Page 47 of Wildest Desire

“I might tell her when we’re away this week.” Getting up, I walk over to the three of them talking to tell Mom and Tanya what’s going on. Travis follows me down. “Time to tell those two about the crazy fuck,” I tell him.

“You know I’ll always have your back,” he says, and I give him a nod of thanks.

I wrap my arms around Lexi’s waist. “How is my girlfriend doing?” I ask her, kissing her on the neck.

“I don’t know, you might want to ask her.” She turns her head a little to look at me. “You still haven’t asked me to be your girlfriend,” she says with a smile. She wants to play games with me.

“Lexi, will you be my girlfriend?”

“I don’t know… I want to see if there's anything better out there before I put all my time in you,” she says, making my mom and sister laugh. “Why have supermarket shoes when Jimmy might be around the corner?” She turns to face me, and her smile is so cute.

“Trust me, I’m your Jimmy. No one will ever come close to me,” I tell her, leaning down to kiss her.

“I don’t know, I think I’m going to need some convincing.”

I bring my lips down to her ear, making sure no one else can hear me. “I’ll convince you tonight,” I whisper.

Lexi starts shaking her head and slapping my chest. “Are you going to talk to them now?” she asks.

I look behind her at Mom and Tanya talking to one another. “I’m sure they’ll be okay with it, but if they aren’t comfortable with you being around until he's found, then we’ll stay away.” I haven’t given her much choice about staying with me so I can make sure she's safe, but I’ll stay away from my family if that's what it takes to keep her with me. “Mom, Tanya, can we talk to you?” I ask.

Mom looks between Lexi and me. “Yes,” she says, looking down at Lexi’s stomach, and I start laughing.

“She’s not pregnant.” I turn to face Lexi. “Are you?” I ask her. I’m not asking because I would be pissed, I’m asking because it would be amazing. Yes, it’s fast, but the more I look at this amazing, beautiful woman, the thought of bringing a child into this world, with her, fills me with joy.

“No, I’m not,” she tells me, but I hold her eyes for an extra beat.

Turning back to them, I pause and just look at them. I’m not sure how to talk to them about this. “Ethan, you’re scaring me,” my mom says, looking back at me.

I don't know where to start. I know Lexi is going to find this hard, but I can’t hide any of this from them. I begin by telling them that Lexi is living with me now. I take hold of Lexi's hand which has been tapping on my leg for a while now. I tell them about Sam, and how she’s been running from him since she was eighteen. I tell them what he did to her father, and how he’s found her again. I tell them everything.

My mom looks at Lexi for a moment, and Tanya looks over at me. "Lexi already thinks she should leave and start a new life. She's scared of getting close to you since Sam always hurts anyone she loves. It gives her more motivation to not get close to people. If you both feel you're at risk having her around, then we’ll stay away until this is over. Just so you know, I'm not letting her leave," I tell them both. I haven’t told Lexi, but I don’t think he will go after my family. He wants her, and I’m the one standing in the way of that now.

“You're always welcome here.” My mom gives her a hug. “Don’t worry about us, okay? We’ll be all right,” she tells Lexi before looking over at me. “I only have one question, Ethan.”

I already know the question. Do I see myself with Lexi ten years from now? My mom knows I’ve never put a woman before myself, not even Angie. For Lexi, I would turn my phone off, cancel plans, take her on trips so she would be with me all the time… I never did any of that for Angie. That's how I know we’ll be together even ten years from now.

“Yes,” I answer her.

She smiles and walks into the house. Lexi watches Mom walk away then stops and stares at me.

“She’s fine.” I kiss her, then get up and follow my mom into the house. Mom is pacing around the kitchen. “So, do you not like Lexi or is it something else?” I ask her, standing in front of her to keep her from moving around.

“I like her. She’s brought out a side to you that I thought I’d lost. The fun, carefree Ethan.” She cups my face. “The half you lost when your dad left and the other half you lost after Angie. Now it’s back and…” Mom looks out of the window at Lexi on the phone. “Lexi has given my son a reason to smile again, and if I can’t like the woman who did that, then I’m not a nice person,” she says, kissing me.

My mom always told me that I lost a little of myself when my dad walked out on us. There was a lot of hate in me. She blamed Angie for that anger, as well. After her, I just forgot how to have fun again. Until Lexi. She's the sunshine in my life.

“Ethan, the girls are going to the bar tonight, want to come?” Lexi wraps her arms around me from behind. “Travis is up for it. I think his bed has gotten lonely with just him in it,” she says, making my mom laugh.

“I don’t think that bed ever gets time to be lonely,” she says, making Lexi laugh.

“Who’s lonely?” Travis asks, walking in. Lexi turns to face him with her back against my chest. “Is he coming or is it just us?” he asks her. He must think I’m crazy if he thinks I’m going to let him look after her with a madman after her.

“I’m coming.”

“Look at you! You’ve been to the bar twice in one week. Someone call a doctor, quick. The man’s not well.” Travis turns to my sister. “How about you, mini Knight?”

“No,” I answer in a sharp tone, making sure she knows there's no way she's coming with us.

---