CHAPTER THREE
ALEXIS
“Oh, fiddlesticks,” Grammy mutters. “Now where have I put my gardening gloves?”
I look up from my laptop and frown. “You put them on the side a few minutes ago, Grammy.”
She spins around, sees them and laughs. “Of course I did. I’m such a wally. Put them somewhere so safe I couldn’t find them.”
I quirk an amused brow and log in to Facebook.
“I don’t know if a kitchen counter is classified as safe, Gram.”
“Oh, you know what I mean!” She flaps her hands. “It’s always the obvious places you forget to look.” She shakes her head at herself as she goes into the garden.
I smile at her little eccentrics and turn my attention back to the laptop. Three friend requests and seven notifications.
I scroll through the notifications, clicking on the one that says ‘Jayna Marshall has posted on your time-line.’
‘Missing you,’ she wrote, ‘have some MEGA gossip so call soon. Love you xoxoxo’
I smile and click on the friend request box. One from Jen, one from Carl and one from... Alec.
I accept all three, pausing only a second on Alec’s. I roll my eyes at myself and scroll through the homepage. I comment on a few posts by my friends and a chat box pops up.
Alec.
Jen wants to go shopping. Coming?
I frown and type back. In Lilac Bay? I’m not into buying buckets and spades.
Lol. In Barnstaple.
I’ve been there a few times. It’s practically the capital of North Devon, and it’s the only decent place - besides Atlantic Village near Bideford - that you can go shopping unless you wanna travel for two hours to get to Exeter, the nearest city.
Sure. What time? I type.
Pick you up in half an hour.
He signs off and I shrug. I’m already dressed for the day, so I decide to snoop a little on his Facebook.
Hey, why not?
I click on his profile and read his info. He’s nineteen, about a year and a half older than me. There’s a large selection of photos of him and Carl, and a few others with people I haven’t met.
Scrolling down his time-line, I realise he doesn’t post much. What’s the point in having Facebook then?
I sigh, click off the browser and shut the computer down. I hear a horn beep from outside and look at the clock. Have I really been looking at his profile for half an hour?
I blink a few times and grab my phone. I poke my head round the sliding doors and find Grammy vigorously pulling up weeds.
“I’m going into Barnstaple with Jen and the guys. I’ll see you later!” I call to her.
She waves, indicating she’s heard and I collect my bag from the front room on my way out.
Alec beeps the horn on his car a few times and I roll my eyes. I figure I seem to do that a lot around Alec.
When I reach the car, he’s the only one in it. I pull open the front passenger side door.
“Where’s Jen and Carl?” I ask.
“At Carl’s Mum’s café. Getting them on the way. Hop in, I won’t bite.” He grins impishly at me and I climb in.
“Not that I wouldn’t like to,” he adds as he pulls away. I shake my head, saying nothing.
He really is a terrible flirt.
We pull up outside ‘Cara’s Café’ and Jen and Carl both come running out.
“No way, Carl’s mum owns that place?” I look at Alec.
“Yeah... She always has. Why?” He looks at me back.
“I used to go there when I was little. She does the best ice cream.”
Alec nods. “That she does.”
He’s still looking at me when Jen and Carl get in the back seat. I glance back at him and look down.
I wish he’d stop looking at me.
“Are we going or what?” Jen smacks the back of Alec’s seat.
“Sure thing.” He gives her the finger over his shoulder and pulls away. I turn my attention to the view out the window.
Devon really is a beautiful place, when you look past the almost-always-there smell of cow poo, of course. But I guess, if you live in Devon you don’t really notice it. Just like I don’t notice the smell of exhaust fumes in London.
It’s so quiet here, and while a part of me craves the hustle and bustle of the big city, the rest of me is strangely content. It had always been a second home to me, so coming back - even with how much I protested - is almost a relief.
Fields roll by as we leave the Bay and head into the county properly. I roll the window down, just a little, and breathe in the fresh air. The others are chatting casually as I admire the peace around me.
Half an hour later we arrive in Barnstaple, and Alec parks in the shopping centre car park. We take the lift down to the shopping level.
“Okay, River Island!” Jen claps and takes Carl’s hand, dragging him alongside her. I laugh quietly at her enthusiasm.
Alec wraps an arm around my neck.
“Is the big city girl starting to like small country living?” he says in my ear in a low voice.
“Maybe she is, just a little,” I reply, but don’t shrug him off this time. I have no reason to - I walk around this way with my guy mates in London all the time.
He smiles at me and for some reason I half smile back at him. His smile is contagious, the kind that could charm the knickers off the wicked witch of the west.
