Forget about me

Chapter twenty

Jeremy

Simultaneously, we all (except for Ryder) shout "surprise!" which was my idea. Lexie stands frozen in place. Her face a mixture of confusion and shock. As Maddie rushes forward with her arms spread ready for a hug, a smile tugs on the corner of Lexie's mouth.

Hunter who stormed onto the deck moments ago looking furious, snatches a beer from the cooler that replaced the bar. He twists the cap off angrily and proceeds to gulp it down before slamming it down on the table. Jasmine and Bella discreetly take a couple of steps away from him. Callie however scowls at the pissed off alpha, her eyes silently reprimanding him for raining on Lexie's surprise.

"What's going on?" Lexie asks Maddie in a hushed voice as the red head drags her toward the other girls who each takes a turn hugging her. In between hugs I notice how her gaze lingers on Ryders glistening bare chest. My heart skips a beat when her gaze travels down mine as well. Catching herself she blinks rapidly and turns her attention back to her friends.

"Girl's night!" Maddie exclaims as if that explains everything. At Lexie's raised brow she goes on "the boys are grovelling. This is their apology." The red head throws her hands out enveloping the entire deck. 

String lights hang above our heads and balloons are tied around the table and wooden fence. Draco sits by one of the tables legs hopping up and down trying to play with one of the bright pink balloons. The little cat has grown on me. Ryder reprimanded him about popping the balloons before Lexie and the boys showed up. We had to tie them higher around the table to keep them all from being destroyed by the little creatures claws. Ry pretends not to like the little kitten but I think he secretly loves him more than anyone, except Lexie of course.

Lexie looks at all of us. "It's not exactly a girl's night if there's boys there."

Sweeping in, I throw an arm across her shoulders and looks down at her with my most charming smile plastered on my face. "We are only here to serve." I explain pointing at Ryder by the grill. "He's cooking." My finger turns back on myself. "I'm bartending, any drink you want say the word and I'll make it." The digit pointed at me moves on to point at Shade. "He's eye candy and..." I look at Hunter. "To be honest I don't know what he's doing."

The little red head takes over, skilfully changing the conversation. "We have face masks, games, music, alcohol, paint and matching pyjamas." Picking said item of clothing up the girls disappear inside the house to change.

Ryder takes the opportunity to glare at Hunt. "Either you paste on a smile and join the fun or leave." It's the only warning he'll give him.

"What fun?" Hunter snaps back. "Nothing about this is fun." He grumbles crossing his arms over his chest and sinking deeper into the chair.

"I don't give a shit if this is your personal nightmare. It's not for you it's for Alex." Ryder snarls pointing a spatula at Hunt.

"You think this is going to make her forgive you? Make her stay and live happily ever after in this house?" he scoffs gesturing at the walls behind us.

"I think," Ry says through gritted teeth, "it's going to make her happy. That's all that matters."

"It would also make her happy to leave but you're not letting her do that."

Ryder opens his mouth to retort but the girls return so he shuts it. Lexie pauses on the doorstep noticing the tension between us. My gaze falls to the new ink on her arm. It looks so good on her even though it makes my stomach tighten with guilt. Everyone else ignores it, taking their places around the table. Jasmine and Bella sit down as far away from Hunter as physically possible sticking close to each other. Even though their slightly uncomfortable to be at the future leader of the wolves' house they're smiling and joking for Lexie's sake. It makes me immediately like them. Callie plops down in the chair next to Hunts challenging him to say or do something without even looking at the man. Maddie sits down opposite her pulling a chair out for my girl and patting it to urge her forward. Leaving the safety of the doorstep behind Lexie takes the chair. I admire her ass in the teal silk shorts decorated with lace. It's paired with a silk spaghetti strap top. The other girls are in the same outfit only different colours. Maddie in white, Jasmine in pink, Bella in dark blue and pants instead of shorts and Callie in red.

I toss a towel onto my shoulder and saunter up to them with an imaginary pen and paper in hand. "Ladies, what are we drinking?"

"A tropical Mai Tai, please." Jasmine says. "And a tequila sunrise for Bella."

"A strawberry Daiquiri." Maddie orders.

"Make that two." Lexie pipes up with a smile.

Nodding I pretend to jot their orders down on my palm before looking at Callie. "Strawberry Hennessy, thanks."

"Coming right up!" I wink at them before turning to Hunter. "Care to give me a hand?" a smile still dances on my lips but my voice is strained. Sighing deeply, he nods once before rising from the chair and following me into the kitchen. I seriously miss the bar on deck. I'll have to convince Ryder to let me install a new one. If we keep the door outside closed and keep an eye on Lexie whenever she's outside it shouldn't be a problem.

With the Hunters help we get all the drinks out at the same time. The smell of spices drift on the air. Ryder looks comfortable in front of the barbeque, moving around it with ease. Returning inside I make his and Shade's drinks of choice, Whiskey on the rocks for Ry and a Jack and coke for Shade. I then make a gold rush for Hunt and a whiskey sour for myself. Once everyone has a drink in hand, I join Shade by Ryder watching the ladies from afar. Lexie interacts with the girls easily. They joke and laugh, immediately falling into a comfortable rhythm with each other.

A surge of jealousy closely followed by sorrow rushes through me. We used to be like that. Used to laugh and joke and move around each other with such ease. It wasn't until we got old enough to start liking Lexie in a different way that there were some awkward moments. But even when we were all vying for her attention, we were always comfortable with each other. Could know what the other was thinking based on how they pursed their lips or how they stood. Could have an entire conversation without ever actually uttering a word. I miss that more than anything. I'd sacrifice my chances at a romantic relationship with Lexie to have that friendship back.

"Hey, everything okay?" Shade nudges my elbow.

Shaking myself out of those thoughts I turn to him with a smile. "Yeah, just hungry." He sees the lie for what it is but doesn't comment. Shade watches Lexie the same way I do. The same way we all do. He checks in, letting me know he's there if I want to talk but doesn't push me to.

It isn't long before plates full of chicken quesadillas are on the table. After Lexie and her friends have more than enough food to eat Ryder cooks some for us too.

"Hey! Come sit." Maddie calls noticing us standing by the fence. Shrugging I make my way over managing to catch a couple of whispered words exchanged between Maddie and Lexie. "What? They shouldn't have to stand."

They fall silent at our approach. An awkward heavy sort of silence that's only punctuated by the scraping of chairs, forks and knives. Slowly, the chatter starts back up again and it isn't long before Maddie picks out a game and orders everyone to play.

"Alright, the rules are this: you roll the dice as someone picks a card for you. The number on the dice decides which question you'll be asked. If you don't answer you have to do a dare that the card reader chooses for you. Or we can do shots instead of dares if you're not comfortable." The red head adds quickly.

"How about if the dare is something you absolutely doesn't want to do, you take a shot of something of the card readers choice?"

"Perfect!" I clap my hands together and pick up the dice. "Let's play!"