Page 50 of Finding Lexie
“Good. Now, if our guard dogs will stand down, we can head over to the grill and make sure Slate isn’t squishing the hamburgers. I’ve told him a hundred times not to do that, but he literally can’t seem to help himself.”
Lexie smiled, and Midas relaxed.
Mustang stepped away from Elodie as well, and Midas let out a small whoosh of relief. Never in a million years would he have thought he’d go toe-to-toe with one of his teammates, but when it came to Lexie, he realized he absolutely would. Though, he should’ve known Lexie wouldn’t let things get to that point. She was kind from the tips of her unruly hair down to her toes. She’d do whatever it took to smooth things over, just as she’d done here.
“Don’t let Slate sneak a cookie,” Midas warned as Lexie headed for the grill with Elodie.
“Cookies?” Mustang asked. “What kind?”
“Pumpkin spice,” Lexie told him.
“I think you should let me take those for you. I’ll just put them on the table with the other food,” Mustang said slyly.
“Don’t do it,” Midas told her. “He’s worse than Aleck when it comes to dessert.”
Elodie laughed. “I swear, you guys act like you’ve never eaten before. I seem to remember there being a plate of chocolate-dipped raspberries twenty minutes ago, and now it’s completely empty. You didn’t even save any for poor Lexie.”
Mustang went over to his wife and pulled her into his embrace. “You can’t blame us. You’re just too good of a cook,” he said.
“Flatterer,” Elodie complained half-heartedly.
Midas caught Lexie’s eye and smiled at her. She didn’t seem uneasy, and he’d suspected she’d get along with everyone just fine. That was just her way. She accepted people exactly as they were.
Elodie pulled out of her husband’s embrace and hooked her arm with Lexie’s. “Come on, we’ll guard your cookies from the hungry jackals and make sure Slate isn’t messing up the burgers at the same time.”
Aleck appeared at Midas’s side, and he pulled his gaze from Lexie long enough to look over at his friend. “What?” he asked when Aleck didn’t say anything.
“Nothing. I like her.”
It wasn’t as if Midas needed his friends’ approval, but it sure meant a hell of a lot that he had it. “Thanks. Me too.”
“Yeah, that’s obvious. But…” His voice trailed off.
“What?” Midas asked again.
“It’s just been…fast,” Aleck finished with a shrug.
“It has. But we’re not getting married tomorrow,” Midas told him. “I like her. A lot. We’re still getting to know each other. But I’ll tell you this, she’s unlike anyone I’ve ever dated before. Just wait, someday you’re gonna meet a woman who completely knocks you off your feet, and I’m gonna remind you of this conversation and your skepticism.”
Aleck shrugged. “Just because you and Mustang have found great women, doesn’t mean the rest of us will.”
“True, but sometimes when we least expect it, the exact right person falls out of the sky and into your lap.”
Aleck burst into laughter. “A take on the song ‘It’s Raining Men’, huh?”
“I wasn’t being literal, asshole,” Midas said, slugging his friend on the shoulder.
“Seriously, happy for you, man,” Aleck continued. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I appreciate it. I have no idea where things will end up with Lexie and me, but I have a good feeling about it. Besides, if things go sideways, I know you’ll have my back.”
“Fuck yeah, I will,” Aleck said.
“Come on, those burgers have to be done. I’m starved.”
Midas headed for the grill with Aleck, observing as Pid laughed at something Lexie said. He wasn’t surprised in the least that she fit in so well. He imagined that she could be plunked down in the middle of a primitive cannibalistic tribe smack dab in the Amazon rainforest and within an hour, she’d be best friends with the chief’s wife and children and welcomed with open arms. A little dramatic, maybe…but no less true.
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