“Sadie Tiffany Allen.” Lexie’s face is red from embarrassment.
“What? You do. You said it!”
Jax laughs, steps forward, and holds out his hand. “I’m Jax, the love of your life. Figured we should finally meet.”
Lexie reluctantly shakes his hand. “Lexie,” is all she manages to say.
“And I’m her wonderful best friend, Tiffany.” Tiff steps forward and shakes Jax’s hand for a moment too long with a big grin.
“Nice to meet you.” Jax moves on to hug Brooke and Reed.
“Okay,” I interrupt their reunion. “Let’s go. I’m starting to get sick looking at all these jerseys.”
Reed wants his Uncle Jax to sit in the back with him, which leaves Brooke and Lexie each urging the other to sit in the front seat with me as Tiffany sits in the back as well. It doesn’t end until Brooke shoves Lex towards the passenger door and quickly takes the seat next to Sadie.
Once we get on the road, the conversations in the back running on top of each other, I glance at Lexie.
“Sorry you couldn’t sit in the back with the guy you’re in love with,” I tease. “His wife might have a problem with you spending a weekend with him, though.”
She groans. “That child is going to get me in so much trouble one day.”
“She’s only repeating stuff you say,” I point out.
“I’m pretty sure I only said that I loved him, not that I was in love with him.”
I laugh. “Doesn’t matter. She’s six, she knows what she heard.”
Lex giggles, but doesn’t say anything more. The talk in the back slowly gets quieter and quieter. When I glance into the back after we park at the cabin, I look to confirm my suspicions. Reed and Sadie are sound asleep. Brooke goes ahead to unlock the door and turn on lights as I tell Jax to carry Reed as I scoop up Sadie.
Neither waken as we lay them down in their respective twin beds in the kids’ room. As we walk back out to help the girls carry in bags, Jax goes, “You didn’t tell me they were hot.”
“You’re married,” I remind him, even though I know I don’t really need to. “Plus, they are out of your league, and Lex is definitely off limits.”
“Oh, I know. Had to hear all about it from Brooke instead of you. I’m hurt, really.” He pretends to wipe away invisible tears.
“Maybe I wanted it to be a surprise.” Or to not hear what I’m hearing now.
He chuckles, but leaves me to help Tiffany with her current load of bags. After everything is inside, Brooke sneaks off to her room as I show everyone else where their room is. I may have purposely stuck Nate, who will arrive tomorrow, with Jax, who will stay in the other of two bedrooms on the first floor.
Mine is the first on the right, with Lexie across the hall. Next is Brooke’s and Tiffany’s, and then the kids are at the end. Lexie goes to check on Sadie, and then because it’s so late and we’re all tired, we head to our respective rooms.
It’s hard to sleep with Lex across the hall. I thought I would be more tired than I am, so sleep evades me for hours. When the door to my room creaks open, I sit up, hoping it’s her.
“Mommy?” a scared voice whispers.
I turn on the lamp as Sadie peeks further into the room. “Hey, what are you doing?”
“Where’s my mommy? I can’t find her, Mr. Ashton.” Her face crumbles, a few tears falling.
After flinging the covers away, I stand and go to her. “Don’t cry, Sadie,” I soothe, picking her up. “She’s across the hall. One more door, and you would have found her. I’ll show you, okay?” She nods as I swipe away a few more fallen tears.
We go across the hall and I ease the door open. All we see at first is a portion of Lexie’s back from the light in the hallway. I flip the switch, walking over to her. Sadie seems to relax when I shake her mom’s shoulder to wake her up.
“Lex,” I say softly. She startles awake, eyes widening at the sight of me and then me with Sadie. “She was looking for you,” I explain before looking at Sadie. “See? She’s right here.”
“Can I sleep in here with you, Mommy? There’s not a nightlight in that room. I was scared, and Reed wouldn’t wake up.”
“Sure.” She takes her from me and thanks me. It’s then I realize what she’s wearing. Thin straps are on her shoulders, so thin that I know I could easily rip them off, and they lead to something silky with a lace overlay. “Ashton,” Lex interrupts my thoughts. She tilts her head with a small smile. “I have her. You can go now.”