I crouch down to be eye level with him. “I have a meeting before the party, but I should be able to make it. I might be late, though.”
He frowns. “You can’t be late to Sadie’s party, Dad.”
“I’m hoping I won’t be, but I’m letting you know, just in case I am. So,” I take the possible gifts from him. “Are these the perfect presents for Sadie?”
Reed stares at them, then at the toys on the shelves, and back to what I’m holding. “Yes,” he nods firmly.
“Then let’s check out. We’ll go get some grub before I have to take you home.”
“Yes! Grub. Let’s get some grub, Dad.”
So we do.
There’s a home game, then an away game, and another home game. If I can get through those and that meeting, then maybe I can go to Sadie’s party. My heart skips a beat in excitement and pain at seeing Lexie again. With the Reed-Sadie crisis over, I’m back to missing her, only twice as much as before. She said she regrets something, possibly the end of us.
What if there is still hope for us?
She walked away, but I haven’t really considered the possibility of her coming back. Do I wait for that?
Who am I kidding?
I’m Ashton Campbell. I go after what I want.
There’s only one thing I want more than anything else.
Lexie.
My patience just needs to last until Sadie’s party.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Lexie
I double-check the cake. It’s perfectly pink and shaped like Hello Kitty. My house is pink, and there’s glitter everywhere. At this point, I think I agree with Reed: it’s a bit much.
My daughter comes bouncing around the corner. She has on bright pink tennis shoes, black and pink striped tights that match her black and pink tutu skirt. Not to forget the fact she has on a black shirt with a Hello Kitty picture on it. Tiff accessorized her with several fake pink pearl necklaces and a pink tiara.
“How do I look, Mommy?” she twirls.
“You are the most beautiful seven-year-old in the world.” I kiss her cheek.
The doorbell rings, and Sadie races to it. She squeals in delight as Tony’s parents come inside. If anyone ever wondered where Tiff and Tony got their good looks, it’s from their mom. Sadie got that part of her DNA from them. They both are in their mid-fifties and have recently retired to Arizona. They both said their bodies couldn’t handle Utah winters anymore. But, they would never miss Sadie’s birthday.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Mrs. Allen hugs me. She always smells like she just stepped out of a fresh citrus garden.
“I’m glad you’re here.”
“I wouldn’t miss it.” She releases me, and Sadie hugs her hips. “Now, who is this beautiful little girl?
Sadie laughs. “It’s me, Grandma.”
“No, no, no,” Mrs. Allen shakes her head. “My granddaughter can’t be this tall.”
As Sadie continues to laugh, there’s a knock on the door, I leave them to coo over Sadie, and my parents arrive, and I see Brooke and Reed pulling into the driveway.
But no Ashton.
I didn’t think he would come, but I was hoping. I did want to at least talk to him some more. I want us to be friends, at least. Everyone is talking at once, and the kids are running around playing. It’s nice to having everyone around. I want desperately to ask Brooke if Ashton is coming, but I refrain.