“No, Bacon!” I shouted through a laugh, prying his jaws apart to free Allie’s hair.
Rubbing at her scalp, she rose to her feet. “I’m gonna go grab a quick shower. You should probably take the Baconator out to potty.” Just as the words left her lips, Bacon popped a squat, relieving himself on my bedroom carpet.
“No, Bacon!” Alex and I yelled in unison. Something told me being puppy parents was going to be a lot of work.
“Yeah, so the guy at PetSmart said we should keep him on the tile ’til he’s potty trained.” Her mouth pulled into a frown. “I didn’t think he’d have to go so soon. I took him out before I brought him up here.”
“It’s fine, Allie,” I laughed. “Go get in the shower, and I’ll clean this up.”
“Where’s Bacon?” Alex asked, coming out of the bathroom, followed by a cloud of steam.
“Finn and Blex are playing with him downstairs,” I said, patting the bed next to me for her to sit. “Time for your present.”
Allie’s face lit up as she sat with her hands laced in her lap, bouncing on her knees.
I handed her the small box, watching intently as she ripped the paper off, eager for her reaction.
“Tiffany’s?” she shrieked. “You got me Tiffany’s!”
“Are you going to open it and see what’s inside?” I laughed.
Allie pulled the top off the blue box and lifted the black velvet one from inside. She pried it open slowly, gasping when she found the heart-shaped locket. Her eyes welled up with tears before she’d even seen the best part.
“Take it out and open it, Al,” I urged
Her thumb rolled over the words engraved on the front side, “Our love story.” Then she opened the locket. One side held a picture of two chubby babies and the other a photo my mom had taken of us on Thanksgiving Day.
“It’s perfect,” she rasped with tears dripping down her face as she fingered the photos inside. “I love it so much, Colton. Thank you.”
“You’re welcome,” I said, taking the necklace from her hands and fastening it around her neck. “All set,” I whispered in her ear. “Two decades down, Al, and we’re just really getting started.”
Alex spun around to face me, her hand clutching the locket to her chest. “Kiss me, Colton.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I answered with a salute before taking her chin with my thumb and forefinger and molding my mouth to hers. My tongue pressed against the seam of her lips and they parted, granting me entry. Alex let out a whimper. Her hands lifted from my chest to cup the sides of my face as she began smoothing her fingers through the day-old scruff. I worshiped her with every thrust of my tongue, pulling her tighter into my arms until I could feel her heart beating with mine. Until my own felt as if it would burst, incapable of containing the overwhelming love I felt for this girl.
“Colton,” she breathed, rocking into me.
Bang. Bang. Bang.
A fist pounded on our bedroom door. “Colton, your present just dropped a deuce on the kitchen floor. I’m not dealing with this shit...Literally. I’m not. I’m gonna puke.”
Alex and I pulled apart, resting our foreheads together as we shared a breathy laugh.
“Are you two doing the nasty?” Finn whined.
Alex burst into a fit of giggles.
“No,” I said, “we’re coming.”
“I didn’t ask all that now,” he grumbled through the door. “Hurry up. The whole house smells like a turd.”
ALEXIS
“WHERE THE HELL IS Colton?” I asked, coming into the house from walking Bacon. He was supposed to be practicing my shot with me for that damn halftime show I’d stupidly agreed to, which was tomorrow night.
“Coach needed his help with some things. Come on, Alexis,” Blex said, getting up from the couch. “Put Bacon in his crate, and I’ll go practice with you.
“Blex, he’s been gone like all day, and yesterday too,” I whined. I missed him like crazy, and everyone was acting so weird, not giving me any real reasons for his absence. I hated that my mind kept going to very dark places, but I just couldn’t help it.
“You swear he’s not cheating on me, Blex?” I finally asked, gnawing my thumbnail down to the skin.
“I promise,” he answered, looking me right in the eyes. “That boy’s got it bad, Alex. Trust me, he is not interested in anyone else. I swear he’s with Coach Grady.” That made me feel a little better, if only marginally. I didn’t think Blex would lie to me, and honestly, I knew in my heart that Colt wouldn’t either. I just couldn’t help the paranoia creeping in.
Just then, Finn came trudging down the stairs wearing nothing but a pair of boxers and toting a massive erection. Living with three guys was, ummm, interesting in that department for sure. I spent a lot of time averting my eyes, wishing I could un-see things. And by things I meant boners. Every time I turned around one of those boys was sportin’ wood. They had no shame, and they didn’t tell each other either. Guys should have some secret sign for, “Your dick is hard.” I couldn’t have been the only person in the room who saw that shit.
“Where are your clothes?” I asked, looking off to the side.
“I was napping. You two assholes woke me up. Now gimme that mutt so I can put him in his cage and you go practice that shot.” Finn made grabby hands toward the pup in my arms. “You better not embarrass me by losing tomorrow, Lexi. People know we’re friends.”
“I don’t see you doing anything to help me.” My brows shot up as I passed Bacon over to him. “And don’t let me find him in your bed when I get back. He has to sleep in his kennel, Finn.”
My heart swelled when that big blond jock started baby talking to the dog. “Your momma’s just a mean old bitch, ain’t she, Bacon?” Holding him up with his lips puckered, he let that puppy lick all over his face. “I know. I know she is...”
“Finn,” I growled. “I fucking mean it. He’s just starting to sleep most of the night without crying to get in our bed.”
“So, let him in!”
“We sleep naked,” I huffed, feeling my cheeks heat. “And I don’t want dog hair in my vagina or him to lick me in places his tongue should never see.”
Finley dismissed me with a sigh as he turned to climb the stairs, muttering to the little ball of fur, “It’s okay, Bacon...Uncle Finn loves you.” Who knew a dog would soften the testosterone levels in this house so drastically?
“Widen your stance, Alex. Your feet should be shoulder width apart.” Blex bent down, physically turning my feet to point a little to the left. “Like that. Every. Single. Time.”
“Got it.”
“This is where you’ll be standing when you make your shot.” He put the ball in my hands, adjusting their position. “Now, you’ll wanna bend those knees just a little with each shot.”
“All right, let’s do this. Where’s the blindfold?” I asked, bouncing a little on my heels to get a feel for the knee bend.