Chapter 7
Seven
“Love is composed of a single soul
inhabiting two bodies.”—Aristotle
They left the barn and headed into town as a light snow began to fall. Lexi was full of so many emotions, she could barely process them all. Her heart and soul were coming back to life after a long, dark winter of despair and certainty that her life would be cut short.
“I’m really sorry about my drama interfering with your weekend,” Max said after a long silence.
“Don’t be sorry. I enjoyed seeing you in protective-dad mode. It’s kinda hot, actually.”
Max snorted out a laugh. “Sure, it is.”
“No, really. It is. You’re so good with him.”
“He makes it easy. He’s a great kid.”
“He’s a great kid because of your time and attention and the example you’ve set for him.”
“Thank you. That means a lot.”
“I thought I’d have four kids by now,” she said with a sigh. “With you.”
Max glanced at her. “You imagined us having kids together?”
“Oh my God, all the time! I could see it so clearly. You, me and a team of kiddos.” She smiled at him. “I hope you know that if cancer hadn’t intervened, I would’ve been right back here the minute I could’ve to pick up where we left off.”
“Ever since I found out where you’d been and why, all I can think about is what might’ve been for both of us. I guess things worked out the way they were meant to in some ways, because I wouldn’t have had Caden if we’d stayed together.”
“You were definitely meant to have him.”
“But you weren’t meant to have cancer,” Max said.
“I think I was, though. It was something I was supposed to go through for whatever reason, and the result is a whole new appreciation for days like today when regular life happens.”
“Today hasn’t been regular for me in any way. I got to hang out with you, I got a dog and Caden’s mother reappeared. Any one of those things would be a major headline on any other day. That’s a lot for one day. My head is spinning a bit.”
“Do you feel better after talking to your parents?”
“I guess. Except for the part where I need to tell Caden his mother has resurfaced and wants to see him.”
“How do you think he’ll respond?”
“He’ll want to see her.”
“You seem sure of that.”
“I am sure. He’s started asking more about her in the last year or so as he tunes in to the fact that his friends and cousins have mothers, and he doesn’t.”
“What have you said in response to his questions?”
“Just that we were both really young when we had him and she wasn’t ready to be a mom, but she loves him very much. And then he asks where she is. I say I’m not sure and try to change the subject. That’s getting tougher to do as he gets older.”
“It’s the right thing to give him the choice to see her.”
“I know, but I still don’t like it. Anyway, we’ve talked enough about her for one day.”
“Don’t feel like you have to change the subject on my account. I understand that her reappearance is a very big deal to you.”
“It’s like a nuclear bomb detonating, metaphorically speaking.”
“I’m sure, but it’ll be okay. You know that, right?”
“Keep telling me.”
“As much as you need to hear it.”
He pulled into the parking lot at Kingdom Pizza, put the truck in Park, but left it running.
“It’s just like I remember with you. Easy, fun, cool.
” He glanced over at her. “I’ve never had that with anyone else.
Having you back has made me realize I’ve been looking for that. I’ve been looking for you.”
Lexi fanned her face. “It’s getting warm in here again.”
His smile only added to the heat level. “I mean it.”
“I know you do, and I’m trying to figure out what it means.”
“Me, too. Maybe we can figure it out together?”
She nodded because he’d taken her breath away with everything he’d said.
“Wait for me.” He shut off the engine and got out to come around and help her down.
When she expected him to release her, he didn’t.
Rather, he stared down at her with a dazzled look on his face.
Then he leaned in and kissed her. The brief touch of his lips to hers left her electrified.
As if he hadn’t just rocked her world, he put his arm around her and walked her into Kingdom Pizza.
Lexi wasn’t sure if she walked or floated.
Max Abbott had kissed her, and it was just like she remembered.
Inside, Kingdom Pizza was doing a robust Saturday-night business. Someone sitting at a table in the back waved to Max.
He took hold of Lexi’s hand. “Come say hi to my sister Ella and her family.”
The easy affection also reminded her of their previous relationship and filled her with a warm sense of homecoming.
Ella jumped up to hug Lexi. “I thought that was you! It’s so nice to see you.”
“You, too. Your family is beautiful.”
“Thank you. Do you remember Gavin?”
“I do. Great to see you.”
“Been a long time,” Gavin said.
“Too long,” Lexi replied.
“These are our kids, Sarah, Cici and Caleb. Guys, say hi to Uncle Max and his friend Lexi.” Like their parents, the kids had dark hair and eyes.
