Total pages in book: 101
Estimated words: 97426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 97426 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 487(@200wpm)___ 390(@250wpm)___ 325(@300wpm)
“Wow, he’s more adorable in person. Here, let me take him,” I offer, seeing her struggle with him.
Kid is a little thing. This little guy is about to tip her over. I laugh to myself, thinking of what Pit and Skittles’s little ones will look like in her arms.
Kid hands him over and he quiets the moment I have him in my arms. He looks up at me and my breath is stolen away. He has hazel-green eyes like me, but as we lock gazes, they turn a honey brown.
I stumble to take a seat as it hits me hard. I’ll never have this. Alexis fucked me out of ever having this with someone I love.
So much anger fills me I can feel my ears getting hot. The little guy starts to cry again. I look to Kid for what to do next.
“Take your shirt off, let him lie on your chest.”
I eye her warily. “If you wanted me naked, all you had to do was ask. I think the kid is a bit much unless this is your idea of birth control.”
“Shut up, silly. You’re new to him. I’m burned out for the day. You’d be helping me out. I have pizza on the way. Let me get in a shower.
“His bottles are in the fridge. Just heat one up and test it on your wrist. He’ll do the rest,” she says.
“Go on, I’ve got him. What’s his name again?”
“An— AJ.”
“Cool.” I maneuver to tug my shirt over my head and settle him on my bare chest. “What’s up, AJ? I’m Uncle Ox.”
The kid smiles and drools on my chest. His little chubby cheeks glow. A glance at his ears confirms what I thought. This little guy is mixed.
He’s cute as fuck. He’s going to be a lady-killer when he gets older. As if hearing my thoughts, he smiles wider, revealing his little gums.
“Listen to me, AJ. When you get older, don’t fall in love. It’s not worth it.”
He actually frowns at me and farts. It’s so loud he jumps as if he didn’t just rip one like a grown-ass man. I chuckle and rub his back. He settles his head against my chest and falls out.
“Yeah, you’re right. I am talking shit. Don’t listen to me. You fall in love all you want. You’ll have a better life than me and I’ll be here whenever you need. You’re stuck with me, little buddy. I’ll never abandon you.”
I feel those words deep down in my gut. I won’t abandon him because I know how it feels to have people enter your life and disappear. I used to question what I did to make people leave.
Will had been my best friend as a little boy after my mom died. Then Dad was gone and so was the pretty lady who brought my best friend to see me. No lady, no best friend. Nope, I would never enter AJ’s life and disappear.
When he comes to visit, I’ll drop everything to be here for him.
* * *
Alexis
“How are they?” I say into the phone.
“They fell asleep on the couch together,” Kid whispers back. “Wait, I’m sending a pic.”
My phone buzzes with the text. I pull it from my ear and look down at the picture of Ant and our son. I cover my mouth with a shaky hand. Tears spill over as I hold back my sob.
AJ is huge for five months old, but he looks so small against his father’s chest. It’s in this moment I resolve to figure things out. I give myself a time line in my head to get me and my son back to my husband.
“Kid,” I say into the phone.
“Yeah.”
“Thank you. Thank you so much.”
“You’ve got it, honey.”
Chapter 20
Vegas
Lex
Seven months later…
There was no way I was going to get out of coming to this Bachelorette party. I couldn’t use AJ as an excuse and Ven would kill me if I didn’t take time off to make it. Since it’s in Vegas, I figured I could make it work.
Kid agreed to fly in to watch AJ while I pop in to at least show my face. I’m just nervous as hell to run into Ant. Kid has a friend at the party who she’s been texting to ask who’s there.
Ant and his friend Roman left out to hit the strip for a bit. This is it. I can drop in and leave before he returns. A few shots and some hugs and I can head back here to AJ.
“Okay, handsome. You be good for Auntie Jenny.”
“I’ve got him. Hurry up and go,” Kid says.
I’m so damn nervous. I tug at the light-gray dress I have on. It’s a little tight and short. I wasn’t going to wear this one, but Kid talked me into it. The silver ankle cuff platform stilettos take the dress over the top, showing off my legs.