Page 82 of Not Fooling Anyone

But when I open the front door, it’s only an Amazon package for one of my other roommates. Damn.

At least Tom and Sean are out of the house tonight at some party. Lexie would be uncomfortable with even more strangers around.

I set the package inside the entrance and walk out toward the street, peering down both directions, but her crappy car is nowhere in sight. She’s not lost, is she?

I pull out my phone, discovering less than ten minutes have passed. Why is this day taking forever?

I head back inside, laying on the couch listening to Tyler and Mia idly chat in the kitchen, my arm over my eyes. I let out a loud yawn, my jaw cracking. Sleep had been a long time coming last night when all I could think of was what it would be like if Lexie were in bed with me. Would she cuddle herself around me, using me as a pillow? Be the small spoon to my bigger one? Probably neither, but a guy can hope.

I drift, the faint sounds in the kitchen lulling me, and startle awake as something pinches my leg, a yelp escaping me.

Lexie looks down at me, lips pursed in disapproval. “You invite me over and I find you asleep?”

Ah, shit.

I rub my eyes, sitting up. What time is it?

She sits down next to me, whispering, “I had to make small talk. You know I hate that.”

“Mia’s good to talk to.” Tyler, not so much. I yawn again, willing the drowsiness to leave my body. Is it too late for coffee? “Sorry, babe.”

Her spine straightens. “Babe?”

Damn. I need to get it together. I rake a hand through my hair, making sure it’s not sticking up in weird spikes. “Sorry. I’m still half asleep.”

“Why are you taking naps this late, anyway?”

“I didn’t mean to. But I didn’t get much sleep last night.”

“Why? We left that party at like ten-thirty.”

“I was thinking about you,” I tell her, not really considering what I’m saying.

“Me?” She sticks her hands in her hoodie pocket, the thing back on after a one-night break. “What about me?”

“If you’d be a cuddler.”

Her brows lift, and she shakes her head next. “I swear, I never know what’s going to come out of your mouth.”

“I’ve got fresh-baked cookies,” Mia announces, bringing in a platter to set in front of us on the coffee table.

I inhale, taking in all the deliciousness, already mourning the memory of when I used to gorge myself with the desserts she made.

“Have as many as you want,” she says. “I’ve got a second batch in the oven.”

I must have been asleep for a while if she had time to do all that.

“Try one,” I tell Lexie, holding the plate out to her. “Mia makes the best stuff.”

“What about you, Mister Stuff-My-Face-Full-Of-Junk?” She smiles, her gentle teasing making my heart lift. She must not be too mad at me.

I take a cookie, nibbling at it. I have to make this one cookie last. “See? Delicious.”

She takes a bite of hers, eyes closing in an expression of bliss, the same as when she ate that mint chocolate chip ice cream. Oh, crap. I need to get that for her next time I see her.

“Wow, you were right.”

I brush off my shoulders theatrically. “No big deal, but I usually am.”

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