Page 45 of The Long Game

"He’s met your dad and he’s sending flowers? Is there a reason this guy might think you're pregnant?"

"That is none of your business, Tucker," I hiss, but then instantly regret being so defensive. "It’s not what you think. He saw I was upset after our conversation earlier. He wanted to check on me. He sent flowers to cheer me up. Not a big deal."

"But you’re going on a date with him tonight? Seems like something, Lex."

I start walking again. The moment we just had has passed. He’s either accusing me of being ignorant or not being honest with him about Sebastian.

He follows right beside me. He’s a RB for goodness’ sake. I don’t know why I thought I could power walk in four-inch heels away from him.

"It’s not a date. And you were there, I didn’t agree to anything. I still have a lot to do for this merger and someone else is making me stop working through my lunch today and tying up a decent part of tomorrow evening, too."

We’re getting within earshot of the seven other people waiting for us to arrive.

"Can we just enjoy lunch? Please?" I plead.

After a few hugs with our group of family waiting for us, the hostess takes us back to our table. Once we’re all settled, my mom chimes in.

"So, now that you guys are playing on the same team, what’s the plans for the off season? Any chance I can convince you two boys to come out to the lake house this summer?"

Luca glances over at Brielle.

"I don’t know, we might be busy making baby number two?" Luca winks at Brielle.

Brielle takes a huge gulp of her mimosa. Everyone laughs.

This time my mom directs the question to Tucker.

"Anything new in the works, Tuck?"

I don’t realize I’m holding my breath waiting for his response, until he lets us all in on his news. I realize I’m going to pass out if I don’t inhale quickly.

Tucker

I couldn’t have planned this better unless I had asked Sheila to ask this question. I’m relieved she did it right out of the gate, because the interaction between Lexi and her neighbor have got me doing everything I can not to take her aside and lay out my plan before she goes on a date/not date.

"I do have news."

"Oh, really!?" Sheila squeals.

"Yeah. First, I sold the penthouse in Seattle this week." Cheers ring out all around the table. "Second, I’m putting down roots in Chicago." I can see in the corner of my eye that Tom is smiling to himself.

"What?" Lexi whispers out loud in confusion.

"I just put an offer on Mr. McKinny’s house last night, and he accepted," I inform them.

No one needs to know I’m paying way over what Sabrina thinks the place is worth.

Mr. McKinny jumped at the offer and agreed to finalize paperwork this month. Turns out he’s been wanting to move to Florida where his two kids have houses.

His wife passed a couple years ago and he hasn’t had any reason to stay in Chicago. He even called me this morning and said his daughter and son-in-law are so excited, they’re flying out to help him start moving everything into storage next month.

The house is bigger than the Benson’s which is already three times as big as the house I grew up in – a nicer middle-class home.

I’ll admit, I’m intimidated about the size of the place for a bachelor, but I’m hoping not to be living in it alone for long, or at all.

And by the way my heart pounds hearing the words "pregnant" come out of Lexi’s mouth. I’m now hoping she’s going to let me knock her up as soon as possible. Never thought I’d want kids this soon but there’s something purely primitive rising in my chest at the idea of putting a baby in Lexi.

It’s stupid, but when she first said pregnant I did the math in my head quickly. The last time I touched her was over two years ago. It would be scientifically impossible that she would still be pregnant with a baby we would have conceived that night in Los Angeles. Nonetheless, a sense of pride blooms at the thought of Lexi carrying a baby we made together.

---