Page 13 of This Is Why

“I can’t wait to get to knowhim.”

I widen my eyes. “Get to know him? How did we go from me being a sexy Mustang that needs a warning label to you crashing into Gabe’s life?” My reaction is extreme and it might not be right, but it sure isn’t wrong. Gabe is fine. The last thing he needs is a giant upheaval in the form of a random father-figure appearing out of nowhere.

“Lexi. He’s myson.”

“No. He’s my son. You helped make him but he has no idea who you are. Can you imagine the kind of damage it might do for you to pop into his life only to pop right back out of it again in aweek?”

“It’s not ideal, but…” He shakes his head. “He’s myson.”

“We’ve established that.” I sit back and hold up my hands. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to lash out and you haven’t done anything wrong. Apparently, Gabe got his protective streak from the both of us and right now, mine is all flared up and I can’t think straight around it. I would lay down my life for thatboy.”

“But I’m not the enemy here. You don’t have to lay down your life because I’m not trying to hurt him. I only want to get to know him,” Ty says. “I deserve a chance to knowGabe.”

“I know. You do. I’m not arguing with that at all. I just worry about all the disruption it will add to his life, especially with you leaving again so soon. There has to be a way to do this that’s good for everyone.”

Ty sits back and lets out a long breath. “You have no way to know this about me, but when I imagined having kids, I was always there from the get go. You know, I would get to hold him the day he was born. His little hands would grip my fingers when he learned to walk and I’d teach him to stand up again after he fell off his bike the first time. You’ve had six years to get used to being a mom. I can’t wrap my mind around the fact that I’m a dad, let alone the kind of dad who was gone for six fucking years and missed all of those things.”

“I’m sorry you missed all of that. I really am.” I reach out and lay my hand on his. “I’m at such a loss here. I really want to do the right thing. This is such a confusing disaster made all the harder by the fact that I think you might actually be a goodguy.

Ty closes his eyes and nods. “I’m sorry, too. And I promise you, I’m a good guy.” He lets out a long breath. “Can I please see him? Can I please see you? Can I please see the both of you together? He doesn’t have to know I’m his dad and you don’t have to agree to date me, but I can’t wrap my head around finding the two of you and then never seeing you again.”

I rearrange the items on my cafeteria tray so they’re all perpendicular and spaced equal distances from each other while I consider what to say next. I thrive on neatness and order and never, ever sit still easily.

Tyler leans forward. “And here I go getting all existential, but who’s to say that the call you felt to go to Key West by yourself wasn’t some kind of divine intervention?” Tyler smiles. “Maybe the timing wasn’t perfect, maybe I missed out on a lot and you guys had to figure out a lot on your own, but I’m here now and maybe, just maybe, this is exactly the way it’s supposed to happen.”

I take a long breath in through my nose. “Fine,” I say and then let itout.

“Finewhat?”

“Fine, you can seehim.”

“Andyou?”

“I’ll be there, too.”

Ty’s face lights up. “Really? You mean it? Oh, Lexi. This is great. I mean, it’s amazing. When? How? Tonight?” He looks so hopeful, it warms my heart. He really is adorable.

I shift and the cheap pleather cushion creaks in protest. “Tomorrow. Gabe and I have plans to meet Michelle and her daughter Claire at The Commons. It’s one of those open-air mall things. There’s a fountain in the middle set up so kids can run and play in it. You could catch a ride with Michelle and hang out with us there. If youwant.”

I wait for him to try and talk me into something more intimate but he doesn’t.

“That’s perfect.” He grips both of my hands in his and my nerve-endings go off like fireworks. “Thank you, Lexi.” He pulls me to my feet and wraps his arms around me. I breathe him in and his scent brings me right back to Key West and the way he felt inside me. I lost myself to him that night. Head thrown back. Eyes closed. Nails digging into his skin. Shrieking his name like a banshee for anyone and everyone tohear.

And now, standing in my scrubs in the cafeteria at work, I can’t think of anything else. My body melts as he draws me even closer. I pull back just a fraction of an inch, just enough to look into his eyes but damn it, I can’t stop myself from looking at his mouth. I want those lips on mine. I want to taste the salt on his skin while he devours me. I angle my head and consider kissinghim.

He clears his throat and steps away, creating deliberate space between us. “I’m sorry,” he says and then clears his throat.

I want to tell him not to apologize. I want him to sweep me up and carry me off to some private place where we can do private things. “Me too,” I murmur instead.

“So, I’ll see you tomorrow, then?” His eyes lock onmine.

“Yep.” I wrap my arms around my stomach. “I’m looking forward toit.”

Tyler grins at me. “Me too.” He grabs both of our trays off the table and carries them to the trash before thanking me for seeing him and sauntering towards the exit. I stare after him, appreciating his powerful build and the confident way he holds his chin—God bless the US Marine Corps, am I right?

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