Stay

  More girls giggled. Alexi narrowed his eyes at Willow, and he stiffened. With guilt or anger or annoyance, she couldn’t tell. Her own anger was smothered by embarrassment. Mia patted the side of his ankle, distracting him from his glare. “Help me up.”

  Alexi put an arm around her and pulled her to her feet.

  Her muscles protested, but she didn’t let it show. She straightened and tried for a smile. “I’m okay.” Mia squeezed Alexi’s arm. “Niko’s going to be so proud of you for making the team.”

  Alexi didn’t respond.

  Jake moved forward now that Alexi wasn’t blocking him. “You okay, Mia?” He reached for her and Alexi’s arms tightened.

  “Yeah, I’m…”

  “I’ll take her up to the school,” Jake said.

  “I’m the captain, Jake. I’ll do it,” Willow said. “You’re acting like she broke something. She’s fine.”

  “I’ve got her.” Alexi wore a serious expression, as he lifted her and carried her toward the parking lot.

  “Bye, guys.” Mia waved, then hid her face against Alexi’s neck. She hoped no one had recorded that failed stunt. What a way to end up on the Internet.

  Alexi carried her to the car. Jake followed, trailed by Willow and Lauren.

  The driver, Vincent, jumped out of the front and ran to the back to get the door. He ran his gaze over her as if scanning for injuries.

  Mia peeped over Alexi’s shoulder and waved. “I’m okay.” Please let this afternoon end.

  Vincent’s posture relaxed, and he nodded.

  Willow tugged on Jake’s arm. “See Jake, she’s fine. She’s got Alexi, and she has a chauffeur. Do you really think she needs a third guy taking care of her?”

  “Bye Mia, call me later,” Lauren said.

  Alexi placed Mia inside, and she sunk into the leather, while Vincent shut the door on her “goodbye” to Lauren.

  Alexi looked her over, then looked out the window. Jake was still standing there, frowning at them. Willow was frowning at him, and Lauren was walking back to the football field.

  “Why did you break up with Jake?”

  She blinked. “Who told you we went out?”

  “Quinn. Why’d you break up?”

  Heat rose in her face, and she looked out the window. “Uh, he wanted a more serious relationship than me, so he dumped me. We’re still friends, though. He didn’t lie or anything bad. He wanted something different.” Don’t ask. Don’t ask. Screw it. “Um, were you seeing anyone special back home?”

  “No one special.” His gaze flickered, but she couldn’t read anything in his somber expression.

  When they arrived at the house, Alexi helped her out. He made to scoop her up, and Mia held up her hands. “Let me walk so I don’t get stiff.” She also wanted to erase the worried look from his face.

  As instructed, there was a physician waiting for them. Mia hadn’t realized doctors made house calls. It was a guy, she noted in embarrassment. She wished Hope was home. Her face heated, and she looked to the staircase for escape.

  “Let’s have a seat on the sofa, and let me take a look,” the doctor said.

  Thankfully, the exam was brief, consisting mostly of vital signs, a light in the eyes, the maneuvering of her joints, and a ton of questions.

  Alexi stood nearby, refusing to take the doctor’s hint to leave. The doctor cleared her, gave her a mild pain pill, and cautioned her about falls before he left.

  Mia lay back against a pillow and picked up her Greek Homer book. “Read to me?” she asked in a weak voice. She felt fine, but what the hell, Alexi had a beautiful voice, and she hadn’t remotely figured out how to translate the text.

  He joined her on the sofa and took the book. “Sing to me of the…”

  ***

  Mia came down the stairs, still a bit stiff, but a long soak with a stolen handful of Alexi’s un-used bath salts had helped.

  Alexi was standing by Niko. He held a bouquet of perfume-heavy purple and yellow lilies above the trash can and was reading the card with his other hand. He dumped them in.

  “What’s going on?”

  Alexi pocketed the card. “An admirer, nothing we want any part of.”

  Was that the royal we? Who’d sent him flowers? Willow? Guys didn’t want bouquets, even if they were in school colors. It didn’t make them masculine. He’d done the right thing. But he and Niko had such innocent expressions on their faces. What were they up to?

