Page 33 of The Love Fix (The Sunrise Cove #8)
roses. You know, with Heath. Take a chance on him, on you both, and let it happen.”
“This time? ‘This time’ implies that I’ve somehow held back in my life. Which I haven’t. Allow me to submit my ex as exhibit
one.”
Ashley nodded. “Sustained. But what I meant was that maybe this might be different. And even if it’s not, who better to practice
opening your heart again with than a guy like Heath? He’d never hurt you.”
Still stinging from finding out he’d gotten her a job behind her back, she shook her head. “Maybe you should take your own advice.” She made a show of looking around. “Because I don’t see any girlfriends hanging around.”
“Hey, I’m only twenty-three. I’m still sowing my wild oats, figuring out what I might want in a partner someday, so that when
I get as old as you and come across a great person like Heath, I’m not too stupid to blow it. Also, I’m not just talking about
love, I’m talking about life in general. There are always choices. The trick is figuring out which choices feel genuine and
right.”
“When you get to my age ?” Lexi repeated with a disbelieving laugh.
“Is that all you heard?”
Lexi sighed. Ashley was right. There were always choices. She hadn’t made the best of them either. One of her biggest regrets
was cutting her mom out of her life.
“I think you know I’m right. But... and just hear me out... what if you and Heath are the real deal?”
“Ash, it was just one night.”
“It is if that’s what you choose it to be. But you’re in the driver’s seat.” Her phone dinged an incoming text, and she pulled
it from her pocket. “It’s Heath. He’s coming over.”
Lexi jumped off the couch. “What? Why?”
Ashley arched a brow, like, Really ? You can’t figure it out?
Cole had most definitely tattled. Dammit. She strode for the kitchen, talking over her shoulder. “Tell him I’m not home. Tell
him I can’t talk. Tell him— Oof .” She’d plowed into a brick wall.
A brick wall named Heath. “Or you could tell me yourself,” he said, slipping his phone back into his pocket.
She took a step back and put a hand to her chest. “You scared me.”
“Trying to avoid me?”
“Duh!” She threw up her hands. “Take a hint!”
He rolled his eyes. She was wearing off on him.
Ashley eyed the time. “Would you look at that? I’ve gotta go. I’ve just remembered I’ve got something very important to do.”
Lexi crossed her arms. “Aerial aerobics?”
Her sister bit her lower lip. “Not today. This is something... different.”
“Uh-huh.”
Ignoring Lexi’s sarcasm, Ashley moved to the front door, where she grabbed her purse and keys, and then quietly shut the door
behind her.
It immediately opened again. “I put vodka in the freezer. Oh, and our ‘Netflix and chill’ password is UseACondomKids, no spaces.”
At whatever look Lexi gave her, she grimaced and vanished.
Lexi sighed and turned to face Heath.
He cocked his head and studied her, a small smile curving his mouth. “You told her about the wall?”
She felt the heat of embarrassment on her face. “This is all your fault. I’m mad at you.”
“Do tell.”
“You got me a pity job!”
“No.” He gave a single shake of his head, eyes serious. “Nothing about that was pity.”
She crossed her arms. “Feels like pity.”
“I should have told you. I meant to tell you. I was wrong not to, but I was worried you’d refuse the job—which is legit, by
the way. Cassidy was already looking for an appraiser, and not having any luck finding someone reputable.”
“Which you now know I’m not.”
“Lex.” He met her gaze, his own serious, earnest. “I don’t even need to hear the story from your own lips to know I’d bet on you any day of the week.”
At that, her spine relaxed. Damn. Her emotions were giving her whiplash. “But?” she asked. “Because I most definitely hear
a ‘but’ coming.”
“Look, I trust you. I just wish it was reciprocated, that you knew that you can tell me anything and I won’t judge you.”
Where to even begin? So many half-truths she’d told, so many things she should have said and hadn’t because she’d been terrified
of the ramifications, the worst of which would be driving the people she cared about away from her. “Trust isn’t my strong
suit.”
“I get you feeling that way when you first got here. You certainly didn’t owe me a thing. Still don’t. But it’s been nearly
a month of us spending a lot of time together. I thought we’d gotten pretty close.”
“We did. We have.” She had to look away from the hurt in his gaze. “But we both said this wasn’t going anywhere.”
“I said that because I was scared.” He paused. “Scared of getting hurt. You’re not the only one with trust issues.” His voice,
low and sincere, cut right through her. She was scared too. And she wasn’t nearly as brave as he was. But she had no idea
how to say any of it, how to admit out loud that a part of her didn’t feel worthy of his feelings, his trust—or anyone’s —and maybe never would.
“For the record,” he said, slowly moving closer to her, as if afraid to spook her. “I hate what happened to you.” He slid his hands into his pockets, as if he didn’t quite trust them not to reach for her. “Hate that
you didn’t feel you could tell me. I thought...” He shook his head. “Well, it doesn’t matter what I thought.”
At the pain and regret in his eyes, she had to turn away.
Hugging herself, she closed her eyes. “You’ve met me.
Which means you can’t really be all that surprised.
” Her chest felt like it was caving in from the effort of keeping her shit together, trying not to fall apart in front of him.
She was shaking with the impending meltdown, one she needed to be alone for.
“I’m here for you,” he said, right behind her, so close she could feel the heat from his body. “And I’m not the only one.
You don’t have to go through the rough stuff on your own.”
Didn’t she though? Because eventually everyone walked away. The only difference was that this time she was doing the walking
first. With that in mind, she forced herself to face him. “But I’m so good at it.”
Disappointment flickered in his eyes, but he said nothing. And neither did she as she headed out of the room.
“Lexi.”
She stopped, but didn’t look back.
“If you ever want to talk, you know where to find me.”