Page 60 of Sweet on You
“Ronnie,” Steve’s voice boomed. “You’re the toughest chick I know in so many ways… but not when it comes to blood.”
I swallowed because I knew he was right. I wasn’t a person who necessarily passed out at the sight of it… but I’ve been known to grow queasy and lose my lunch. I nodded. “We’ll be right outside.”
Lex followed me out the door and fell into the seat beside me, rubbing at his eyes. “Well, shit. I thought your brother liked me… but that glare he was giving me? I think I might have to prove myself to him.”
I laughed, but the sound wasn’t quite the same as it usually was. It lacked the heartfelt luster. “We probably should have thought to grab your shirt,” I said, nudging his ribs with my elbow.
I sighed and silence enveloped us as we leaned back in the chairs, settling in for what I assumed would be a long wait. It wasn’t like Penny was having surgery or anything, but stitches and extractions? Sounded like it could be a while.
It was nice to have someone here with me. For years, it had just been me against the world. Sure, I had my siblings. And I would always have them. But there was a huge difference between the comfort I got from Callie and the comfort Lex was able to give me here and tonight. I swallowed, uncertain of what to say… but also I knew I needed to say something. “You’re going to make an incredible dad,” I whispered.
I felt his arm around me tighten as though my words were a tether, tugging us together.
I winced, realizing that I probably said the wrong thing. I was the queen of that. “I mean, you alreadyarea father, of course. I didn’t mean to imply you were any less of her father—”
He squeezed me into his side. “Right now, I’m her father. But I’m not her dad. I’m really terrified that it won’t come naturally to me.”
I looked up at him, noting his tight knit brow and the worried frown. “According to Cam, every parent feels that way at some point. Hell, I’m notanyone’smother, and I worry about that. Like I’m missing the mommy gene or something. But the way you handled Penny? Lex, that was amazing. I don’t know what I would have done without you there. You were calm, sweet, comforting—”
“You don’t know what you would have done without me there?” He chuckled in a way that held absolutely no humor. “It wouldn’t havehappenedif I hadn’t been there,” he said. “I was the one who bought those stupid roses and that vase in the first place.”
I squeezed Lex’s hand. “Hey, this is not your fault. I’m the one who left them on the counter within reach of a dog that Iknowfinds mischief. We can all find blame, but accidents happen, right?”
Lex exhaled a short breath. “Right.” Then, looking down at me, he offered me a small flicker of a smile. “This bit of drama aside, I had an amazing night with you.”
With a sharp inhale, I smiled back, feeling my chest go warm. “Me too. So much for keeping our relationship between us though, huh? I mean, I love my brother, but he’s got the biggest mouth out of anyone in this town.”
Lex chuckled. “Maybe that’s for the best. Maybe we needed to dive into the deep end rather than dip a toe into the shallow end.”
God, I hoped he was right.
We stayed locked in each other’s gaze a moment longer before the shrill ring of Lex’s cell phone cut through our silence. “Sorry,” Lex murmured, fumbling to find his phone in his pants pocket and glancing at the screen. His face twisted. “My lawyer,” he said.
I glanced at the clock on the wall. It certainly wasn’t late by most standards, but 9:00 p.m. wasn’t exactly early for a business call either. It could mean just about anything though—from bad news to amazing news that can’t wait.
“Do you mind…?”
“No, of course not. Answer it.”
What kind of a monster would I be if I minded my date taking a call about the court case regarding his daughter?
He punched the answer button, standing and pacing nervously in Steve’s waiting room. “Brady,” he answered.
I closed my eyes, leaning my head back against the wall and trying to tune out his conversation out of respect for his privacy. Even still, it was impossible to entirely not listen. Phrases and words filtered over to me.
“What? Are you serious?” A few more seconds of silence. “That’s great news. Not exactly for Sarah… yet. But, wow. Thank you, Brady. Yes, keep me posted.”
Finally, I felt Lex return to his seat beside me, and his hand draped over mine as I opened my eyes to look at him.
“Olivia’s grandparents liked me. Well, her grandmother more than her grandfather.”
I smiled and squeezed his hand. “How could they not?”
He gave a self-deprecating chuckle and ran his free hand through his tousled, chestnut hair. “You’d be surprised.” With another deep breath, he continued. “They—they said that as long as the blood work comes back next week clean and as a match, they want to try joint custody with me for six weeks to see how it goes.”
My heart leapt, pounding in my chest and as I looked up at Lex, who was staring ahead, not quite looking at me. I watched a single tear slip down his cheek. He quickly swiped it away with the back of his hand. “That’s amazing,” I said. “Congratulations. What happens after six weeks?”
“I—I don’t know. I told them I’d do drug testing for them for a year to prove sobriety. I honestly don’t know what they want. If they would want to continue with joint custody or if I’ll get sole custody. Sarah is probably going to prison for a year, with the charges against her. Her trial doesn’t start for a few weeks and I guess her parents can’t afford the bail money at the moment.”
