Mr. Big Love (Mr. Big 2)

They led him back out through the side door, and I was glad that was it.

I went around to the front of the courthouse where the limo was waiting and when I got inside, I texted Luke.

ALEXA: I'm outside in the limo waiting for you.

In a few moments, I got a text back.

LUKE: Just picking up my things and speaking with Peter. I'll be out in a few minutes. Thanks for coming to meet me.

ALEXA: I'm so glad they dropped the charges.

LUKE: Me, too. See you asap.

I sighed and leaned back, closing my eyes for a moment, trying to relax. I expected that Eric's charges would be dropped as well and that he'd be released only to find that he'd been kicked out of his home, his belongings in storage.

I guess he could go and cry on his girlfriend's shoulder. It just made me so mad that he would cheat on Dana. She was beautiful and smart and such a sweet woman. Why would he do it? Was he just a scummy guy?

I just didn't get it.

In about fifteen minutes, Luke came down the steps of the courthouse, looking tired but the smile on his face said he was happy I was there to meet him.

The driver was waiting and opened the door for him, and the first thing Luke did was lean over and kiss me.

"Thank you," he said and looked in my eyes. "Thus ends my first and, hopefully, only experience of the New York Criminal Justice System."

"Yes," I said. "Let's hope."

Then, I told him about Dana and how she'd moved all Eric's possessions to a storage unit.

"Jesus," Luke said and shook his head. "I guess I'll end up being Eric's public enemy number one because of this. He's not going to like that she kicked him out like that. He'll blame me. I know it. He's not the type of man to accept personal responsibility for his actions."

"I feel so bad for Dana," I said and leaned my head against Luke's shoulder. "She's all alone now. Her friend is coming to stay with her for a few days, and she's going to hire a housekeeper to come in several times a week to help out. It must be scary to be raising a child all on her own."

"I know," Luke said with a heavy sigh. "What did she say? How did she take it?"

"She caught him cheating once before and gave him a second chance, so this was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back."

"I wonder if she knows about Lexxi911…"

"If she does, she didn't say."

He put his arm around me. "I'll tell her when I see her. Maybe we can spend some time with her on the weekend."

"She already invited us over for a meal."

"Good," Luke said. "I'll tell her then. I just hated to see them split up when she was still pregnant. Maybe it would have been better if I had told her back then."

I shrugged. "Who can say? Nothing we can do about it now."

Luke filled me in on the rest of his experience in the courthouse cell and the notable characters in the jail with him.

"I got a few side eyes, but no one bothered me, so I was lucky. But I do not want to go back again. That's for sure. Once was enough."

We arrived back at the hotel and thanked the limo driver before walking into the cool dimness of the lobby.

I was so happy to have him back with me where he belonged.

Chapter Eighteen