“It’s time, Dad. We talked about this a while ago. I’m going to be twenty-one in October and Georgia will be twenty. We’re both adults and need to spread our wings. Right, Georgia?” She looks at her sister like she always does when she needs her on her side. Of course, Georgia agrees, just like she always does.
“And how are you paying for this apartment?” Tristan argues, which has everyone grinning because we all know he’s going to be paying. Lexi and Georgia are his little girls, and he would sell his kidney to make sure they were happy.
Of course, Lexi wouldn’t be Lexi if she didn’t have all the answers. “Well, I was thinking we could get a roommate. There are plenty of apartments near campus, and we could split the bills. Georgia makes money working at Mom’s art studio, and I have money in my savings from the surfing lessons I’ve given and the competitions I’ve won.” She smiles sweetly, and Tristan groans.
“You’re not using your savings,” Charlie says.
Lexi beams, knowing if she’s got her mom on board, Tristan is screwed.
“I don’t know,” Tristan says. “We live in LA. It’s a scary world out there beyond this gated community. We would have to find you somewhere safe with a gate, and we would need to have an alarm system installed. I don’t like the idea of my girls being alone in an apartment, nor do I want you moving in with some stranger.”
“Dad, we’re not babies anymore.” Lexi pouts. “We’re perfectly capable of living on our own.”
“Weren’t you just calling me to come over because you couldn’t figure out how to open the oven?” I ask.
“How was I supposed to know when you press clean on the oven, it locks it to clean it!” Lexi yells.
“You thought the oven was on fire.” I laugh. “You called me at the fire station freaking out.”
“I thought when I clicked to clean it would shoot out cleaner! I didn’t know it locks and heats up!” Lexi growls.
“And what about the time when you clogged the vacuum and couldn’t get it to work?” I chuckle.
“I didn’t know it fills up!”
“Where did you think it all goes? Back into the ecosystem?” I taunt. “Oh! And remember the time when you clogged the toilet and—”
Everyone laughs.
“Aleczander Sterling, if you don’t shut up right this second, I’m going to tell everyone about the time I caught you—”
“Whoa! Okay, chill, woman.” I hold my hands up in surrender. Because no one needs to know what she caught me doing when we were younger. And no, I’m not saying—you can use your imagination.
“I was just trying to point out maybe you aren’t as ready to live on your own as you think.” I shrug a shoulder.
“And you are?” Lexi argues.
“I’m a grown man, Lex. I’m a firefighter and a paramedic,” I point out smugly.
“Oh, whatever, Mr. Paramedic. Remember when you choked on that pizza cheese?” Lexi giggles. “Your hands were flailing everywhere, and I had to reach over and do the finger sweep to save your life!” Her hands flail through the air as she mocks me. “You wouldn’t eat pizza for like a year after that!”
Everyone cracks up laughing.
“That was before I became a paramedic. Now I’m a trained professional. Just the other day my neighbor had an emergency, and luckily I was there to help her.”
“Are you referring to that ditsy, slutty neighbor of yours? What did she need help with? Locating her panties?” Lexi’s hand goes to her hip, and I stifle my laugh, not daring to answer that question. If there’s anything my dad, stepdad, and Tristan have taught me over the years, it’s not to walk into traps like those.
“Ha!” Lexi yells. “Not answering because you know I’m right.” Damn, woman…
“Okay, okay,” Tristan says with a laugh. “While this has been extremely entertaining, it’s given me an idea. While I have to accept you and your sister want some freedom, I also want to make sure you’re both safe.”
“Okay…” Lexi says slowly.
“What if you move in with Alec?” Tristan looks at me. “You mentioned you’re looking for two new roommates since yours got married and moved out. It would be perfect. And I would make sure their part of the bills is paid.”
Is he fucking crazy? There’s no way I’m living under the same roof as Lexi. It’s hard enough being best friends with her while living in separate homes. Now he wants me to share a small area with her? My mom might’ve raised me to be a gentleman, but that still makes me a man, and I’m not sure how the hell I’ll be able to hide my feelings for her if I have to share a roof with her. Every day, coming home to her, knowing she’s naked in the shower, watching her lounge around in her tiny fucking pajamas…