4. Alexi

"Toldyou that you should have borrowed my car," Jett sang into my headphones as I stared at my phone screen to double-check I was on the right street. Dammed American grid systems.

"I thought I'd make it. I didn't think Professor Stanson would make me stay longer."

"What did he want, anyway? I don't know a single teacher who even meets the students' eyes as they leave the classroom in case anyone has questions."

I laughed. "That's because apart from you, no one in your classes, including the teachers, actually wants to be there."

"Ouch."

"He said he hoped to include some of my drawings in his student exhibition at the end of the year."

Jett whistled. "Aren't those usually for seniors?"

Yes, which was why I hadn't had the guts to cut the meeting short. Stanson didn't know who I was. To him, I was just another student, which made this opportunity all the more significant.

"Sometimes he includes a sophomore or junior student that shows promise."

"Congrats, boo. You totally deserve to be there. Your art is beautiful."

My face heated with the compliment. Only my parents and close family knew how much art had changed my life. Having it recognized by a teacher who knew me as just another student gave me a strange sense of validation.

"Thanks, Jett. I'll catch you later. Gotta find this coffee shop. What's with the American obsession with coffee anyway?"

He laughed as I hung up the call and pocketed the headphones. Okay, so I was on the right street, now I just—"Hmph."

I stepped back to steady myself after bumping into a wall of muscle, already preparing for the embarrassment of being so distracted I didn't see where I was going.

"Troy." I gasped as my face heated to the point I was sure I could fry an egg on my cheek, which wasn't an image I wanted in my head.

"I'm so sorry. I thought you saw me after I called your name. You suddenly changed direction on me, and it was too late to stop you."

"I…um…" Find your words, Alexi. "Nice to see you…again."

God, his smile made my belly feel warm, like spring in Lydovia. I couldn't even meet his gaze.

"I'm sorry I bumped into you," I said.

"You are?"

"Yeah, I should have paid more attention. I was looking at the…" I didn't finish my thought. What would I say? The truth? No way.

Shit. My meeting.

I spotted the coffee shop on the other side of the road as I looked around. "I'm so sorry, I have to go."

"Oh, okay."

I glanced back at Troy. He almost sounded…disappointed? Was he happy to have bumped into me?

How bad would it be if I canceled the meeting with Elite?

My phone dinged with a message. I didn't need to look farther than the preview on the screen to know Elite had canceled again.

"Meeting someone?" Troy asked.

"No. Not anymore."

"I guess it's your lucky day."

"How so?" I chuckled.

"Have you ever been to a barcade?"

"A what?"

He grinned. "Do you have anything else to do today, and do you have a car?"

"No, and no, I walked."

Troy grabbed my hand and pulled me in the direction I'd just come from.

I tried to ignore how amazing his touch felt, even if it was just my hand and only to guide me to wherever we were going.

"Wow, this is your car?" I asked when he stopped in front of a black Lexus SUV.

"No. Like I could afford this. I had, um…something to do in this area and borrowed the car from a friend."

I got into the passenger seat and immediately wondered how I would survive the drive when Troy took up so much space. His cologne alone made my head spin and my dick swell.

"I do the same. My dads wanted me to have a car, but the only models Uncle Sergei said I was allowed to drive were too big and flashy. We fought over it until I put my foot down and said I'd just walk everywhere. Jett is great and lets me borrow his car when needed."

"I can imagine how that went down with Sergei."

"It wasn't pretty."

"You still haven't told me how you convinced them to let you come to the States without a security team on your tail."

"Uncle Sergei is still sulking over it, but I don't doubt they can somehow track my every move." I loved how close my family was. It had been just what I'd needed at fifteen when my dads adopted me. But I was an adult now, and Sergei, the head of the royal guard and one of my dad's best friends, was almost worse than my parents when it came to my safety.

Still, they'd let me come to the States on my own, and that's exactly how I felt.

I kept my eyes on the road so I wouldn't give my real emotions away. My stupid teenage love-sick heart had wanted a better reception from Troy, but we were here now, and I planned on making the most of it.

"Where are you taking me again?"

"The best place in the world."

"That can't be true because you know we're too far away."

I glanced at Troy and caught his smile.

"You're right. Our spot at the palace is the best place. This is the second best then."

He put some music on for the rest of the journey, and I relaxed into the comfortable seats of the car.

When I say relaxed, I mean I spent the whole time trying not to be caught staring at him.

I knew I'd changed since we'd met. Thanks to my uncles, I'd worked hard at the gym and bulked up a little, but I'd always be on the slim side.

Troy, however, had grown a few extra inches and gained muscles to rival his former pro-football player brother. I liked it. I liked it a lot, and so did my dick.

It was a relief when we got to our destination. I was no longer in proximity to Troy, his muscles, and his cologne.

"Oh, this is an arcade," I said when we walked inside the big building covered in neon lights.

"It's much better. It's a barcade. You can play the games, but they also have drinks. Come on, let's hydrate and then play. I'm in the mood to kick your butt today."

I chuckled. "This is going to be fun." Because he had no idea who he was playing against.

With a beer each, we walked the aisles filled with games.

"Let's go slow and pick an easy one," he said.

"Okay."

I took a swig of my beer, enjoying how it went down. I wasn't a huge drinker, but the craft beer in Lydovia was some of the best in the world, and I liked trying new ones wherever I went.

"How about pinball? They have Rush," Troy said, scratching his short scruff. I didn't know if he'd stopped shaving to grow a beard or just because he didn't feel like doing it, but it was a good look on him.

Once again, thoughts of how that scruff would feel against my skin made my blood run south.

"You're right," he said, even though I hadn't acknowledged his words. "Medieval Madness is definitely the best. If they haven't got it, we'll pick another one."

I followed him as he rambled about each game until he stopped between two games. Snake Pit and Tapper.

It was adorable watching his decision-making process, as if our enjoyment of the afternoon depended on it.

"I'll grab us two more beers while you decide," I said.

"Sure. I'll switch to soda after that one."

I nodded and went straight to the bar.

By the time I returned with our drinks, Troy had moved on to another game.

"Do you take this long to get dressed in the morning?" I joked.

"Getting dressed is an easy decision. This is hard."

"That's what he said."

Troy looked at me, and we both laughed. He tipped his beer to take a sip but then abruptly stopped.

Before I saw it coming, I had Troy's arms around me. His cologne filled my senses, making me dizzy, and he was so warm and big. Safe.

"I missed you, Lexi," he said in my ear, and I almost wanted to cry.

When was the last time he'd called me that?

"I missed you too."

When he pulled back, there was something in the way he looked at me. "I was a dick. I should have been there for you when you moved."

"It's okay. I know you're busy with classes."

He shook his head. "You should never be too busy for your best friend. I was a dick. Simple as that."

"Okay. What are you going to do about it? Let me win a game?"

He laughed. "No chance." And then he was off again, practically running toward the end of the aisle. "Come on. I know what we're going to play."