Linx had a look of a man not buying what Bax was selling.
“Serious, man, I want to do right by Courtney and our kid, and I’m willing to do what I need to do to make that happen.” Whatever that was… as long as it didn’t include walking away. That was the one thing he couldn’t do.
“My mom always said something—you know, you were there a lot. ‘You can be sorry, but unless you change the behavior, your remorse is only a show.’” Bax’s tongue felt a little heavy as he spoke. “I am sorry, and I am not going to be the same guy around your sister. I’m not arguing with her. Not pissing her off because I can. And I’m going to support her, because that’s what she deserves.”
“And if Em shows up tomorrow asking for cash?” Linx asked, looping his fingers in the waistband of his jeans.
“Em’s not in the picture anymore.” Bax had moved on, and now he had a new focus. Two of them, in fact.
This baby was a not-so-small nudge in the right direction. He’d been wandering like a lost fool, and now he wasn’t just drifting. There was a big ol’ foam finger pointing the way.
“I want a family,” he said, meaning it. His parents had wanted more kids, but only had the one. He’d always wanted to fill a whole house with clomping feet and love. “My original plan didn’t pan out, but for some reason, I’m getting a second chance. The right chance.”
He didn’t like to think too hard about Em and his original plan, because then he’d get an ache in the center of his chest.
Linx said nothing, just glared.
So this would take a bit more effort and a helluva lot of time. Bax would wait it out.
“This baby is the answer to a question I didn’t even realize I’d asked.” He held Linx’s stare, not breaking the link between them. “I will not screw up things with your sister.”
He’d already decided that he wanted to be in with her for more than the baby-daddy bit. He wanted to give her time to adjust to the idea that maybe the two of them could be the real deal, an actual couple who cared about each other.
“Courtney’s confused,” Linx said. “I don’t like it when she’s confused.”
Bax shoved his hands in his pockets. “Me neither.”
“Which means you can’t fuck this up anymore, because that would hurt her, and I can’t have that.”
“I’m not going to.” Bax held up his hands in surrender. “I’m letting her take the lead. I want a shot to show her how good we can be together and how this can work out for everyone. I’m willing to give her the time to come to that conclusion.”
“And if she doesn’t?” Linx was being a hard-ass about this, but Bax mostly respected him for that.
“Then I guess we’ll figure something out. She’s Courtney. You know her, she’s amazing.” Bax kicked at the edge of the step with his sneaker. “I just didn’t see it before because she sees…” He looked up, didn’t want to say it, but understood deep down that he had to. “She sees me. I don’t like it when people see me. I like to be Bax, but she sees Brennan sometimes too.”
“I see Brennan.” Linx dropped his arms, finally engaging. “Always have.”
“But I didn’t get you pregnant, did I?” Bax shook his head because that wasn’t the correct thing to say. “I’m sorry that I broke code, but I’m not sorry that Courtney’s pregnant. I want this like she wants this. We’ll take things slow, and find our way.”
“And you won’t go poking your dick where it doesn’t belong?”
“I’m not going to be seeing anyone else.”
“No handing out bracelets?”
Who did he think Bax was? “No. That’s over.”
“How serious are you about my sister?” Linx leveled a big-brother stare that ate clear through what was left of Bax’s veneer.
“Serious enough to keep it in my pants until I convince her that I can make her happy.”
Linx frowned. “And if you break that promise?”
“Then I’m scum.” But he wouldn’t let that happen—would do everything in his power so that it wouldn’t.
“You’re not scum,” Linx said through gritted teeth. “But I’m still pissed. I don’t know how to forgive you.”
“Then let me prove to you that I mean what I said. Let me prove it to Courtney too.”
