Page 93 of The Beat of My Heart

“Ah… hey, guys? What’s going on?” Trevor finally asks.

I’m too busy watching these two volley insults at each other to do anything.

“She could start an argument in an empty house,” Preston says.

“He is the most conceited man-whore I’ve ever met in my life,” Lexi spits.

“At least I’m getting some, maybe you’d chill the fuck out if you’d take the icicle out of your ass and get laid.”

Preston is on fire.

“Woah, guys. Okay. Everyone calm down,” I say.

“She’s impossible. Like a hemorrhoid, she’s a pain in the ass when she comes down and a fucking relief when she leaves,” Preston grumbles as he storms out of the house.

I catch Trevor’s eye, and he burst out laughing.

“How is this funny?” Lexi asks.

“Lex, I don’t know what the hell you did to get him so worked up, but I’ve only seen Pres drop colloquialisms like that one other time. It takes a lot for Preston to get pissed off, but when he does, his southern boy comes out in spades,” Trevor tells us.

“Whatever, I didn’t do anything. He is seriously the worst.” Lexi says before giving me a hug. “I’m glad I don’t have to be confined in an airplane with him, I’d probably take up sky-diving just to get away.”

“He’s a good guy, Lex,” I tell her.

“Yeah, okay. I’ll take your word for it,” she says.

“I will take Charlie out to his car seat and have Dex show me how to work the stinking thing,” Trevor tells us. Smiling, I watch him walk away.

“He’s good for you, Jules,” Lexi says, watching me.

“I think he is, isn’t he?” I ask.

“Whatever shit you guys have to work through, do it. I’ve never seen you like this before, I’m happy for you,” she says, but she looks anything but happy.

“Lex, are you okay?” I ask. Her appearance is still unsettling to me, but at least she has some color back in her face.

Swatting my arm, she says, “Oh, don’t you worry about me, I will be just fine. Thank you for letting me stay here though, I really appreciate it. I’ll be able to give GG a hand while I’m here too and make sure the lodge is up to par.”

I know she’s trying to change the subject, and since her smile looks so sad, I let her off the hook. “Alright, then. If you need anything though, Lanes and I are just a phone call away. Promise you’ll call if you need anything?”

“I promise, now, come on, let's get you out of here. I can’t take another minute with Preston in the same state,” she says, ushering me out of the house.

Part of me wonders if, under all that animosity, there’s a schoolgirl crush happening. All that changes as soon as I see their reaction to each other in the driveway. They would never work. Glaring at each other, they may as well have spat in each other's faces.

“Alrighty then,” I say, turning Lexi away from him. “Give me a hug.”

Turning in a circle, I don’t see Trevor or my Dad, and I feel myself tense up.

Dex comes up beside me, “Your dad asked to have a word with Trevor in private. They’re in the back,” he smiles mischievously.

“Not that long ago, my dad met you with a shotgun in his lap,” I remind him.

“Oh, I know. What kind of talk do you think Trevor’s getting right now?” he laughs.

Oh no!

Dex must see the moment I panic because he laughs again and pulls me into his side, “Relax, Jules. Your dad’s just doing his job,” he says.