Something tight pinched inside Lexi’s stomach. She told herself it was just a touching moment between mother and children, not her ovaries or her biological clock or anything. She wasn’t even close to thirty yet. Even if she was, people were waiting to have families all the time. She was so far away from that moment herself that it was laughable. It shouldn’t hurt. It shouldn’t send wicked, shivery pinches racing through her body. She shouldn’t feel perilously close to tears. She shouldn’t. She just shouldn’t. But she did.
She wanted it. She wanted to be a mom. Not now, since she wasn’t even dating anyone, but one day. Hopefully not that far into the distant future. She loved kids. She’d never not seen herself as a parent. It was just biology sending little stinging reminders to her. All women had it. They had to. She tried to console herself with that thought.
The woman turned, after hugging both the kids and sent her a questioning look right before her eyes landed on her brother. They weren’t so friendly. More accusatory and exasperated than anything.
“I’m Lexi.” She stuck out her hand.
Curtis’ sister waited a moment before she took it. She had a firm handshake. Lexi looked her full in the face, maintained eye contact even though it nearly killed her, and tried to return the confidence in her own shake. God, the James siblings were beautiful. Just… just gorgeous. Flawless. They were like an alien species, deities amongst mortals. She herself felt very, very mortal in that moment.
“Alexa.” The other woman smiled. “We have almost the same name.”
“She’s his girlfriend!” Noel piped up excitedly. She grabbed onto her mother’s leg while Austin took the other. Alexa looked like a living tree with two little spider monkeys about to climb her. They were absolutely adorable together.
Lexi quickly shook her head no. Her eyes shot to Curtis’ face and her stomach bottomed out when she noticed him nodding yes. Unfortunately, she had no rainbow slime on hand at the moment. She’d never forget that glorious moment when he’d realized what it was in his mouth. What did he think she was sneaking into his room for late at night? The guy certainly had more nerve than any living being should, but then again, he was the TFB, born with a silver freaking spoon up his ass.
“Well, thank you,” Alexa smiled. She actually looked relieved. “Believe me, I get the whole complicated thing. Thank you for keeping my kids happy and alive.” She glanced down. “Did you guys have a good time?”
Austin cheered right along with Noel.
“Thanks for the vote of confidence,” Curtis said dryly.
Alexa rolled her eyes. “Seriously, I’m glad that you had someone come over. I didn’t think you’d actually manage to pull this off by yourself. It was good for you though. You needed this. Get you out of your high and mighty shell.”
Why had she not met Alexa before? Lexi had a feeling they’d be good friends. Great friends. She probably had a never-ending source of embarrassing material to shoot at Curtis. Damn. She really needed to get this woman’s number.
“Okay, daddy’s waiting in the car,” Alexa said. She looked like she was glowing when Lexi looked at her closely. It made her feel strange, thinking about her going off with her husband for a weekend vay-cay. She looked refreshed and recharged and Lexi didn’t want to think about why that was, even though she knew. Strangely enough, something close to jealousy wormed its way through her, compressing her chest like a wall had fallen on top of her. Why the heck should she be jealous?
“I’ll help you with all the stuff. You know, because there’s only an army’s worth,” Curtis said dryly.
“Thanks, bro. You’re the best,” Alexa giggled.
Right. She could handle her own, especially when it came to Curtis. Lexi made a massive mental note, scrawled it right across her brain lobes, each and every single one, to creepily try and get on Alexa’s social media.
Lexi loitered around near the front door while Curtis loaded up the sleek black SUV in the driveway. Alexa’s husband didn’t lift a finger to help, but Lexi figured that was part of their battle plan. Alexa probably wanted it that way. After, she made sure that each kid gave Curtis a big hug and a kiss. Curtis looked like he was going to turn into a steaming puddle of goo and melt on the spot and not in a good way. More in the witchy, untimely demise kind of way.
By the time Curtis made it back into the house, Lexi was already tugging her bag down the steps. She’d only brought a small weekender duffel and her purse. She had thrown both over her shoulder. Curtis’ glacier blue eyes nearly bugged out when he saw her.