Lex and Lu by J. Santiago Read Free Book Online Page B

more trying.”
    Although skeptical, he accepted her logic. Before he’d seen her talking to Pete, he hadn’t been itching to spend any time with her either. He hated to admit he was sorry that she didn’t seem to feel the same compulsion he did. She hadn’t been rocked by the sight of him. He silently acknowledged that he’d been spending too much time with groupies. She wasn’t nearly as impressed with him.
    “I know this will sound trite, but how are you?” he ventured, curious about her.
    She smiled. “I’m good. Things are good.”
    “What are you doing with your life?” he asked, then laughed. “Shit, that doesn’t quite sound like what I want to know.”
    Again, she smiled, knowing how awkward this felt. “It’s OK. I know what you mean. And I’m finishing up my dissertation.”
    “Not shocking.” Again, a pause, a smile. “What’s it on?”
    She hedged. “I’m getting my doctorate in psychology.”
    “Not English?”
    “Ah, no.”
    “Fought that tooth and nail, huh?”
    “Absolutely.” She looked away. Of course he’d remember that she wanted to make her own way. Not be like her mother. “What about you? Is being who you are everything you thought it would be?”
    “Just like you to start out with the hard questions.” Shaking his head, he thought carefully about his answer. “Yes and no.”
    “Thought we weren’t playing word games,” she teased.
    “My answer has evolved over time. At twenty, it was everything I thought it would be. Soccer all the time. Localized fame. Easy pickings.” He stopped. “It’s different now. I still love playing. God, I love it. It’s like I was born just to do that. There’s no greater high. But it’s also a business. I used to just let my agent handle everything, but I wanted to be more involved with everything. Mostly because of my dad. He didn’t like that I didn’t always know what was going on. So I spend a lot of time trying to manage my affairs.”
    “So he got his businessman after all,” she said knowingly.
    Chuckling, Lex agreed. “Yes, he did. I hated it at first. And even though I know Caroline knows I’m not stupid, we had to jump through a lot of ‘dumb jock’ hoops. I had to prove myself to her. Which in the end felt good—but it pissed me off in the beginning. I almost fired her.”
    Lu laughed. “Oh, I’d have paid to see that. She made you work. Ha. Bet that felt different.”
    With a self-deprecating grin, he said, “It did.” They were quiet for a while. Each lost in their own thoughts.
    “I’m so sorry about Mr. P.,” she said softly. “He was such a special person. I will really miss him.” She reached out to Lex, grabbing his hand and squeezing it.
    “Thanks, Lu.” Reaching over with his other hand, he turned hers, lightly stroking her palm with his thumb. “I didn’t know what it would be like to see you again. But it feels so natural sitting here with you. It doesn’t seem right that we haven’t had a conversation in eight years.”
    Danger, danger! her head screamed. She pulled her hand away. “I’m going to go rescue Will,” she said hastily, as she stood up.
    Standing also, he said, “Lu? Come on. She’s fine.”
    Adamant, Lu started walking away. “I’ll see you in the morning, Lex.”
    He started to walk the other way, but stopped and headed toward her. Covering the ground quickly, he grabbed her by the hips and moved her gently up against the HardiePlank of the house, his body penning her in. Her eyes held a weary message that he was unable to decipher. “Where’s my good-night hug?” he asked, mischief dancing in his eyes.
    “You are still the same—bully.” God, could she not have exited gracefully? Annoyed but unable to resist playful Lex, she shook her head.
    His arms snaked around her waist and he pulled her into his body. It was almost enough, he thought. Almost. But not! He pulled back enough for her to look him in the eye. Then his mouth captured hers.

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