  “Morning.” Niko stood in the double doors leading to the breakfast room. He waited until she caught up to them before he spoke again, although, from the way he assessed Alexi, he had something to say to him directly. “The football coach called and wants you on the team.”

  Alexi snagged a glass of orange juice off the table. “I am on the team.”

  “No, not soccer. American football, as a kicker. Evidently they’ve had success with soccer players in the past, and you have a good leg. Practice starts tomorrow, and Friday night there’s a game against Magnolia.”

  “That’s awesome.” Mia poured a glass of orange juice, and breathed in the wake-up citrus scent.

  Alexi took a bite of his toast and chewed thoughtfully, considering the idea. “No, I don’t think so. It’s very hot, and they’re halfway through the season.”

  “It’s really exciting,” Mia said.

  Alexi shook his head. Niko leaned back in his chair. “Being halfway through the season doesn’t matter. Evidently, they have another new kid who’s also a senior, and he’s taking over as starting quarterback. That’s not going over so well, but a kicker’s spot is not as coveted, so you shouldn’t have any difficulty.”

  “New kid?” Alexi asked with a still face.

  “Oh, yeah, that’s Q,” Mia said.

  “Q?” Alexi asked.

  “Quinn. Sometimes he goes by Q. Lauren sent me a text me about this.” Mia shook her glass, watching the pulp stick to the side. She wanted to stick her tongue in and swipe it off.

  Alexi wrinkled his nose. “I’ll talk to Coach.”

  “Cool.” Mia set down her glass and reached for a blueberry muffin. “We’ll have the same schedule.”

  Hope joined them. “Niko and I have good news.” Hope went to his side and draped her arm around his shoulders.

  Chapter 16

  Mia stiffened, though she tried not to give away her concern. “What’s up?”

  Alexi frowned, and his eyes darted to the exit. He must’ve had his own share of run-ins with good news.

  Niko took Hope’s hand, and she smiled at him when he said, “Hope has consented to become my wife.”

  Happiness for her sister flashed through her, mixed with a touch of—‘wow’ things were going to change… her sister was getting married. Married. Starting a new family. The happy expression on Hope’s face tipped her concerns over into joy. Mia squealed and rushed over to hug the couple.

  “Best wishes.” Alexi said the right things, but his expression didn’t read joy at the impending nuptials. She got it. This tied Niko to Texas, far from home. This meant change.

  “We’re thinking maybe during spring,” Hope said. “When’s your break?”

  “April,” Mia said. “Do I get to be a bridesmaid?”

  “Maid of honor.”

  “Awesome.”

  “Okay, so April it is.” Niko had never looked happier. Proud even, not that he’d had a doubt Hope adored him. He kissed the back of Hope’s hand, making her beam.

  “We’ll do new family portraits for the wall,” Niko said.

  Alexi winced, a slight wince, one she only noticed because she was watching him. Bring up art, artists, paintings, and he got that look.

  She had no idea how her parents would take the news. They were protective of both of them, but especially Hope, given how lost she got in her art. “Now Dad won’t pitch a fit over you two living together.” Which was good, because while she could take the heat, Hope was too soft to handle parental tempers.

  Hope got big eyes and
shook her head.

  Too late. Uh. Oh. Had Niko not known about that? They needed to talk more.

  Niko lost his happy expression. “Your parents don’t know we live together?”

  The guilt caused Mia to pop up out of her chair. She sent Hope a small, apologetic wave. “See you, guys. We’re off to school.” She grabbed Alexi’s hand and tugged him toward the door. Alexi snagged a croissant before relenting.

  They got outside and Alexi hesitated beside the limo.

  She thought she’d broken him of waiting for the driver to open doors. She reached around and lifted the handle. “Get in.” Things had changed this morning. Massively. Permanently. “I promise not to paw you today. Sorry about that, by the way.”

  “I—” Alexi said.

  “Nope, I warned you the first day we met that you’d have to rein me in.” She laughed. “You should have heeded my text to Sacha.” Sliding over a respectable distance, she gauged the distance between them, preferring yesterday’s trip. Yesterday, there was still a chance they weren’t going to be family. Yesterday, he hadn’t needed to sit so far away.

