Stay

Mia froze. Her skin prickled. A horrible suspicion caused her to clench her fists. Crap. Had Alexander carried in Sacha’s phone with the rest of her stuff? That would be bad. She’d just sent Sacha a text about him. Ohh. Noo.

Chapter 5

“When does Sacha get here?” Mia repeated her question, super proud of the strained, weirded-out tone in her voice.

Niko patted Alexander’s arm. “Sacha’s here.”

&nbs

p; No way. No freaking way. Mia stepped forward, her gaze glued to Alexander’s face. “Sacha’s a girl.” Mia said it slowly and clearly, and then looked at Hope for confirmation.

Hope nodded.

Niko shook his head. “No.”

Alexander’s perfect lips twisted in offense, as if to ask how she could doubt his manliness. No one would doubt this guy was a guy. He was stunning, but not in a pretty way; he was stunning in a big, hot guy way.

Hope mouthed, “My mistake,” and then turned to Niko with wide, questioning eyes.

“Sacha’s short for Alexander. The family uses Sacha. Or you can call him Alexi, if you like,” Niko explained, sounding all reasonable and pleased. “He prefers Alexi.”

Sacha. Alexander. Alexi? His name was Alexi! How could Hope make a mistake of this magnitude? Why hadn’t Sacha/Alexi told her? Couldn’t Alexi tell by her texts that she thought he was a girl? Why hadn’t he corrected her? Why? Mia’s mind raced over the texts she’d sent. Had she mentioned bras? Boys? Cramps? All…of…the…above. Ugh. We were friends. Sort of. He should have told me.

Hope put a hand on Niko’s arm and raised her eyebrows.

Mia scooted in closer to hear the rest of his explanation.

“You wouldn’t move in without Mia.” Niko’s voice was low. “You wouldn’t have moved her if you knew Sacha was my brother.” After finishing his rationalization, Niko nodded and smiled. “It all worked out for the best.” He was clearly satisfied as he shared his reasoning for the unacceptable lie.

Hope shoved a hand through her hair, frowning, looking at a complete loss.

Mia tried to catch Hope’s gaze.

Beep. Alexi checked his phone and stepped back into the foyer. “Please, excuse me.”

Freak. Just read your email like any normal person in front of the rest of us. Leaving the room, like he needed privacy to check his messages, reeked of deception. That’s how Jake had acted before he’d dumped her. He is going to check his messages. He is going to get my message. A hot flush went up her neck and heated her cheeks. Mia hurried to stop him.

Alexi stood in the foyer alone.

She focused on his phone, trying to think of how to get it and delete her words. “Um…” Screw it. She reached for his phone.

Alexi jerked the phone away fast and lifted it over his head. A crooked smile curled his lips. Take it if you can.

He had to have known all along that she thought she was texting a girl, and now he used that phone to mock her?

No way.

The smugness made her lose it. He was tall. But his reach wasn’t too high for a cheerleader. She took three quick steps, braced her hands on his shoulders, and jumped.

Chapter 6

Alexi’s smirk died as Mia landed against him. He staggered back, stepped on a small piece of brown leather luggage, and fell. He grunted as her weight knocked him flat against the marble, the luggage scattering around them like broken hearts on a break-up card.

“Everything okay?” Niko asked from the other room.

Don’t come in here. “Just the bags.” She turned back to her task. Find the phone. Ah ha. Mia yanked the phone from Alexi’s hand and struggled for a solid grasp on the smooth metal.

Success.