Read The Diary of Lexi Ashford (Lexi Ashford: Part One) for Free Online Page B

ring on. His ring finger is bare, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t seeing someone.
    “I guess I will,” he finally says in a flirtatious tone.
    Thank the heavens and fate!
    Hmmm … Maybe being back here won’t be all bad. Of course, going out with Anders would be breaking my rule of no dating hot guys, only average-Joe weirdoes.
    “I’m glad you’re back,” he says. “I wanted to know you more in high school, but you always seemed to run in the other direction whenever I tried to talk to you.”
    “Really?” I’m not about to believe he wanted to get to know the dorky girl in the kangaroo shirt, the girl who used to rock a lot of mismatched sneakers, side ponytails, and over-sized plaid shirts.
    “Don’t look at me like that,” he teases. “I wasn’t as shallow as everyone thought.”
    “You barely said two words to me in high school.”
    “So did you to me.”
    “Yeah, but I was shy.”
    “So was I.”
    I bite on my lip, fighting back a smile. “Okay, you went a little too far with the shy part. I maybe would’ve bought that you just didn’t know what to say to me, but you weren’t shy. You were Mr. High School Fairville Star, for God’s sake.”
    I can’t help laughing at the memory of that silly high school pageant where dudes dressed up and paraded around on stage, performing their talents in hopes of winning a trophy like beauty queen pageants.
    He points a finger at me. “Hey, my girlfriend made me enter that.”
    “Sure she did.” I playfully bump my shoulder against his so he knows I’m kidding.
    He shakes his head, but he’s grinning. “Hey, maybe we could—”
    “I’m supposed to tell you that you need to be up onstage to pick a winner in ten,” a guy suddenly appears out of nowhere.
    When I glance at him, my eyes pop wide. “Sexy Stranger?” Shit. I didn’t mean to say that out loud!
    His lips pull to a cocky half-smile, but before he can open his mouth, I cut him off.
    “What are you doing here?” I ask, crossing my arms.
    His gaze briefly flicks to Anders then lands back on me. “Maybe I should be asking you the same thing.” Amusement dances in his eyes.
    “I live here,” I tell him. “Or, well, I used to. But I just moved back … only for a little while. Then I’m going back to the city… hopefully sooner rather than later. That is, unless my soul gets sucked dry by a unicorn cult.”
    Insert birds and crickets chirping with blank stares.
    “Sorry, inside joke.” I mentally roll my eyes at myself. “Okay, now you go.”
    “You want to know why I’m here?” Sexy Stranger seems even more amused.
    I nod. Why is this question so hard for him to answer?
    Instead of answering, he stares at me, as if waiting for me to figure it out all on my own.
    “Lexi, this is my brother Evan.” Anders gives his brother a pat on the shoulder while aiming a pressing catch-the-fuck-on look at me. “You went to school with him. You guys were even in the same grade.”
    This should be where I get an ah-ha! moment, but nope, nothing. No recognition click. No, oh-yeah-I-remember-you-from-that-one-class. I have no idea how that’s possible and not just because this Evan dude is hot as hell. I thought I knew everyone who lived here, but apparently not.
    Rather than admitting that and looking like a douchebag, I fake it. “Oh, yeah, duh. Evan. Your brother.” I slam the heel of my hand to my forehead. “I can’t believe I forgot you two were brothers. Sorry. Ditz move.”
    Anders totally buys my bullshit, grinning as he gives his brother’s shoulder a little shake. Evan, on the other hand, reads right through my shit and stares me down hard. I swear to God, he doesn’t even blink. It’s freakin’ unnatural and makes me so uncomfortable I actually contemplate rolling under the tent to hide.
    The tension shatters when Anders claps his hands together. “All right, I have to go eat some pie.” He glances at me. “You’re not taking off yet, are you?”
    I want to, but