“The guesthouse? It’s not the same.”
Lexi’s lips begin to curve up, but she can’t quite commit. “I’m not sure what to say…”
I begin to rub her arms that fell from my shoulders, coaxing her to continue. “The truth.”
Her eyes blink a few times. “The thought has crossed my mind… the slight sadness of leaving. Even if I’ll be banished to the guest room downstairs.”
My finger is quick to shush her lips. “Then it seems we have a predicament.” She nods in agreement with my finger never parting. “Lori and Harry should probably be clued in on this change between you and me.” She bobs her head again, nearly mesmerized. I break out in a wide grin. “It’s settled. I will tell them tonight, maybe alone is best. This is a change they’ve never had before. I’ve never had a girlfriend in the picture really.”
Lexi laughs. “Really? I should probably dive into that mystery a little more, but fuck it. Holden, we are at a point where my feelings for you are an attachment that will be difficult to break. Everything we are doing, I hope it’s because you feel it deep within you that we’re going somewhere on the long-term. Because the last few years I’ve been floating around life, one place after another. But I’m ready to settle down in a way, and that’s an adventure in itself.”
To cement my agreement, I kiss her. Long and firm. Promising too. “That’s what I wanted to hear, Lexi.” My thumbs follow the curve of her face. “This is new to me, but it feels right.”
Her smile breaks out, and she gives me a quick kiss before bouncing up, leaving my lap. “Then we’re on the same road. It’s clear. Which is great because I’m out of time right now.”
“To pick up my daughter, which hits me somewhere unknown within me. You’re special, Lexi.”
She winks at me. “I couldn’t agree more.”
I shake my head because she can take soft moments and bring us back to our normal day in a split second, and that’s what I need, because pondering in my thoughts for too long sometimes leads me in all directions.
* * *
Lexi wentto have dinner with Harlow and Summer to give me some breathing room to talk to Lori and Harry who are staring at me while we sit in the living room.
I uneasily scratch the back of my neck, wishing I had rehearsed this a little bit instead of choosing to wing it. “It’s good that we can spend a little time together. Nothing like pizza.”
“On the couch. You never let us have pizza on the couch. This is a little weird,” Harry highlights my rule.
Meanwhile, Lori sits with arms crossed and her face neutral. “Probably because he is trying to butter us up.”
“Oh man, is this the part when you say that I can’t get a dog for my birthday? That sucks.” Harry flops his piece of pizza on his plate, his garlic stick falling off onto the couch, which is the least of my worries right now.
My head tips gently to the side. Huh, I forgot about that request. It also seems that this conversation really is normal to him. But Lori’s eyes? They’re waiting for me.
“The thing is, as you know Lexi has been staying here, and with the inn almost done and the water fixed in the guesthouse, then it means…” Now Harry’s attention is grabbed. “I’ve asked her to stay… here.”
“And why is that, dear father?” Lori’s face shades to one I’m very familiar with since it’s a mirror of my own when I’m waiting for her to confess her past tricks. She thinks she has the upper hand right now.
A sound escapes the back of my throat, now aware of Lori’s play. “Because we’re together.”
My daughter has a satisfied smile at her win and drops her arms. “No shit. This conversation wasn’t obvious at all,” she muses with sarcasm.
“Really? Like, you have a girlfriend? That’s a little…” Harry contemplates.
It’s a little worrying, as my children’s opinions matter to me. They will always come first in my life, that’s how parenting works, how I want it to work. There is no other way in my book. My attention turns back to Lori.
“Care to elaborate on your no-shit expression?”
“Which you won’t care about my use of language because you’re probably freaking out about my opinion.” Damn, this daughter of mine keeps me on my toes, and in other circumstances, I would be a little proud she has my genes. “You think I’m an idiot? As if you cut your neck while shaving. It was totally a hickey.”
“That was weeks ago.”
“And your over-the-top concern what we might do to her at breakfast was another clue. Then there is the ridiculous cover of checking on cars and garages.” Lori sits back on the sofa, grabbing a pillow to hug because this appears to be a casual discussion.
My eyes tear away from Lori to my son. “You okay there, buddy?”
He hums a noise and brings his finger to his chin to contemplate. “I guess it’s fine. I do like her. This means we have to see all of this cuddly stuff, don’t we?”
