Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 113130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 113130 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 566(@200wpm)___ 453(@250wpm)___ 377(@300wpm)
“I think it’s a little late to be modest about that since I’m literally attending my baby shower.”
“Our baby shower,” he reminds me, grabbing my hand and walking down the steps. “Wait until you see outside.” He pulls me toward the backyard, where the new pool sits with a fence around it. The whole other part of the backyard is covered by a tent and there are white tables and chairs everywhere. Each table has what looks like a teddy bear holding on to a bouquet of blue, brown, and light-pink balloons.
We walk outside and we’re literally engulfed by all the family members on both sides. They try to pull Jaxon away from me, but he’s Jaxon and refuses to leave my side. I’m turning to walk when I spot Lexi coming down the steps in the backyard, and my mouth opens.
She looks around and then looks down and she tucks her black hair behind her ear as I start to walk to her. “Lexi,” I call her name and she looks up, smiling at me. Her dark-blue eyes stare at me as she smiles and then bumps into someone. She immediately jumps back, falling to the ground, and turning her head to the side.
“I’m so sorry,” Kirby says. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.”
She tries to stand up, but I can see her shaking and I stop in my tracks. “No, I’m sorry.” She avoids looking at him. “I wasn’t watching where I was going.” Her voice is monotone, and I finally make it to them.
“Hey,” I greet her and she looks at me but still avoids looking at Kirby. “Lexi,” I call her name, taking her in my arms and feeling how thin she is. “This is such a nice surprise,” I say and she smiles at me. “I didn’t think you could make it.” She is usually never at any family gatherings.
“Trent was called in for emergency surgery, so I thought why not.” She smiles at me, mentioning her husband, who is a renowned neurosurgeon. He’s the head of neurosurgery in Phoenix.
“Amazing. Lexi, this is one of Jaxon’s teammates, Kirby,” I introduce them and she doesn’t extend her hand like she normally would, instead she smiles and nods her head.
“It’s nice to meet you.” She holds her purse tightly in both her hands. “I’m sorry about bumping into you.” She looks quickly away from him. “I’m going to go and say hello to my mother. She doesn’t know I’m here.”
She walks away from us and I look at Kirby. “Holy fuck,” he swears, “she’s fucking beautiful.”
“She’s very married,” I tell him.
“Oh, I know, the six-carat rock on her hand screams stay away from my wife,” he jokes. “I put my gift at the door. If you can open it in front of Jaxon, I’ll give you twenty bucks.” He winks at me and walks away. My eyes go back to look at Lexi, who smiles at her mother, and then stands behind her as her mother jokes with a couple of the guys from the team, making sure there is someone in between them.
“You okay?” Jaxon asks, coming to me.
“Yeah,” I reply, shaking my head, making a note to message Lexi later. “Kirby gave us a gift and left it at the door. He says we have to open it together.”
“Fun,” he says, slipping his hand in mine. “Let’s get you sitting down and off your feet.” I let him lead me to sit down , only stepping away about thirty minutes later when I escape to go to the bathroom.
I walk into the house and duck down to go upstairs to my own bathroom when I hear her voice. “Trent, I thought you would be busy all weekend.” Her voice is almost frantic. “I’m sorry, I’ll come back home right now.” Then she stops. “Yes, yes, of course. I’ll leave right now.” I look into the living room, seeing her in the corner of the room, her side turned to look at the wall. “Of course I’ll tell them not to come.” She doesn’t say anything else because Trent must have hung up.
“Hey,” I say, my heart beating fast in my chest, “are you okay?”
“Yeah.” She smiles and it’s so fake her face almost cracks. “Trent finished earlier than he thought and wanted to take me away for a couple of days.” I can smell the fear on her. “I have to go and tell my parents I’m going away and they can’t visit.” She blinks away the tears. “I’m sorry I can’t stay longer.”
“No, of course.” I shake my head. “I’m just happy you came.” I go to hug her and I don’t know why, but I hug her even tighter. “We should”—I swallow down the lump—“definitely make a plan for you to come and visit when you get back.”