"Morning, sir. Sure thing. I'll be down bright and early to give you a hand."
"No breakfast this morning, Drew?" Barbara asked as she picked up the morning paper to discard in the recycling bin.
"I was up early and have already eaten. I have a few errands I have to run today." I grabbed my boots from the corner and slipped them onto my feet. "Is Lexi up yet?" I questioned, matter of fact.
"Haven't seen her yet this morning," Barbara answered.
"Did you need the car? Zach still hasn't returned yet." Jim reached into his pocket and pulled out his keys holding them out in front of me.
"No, sir, I'll be fine. I don't have much to get, and the walk will do me good," I said, running my hand over my stomach.
Jim let out a large belly laugh. "Son, if I had your body, I would give mine away. All right, enjoy yourself," he said, slapping me on the shoulder and heading into the kitchen where Barbara was getting ready to do more of her baking.
I grabbed my coat, hat, and gloves from the closet and stepped outside quickly as I heard Lexi's bedroom door open upstairs. I quickly hopped down the front steps and made my way into town.
As I walked in the cold morning air, quietness surrounding me, I thought about why I had really come on this trip. It wasn't to see everyone in the family and spend time with them; it was to find an answer about my failed almost marriage. It was to try and understand what the hell had happened and how I was going to move on. It was to understand what the hell I had done wrong in that relationship, so I didn't repeat it going forward. It certainly wasn't to bed my best friend’s sister and open my heart and mind to a whole new book of problems. However, that was exactly what had happened. My heart ached, and I was already craving to spend time with Lexi. Even now, only a few short hours after I left her, I wanted to be back with her. This was new to me because I had never once felt that way with Laura, and honestly, it scared me.
Just as I came into the town square, I stopped at the coffee shop that Lexi and I had visited last night.Great, just another reminder, I thought to myself as I stepped through the doors, the smell of fresh cinnamon rolls in the air. I grabbed a coffee and muffin for breakfast, quickly ate, and made my way to my next stop: the ski shop. It was such a beautiful day, I purchased a lift ticket, new ski pants, and rented some equipment and headed toward the lift.
* * *
I had spentthe day hitting the slopes; the conditions couldn't have been better. I had lunch alone with my thoughts, and then I hit the slopes again. There was something so freeing about skiing down a hill, wind in your face, mind completely blank from everything.
It was almost seven, and I slowly walked up the hill toward the house. Barbara probably had dinner on the table and was surely waiting for me. However, part of me wasn't in a hurry. I had left my cell phone at the house, somewhat on purpose. I didn't want to be found. I wanted to be alone with my thoughts.
I glanced down at my watch again, this time picking up the pace, starting to feel bad about being gone for so long and making everyone wait for dinner because I wasn't there. Finally, I hit the driveway ten minutes later. It was full of vehicles, telling me that Zach and Ann Marie were probably here as well. I walked up the driveway and glanced up at the front window to see Lexi standing there staring down at me. I noticed a soft smile come to her lips as she waved at me. I inhaled deeply, trying to figure out how I was going to be around her, and stepped through the front door.
"There you are. We were getting ready to call the police," she whispered, giggling, sneaking in to give me a quick kiss on the cheek.
I glanced up at the dining room, praying that no one noticed what had just happened. When I saw that no one had as much as turned around to see who had walked through the front door, I let out the breath I had been holding.
"Hey. I was at the ski resort," I said, bending to untie my boots, not giving in to a returned kiss. "Sorry I'm late, Barbara," I called out, hanging my coat in the hall closet and following Lexi into the dining area where the entire family sat waiting.
"It's okay, Drew. Take a seat by Lexi there," Barbara said, nodding to the only empty seat at the table.
All through dinner, I was quiet, listening to Ann Marie and Zach talk about their plans for tomorrow. I was hoping that Zach and I would be able to hit the slopes tomorrow afternoon after I helped Joe in the morning, but that didn't look like it would be possible. I would need to find something else to keep me occupied then. As that thought crossed my mind, I looked over and saw Lexi watching me, a slight frown on her face.
I looked down at my plate, avoiding eye contact with her. Throughout the day, I had realized what it was that was bothering me so much. It wasn't really what had happened between Lexi and me. After all, we were both grown, consenting adults. It was more the thought of disappointing her that I was afraid of. I couldn't give Laura what she had apparently needed, that much I knew, and I didn't want to do the same to Lexi. It wasn't the fact that my relationship with Zach would be ruined either. That really didn't matter to me because I knew in time that would heal. All that mattered was I cared for Lexi and I didn't want to hurt her. I guess I had more feelings for her than I had realized, and I needed to tread carefully.
After dinner, Lexi cornered me, wanting to go for a walk and spend time together. Instead of doing what my heart wanted, I made the excuse that I needed to get out and call a client. I borrowed the car Zach and I had rented and went for a drive to clear my head. It was a shitty thing to do, lying to her, especially when I saw the look of disappointment on her face as I left the house alone. I felt like a total ass as I walked down the stairs and got into the car because I could feel Lexi watching me through the front room window.
When I finally returned, the house was dark, and I quietly let myself in. I grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge and climbed up the stairs to my room. I was just about to close my bedroom door behind me when I heard a soft voice call my name. I turned and saw Lexi, her door ajar, as she stood against the doorframe in only a T-shirt and panties, her soft, thick brown hair resting on her shoulder.
Even though my brain told me not to, I sauntered over to her door and leaned against the frame. "Yes?" I asked, looking down into her soft, sad eyes.
"I just wanted to say good night," she said, tracing the letters on my shirt. "Is everything okay?" she asked, resting her hands on my chest.
I simply nodded because the words wouldn't come to my lips. I wasn't sure myself if everything was okay between us now. I wasn't sure of anything anymore.
"I'll leave my door open a crack, in case you want to slip over later tonight," she whispered, leaning in and dragging her soft, full lips over mine, the contact instantly going to my cock.
I closed my eyes and felt the softness of her lips, my free hand instantly cupping the cheek of her ass. I pulled her tighter to me, letting her feel how hard I had become in only those two quick seconds she had been in front of me. A creak on the stairs, however, forced me to let her go.
"Go to bed, Lexi," I whispered, and turned to make my way back to my bedroom. I closed the door behind me, leaned against my door, and closed my eyes, letting out the breath I was holding. This girl was going to be death of me this Christmas.
Chapter 20
Drew