She blanched. “What?”
“At the field. You were staring at him all googly eyed and shit. You like him, is that it?” My voice sounded pretty curt, but I really didn’t care.
“I don’t—” She tried to speak again, but I held up my hand and pointed to Molly and Rome slow dancing on the edge of the floor.
“He’s not gonna give her up for anything. The guy is crazy in love with her. Like lifetime kinda love.”
Lexi’s face darkened and she hit away my held up hand. “Firstly, Molly is one of my best friends, and, even if I did like Rome, I would never ruin her chance at happiness. And secondly, I don’t like Rome, other than as a friend, of course. He’s so not my type.”
I relaxed at hearing those words, and I frowned. I couldn’t believe the strength of my annoyance when I thought she liked someone else.
“Then why were you looking at them like that?” I asked with a little less sharpness in my voice.
The music changed from one Honky-Tonk tune to the next, and I felt like slitting my wrists. How the f**k do people listen to this shit?
“I wasn’t looking at them because I wanted Rome. It was just…” Lexi bowed her head and began playing with her fingernails.
I moved closer and heard her breath stutter. “Just what?” I pushed.
“I just envy them, that’s all.”
I was confused. “Envy what?”
“Them! How free they are with each other. How content.”
“They’re together. What else do you expect? Hell, look at Cass and Jimmy-Don.” I pointed over to the two of them doing the Dougie with serious expressions.
Jesus. H. Christ.
“Yeah, well, not everyone can be that way with someone else. It’s nice to see but difficult for me to comprehend.”
That comment got my attention. Though Lexi’s eyes were fixed firmly on the table, she was pulling the sleeves of her dress down over her palms.
“What the hell does that mean?” I asked and watched Lexi give a slight shrug.
“You ain’t had a guy treat you right before or some shit? An old boyfriend do wrong by you?”
Lexi’s timid eyes flickered to mine and then straight back down again. Her hands were shaking, and even above this god-awful song and the strum of the f**kin’ banjo, I heard her breath come hard. So I moved closer still, our arms now brushing.
Dipping my head, I asked, “You gonna answer me?” My stomach was wound real tight thinking some dick coulda hurt her in the past. She must weigh about as much as wet rag. Fuck, Axel had had her up against the wall, and I’d threatened her. That memory alone had me wincing in shame.
“I’ve never had a boyfriend,” she whispered almost inaudibly.
My head whipped to her in shock. “You ain’t never had a boyfriend?”
Lexi shook her head.
“You’ve dated, though, right?”
Another shake of the head.
It just didn’t make sense. She was gorgeous, sweet, had a heart of f**kin’ gold.
What was her deal?
Lexi had huddled against the backboard of the booth, as though she were trying to crawl into it. Checking around the room, I saw our friends were on the far side of the dance floor, twirling around and having fun. I decided Pix and me needed to split.
Reaching under the table, I gripped Lexi’s hand and began pulling her out of the booth.
“Austin! What—” she said quietly and darted her eyes around the club.
“We’re getting outta here. Come on.” I tugged on her arm. At first, Lexi resisted. Then she fell into step and we almost ran outside the club. “You wanna get food?” I asked.
Lexi’s eyes widened and she shook her head profusely. “No. I’m not hungry at all.” I thought it was kind of a weird response, but I let it fly. I just wanted out of this f**kin’ redneck hell.
As soon as we hit the night air, I headed for the busy street and held my hand out for a cab.
“Austin, wait! Where are we going?” Lexi said anxiously, pulling on my hand.
Turning around, I laid my hands on her shoulders, once again noticing her flinch as I did so. That was why we were leaving. I just had to know what was up with this shit.
“We’re going to my hotel room,” I answered and held out my hand once more, a cab pulling up to where we were stood.
“Austin. I can’t… I’m not… I—” Lexi’s hand had slammed to her chest and she rubbed aggressively at the skin.
I rolled my eyes and pulled her into my side, wrapping my arm around her shoulders. “Calm down, Pix. I’m not planning on f**kin’ you. I just wanna talk. I room with Rome on away games. Molly has rented her own room, so he’ll be staying with her. We have the place to ourselves.”
Lexi’s eyes were still wide with fear, so I placed my mouth at her ear and whispered, “I just wanna talk some more. Get to know you more. Away from prying eyes. Don’t you?”
Lexi’s shoulders slumped forward and she nodded her head. “I do want to know you more. Lord help me, but I do.” Her huge pale-green eyes fixed on mine, and she confessed, “I’m just not used to being alone with a guy… in his room. I’m nervous.”
Smiling at her confession, I held her closer. The cab pulled to a stop, and I opened the door. As we climbed into the back, I said, “Text your friends. Tell them you’ve gone home. Tell them I’ve seen you home safe.”
Taking out her cell, Lexi did as I asked, then settled back into the seat.
She stared out of her window, entranced by the bright lights of Tennessee, so I stared out of mine. I would’ve given anything to know what she was thinking, what was whirling through that mysterious head of hers. But I managed to keep the concern from my mind as our hands stayed intertwined on the middle of the seat. I couldn’t keep the satisfied smirk off my face.
Chapter Fourteen
Austin
Fifteen minutes later, we entered my hotel room. Lexi hovered at the closed door as I moved to sit on my bed. She swayed on her feet, looking about the standard twin room.
Leaning over to the minibar, I pulled out a Coke. “You wanna drink?” I asked, and Lexi glared at the can of Coke. I actually looked down at my hand to see if I’d picked up something else by mistake.
“What?” I asked in confusion.
Lexi wrapped her arms over her stomach. “Do you have water? Plain, unflavored water?”