“Don’t you worry about me, Alexis. It’ll take more than some punk like Anthony Young to take me down for good. I do wish I’d been the one to kill the sonofabitch, though.” Joe looked at Trevor. “Thanks for bringing her back safe, son.”
“You don’t ever have to thank me for that.”
Trevor’s eyes slid to hers, and Lexi could have sworn there was love there. That couldn’t be right, though. She’d heard what he’d told Young.I don’t love her. We barely know each other.Those crushing words hadn’t stopped running through her mind since she’d woken up to find him waiting by her bedside.
“As far as work goes for you three,” Joe gave Trevor an odd glimpse before bringing his attention back to her, Gina, and Caleb. “I have a feeling everything’s going to work out just fine.”
Lexi wasn’t sure what that was all about, but by the time they said their goodbyes, she was too exhausted to ask. Trevor pushed her back to her room and helped her into bed. When he leaned down and kissed her forehead in that annoyingly sweet way he’d been doing lately, Lexi’s heart sank a little more.
****
“Come in.”
Joe’s raspy voice came from the other side of the door. Trevor pushed it open and peeked his head inside. “Olivia said you wanted to see me?”
“I did. Come on in and shut the door behind you.”
Trevor did as he was told and stood at the foot of Joe’s hospital bed, waiting to hear what the man had to say.
“Alexis asleep?” he asked.
“She is. And I really don’t want to be gone long, just in case she wakes up. So, if you don’t mind...”
Joe smiled, his gold cap gleaming off the harsh florescent lights. “Straight and to the point. I like that.” He gestured toward the plastic chair near his bed. “Have a seat, son.”
Again, Trevor obeyed the former Marine’s order and sat down. “So...what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Alexis.”
“What about her?”
“She loves you,” Joe said bluntly.
“Yes, sir. At least I hope she does.”
“Oh, I know she does. What I don’t know for sure is how you feel about her.”
Joe waited for a response. Trevor gave him the truth. “I’m in love with her, sir.”
The older man’s straight face began to curve. “You plan on marrying her?”
“Yes, sir. That is, if she’ll have me. It’s still early, but...”
“Nah,” Joe shook his head. “It’s never too early when you know it’s right. Too late, now that can definitely happen. You wait too long or don’t make your intentions clear...women don’t like to wait around forever for a man to make up his mind.”
“Sir?”
Joe reached into the neck of his white t-shirt and pulled out the chain he was wearing. At the end was a set of dog tags...and a small, silver ring.
Trevor watched as Joe slipped the chain up over his head and then proceeded to undo the clasp. Holding one end up, he placed his other hand below it, catching the tags and ring as they fell off the chain and into his palm.
Holding the tiny diamond ring up, Joe said, “This belonged to my wife. I kept it after she died. For some reason, I just couldn’t bear to part with it.” He looked up at Trevor and held out the ring. “Now, I know why.”
“Joe, I can’t accept that.”
“It’s not for you. It’s for Alexis,” Joe teased.
Trevor chuckled. “I know. Still, I can afford to get her a ring.”
