Page 40 of Always Been Yours

“Thanks.” I clear the gravel from my throat. “I don’t know what I’d do without them. My entire being is pretty much wrapped up in them now.” Throughout my marriage and since the divorce, I haven’t wanted to be anyone, or anything else, besides their father. Before that, I thought I wanted to be a catcher for the San Diego Sharks. Tearing my ACL and accidentally getting Arielle pregnant ended up showing me how unhappy I would havebeen with my original plan. The problem was, I never had any ideas for who I wanted to be further down the line.

Until I moved back to Amada Beach. Now I want to be someone who matters, who is a part of the community and has roots keeping them here.

And truthfully, I don’t know what I could give someone right now when I’m barely holding it all together for the three of us. The more I think about Lexi’s request the more I want to listen to her. I want totryto be whatever Vivi needs. Even the simple idea of being her friend again sparks hope in my chest.

“I assume that’s how it goes when you become a parent,” she muses.

Growing up, Vivi always wanted kids. We spent many afternoons playing house in either one of our bedrooms. And if it wasn’t that, then we were playing with her dolls. Regardless, it always ended with me as her husband and at least four children.

The bartender returns with Vivi’s margarita, two glasses of water and two shots. James points to them and says, “Those are from Lexi.” He walks away and Vivi grabs one of them, taking it back with a sharp exhale. She offers the other to me, but I shake my head. She sets it next to her but makes no move to drink it yet.

“Who is that for?” She points at the extra glass.

“You.”

“I hydratebeforeI go out.”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. It’s important to hydrate during. You’re going to have a hangover tomorrow.”

She shrugs irreverently. “That’s not your problem.”

The truth of that statement grates at my nerves, but I make it mine anyway.

Slipping off the chair, I step into her space. I place my arms on either side of her, forcing her back into the counter. I don’ttouch a single inch of her, despite how desperately I want to, but she can’t walk away either.

“What… what are you doing?” Her voice is breathy in a way I’ve never heard before. It belongs in a dark bedroom and that thought sends all my blood to my cock.

“You need water.”

“And what? You’re going tomakeme drink it?”

I grab the glass and hold it to her. “I can’t make you do anything. I know better than that.ButI’m not really in a rush to get back to the table.”

“Why not?”

“The only company I came for is right here.” My voice is pure gravel, my body only inches from hers.

“You could have stayed home to hang out with yourself,” she retorts.

“You think you’re so funny,” I pinch her side.

She playfully nudges my hip. Instead of letting go, she pulls me closer by hooking her finger through my belt loop. We still don’t touch but are less than an inch apart now. “I don’t mind the company either.”

Every nerve in my body is telling me to touch her but her fingers are still innocently fidgeting with my pants. Spooking her isn’t worth the loss of contact. Plus, there is a more important matter at hand right now.

“Drink, Genevieve.” I thrust the glass toward her again. She rolls her eyes with a cheeky smirk but gulps down half the glass anyway. Immediately after, she takes the other shot with a smile the entire time. I playfully roll my eyes, pushing the water closer to her.

We stay at the bar while she drains another glass and I help her finish the margarita. We don’t make it back to thetable until I accompany her to the restroom—where I wait outside.

Nobody says anything about our absence, but I wouldn’t care if they did.

Chapter Fourteen

Vivi

“Who was that girl you went home with on Friday?” Lyp asks Lexi as she scrolls through her phone.

This is a normal part of our routine. Every Sunday, the three of us come to Bella Donna’s for brunch. Lexi tells us about her latest hook up—if any—Calypso swears to be the single wine aunt for the rest of her life, and I silently question which one is saner. My sister’s plan definitely sounds easier, and I don’t need a man to have kids. There are plenty of options nowadays. But even if Lexi swears she’s only dating because she enjoys the noncommittal sex and fleeting connections, there’s something brave about her willingly putting herself out there, time and time again.

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