The kind of charming that’s dangerous.
We enter the shop, Alec still attached to my side. I spy Jen holding up two pairs of jeans, trying to decide between them.
“Baby, they look the same.” Carl runs a hand through his hair.
“No, they’re not.” She turns to me, seemingly unfazed by Alec’s arm around me. “Lexy, they’re different, aren’t they?”
I nod my agreement and point to the right pair. “They’re a shade darker, and the stitching is different.” I spin both pairs round. “Not to mention, the right ones have back pockets and the left ones don’t.”
“Then you should go for the right ones.” Alec puts his opinion in.
“Why? What if she likes the left pair better?” I turn around.
“Because Carl likes resting his hands in the back pockets of her jeans. All guys do.” He shrugs.
I look at Jen and she shrugs too.
“Right pair it is then,” she decides, handing them to Carl and putting the left ones back.
I’ve always thought I knew a lot about guys and relationships, despite having been single for over two years, but clearly, I’m only just starting to learn.
But then again, who buys jeans based on whether or not their boyfriend likes to put his hands in the back pockets?
Jen, apparently.
“You should buy a pair like that,” Alec whispers as I finger a white skirt.
“What, so you can put your hands in them?” I laugh.
“Ah, she learns quickly!” He winks. “Although, I do like these skirts and dresses you seem to like. You have good legs.”
“If you’re trying not to flirt, you’re doing a bad job at it.”
“Oh, I’m not trying not to flirt. I’m just being myself.”
“Alec?” I look at him with my eyebrows raised.
“Yes, Princess?” He grins cheekily and puts his arm over my shoulders. Again.
“Shut up.”
ALEC
The thought of putting my hands in the back pockets of jeans she’s wearing isn’t something I should entertain in public.
Her eyes flick up at me when I call her Princess and I put my arm over her shoulders. I have an irrational need to touch her, make sure she’s not a figment of my imagination. Surely, someone as sexy as her can’t be real.
‘‘Shut up.’’ The ends of her hair flick over my arm and I know she’s real and she smells like strawberries.
Strawberries make me think of cream, and cream makes me think.... Oh hell.
Licking strawberries and cream off her lightly tanned skin as she writhes beneath me....
I run my hand over my face. I need to get laid, and fast.
~
ALEXIS
My door opens and I know who it is without looking.
“Please, Bing, come on in. Make yourself at home,” I say sarcastically. I look up from my E-reader when he drops himself on my bed.
Bing - my older brother. He’s 20, and he’s the biggest pain in the ass in the world. His real name is Samuel, but when he got to my age he already had a name in our area for the biggest man slut. Bing being Bing decided he’d live up to his name, and his friends said he could either be called ‘Bing’ or ‘Tap’ in honour of how many girls he’d slept with.
He said ‘Bing’ and its stuck for the last two years. Only my parents call him Sam. Even Grammy calls him Bing, the legend that she is.
“Hi to you too. You’d think after three months you’d miss your brother.” He pinches my toe and I kick him.
“No. It’s been lush without you.” I smile sweetly.
“Such a rat.” He looks around the room. “Nice crib.”
I shake my head. “Thanks, gangsta wannabe.”
“What?” He fixes his gaze on me.
“Never mind.” I sigh.
He looks at me like I’m weird - rich, coming from him - and shakes his head.
“How’s my favourite little sister then?”
I look at him like he’s the most annoying person in the world.
Which he is.
“I’m your only sister, so I’m your favourite by default, idiot. But I’m fine.”
“Good.” Bing draws the word out and leans back, flexing his toes.
“Get comfy, Bing.” I roll my eyes.
“Yeah, I will, thanks.” He grins at me. “Who’s that dude in the garden?”
“Oh. That’s Alec.” I turn my attention back to my E-reader.
“Who’s Alec?”
“Grammy’s help.”
“Her help?”
“Yeah, she’s getting old, Bing. Can’t do everything she used to.”
“Since when has that ever stopped her?”
I look at him over the top of the e-reader and tilt my head slightly.
He has a point. Even when I was ten and Grammy had her hip replacement she still insisted she could do everything. She’s independent, strong, just like Mum. She’d never accept help from anyone...
“Maybe she’s realised she needs to start taking it easy,” I guess.
“She’s off to Bingo tonight. What happens when Gram goes to Bingo, Lexy? She comes back pissed as a coot.” Bing laughs. “Good on her.”
“I dunno then.” I shrug. “I think she’s trying to set me up with Alec. Maybe the ‘help’ thing is just a ruse for that.”
Bing taps his chin and muses it over. “You can see the garden from here, right?”
