Chapter 18

Same day

Lexi stares at me with shock in her eyes. The tote bag in her hand crashes to the floor and a few books spill out.

“Uh-oh,” Connor says.

I stand and hold him in my arms as I move to her.

She’s frozen in place, staring between us. “I should’ve asked. I didn’t realize …”

“It’s fine; don’t worry about it,” I tell her, bending over to help her pick up everything. “You had no issues getting in?”

“Wee,” Connor says, laughing as I hold him tight against me.

“None.” Her cheeks burn bright red, and she doesn’t look in my direction as I hand her the bag.

Then, I see her mentally build the brick wall, masking her emotions. She moves to the kitchen and puts something on the counter.

“Airplane!” Connor demands, and I hold him at his waist, flying him like Superman around the leather couch.

I walk around the living room as he screams and laughs, enjoying every minute. When I look up, Lexi smiles and watches us.

“This is Connor Calloway,” I tell her. “And he’s coming in for a landing! Vrooooooooooom.” I try my best with the sound effects, flying him back to the couch and swiping his belly against the cushions.

I set him down and he climbs back onto my lap.

Lexi joins us.

“Hi, I’m Lexi,” she says to him, holding her hand out.

He shakes his head, tucking his face into my chest.

“Don’t be shy,” I whisper. “She’s very nice.”

Lexi chuckles. “He looks so much like you.” Her voice is light and playful.

“Yeah, he’s a dead ringer for me and Weston.” I give her a smirk.

That sparkle returns to her eyes as she turns back to Connor. “How old are you?”

“Three,” he says, holding up four fingers.

“He’s two and a half. But his mother would say thirty months.” I bend his fingers down. “Two.”

Mischievously, he flips me off. Weston taught him that. It takes everything I have not to laugh, and Connor points his loaded finger at her.

“Manners,” I say. “A gentleman doesn’t act like that toward a lady.”

Lexi snorts.

I meet her eyes, leaning in to whisper, “You’re encouraging him.”

Connor looks up at her and pushes off of me, crawling to Lexi and plopping onto her lap.

“Uh, hi.” She readjusts herself to support him better so he doesn’t fall.

Connor reaches forward and runs his fingers through her hair.

“You should be glad I just washed his hands. Otherwise, you’d have sticky fingers to deal with.”

“I appreciate that,” she says. “Connor Calloway, you’re adorable.”

“Runs in the family,” I mutter, watching her be so gentle while asking him questions.

He’s as mesmerized by her as I am. I lean against the couch, noticing how patient she is.

“Mine.” Connor pokes her shoulder.

I laugh, placing my hand on Lexi’s back. “No, she’s mine.”

He shakes his head. “Lex. Mine.”

I chuckle when he decides to shorten her name, and she glances at me because I’ve tried it too.

“Lexi,” she corrects.

“Lexi,” he repeats, grinning. He nods and then looks at me. “Mine.”

“Connor, she’s going to be my wife. Did you know that?”

A hint of blush touches her cheeks.

“No,” he says, pointing his finger at me sternly.

“Actually, yes.” It takes strength not to laugh as he wiggles from her and sprints across the room toward a few toys he was dropped off with. He grabs a truck and bolts back toward us, handing it to her. “I like this.”

“Oh, me too.” She turns it over, studying it. “Hmm, 1950-ish Ford F1. You can tell because of the front fender.” She points to the front of it.

He stares at her and gasps like she told him the most important fact of his life. “Wow.”

“Wow indeed.” My phone buzzes before I can say anything else, and I unlock it.

ANNA

Be there in five minutes.

EASTON

No problem.

I shove it into my pocket, bringing my attention back to them. Lexi shares more truck facts, and he listens to every word.

“Do you have a puppy?” he asks.

Lexi laughs and shakes her head. “No. Do you?”

“He doesn’t because his mother won’t allow it,” I explain.

“Oh,” she whispers.

A minute later, the doorbell rings, and I answer. I step to the side and allow Anna to enter. She smiles at me before noticing Alexis with Connor.

There’s a look in her eye, but she doesn’t say anything. She knows better. “How is he today?”

“In a good mood—for once.”

“Connor,” Anna singsongs, and as soon as he sees her, he latches on to Lexi and cries. “Come on, sweetie. It’s time to go to your friend’s birthday party.”

He screams at the top of his lungs, and my ears ring. Lexi doesn’t know what to do as Connor grabs on to her T-shirt and refuses to let go.

