Page 49 of Twisted Mates

Xander crosses his arms over his chest and glares at me. “I don’t care if you work out or not. I’m not leaving you up here by yourself. You can bring your book and your rocky road ice cream downstairs and enjoy it right there where I can see you.”

I smirk. “How’d you know I was going to eat some rocky road?”

He cocks his head to the side. “Really? You eat iteverynight after dinner. It’s been your favorite ice cream since you and Carrington were kids.”

The fact that he remembers that makes me weak in the knees, but I stand my ground. “Okay, that’s cute that you remembered. One point for you. But it smells down there. Like boys and jockstraps.” He snorts but I keep talking. “I’ll befine.It’s not like you’re leaving the house or something.”

“I just—” He brushes his fingers through his hair and blows out a breath. “I know you’ve been thinking about the Jeep and what happened at the overlook that night. I want to keep you in my sight and safe. I don’t want you to be scared.”

My heart melts. “How did you know I’ve been thinking about it? I haven’t said anything.” I thought I’d been good about hiding it, but I guess not. Or he’s just that good at reading me already.

“Alexia, I know you. I can see when you’re in your head. And I can just tell you’re still thinking about it.” Raising a brow, he asks, “Am I wrong?”

I roll my eyes. “No. But still. It will be fine. Carrington is here, and we can catch up on some of our favorite trash TV. Things have been rocky between us since I got here, and some best friend time might do us some good.”

The way he gnaws on the side of his cheek tells me he is struggling with this, but he relents. “Please don’t let her talk you into going anywhere.”

“Don’t start waving red flags, Xander,” I say, turning to walk away and waving at him over my shoulder. “Enjoy your workout.”

“Beautifully impossible woman,” he grumbles before heading toward the doorway to the basement.

I shake my head and go to the freezer, bringing truth to his prediction by pulling out the ice cream and helping myself to a few scoops. Carrington comes into the kitchen just when I’m finishing up.

“Hey, Care. Want some ice cream? I thought maybe we could watch some Netflix tonight if you aren’t doing anything.”

She looks at me dubiously. “You mean you aren’t stuck up Xander’s ass tonight?”

I heave a sigh and set the ice cream scoop on the counter with a clatter. “Carrington, how many times do we have to go over this?”

She matches my posture and leans over the counter. “Maybe one more time because I still don’t get it.”

Gritting my teeth, I nod once. “Fine. You don’t have a mate yet, but I want you to put yourself in my shoes for a second. Okay?”

“Okay,” she says, and I’m surprised she’s so willing to be empathetic.

“Let’s just say you went through the cleansing. You were onparadefor the entire ceremony, and you thought you found your mate.” She opens her mouth to speak but I hold up a finger to silence her. “No, I’m not done. You thought you found him, and just when you thought you were getting somewhere with him, his father attempts toforcehim to sleep with you. Then after all that, he literallyruns away. He disappears.Poof. He rejects you in the most embarrassing and honestly, impersonal way. Carrington, would youreallybe hanging around hoping he’ll come back? The only reason I haven’t left is because my parents would be so disappointed. And honestly, Xander. Because it sure as hell hasn’t beenyourhospitality the last few days!” I blurt, and even though I didn’t mean to say it, I’m glad I did. She needs to know how I feel.

Rejection—and not even the kind from a mate—is one of the hardest things for me to deal with. And she knows that. She’s known that since we were kids. And her treating me the way she has since I got here, taking everyone else’s side but mine most of the time... it’s felt like rejection. I don’t expect her to necessarily “get it,” but I thought she could at least understand how I feel and respect that as my best friend.

“I understand that what Kai has done is crap. I really get it. But do you understand that he is my twin, the person who has been here for me my entire life? I’m between a rock and a hard place, Alexia. You’re my twin’s mate and my best friend. I want what is best for both of you. I don’t want him doing what he’s doing, but I think you’re treading on dangerous ground with Xander.”

“There’s no dangerous ground being tread on because nothing’s going on between me and Xander,” I lie, and even though it’s to protect us, denying the depth of my feelings for him out loud pains me.

She holds up her hands in surrender. “I’m not saying there is, but you’re hurt and he’s disconnected himself from his family. Raw emotions like that lead to stupid decisions. I would hate to see either of you in trouble.”

The desperation in her voice pulls at my heartstrings. This isn’t just about Kai. It’s about me and Xander. And this entire fucked up situation. Sheisliterally stuck between all of us, and I’d never make her choose. Never.

“Well, you don’t need to worry about it. I’m just trying to get through the day, Carrington. That’s all.”

She sighs and runs her fingers through her hair, and she looks exhausted. “Okay. I just love you all too much to watch you self-destruct.”

“I’mnot going to self-destruct. I don’t know what everyone else is doing,” I joke, and she cracks a smile. “But I’m going to be okay.”

“All right. Listen, I think I’m going to go to bed, and we can start over tomorrow,” she says, covering her mouth as she yawns.

“Sounds good. I do love you, Carrington. Even when you’re mad at me.”

She comes around the island and pulls me into a hug. “I’m not mad at you. I just worry about you. I love you too.” She takes a bite of my ice cream and leaves the kitchen, waving over her shoulder.

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