Page 19 of The Maxwell Brothers
"I’m not sure why I’m always on a slippery slope around you,” she murmured.
I laughed, skimming my hand up from her waist to her shoulder and then her neck, feathering my thumb on her jaw. "I like you, Lexi, far too much, and I don't know what to do about it."
The next moment, I heard Paisley calling my name from upstairs. The spell broke and I groaned, taking a step back.
"Is that Paisley?" she asked.
"Yes."
“Does she have nightmares?" She was back in her professional mode. Good, because someone had to keep us in check, and it wasn't going to be me.
When we reached the stairs, I realized it wasn't just the cellar light that was out. The whole place seemed to be in the dark.
"It’s a blackout," she said.
“Probably from the storm. Now I know what woke Paisley. She has a night-light, and it probably went off. I'm going to go upstairs and talk to her, okay?" I wondered why the backup generator hadn’t kicked in.
"Okay, sure. Should I go home?" she whispered in the dark.
“The storm’s still strong, Lexi.”
“I see. So, you’re still not letting me out?”
“Exactly.”
“I’m your prisoner?” Her tone was playful.
I stepped closer. "Wait for me here."
"Okay. I left my phone on the kitchen counter. I’ll feel my way there, grab it, and pour us wine.”
“Thanks.”
I headed upstairs, knocking on Paisley’s open door to announce myself before entering.
"Daddy, is that you?" she asked, her breath frantic as I sat down at the edge of her mattress.
"Yes, baby." I caressed her hand, and she instantly calmed down, scooting closer to me.
"What happened to the light?" she asked.
"The electricity is out, but I'm going to fix it, okay? I’m going to turn on the generator."
"I can't sleep in the dark," she said.
"That's okay. We’ll turn on the light on your phone, and then when the electricity is back, your night-light will automatically turn on, okay?"
Some people—including Paisley’s teachers—raised their eyebrows that I’d bought her a phone when she was only nine years old, but I liked knowing that I could get in touch with her anytime.
She nodded, leaning against me. She didn't do this often anymore. When she was little, she used to want me to rock her to sleep, but then she said she'd outgrown it. I turned on the phone’s flashlight, placing it on the nightstand so the light reflected on the ceiling. About two minutes later, I realized she’d fallen back asleep.
I kissed her head, but I didn't leave her room right away, waiting just in case she woke up so she wouldn't be scared. I messaged my brothers in the meantime, asking if one of them could check on Gran. Tyler answered me that her generator had started automatically, but he was already on his way to her house to check on her anyway.
When I was confident that Paisley wouldn't wake up again, I tiptoed out of her room before closing the door and heading downstairs.
"Lexi?" I asked.
"I'm on the couch," she said. I could see the light from her phone. "It's not the house. A huge chunk of the city is out of electricity. They're working on repairing it, but it might take a while,” she said.
