Page 41 of The Right Garza

He suddenly looks bored, disappointed even. “Sounds like a lesbian porn script.”

“Well, forgive me if my girl-on-girl experience isn’t exciting enough for you.”

He pushes his half-eaten veggie bowl to the side and wipes his hands with a napkin. “That’s why you moved her in with you? For more action?”

“Of course not. I’ve done it enough times to know it’s not for me,” I say. “But my reasons weren’t entirely unselfish. I needed the company. It’s a big ass property and I’m there by myself. Plus it’s the least I could do considering we’re paying her a fraction of what we would’ve had to pay a more established company.”

His brows tug together. “Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t want to be there alone?”

“What would you have done? Send one of your men in black to come stay with me?”

The grooves between his brows deepen as he looks down at the table. He seems…troubled. When he lifts his head again, he nods at my empty carton. “Ready?”

“Oh, ah, yeah.”

We dump our garbage and head back to the jeep.

“Did you date during the time you were gone?” Trent asks once we’re in the car and on the move. “After all your fun with Maggie, that is.”

“It wouldn’t have made sense,” I answer. “I’m never in one place for too long.”

“So just hookups?”

“Are you low-key trying to have a ‘body count’ talk with me, Trent? What the fuck?” I snap, irritated. “Who are you asking for? Your cheating scumbag brother? If it’s him, you’re wasting your time, because I’ll bet you any money he already knows. As matter of fact, Tillie told me you all keep tabs on me. And I would likeallof you Garzas to keep your damn nosesoutof my life.”

“You don’t have any money to bet, remember?”

“Eat shit,” I bite back. “And what about you? I saw all those text messages in your phone. How many secret ‘baby mamas’ do you have?”

He chuckles. “No secret baby mamas. Never will be. Not about that life. Mywifewill be the one to have my kids.”

I scoff. “Trenton Garza, asshole extraordinaire,married. Hilarious. Monica will die waiting for that day.”

“Guarantee you she won’t.”

He asks me provoking questions for the rest of the way home, pushing my buttons, and I, without fail, play right into it every time. Cursing him out. Giving him just the reaction he expects, living up to name he dubbed me.

The good thing is the belly flutters are gone. He provoked them to death.Good. Because things were starting to get weird there for a bit.

“You’re always a riot, Lexi,” Trent drawls as he rolls to a stop in front of the guesthouse. “Gonna get you some Valium.”

“Get yourself some chill juice first, jerk.”

“Thanks for keeping me company tonight.”

I open the door. “First and last time.”

“I’m sorry,” he says as I slide out of the car.

Shifting around, I raise a brow at his apology. “For what? Being an intentional jerk?”

“No. For leaving you here alone. I didn’t think… I wasn’t thinking.”

Oh.That’s what his troubled expression was about? “What? You were kind enough to give me a nice place to stay without demanding rent, despite everything. What’s there to be sorry about? It’sme. I’m just not used to living by myself,” I explain. “I grew up in an overcrowded home and even when I was on the road, I was always sharing space with someone. So yeah, it was a little hard at first, especially at night. But that’s not your fault. I just need to learn to get used to being on my own.”

“I shouldn’t have left you here alone,” he insists.

“Trent, it’s not a big deal. Really.”