Page 37 of Saving His Heart
“Lexi, Jesus. I am still your freaking boss,” Easton bellows.
“Hold on. Everyone, just shut up for a minute. Someone, please tell me what the hell is going on?” Thankfully, Preston is as confused as I am.
“Well, I was a tryin’ to tell ya, Broken-heart, before Lex and Grumpy-growler interrupted. Anyway, once I picked my room, everyone came over, packed Emory up, moved her into your room, moved Lexi downstairs, and unpacked my stuff in Lexi’s old room. All set, ya see? Now, you go washin’ up. Dinner is almost ready.”
With a gentle tug on Preston’s arm, I whisper, “What the hell is going on?”
He must see the fear written on my face because he tucks me into his arm and tells the room, “Just give us a few minutes, and then we can make all the introductions, okay?” He looks as wild as I’ve ever seen him.
“Sure, sure. Go wash off that sexin’ smell ya got all over ya’s. Dinner will be ready soon, so no more fornicating,” the old woman called GG says.
“GG!” Lanie, Julia, and Lexi all scold at once.
“What? Y’all know I’m right. Can tell just by lookin’ at ’em. And the way that girl there is a blushing? Yup, they went at it real good.”
“Okay, GG. Jesus, that’s enough,” Julia scolds again, guiding the old woman toward the kitchen, and thankfully Preston is dragging me toward his bedroom.
Preston shuts his door, then goes back to lock it. I stand in the middle of the room as he paces. We both stare at all my belongings in boxes scattered throughout the space.
“What is going on, Preston?” I whisper yell. “Who the hell are all those people, and why is my stuff in your room? We agreed I would have my own space. I can’t sleep with you every night. We agreed.” My heart is racing, and I’m twisting my hair around my finger like a nervous teenager. My voice falters as the reality of our situation sinks in.I need time to think.
Preston is at my side a second later, taking my hand and guiding me to the chaise in the room’s corner. “Sweetheart, this is what we call a shitshow. I’m sorry, I had no idea they would all converge like this.”
“How did that old lady know we had sex? How does she know about your broken heart? God, Preston, I have so many questions.”
Resting his forehead against mine, I feel my breathing fall in step with his. Holding the back of my neck while we breathe in each other’s air, he makes no move to separate for long minutes.
“Listen,” he finally says, kneeling in front of me. “That was GG, Lanie and Lexi’s grandmother. She doesn’t know about my heart, per se, she’s been reading some sort of tarot cards, and that’s what she came out with. She hasn’t called me Preston since. I have no words for her because she is the craziest, most well-meaning buttinsky I’ve ever met in my life. I honestly don’t know what the hell is going on, but can we please get ready for dinner and just do our best to get through the next couple of hours? Then I promise you, I’ll figure it all out. Okay?”
What did I walk into here? This is not my life.
“How long has Lexi known your brother?” I ask, trying to buy some time.
“Holy shit.” He laughs. “Not long, but I haven’t seen anyone get to East like that in years. I’m not surprised. I mean, I put the damn woman in a headlock, but Easton’s reaction is something to watch for sure.”
“I’m not good in crowds, Preston. There is a bonafide crowd out there. I’m not sure I can do this.”
Placing his hands on my thighs and lifting himself so we are face to face, he says, “It is a crowd, but I promise everyone out there already loves you. I won’t leave your side, though.” Taking my hands, he pulls me to standing and walks me to his bathroom. “You shower first. Unless you want some help?”
I can’t believe I’m even contemplating this. Preston has some sort of dark magic he has worked on me. My lady parts are screaming no and yes please at the same time. Sex with Preston cannot become a regular occurrence. Not trusting myself to speak, I shake my head and run into the bathroom, quickly shutting the door in his face. Hearing him laugh through the door relieves a tiny fraction of my anxiety.
Twenty minutes later, Preston and I walk hand in hand back into the lion’s den.
“Oh good, you’re ready,” GG says, animatedly rising from her chair. “So nice to meet ya, Miss Fixem’, I’m GG.” I offer her my hand, and she legitimately swats me away with a loud slap. “No handshakin’ here, lady. We’re all family. Call me GG.” She embraces me in a hug, then pulls me away from Preston toward a dining room full of expectant, happy faces.
So much for Preston not leaving my side.
* * *
My phone pings with a text,so I grab it from the counter. I’m confused when I see a text from Lexi because she is sitting right beside me.
Lexi:Sorry about GG. She’s a freaking nutbag.
Julia: That is an understatement.
Peering around the room, I see all the ladies are typing on their phones.
Lanie:But she means well … she just has an odd way of showing it.