  ***

  Mia shoved her bag into her locker, trying not to let the weight of the Calculus text crush her lunch. She shoved the bag with the two oranges against the far-right wall. An orange could smash a sandwich as easily as a book.

  “Did you like the flowers?” Quinn wore a rock concert T-shirt.

  “Hmmm? What flowers?” There hadn’t been a notice in her locker or on her phone from the office. Had Quinn sent her flowers? “Did you send me flowers?”

  Quinn frowned. “Yeah.”

  A mix of why, that’s too soon, too much and, ‘Where are my flowers?’ hit her. Mia held open her palms. “I didn’t get flowers.”

  “There must have been a mix-up. Forget I said anything.”

  Like that was going to happen. The only flowers she’d seen had been dumped in the trash. Were those her flowers? Seeds of outrage and suspicion stirred inside her. She’d have a talk with Alexi when they got home.

  ***

  The afternoon was one of those hot days that pushed her toward a dip in the pool, and given the date on the calendar, there wouldn’t be that many more opportunities for that. Mia wore her teal bikini into the game room under a white cotton swimsuit cover up. “Want to go for a swim?”

  Alexi narrowed his eyes and tilted his head. “Staff could walk in. Is that a two-piece?”

  “Are you kidding?” This family’s preoccupation with modesty was too much. Mia shook her head and walked to the door.

  “We need a lock on our door. Wait, give me a second.” Alexi jogged to his room and quickly returned, changed and ready to go. Alexi wore a T-shirt, trunks, and carried a towel. He looked like an ad for summertime. “I guess it is okay because it is just us.” He eyed her suit again.

  Mia rolled her eyes and went out the door. He’s more attractive when he keeps his mouth shut. “Look, I let Niko get away with the clothes stuff, but don’t think I’m going to indulge you, too.”

  His mouth tightened, and he followed her to the stairs without saying anything.

  Mia’s voice took on a playful note. “Besides, if there’s something I want to wear, and you try to stop me, I’ll just rush you, like your first day here, and watch you fall. Good thing you don’t play linebacker.” Mia grinned and pointed to the foyer, the scene of their first meeting.

  Alexi bent, put an arm behind her knees and scooped her over his shoulder. Whoosh. He startled a laugh out of her and carried her in that position down the remaining steps.

  Mia squealed, her hands against his back, trying to hold her head up to stop the blood from rushing to it. They passed Hope and Niko as they went through the living room.

  “Should we stop them?” Hope said.

  Niko raised his head. “Nah, they’re okay. Like brother and sister already.”

  Alexi opened the double glass doors without dropping her, stopped at the edge of the pool, and let her down. Wise man. He knew better than to drop a female in the water.

  He sat on the edge and put his feet in. Though the days were still extremely hot, it cooled off at night, so that’s when they ran the heat for the pool. The water was the perfect temperature once she’d been in it a while. The getting in was always chilly.

  Mia threw down her towel, pulled off her cover-up, and dove in. “It’s like a Band-Aid,” she said helpfully as she came up, not gasping too much. “Rip it off fast. Don’t inch your way, or it’ll feel cold too long.”

  “Greece has over 6,000 islands.” Alexi reached back with one hand, pulled his T-shirt off and tossed it aside before he slid in. “I can handle the water.”

  Mia enjoyed the pull of water through her hands as well as the view. Alexi seldom went without a shirt. He was so modest. The view was unsurpassed. If her sister convinced him to sit for a portrait, she hoped she could talk him into doing it shirtless. The water rippled, and Alexi popped up in front of her. Holy crap, all that beauty, inches away. The sunshine highlighted the water droplets on his shoulders. His skin was such a beautiful golden color, very different from hers. Mia reached out a finger and lightly touched one of the drops, enjoying the contrast of her skin against his.

  Glasses clinked against a tray as staff came outside carrying refreshments. Alexi immediately pulled away and swam, his arms cutting through the water in an easy lap.

  Mia’s hand fell into the clear water, and she skimmed it under the surface. How thoughtful of the staff. She wished she could be more appreciative of the refreshments, but she’d rather fling the lemonade for their timing. She giggled at the image, then she shook her head. Alexi is family. She shouldn’t be touching him anyway. Family, she chanted to herself, then gave it up. She couldn’t kid herself. He wasn’t yet a relative. Yep, he’d break her heart and she’d have to suck it up, because Hope and Niko’s engagement had tied their future together.