“Uh...”
He gets up and moves to the window. He slides the curtain across and pokes his head out the window. He comes back and sits down a minute later.
“You could do worse, Lexy.”
“Gee, thanks,” I retort, turning off the E-reader. Clearly, my brother has no intentions of leaving me alone.
“Just sayin’, sis. You need a boyfriend. You could do with loosening up a little.” He winks and I chuck a pillow at him.
“That better not have a double meaning, Bing!”
“Would I ever?” He mock gasps and holds his hand to his chest.
I give him the ‘yeah, right’ look and he gives in.
“Okay, okay,” he acquiesces. “I’m just sayin’ you could do with a bit of fun. I know you’re worried about your education but you’re not going to uni for like, seven weeks. Relax a little, yeah? Who knows, you could find a keeper.”
“If I can’t find a decent guy in London, what makes you think I will in Devon?”
“Lexy, I only say it cause I care about you, yeah? Lighten up a little this summer. Have a little fun.” He turns to the door and gives me a peace sign. I notice his trousers are hanging halfway down his ass.
“Pull your damn trousers up, you tramp!” I yell as he shuts the door.
“Suck it!” he yells back and I close my eyes.
Why is everyone on at me about lightening up?
~
I wake to the smell of bacon. My nose twitches as I sniff it, that glorious scent. I begin to climb out of bed when I’m hit by the thought that the pig providing my breakfast was most likely local... Hmm... My stomach rumbles and settles my internal argument.
Local pig or not, I need food, and Mr. Piggy is on the menu.
I yawn and open my door before padding down the stairs. I hear cutlery clanging and I stop dead in my tracks at the kitchen door.
Alec is cooking bacon. In my Gram’s kitchen.
“Uh,” is all I can manage.
He turns and appraises me head to toe. My cheeks flame as I realise my satin shorts and top don’t leave much to the imagination.
At least I left my bra on last night. Thank heavens for small mercies.
“Morning,” Alec says with a smirk.
“Morning,” I say nonchalantly. Why am I so embarrassed? The guy has seen me in a bikini, and that’s practically underwear, right?
“Why are you cooking in Gram’s kitchen?” I ask him and jump up on the counter, swinging my legs.
“You’ve seen her on a Monday after Bingo, right?” He chuckles, a deep sound that resonates through my body. I suppress a shiver at it and chastise myself mentally.
Just because he’s hot does not mean I have to melt into a puddle at his feet!
“Uh, yeah...”
“Well, she’s usually hungover, and according to my Gran they both got a bit, uh, merry last night. So I called here and offered to do Vi breakfast.”
“Is that a regular thing?”
“Every week.” He chuckles again and plates up some bacon. “I still ring to ask every Monday though. Help yourself.” He nods to a plate piled high and takes a sandwich up to Gram.
I shrug and hop down. I butter two slices of bread, add a healthy covering of ketchup and put some bacon between them. I cut it in half and lean back against the counter, taking a bite.
Sooooo good.
I moan slightly in delight and glance upwards - into Alec’s smouldering, blue grey eyes.
His eyes flick downwards and he looks at my lips.
“You have a little...” He points to the side of his mouth and I flick my tongue out, licking my lips slowly.
“Did I get it?” I ask innocently, controlling my smile at the way he can’t move his eyes away from my mouth.
Ignoring the crazy beating of my heart.
“No, no,” he says in a low, husky voice. “It’s just...” He brings his thumb up and wipes across my bottom lip softly. I swallow and his eyes meet mine.
“Got it,” he whispers, bringing his thumb to his mouth. His tongue flicks out and licks the ketchup off it and heat spreads through my body, setting my blood on fire.
I can feel my heart hammering against my chest as he searches for something across my face.
Someone clears their throat from the doorway and Alec steps to the side.
Bing’s eyes flick between us several times.
“Morning,” he says and walks to the bacon. “Is this free?”
“Yeah, sure is,” Alec says casually, as if he hadn’t just been caught gazing into my eyes by my brother.
“Wicked.” Bing slaps up two sandwiches in thirty seconds flat and turns round, raising his eyebrows at me. “Alright, Lex?”
“Yeah. Just, going upstairs. Gotta call Jayna.” I pick up the other half of my sandwich and leave the room. I practically run upstairs and push my door closed. I lean my head back against it, sliding down until I’m sitting on the floor.
Is it natural to feel so attracted to someone after only a few days? Well, I guess so. Attraction is instant, right? Feelings come after, when you know a person. And I so don’t know Alec like that yet.
So it’s attraction. Pure and simple.
Yeah.