“Do you have a girlfriend, Uncle Max?” Caleb asked with an impish grin.
“None of your business, mister,” Max replied as he bent to kiss the kids and steal a bite of Cici’s pizza, making the little girl giggle.
Was it possible to overdose on desire just from watching a sexy man interact with dogs and kids? If so, she was in serious danger.
“I take it the reunion went well?” Ella asked her brother, brow raised in inquiry.
“It was much better than expected. Are you guys excited for the party tomorrow?” Max asked the kids.
“So excited,” Sarah said. “We went shopping for presents today.”
Caleb gave a fist pump. “Party time!”
“We’re going to grab some grub,” Max said, smiling. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Have a nice evening,” Ella said with a big smile.
“Knock it off, El.”
“What’d I do?”
He scowled at his sister as he guided Lexi toward the counter, where they joined the line to order. “Sorry about that.”
“About what? She’s great as always.”
“She’s being all weird about seeing us together.”
“Can you blame her? We show up together after ten years apart. That’s gonna get people talking.”
“It doesn’t have to be my own family acting like fools.”
“Doesn’t bother me. Don’t let it bother you. And by the way, her family is adorable.”
“She’s so happy. It’s nice to see. She was crazy about Gavin for years before they got together—years when he was in self-destructive mode after losing his brother, Caleb. It’s good to know that things work out sometimes.”
Some people got all the luck, Lexi thought. Some didn’t. Would she be one of the lucky ones? Would Max?
“Do you still love boring old cheese pizza?” he asked.
“More than almost anything.”
He rolled his eyes. “And a salad?”
“Yep.”
“You got it.”
He ordered for them—a small cheese for her, a medium meat lover for him and a large salad to share.
The exact same order as ten years ago, except he got himself a beer. “What do you want to drink?”
“I’ll do a glass of rosé.”
Max ordered her drink and then tapped his card to pay.
“Next time is my treat.”
“If you insist.”
“I do. I insist.”
They grabbed a table vacated by another couple and took off their coats.
“This place is just as I remember it,” Lexi said, eyeing the exposed brick and the wood floor.
“Not much changes around here.”
“That’s not true. A lot has changed.”
“Like what?”
“The diner changed hands and expanded. You have a son. Your siblings are all married with kids.”
“Not Charley. She and Tyler never got married, but she’s living with him and helping to raise his nieces.”
“You’re living in your grandparents’ house, and your dad is retired. I mean, Lucas and Landon are married with kids. If that’s not a big change, I don’t know what is.”
“That’s a fact,” Max said with a laugh. “I guess it just seems that other than Caden, not much has changed for me.”
“Caden is a major change.”
“He was at the beginning. It was so big as to be overwhelming, especially after Chloe left. But now it’s like he’s always been part of my life.”
“You’re so lucky to have him,” she said wistfully.
“And I know it. What about you? Do you still want a bunch of kids like you used to?”
“I do, but I’m not sure if I can. The chemo and treatments wreaked havoc with my body, but I took the doctors’ advice at the beginning and harvested some eggs for later. Just in case. But it would be a long shot.”
“Still… there’s a chance, right?”
“I hope so, but I won’t know until I try.
” Her heart ached when she thought about how badly she’d once wanted children.
She’d expected to do four years of college, reunite with Max, start their family and live happily ever after with their houseful of kids.
That was her only dream until surviving took precedence over everything.
“Listen,” she said softly, “it might be better for both of us not to get all caught up in the nostalgia and think we can pick right up where we left off like nothing ever came between us.”
“Nothing did come between us. We weren’t apart because we wanted to be.”
“Right, but a lot has happened, and it would be a risk for you to get involved with me again.”
“How so?”
“Well, my life is going to be a bit of a roller-coaster ride for the next four years. Every fever, cold, sore throat and bout of fatigue will be cause for panic. I’m not sure I can have babies, and you always wanted a big family as much as I did.”
“My dreams have changed as I’ve gotten older. I’ve learned to be satisfied with what I have, which is an awful lot. If I had you, too, that would make everything perfect.”
Before she could respond, a server brought their salad and pizzas to the table.
“Can I get you anything else?” the young woman asked.
“No, thank you,” Max said after glancing at Lexi, who shook her head.
“Enjoy your dinner.”
Max put slices of pizza on each of their plates as Lexi put dressing on the salad after removing the onions.
“You still forget to ask for no onions,” Max said, smiling.
“Every time.”
“Did I go too far with what I said before the food came?” he asked. “You looked shocked.”