“I go to Vegas here and there to gamble with some friends, and we go snowboarding sometimes.”
“Oh, you like to snowboard?” Her eyes light up. “I do too. Well, I mean, I did,” she hastily adds. “I’m getting too old for it now, but Tony and I would go all the time when we were younger.” Her mouth clamps shut. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that last part.”
“It must be hard on you without him, especially with having Sadie. How long has it been, if I may ask?”
“Sadie will be seven in December, so it’ll be seven years in November.” He never got the chance to meet his daughter? Oh, wow. “Sometimes it doesn’t seem that long ago, and some days it’s a lifetime. I figured Brooke told you.”
“No, she didn’t.” I shake my head. “She only said you were Sadie’s mom.”
“How did you know?” Her eyes crinkle with suspicion, and I already feel bad for what I’m about to say.
“Reed.” With caution, I proceed to clear away her confusion. “He asked why some kids’ dads weren’t around. He said Sadie told him that her dad was in a happier place and loved her, but he didn’t understand why he didn’t come play with her. That’s all I know about him.”
I’ve never heard a sadder voice than when she speaks next. “Tony and I started dating when we were fourteen. We stayed together all through high school and he joined the Army the moment he turned eighteen. When I found out I was pregnant, we got married. He was killed in Iraq and six weeks later, I had Sadie.”
‘I’m sorry’ doesn’t seem like the best thing to say, so I go with what I would rather say instead. “I’m sure he would be proud of how good a job you’ve done with Sadie.”
Lexie gives me a small smile in appreciation before changing the subject. “I guess I’m the worst first date you’ve ever had?”
“Not even close to the worst. Has this been your worst? Because if not, then you know what I’m going to do,” I say with a grin.
“Ashton, come on, you couldn’t possibly want a second date?”
“Oh, but I do. I need to see your fun side next, and definitely before I make any final decisions about future dates.”
“There’s no point in arguin
g, so I’m going to ask for a compromise. Mainly because I’m a little nosy and curious. What’s the deal with you and Brooke? I mean, she keeps saying you’re friends, but I don’t want her mad at me if something does or doesn’t happen.”
I laugh at her concern. “She’s one of my best friends, Lexie. That’s all. She would probably get mad at me before she got mad at you. You have nothing to worry about. She’ll most likely still be your friend, and neither of us would keep Reed from playing with Sadie or anything like that. He’s our first priority no matter what, and I know it’s the same for you with Sadie.”
“I agree. Plus, I don’t want to say anything about whatever this is to them either.”
“Of course. As far as they are concerned, I’m just Reed’s dad and you’re just Sadie’s mom.” I stand and grin. “Are you up for some dessert?”
“Did you seriously just ask me that?”
A laugh rumbles out of my chest. “You should get your mind out of the gutter, Lexie. I was talking about brownies topped with ice cream. Pretty sure the brownies are still warm too.”
“Oh. Sorry. You were grinning and looking at me like I was dessert.”
“You are, just not today,” I wink. She follows me into the kitchen, taking a seat at the bar while I prepare dessert. Something she said, though, is nagging me. “How old are you, Lexie? You keep saying you’re old, but,” I turn and rake my eyes over her again, “there’s no way you’re much older than I am.”
Lexie groans. “You can’t ask a woman her age.”
“Yes, I can, so answer me. Whipped cream?” I add, opening the fridge.
“I should probably say no, but Tiffany told me to go crazy, so I’m saying yes. Do you have any chocolate syrup too?”
I laugh. “Whipped cream and chocolate syrup is you going crazy? If that’s the case, would you like caramel drizzled on top as well?”
Lexie licks her lips. Her mouth moves in an answer, but I’m too distracted by her tongue peeking out and wetting her lips to hear her.
“What?”
“I said that sounds great,” she repeats.
“Oh, right.” Caramel too. Of course. I finish adding the toppings and carry our bowls over, setting one down in front of her before I take a seat next to her. “Enjoy.”