going to work. I’m calling it."
Alex chuckled. "You’re callin’ nothin’, baby."
"I am." I stood and faced him. "We’re just too different, Alex. It’s okay. I’ve enjoyed getting to know you. I hope we can be friends."
I watched his face as he stared up at . His expression gave nothing away, but his eyes. God, his eyes. I bit my lip, hoping the pain would bring to my senses. It didn’t. Then, he ran his fingers over his sexy moustache and all I could do was imagine those sa fingers on , but I forced the thoughts aside and took a deep breath.
"Friends," he said.
"Yes. Friends. You’ve heard of those right?" I crossed my arms. "I’m a pretty decent one, I’m told."
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