Chapter 13
Chapter Thirteen
West
T urns out the address Lexi sent wasn’t to her house, but rather to the parking lot of a shopping plaza that closed hours ago. I’m guessing she’s either wanting to keep the boundaries of her and Sterling’s arrangement intact, or… maybe she has company she doesn’t care to explain, but needless to say, I keep my thoughts to myself.
We pull in, and her car’s parked beneath the glow of a streetlight. She still has the engine running, and I know this was a sacrifice—her having to wake my nephew, coming out this time of night, and it isn’t lost on me that she could’ve said no. Only, she didn’t, and maybe that’s because some small, hidden part of her felt sympathy for my brother, even without knowing what this is all about.
Sterling reaches for the passenger side handle as soon as I put the car in park. I’m hesitant to step out, wanting to give him, Lex, and Jaxon a bit of privacy, but then I remember that we’re already playing with fire, meeting out here in the middle of the night. It would only add more fuel if it looked like he and Lex were meeting alone.
I climb out at the same time Lexi does, and she shoots me a look. It’s not quite I should kill you level anger, but more like if you were on fire I wouldn’t put you out level anger. Still, I smile, because she did the right thing, and I’m appreciative.
She opens the back door and reaches in to unbuckle my nephew, then his small arms wrap around her neck. I smile at the pattern of tiny green rockets on his blue pajamas, his gigantic teddy bear slippers, then at the way his head falls to his mom’s shoulder. At first, he doesn’t seem to give any of this much thought, but then he sees Sterling and that all changes.
“Daddy!” he says, his eyes lighting up like he hadn’t just been asleep half an hour ago.
The huge grin on Sterling’s face matches his son’s, and Jaxon nearly leaps out of Lexi’s arms and into Sterling’s. I think it goes without saying that the big hug Jaxon gives him has just made everything better, which is exactly what I hoped for.
Sterling squeezes him tight, his eyes falling closed, and the look of relief on his face is like he’s just taken a breath for the first time today.
Lexi leans against the side of her car, watching the two embrace. She doesn’t speak, just stares. And that look of frustration she’d aimed at me when we first locked eyes a moment ago is gone. Regardless of whether they’re seeing eye- to-eye or not, she’s always been good about giving my brother space to be a father. Tonight is no exception. If anything, she just went above and beyond, which brings Tiffany’s behavior back into the spotlight.
I picture it, Tiff following my brother around their place, throwing a fit, piling emotional baggage on top of emotional baggage. I imagine what Sterling must have felt, being forced to manage not only his own emotions after Pandora’s post, but Tiffany’s too. While she may have just made Sterling question her ability to coexist within a blended family, Lexi’s showing us all how it’s done. She’s as imperfect as the rest of us, but not once have her personal feelings interfered with what I believe we all know is the most important factor here.
That my nephew—their son—has room to receive all the love his little heart can stand.
“Uncle West!”
Only now does he even seem to realize I’m standing here, and his arms shoot out toward me next. I can’t grab him quickly enough, feeling honored to be on the receiving end of one of his warm little hugs.
“Hey, bud. Missed you.”
“I missed you, too,” he says, and almost as soon as the hug ends, he wriggles his way right back to Sterling.
“So,” Lexi sighs. “Either of you going to fill me in? Why am I awake right now?”
Sterling and I share a look, and I’m not sure how much he intends to say, but I imagine he’ll tread lightly.
“I just… had a rough night,” is all he admits. “West knew seeing Jaxon would be good for me, so… here we are, I guess.”
Lexi’s expression had gone stern for a moment, but it softens as she nods. “Fair enough.”
Awkward silence follows, and that feeling of wanting to give them a moment to themselves returns.
“You didn’t have to do this. Didn’t have to let me see him so late,” Sterling clarifies. “It probably goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway. I… appreciate it. Appreciate you. Seriously.”
Lexi nods again, and while I can definitely feel the residual animosity from their failed relationship, I sense something else as well.
Understanding.
Like, no matter what, they will always do what’s best for their son.
For a second, it’s like Lexi’s thoughts take her someplace else. Maybe back in time. But when she blinks, then straightens her posture, she seems to snap out of it. Her eyes flash toward Sterling next, and mine do the same, calling attention to how intently he’d been focused in her direction before now. But once he realizes he’s been caught, he averts his gaze back toward Jaxon.
“Alright, Kid. Mom’s gotta get you back to bed. Daddy just needed one of your big hugs,” Sterling says with a smile.
“Okay,” Jaxon whines, making it clear he isn’t ready to let go. And as Sterling squeezes tighter, I’m guessing he feels the same.
“Daddy loves you,” he says. “So much.”
“Love you too,” Jax says, and I’ll be damned… Lexi just smiled.
As hard as it is to do, Sterling takes a step toward Lexi’s car as she opens the door. He buckles Jax into his car seat, then Lexi closes the back door, but she doesn’t move right away. Instead, her gaze lifts to meet Sterling’s.
“Let’s maybe not do this again at midnight,” she says with a smile, “but… anytime you want to see him, you know you can just text, right? I’m not stuck on set days and all that shit. He’s your kid as much as he’s mine, and he needs us both.”
Things have been rocky between them since his engagement got outed, so I imagine this is their first cordial conversation in a while. There’s this moment that passes between them that makes me feel like I’m intruding, like I’m part of an oddly intimate moment I shouldn’t be witnessing. It’s strange because there’s no physical contact, no words, just… a vibe.
Sterling nods, and I can’t help but wonder if Jax was the only one he needed to see tonight. Maybe, on some level, Lexi’s understanding is helping some, too, reminding him the entire world isn’t against him. Even if it seems like Tiffany is at the moment.
“Thanks,” he says, one corner of his mouth lifting into a smile and… shit. I swear this slick bastard just checked her out.
I hold in a smile and don’t say a word as they exchange goodbyes, but the second we’re back in the car, watching Lexi and Jaxon pull off, my eyes are glued to the side of Sterling’s head.
He does a double-take, laughing when he sees the look on my face.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Nothing, just seeing how long it’s gonna take you to admit it.”
He leans deeper into his seat, his gaze shifting out the windshield again. “Admit what?”
I shrug, being cheeky just to get under his skin. “That you totally just eye-banged your ex.”
“What-the-fuck-ever. Just… drive,” he says, but I note that he didn’t deny it. He’d never step out of line, would never do anything to hurt Tiff, but he can no longer deny what the rest of us have been thinking all along.
That if the stars were to align, that spark between him and Lexi would reignite.
In a heartbeat.
@QweenPandora:
No. Freaking. Way.
How bold of you, #MrSilver! Rendezvousing out in the open with your ex in the middle of the night?
I mean, sure, some might argue this was hardly a romantic encounter, seeing as how #KingMidas and your kiddo were both present, but that’s because they must not see what I see.
Take a look, peeps. Anyone else noticing that look #MrSilver and #LostAngel exchange as they wrap up this little meet and greet?
If I were you, #TheSubstitute, I would definitely be on my best behavior. Once upon a time, your bae and his baby momma were pretty hot and heavy. Are you sure you have the energy to compete with that kind of chemistry?
You know, now that temptation’s basically right under your man’s nose?
Tough break, girl.
Later, peeps :)
—P