Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 149338 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 747(@200wpm)___ 597(@250wpm)___ 498(@300wpm)
The only angel in the room.
It was our last night in Colombia and Lexi had already been teary-eyed twice that day, saying she didn’t want to go back to our lives in New York. She wanted to stay in her little piece of heaven with me, forever. I promised I would bring her again soon. We laid out on the lounger for the last time, both of us lost in our own thoughts. Her head rested on my chest as I caressed the side of her arm.
“Do you want children?” I found myself asking out of nowhere.
She scoffed, “I don’t know.” Nervously laughing. “I’ve never really given it much thought.”
“Yes, you have.”
She shrugged, knowing I was right. “I don’t think I’d be a good mom to be honest. I’m probably not maternal. There’s no need to bring a kid into my mess. I didn’t exactly have the best upbringing, no example to lead by.”
I caressed her cheek. “You’d be an amazing mother. Any kid would be lucky to have you as their parent.”
She smirked, her mind running wild. I didn’t have to ask what she was thinking. It was blatantly obvious. So I wasn’t surprised when she asked, “What about you?”
I peered back up at the sky. “If you could live anywhere in the world, where would it be?” I questioned, ignoring her.
She sighed, disappointed. “That’s easy. Italy. Off the Amalfi Coast. Live in one of those houses on a cliff. The people are supposed to be very welcoming. It would be a nice change of pace from New York.”
“I’ll take you there one day,” I simply stated, smiling down at her.
“I look forward to it.” She nuzzled her body closer to mine. “How about you? Where would you live?”
“Cariño, I’ve been everywhere. There’s very little I haven’t seen. I’m an old man, remember?” I chuckled.
“That you are.” She nodded.
“Ask.” I could feel her mind stirring, wanting to ask me more, but afraid to.
“Do you ever regret the things you’ve seen? The things you’ve done?”
“No.”
She nodded again, looking back up at the stars. Not knowing what else to say.
“It wouldn’t have brought me to you.”
She immediately peered back at me, stunned by my response.
“I’m fucking exhausted, Lexi. You’re the only thing keeping me going. I’m getting older as you like to remind me. There’s only so much more I can take.”
She sat up, straddling my lap. Laying against my chest, listening to my heartbeat. “Are you ever scared of dying?” she said just above a whisper. Fumbling with my mother's cross that still hung around her neck.
She never took it off.
“No, cariño. I’m not. When it's your time, it's your time. But no one fucks with me. I’ve spent my whole life making sure of it.”
My response gave her the peace she needed. For now.
“The things I regret, haven’t happened yet.”
She sat up, looking me dead in the eyes. “Wha—”
“If something ever does happen to me. Just remember I’ll always be with you. No matter what. In here.” I placed my hand over her heart.
“Alejan—”
“Look! A shooting star. Make a wish, baby.”
She peered up at the sky as I looked at the side of her beautiful face. Making my wish and praying to God, it would come true.
We sat in the back of the limo on our way to the church for the christening of his niece’s son. I hadn’t met Briggs yet, at least not officially. I didn’t count our brief run in at the penthouse. She lived with her husband Austin and their two kids in Oak Island, North Carolina. Amari, who was almost three years old, and Michael, who just turned four months. Both named after Briggs’ parents, her mom being Martinez’s sister.
“Stop fidgeting, Lexi,” he ordered in a demanding tone. A strong hand came down on my bouncing legs, holding them still. Not looking up from his damn laptop. I swear he was on that thing more and more every day. Ignoring me in the process.
“I can’t help it. I’m nervous!” I expressed, trying to free my legs from his grasp.
“Cariño, she’s my niece, not my fucking mother. I don’t need her approval for anything. Especially who I fuck. I’m a grown ass man. Now relax.”
I scowled. “It matters to me! And I’m not just someone you fuck.” Trying to shift my body away from his.
He took a deep breath, shutting his laptop, placing it beside him. Grabbing my hand, tugging me over to his lap. I wrapped my legs around him.
He pulled my hair back, away from my face, rubbing his thumb along my pouty lip. “What do you need from me? Huh?”
“I thought I’ve been telling you.”
“No…. you’ve been whining. I don’t like playing childish games.”
I tried to get off his lap, but he held me firmer in place.
“Briggs and I don’t have a close relationship. Not by traditional family standards, at least. She will be more shocked that I’m there than meeting you.”