Attraction.
That’s all.
ALEC
Lexy’s lips are soft, smooth, and just right for kissing.
I could tell that when I ran my thumb across her bottom lip, with her breathing slightly heavy. A thousand things ran through my mind... Like how I couldn’t bring myself to sleep with anyone else knowing she was in town.
This has to stop. Soon.
Her face springs to mind. Flushed cheeks. Sparkling brown eyes. Lips slightly parted.
If I can do that with one touch of my thumb.... I gotta know what I can do with my whole body.
I watch her as she leaves, walking with the just the right amount of wiggle in her hips. My eyes are drawn to them when Bing clears his throat.
‘‘You do realise you just mentally undressed my sister right in front of me, don’t you?’’ His voice holds a bit of annoyance.
‘‘Yep.’’ I figure honesty is best here.
‘‘At least you can admit it.’’ He leans back against the counter and a small smile plays on his lips. ‘‘I’m not blind, you’re as attracted as fuck to each other, but she isn’t your type.’’
‘‘How would you know what my type is?’’ I ask in a biting tone.
His eyebrows shoot up. ‘‘You’re a player. You sleep around, leave girls wanting more then break their hearts. How do I know? I do the same. I’m not proud of it but I ain’t gonna settle down, not any time soon. Problem is, mate, is that the next thing on your to-do is my little sister. She doesn’t do that shit, you get me? She’s got her head screwed on right. She won’t fall for your tricks, she’s too smart.’’
‘‘I never said she wasn’t.’’
‘‘No, but you hoped she was.’’
‘‘Nah.’’ I look back into the hallway, where she’s just disappeared through. ‘‘I know she isn’t like that. You don’t have to be a genius to see she’s a relationship or not at all kinda girl.’’
Bing steps forward until he’s right in front of me. He’s got a couple of inches on me height wise, but I meet his eyes anyway.
‘‘Then unless you plan on being in a serious relationship with her,’’ he warns in a tone of steel, ‘‘you keep your hands, eyes and dick away from her. Hurt her, play her, break her heart, and I’ll break your legs. Understood?’’
‘‘Understood,’’ I say in a clipped tone.
‘‘Sweet.’’ He steps back and grabs his toast. ‘‘We’ll go for a beer soon. Catch you later.’’
He walks away, leaving me wondering what the fuck just happened.
~
ALEXIS
“Hello?” Jayna answers in her upbeat tone.
“It’s me,” I say, my smile showing through my voice.
“Oh, hey!” She tries to sound excited but I know she’s hiding something.
“You okay, Jay?” I question.
“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”
“No reason. You just sound a little hurried.”
“I’m getting ready, we’re all heading out to Red tonight.”
That would explain the noises in the background.
Red is a club we frequent each weekend, and Monday nights in the holidays because of the £1 drinks. I have a fake ID, so it’s not really a problem for me that all my friends are eighteen.
“Oh, cool.”
“Wish you were here, though. It ain’t the same getting ready without my girl,” she says in a softer tone.
I smile slightly. “Yeah, I’m stuck here for another seven weeks.”
“It totally sucks you’re there for your eighteenth! I mean, what are you gonna do for it? Milk some cows? It’s not like farm county is the most happening place.”
A small bubble of annoyance rises in my chest and I bite my tongue.
“It’s not that bad here,” I say tightly, thinking of Jen, Carl, and yes, okay, Alec.
“You alright, Lex? You sound a bit... Funny.” She says suspiciously.
“Stubbed my toe,” I lie. “Hurts like a bitch.”
“Oh, gutted,” she says, accepting my answer. “Is, er, is your brother there yet, or is he here for tonight?”
I suppress an eye roll at her crush on Bing. Even if he wasn’t my brother, I still wouldn’t touch him with a ten foot barge pole. He’s good looking, I can appreciate that, but he has more notches on his bedpost than Hugh Hefner.
“He arrived this morning,” I say.
“Oh,” her mood slips a little. She’s so readable. Like Bing even cares about her crush on him. He’s known for years and all but ignores her.
That, I respect him for. But that’s about all.
“How long is he there for?” she asks, almost hopefully.
“He said he was seeing the summer out down here. He’ll head down to Exeter and Plymouth a couple times to see mates and probably spend most of his weekends in Barnstaple.”
“I didn’t know you guys had friends down there.”
“Yeah, we made some when we were little.”
“Oh, right. Well, I gotta go finish getting ready. I’ll talk to you soon.” She clicks off the line and I take a deep breath, looking at my phone.
I’ve only been in Devon almost a week, and she’s already drifting off.
Stuff her.