Page 136 of On the Line
Lexie was already back outside, standing with Berkley, whose gaze zeroed in on him the second he set foot on the grass, and Mitch gave her a sheepish smile, which only invited her to corner him.
“Have a nice time in the bathroom?” She asked when she reached him.
He shot her a smug grin. “Sure did.”
Berkley shook her head. “You two are idiots,” she said, “but I’m glad to see you’re finally figuring your shit out.”
“Glad” didn’t even begin to cover the swirl of emotions Mitch was experiencing. Ecstasy, joy, hope, love…annoyance at Nate.
Mitch’s eyes scanned the crowd and zeroed in on the little shit where he was sitting by himself at the head table, phone in one hand, a beer dangling loosely by the neck of the bottle from the other.
“Did you know about Lexie and Nate?” He asked Berkley.
Berkley’s face drained of all color. “You were never supposed to find out,” she said quietly. “She was hurting. She just wanted to make it stop, and she wasn’t thinking clearly.”
“But the night I left, Berkley? Really?”
“What do you want me to say? You broke her heart,” she said, her voice cracking. “You broke mine, and Brent’s, too. But it was different for Lexie. It was so hard for her to love you, to give herself to you like that. I’ve known her for nearly a decade and I’ve never seen her so gone over anyone. Not even close.” She heaved a deep breath and released it slowly through her nose. “She made a bad call in the moment, and she’s spent every day since regretting it. Cut her some slack. It’s the least you can do.”
Mitch only nodded. It’s not as if he had been a saint while they were apart, even if he hadn’t fucked someone new right away. They hadn’t been together; Mitch put the exclamation point on that statement when he disappeared from her life.
He wasn’t mad at her, but he’d be lying if he said the jealousy twisting in his gut wasn’t a living, breathing thing. And the only thing that could lay it to rest was knowing Lexie was his forever.
Lexie joined them a moment later, gaze wary. “What are you two talking about?” She asked.
“You,” Berkley said. “And the sex you had in the bathroom.”
Lexie’s eyes held Mitch’s as she slipped her hand into his. “It was pretty incredible.” Then she cut her eyes to Berkley. “Except you interrupted us.”
“You look like you’re doing just fine,” Berkley said, eyes surveying Lexie up and down.
“That’s because the boy is amazing with his tongue,” she said smugly, and Mitch couldn’t help but puff his chest out proudly. “Poor Mitchell had to finish himself off.”
Berkley choked on a laugh as Mitch’s cheeks heated. “I always knew you were selfish, Lex,” Berkley said.
Lexie smacked her lightly on the arm, and Berkley darted away, back under the tent and into the waiting arms of her husband.
“You told her already?” Mitch said, snaking his arms around Lexie’s waist.
“Have you met her? She’s like a dog with a bone. And anyway, she figured it out herself.”
Mitch nodded in agreement. Berkley was nothing if not persistent and far too perceptive for her own good.
“So before she cornered me,” Mitch said, “I was thinking about having a little conversation with Nate. Care to join me?”
“Hell yes,” Lexie said, immediately stalking away from him, Mitch could do nothing but follow her as she approached Nate.
“Put your phone away,” Lexie said to him.
Nate raised his head and gave her a look that said make me.
“What can I do for you, Lexie? Looking for round two?”
Mitch caught Lexie’s arm just as she pulled back, surely about to smack Nate.
“This is not the time or place for that, Lex,” he said quietly.
Lexie dropped her arm to her side but continued to glare daggers at Nate. “We want to talk to you.”
