“I know. Then this… happened.”
“I can’t believe you were the answer to Rafa’s never-ending hoe phase.” She laughs at my words and shakes her head. “You do realize you can never kiss me again, right?” I ask.
“What? Why?!”
“Because I know where your mouth has been now. And I refuse to let it touch my skin ever again.”
“Bitch, you can’t do this to me,” she counters, appalled.
“Watch me.”
Determined to win this one, she hooks an arm around my neck and tries to pull me her way. I resist with a squeal, which only pushes her to try harder. Shit, going to the gym three times a week made her arms strong as fuck. When her lips land on my cheek with a wet smooch, adrenaline kicks in, so I manage to push her away to immediately wipe the spot.
“Ew, what the hell, Kate?!”
“Oh, don’t be so dramatic. I’ve brushed my teeth twice since the last time I had your brother’s d—”
“Shush, you lunatic! Never talk to me about my brother’s ding-a-ling. I’ve successfully maintained a mental image of the little noodle from old family pictures, and I won’t let you ruin that for me.”
She giggles and sadistically says, “It’sdefinitelynot little anymore.”
“Kate, shut the fuck up!” I protest, getting up. She keeps laughing as she follows me back inside, and as much as I try to stay upset, I can’t help the smile that stretches my lips.
The silence when we enter the dining room is deafening, so I quickly feel the need to tell everyone, “We’re good, stop worrying.”
Their relief is obvious, and I watch as Kate sits next to my brother before they exchange a quick kiss. This is so. Fucking. Weird.
When Rafa meets my grossed-out look, I give him the middle finger and sign, “Don’t break her heart, dipshit.”
He answers with a grin, “I won’t, asswipe.”
When Lex rests a hand on my thigh, I look up at him. “All good?”
“Yes. Thank you for being my voice of reason, baby.”
“About time I flipped the script on this one, my love.”
It’s our turn to exchange a small kiss before MC asks for plates to fill up.
Although it didn’t start off great, dinner actually unfolds perfectly. Lex fits well among my people, which I never doubted for a second. As long as I’m happy, I knew my folks would welcome him with open arms.
“So, Alexander, how many children do you want?” my mom asks out of nowhere.
The meat I was chewing on goes down the wrong way, making me cough uncontrollably. Holy shit, she’s insufferable. She isn’t even askingifhe wants kids, buthow many. Lex brings my water closer, encouraging me to drink to help with the coughing.
The silence around us is so heavy, I have no idea what to do. I want to strangle my mother, that’s for sure. Lex and I haven’t even had this talk yet. But now, thanks to Isabella fucking Walker, we’re about to have it in front of my whole family.
Five seconds pass, but I swear it feels like ten minutes, before Lex clears his throat and says, “I always thought being a single child must be a lonely experience. So I’d say at least two. But I’m not the only one calling the shots on this one,” he adds, turning to me.
“You’re the oneshootingthe shots, though,” MC jokes.
If I weren’t in such a state of shock, I’d give her a high five right there.
My heart beats so hard that I can feel its hectic rhythm in the back of my throat. Part of me wants to think he’s doing this to get my mom off our backs and not start a long debate, but another part knows Lex doesn’t lie. He isn’t one to pretend anything to ease someone’s mind. He wants kids. With me. We’re having children at some point. I’ve always wanted children—or I’ve always liked the idea. But knowing I’ll have at least two with Lex,myLex, suddenly feels like the greatest life goal I’ll ever reach.
“Two is a good start,” Mom approves.
“If I’m being honest, though,” Lex diplomatically continues, “I’d love to have more time just the two of us before we get there. Meeting Andrea has changed every aspect of how I imagine my future, and I have some growing to do before I’m ready to be the father our children would deserve.”