Anna struggles but eventually pulls him away and holds him in her arms as he kicks his feet and arms. “You need a nap.”

“Noooooooo,” he screams like she’s hurting him. She’s not.

“Lexi! Lexi!” he says with his arms outstretched.

“You’ll see each other again soon,” I tell him, following them to the door. “But you have to be good right now.”

He blinks up at me, pouting. Elephant-sized tears run down his cheeks.

“Lexi.” He points to Lexi, then shoves his fingers in his mouth. Tears that he forces streak his cheeks. The boy can turn them on in a snap.

“I’ll be here,” she promises.

“She’s not going anywhere,” I confirm.

He nods and I hug him, moving his messy hair from his face.

“Be a gentleman, okay?”

“Thank you,” Anna whispers, meeting my eyes before they leave.

When they’re gone, I lock the door, then turn toward her. “How was your day?”

“Wait.” She shakes her head. “That’s the first thing you’re saying to me after that?”

I smirk and lift a brow. “What are you referring to?”

“Easton, you have a secret baby. I did some research, and no one ever once mentioned you had a kid.”

I move to the couch, sitting next to her.

“How do you feel about that?” I ask, studying her, reading her, trying to understand what she thinks.

Lexi sucks in a deep breath. “Having a child involved with something so … temporary is a bad idea.” She leans back against the cushion.

“He’s already Team Lexi though. The kid has the memory of an elephant. I’m sure he’ll be asking about you for weeks to come.”

We sit in silence for a minute as she tries to process whatever it is she’s thinking.

“You two have the same eyes.”

“It’s a Calloway thing,” I admit. “My dad and grandfather. Good genes.”

“He’s cute. It will be fun, having him around,” she finally says. “Give me someone to hang out with when you’re off doing whatever you do. But … I wish you’d told me so I could’ve been more prepared,” she hurries and adds.

I can’t hold it in any longer and burst into laughter.

Her brows crease and she shakes her head. “Why is that funny?”

“Connor is my brother. Not my kid. Anna is his nanny. My father traded my mother in for a younger model, literally, and knocked her up almost immediately.”

Her lips part and I think I hear a relieved sigh release from her.

“When I told you there were no other women, I fucking meant it. It’s only you, Lexi. There is no one else.”

She smiles. “I’m glad.”

“You’re adorable,” I admit. “What were you thinking?”

“I thought how awful it would be to become the evil stepmother. I kept thinking that you’d knocked up someone in two weeks and broken it off after fourteen days.” She shakes her head.

I chuckle. “I’m not that big of an asshole.”

“That’s the thing, Easton. I want to know everything about you. I’m in a constant state of guessing and gathering crumbs from the things you do share. I don’t even know your favorite color or number or day of the week.”

“Black. Thirteen. Saturday.”

“Very emo of you.” She swallows hard. “And I want to know the deeper things too. Like, do you want kids?”

“I don’t know,” I say on an exhale. “This world and life are so fucked up. I don’t know if I’d want to subject anyone else to this. By the time I’m ready to retire, Connor will be old enough to take over the business, so it’s not like I need an heir, and I’m sure Weston will have fifteen children when he finds the one. It’s never really been an option for me, so it’s not something I’ve ever considered.”

She meets my gaze, and I can’t place the sadness on her face.

“I think you’d be a wonderful dad,” she whispers. “And you’d be able to give your children one of the best lives there is to live.”

“With the right person,” I say. “I don’t want them to have the same life I did. My parents weren’t in love. I realize that now.”

She nods. “You’ll eventually find someone. I know it.”

“I hope,” I say, wondering if I already have. “And what about you?”

She glances at me. “Yellow. Four. Friday. And maybe about the kids.” She pauses for a long while. “I’ve always wanted to be a mom, but I can’t get pregnant. Pretty sure I’m broken.”

“You’re not.”

“I am, and that’s okay. I’ve come to terms with it. When I’m no longer anti-love, maybe I’ll try again or adopt.” She forces a smile. “It doesn’t really matter right now though, not until our agreement has expired.”

I watch her intently as she shuffles through her emotions and buries the ones she doesn’t want to share.

“Please don’t look at me like that,” she whispers.

“It’s not pity, Lexi. It’s admiration.”

She nods, giving me a small smile.

“So, onto my next question. Do you have plans tonight?” I ask, smirking, knowing she wants to talk about anything but this.

“Actually, my calendar has been cleared for the next year.”

“Love to hear it. I want to take you somewhere.”

She smiles. “You know I love surprises.”