Page 40 of Closing the Distance

“Because I’m yours,” she says with a subtle air of disbelief.

“Because you’re mine,” I say, my words strong and sure, never wanting her to doubt how much I want her.

How much I love her, even if I’ve been too scared of spooking her to say the words.

“Come on inside, you two. I’ve got food already prepared since I figured you’d be hungry,” Mom calls from inside the house.

I keep Lexi’s hand in mine as we walk through the door into the kitchen, and I nearly burst out laughing when I see the spread filling every inch of counter space.

“Is this just for us, or are you also planning to invite the whole neighborhood?”

Taron chuckles, even as he snacks on a baby carrot.

“Don’t be silly. You boys practically ate us out of house and home when you lived under this roof. I wasn’t about to run out of food during your visit.”

“We’re only here for two days, Mom.”

She purses her lips and hits me with her mom glare. “Two days with professional athletes who eat six high-protein meals a day. Plus, Lexi’s eating for two.” Her attention moves to Lexi. “I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Tyler what you were craving lately so I could have it on hand. It’s been a few decades since I was pregnant, but I still remember how strong those cravings could be.”

Lexi smiles at her, and from this angle, it looks like her eyes shimmer a little, but she blinks and they clear. “Thank you so much, Mrs. Russell.”

Mom throws the dish towel she’s holding over her shoulder and walks over to us, grabbing Lexi’s upper arms softly. “Sweetie, you can call me Tina. You’refamily now, so no need to be so formal. I’m just so happy you and Tyler found each other.” Mom’s eyes get misty as her gaze drops down to Lexi’s stomach and back to her face. “I’m so excited to be a grandma. I hopeyou two won’t be strangers during the offseason. Andwe’ll find time to come down and visit so we can help you out any way we can.”

Mom’s voice hitches, and I know she’s getting emotional. She worries about us, and she’s made it clear more than once she wants to see us happy and settled with families. This is a dream come true for her. Lexi is the daughter she’s never had and always wanted, and I’ve never been more thankful for my mom being as loving as she is. Lexi deserves to have this in her life.

“So where’s Tanner?” I ask, looking toward the living room.

An awkward look passes between my parents and my stomach drops. “He, uh, decided he couldn’t get away for the holiday,” Dad says.

My jaw clenches. That’s total bullshit. I brought it up to him just last week, and he never said anything about bailing. I’m glad I didn’t tell Lexi about his doubts, or else she’d think this is her fault, and the last thing I want is for her to have guilt over my brother being a fucking child.

“I’m sorry I won’t be able to meet him. Ty’s talked about him a lot,” Lexi says. She looks up at me, a smile on her face and the usual creases next to her eyes missing. “All of you, actually. I think I’ve asked him to tell me a million stories at this point.” Her cheeks get a subtle flush, and my heart pinches in my chest.

Fuck, I’m so gone for her.

“Well, then it seems only fitting we tell you some stories about your man here,” Taron says as he walks over to her other side and wraps his arm around her shoulder, pulling her away from me as he leads her to the living room. “Did he tell you about that one time with the frogs?”

He’s out of the room when I catch the tail end of his sentence, and I’m about to storm in there to stop him from telling one of the most embarrassing stories of my childhood when Lexi’s laughter rings through the room and my steps stop.

Fine, he can tell her, but only as long as she keeps laughing like that.

“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you about Tanner earlier. We only found out last night,” Mom tells me.

“Kind of a coward move. I expected more from him.”

It’s clear she knows the real reason he didn’t come when she doesn’t look surprised or outraged by my comment.

“I know you’re upset he’s not here to meet her, but maybe try to cut him a little slack.” A furrow forms between her brows. “I think he deals with a lot more than he ever tells us about because he’s been more guarded in the last year.”

“He doesn’t need to take it out on me or Lexi though.” Honestly, I’m fucking pissed he’s not here. I thought for sure after he met her this weekend, we could finally put all this shit behind us, but now he’s just going to continue to drag it out. “I’ll be right back,” I say before I duck back outside.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and click on his contact. It rings longer than normal, and part of me thinks the coward is going to let me go to voicemail when he finally picks up.

“I should’ve known you’d call.”

“You’re damn right you should’ve,” I say. “What the fuck, Tan? You really bailed on spending time with our family because of Lexi?”

He lets out a heavy sigh like he’s tired of this conversation already, and the condescension that rolls through the line only pisses me off more.

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