Page 320 of Blackwood

Roman lifts his glass toward me in a mock toast. “Well. That explains the reports.”

Across from me, Lex hasn’t said a word. But I can feel him watching. And I already know what’s coming.

I text him under the table.

ME:Bathroom. Now. Don’t make me drag you, baby.

Three seconds later, his chair scrapes back. I wait a beat before slipping away, careful not to draw attention.

By the time I push into the bathroom down the hall, he’s already there—arms crossed, jaw tight, pacing like a caged animal.

I shut the door softly behind me and lean against it. “Okay, spill it, Barinov. What’s wrong.”

He doesn’t look at me. “Nothing.”

I scoff. “Nope. Try again. I know you too well to buy that bullshit. You’ve had that storm cloud face since the appetizer course.”

Silence.

I step closer. “You look like you did that week I banned sex until Cade got back from that gallery show in L.A.”

“That wasn’t a sex ban. That was psychological warfare, baby. You wore those little shorts knowing damn well I was one wrong move away from taking you on the floor at The Pit.”

“Exactly,” I say, folding my arms. “So, talk to me. What’s going on?”

Lex leans back against the bathroom counter and crosses his arms. “I just really hate this part of the night,” he mutters.

“What part?”

His gaze drops to the floor. “The whole ‘remember when’ bullshit. It always happens when we have dinner with Cade’s family.” He drags a hand through his hair. “The Whitmore stories. The vacations. The fucking shared history.”

Lex lets out a low breath, eyes flicking up to mine. “Cade fits into your world like he was made for it. I’m the outsider,” he says quietly. “Just the guy who showed up late to the damn party.”

My chest tightens. “Lex…”

“I know what we have is real,” he says, voice rough. “But it still fucks with me, baby. Every time one of you says ‘remember when,’ it’s like I’m being reminded that there’s a version of you and Cade I never got to meet. A life I’ll never touch. I can’t compete with that.”

I step between his legs, take his hand. “Hey, you don’t have to compete.”

He lets out a bitter breath. “Feels like I do.”

“Fine,” I say, lifting my chin. “You want a remember when? I’ll give you one.”

I step even closer, fingertips trailing up his chest. “Do you remember when I saw you for the first time, because I do.”

Lex’s brow furrows. “Fight night?”

I laugh softly. “No, dumbass. It was at Ellie’s eighteenth birthday. You and Cade showed up way late. You were in aleather jacket, brooding like the storm you are. I remember thinking you looked like trouble.”

His mouth tugs at the side, “I was trouble.”

“Not arguing about that. But I was so jealous of Cade for the way you looked at him. You were dangerous. Hot. Clearly into him. And all I could think about was how you’d never even glance at me.”

Lex tilts his head. “Didn’t know you noticed me back then.”

“I did,” I say, honest and steady. “Even when I shouldn’t have.”

His eyes soften. “Guess I was blind.”