  Mia swam over to the sun shelf and pulled up. She braced against her palms and idly kicked her legs though the water. Mia was happy for Hope, though. Niko was great and they’d have kids one day and she’d be Aunt Mia. Fun. “You think we’ll be the godparents?

  Alexi stopped his lap. “Hope’s pregnant?”

  “No,” Mia said. “Of course not, I’m just thinking about the future.”

  “Oh, okay then.” Alexi went over to the side and lifted out of the water. Wow. His arms, his upper body strength… That move was better than the soccer field chin-ups. She wished she could pull him back into the pool, so she could watch him do it again. Alexi lay on the khaki mesh lounger and took a glass of the lemonade. Beside it was a spray bottle of 50-block sunscreen lotion. He stared at her and she waited for a comment on her paleness. “Come here, and let me spray you.”

  She’d have preferred he said, rub some suntan oil on you, but, ‘Ah, well.’ Mia climbed from the pool and joined him by the lounger. Wet and dripping, she extended her hand for the bottle. He pulled it back out of her reach. He lifted her arm. The sunscreen hissed as it sprayed from the blue canister. Mia rubbed it in then slapped the excess into her hands. “That’s too much.” She rubbed the extra across her chest and down her other arm.

  Alexi eyed her pale skin critically and shook his head. “You’ll burn.” He depressed the pump, sprayed more into his hands, rubbed them together, and reached over to her midriff. He spread the lotion onto her skin, rather clinically, not missing a spot.

  Mia froze. She could not have moved if the Earth had fractured and they were falling toward the molten core. Tingles radiated from his hand through her whole body.

  Alexi’s hands reached her sides, and her lips parted. He gave a small nod. “That’s better.” He stopped when his eyes met hers. A glint appeared in his gaze. He turned her and tugged her down to sit in front of him on the lounger. Mia slid down to the woven seat. Alexi scooped up her wet hair, pushed it off her back and over her shoulder. Mia shivered when his hand brushed her neck. Stop, it’s just sunscreen.

  The s
un was hot against her legs. Mia took the canister, stretched out, sprayed each one, and rubbed in the lotion.

  The spray bottle hissed at her back.

  More sunscreen. She stiffened.

  This time, his application was less than clinical. His hand was warm and slick as it rubbed the sunscreen slowly down her arms and across her back, before it slid just under the strap of her top.

  When he reached her sides, an actual shudder went through her. “Alexi,” she murmured. Her voice sounded deeper.

  She wanted to turn and jump him. Move him from the friend zone to the ‘go’ zone.

  Chapter 17

  Alexi chuckled. He knew he was messing with her head. Mia spun toward the sound and glared at him. She walked away and did a flat dive into the cool water.

  On her third lap, Hope came out. “Are you two okay? Got drinks? Are you wearing sunscreen?”

  “Check.” When Hope tuned in, she was really caring. “50-block.” Good thing Hope missed its application. That would have resulted in a well-deserved, but less than delightful lecture. Hope nodded and left them. Mia used the steps to climb out and leaned over Alexi to reach her lemonade. She ensured maximum cool liquid chlorine drip onto his sun-heated skin. He jerked away, and this time she chuckled. She plopped down behind him, nudging for him to sit up with her palm on his shoulder. “I’ll do your back.” Mia swallowed some of the sweet, tart drink.

  Alexi passed her the sunscreen without a word. The spray hissed from the bottle. The sound made her shiver. Mia rubbed it into his shoulders first. Her thumbs pressed into his muscles and made a circular motion. Her fingers glided across the top of his shoulders. My, she could do this for hours. His skin felt—stop it, concentrate. “When they do have one, I hope the baby gets your and Niko’s skin tone, it’s beautiful.” She stroked her white hand down the back of his arm. She kept one hand on his arm and used the other to spread more lotion across his back. Using both palms, she made long strokes downward. He had a circular white scar on his side. She brushed a finger over the scar and leaned closer. “What made your scar?”