Chapter Sixteen
ALEX
One Week Later
It’s been so long since I’ve seen Tomi. Fuck, I miss her. I’ve been trying to play it cool. The last thing I need is to overcrowd her. She’s still angry, but with me sending her a text every now and then and some flowers just to let her know I’m thinking of her, I’m hoping it will cement that we are good together. That this wasn’t just some elaborate plan. I want her to know that I’m in, I’m all in. I have to wait for her to thaw enough for me to make my move.
But for now, I’m at the building site. The demolition has taken place. I’m grateful Tomi wasn’t around when Hope & Faith Ink’s building was demolished. Even I was sad to see it go. But now the framework is up for the new megacomplex, and I’m walking around in my tailored suit wearing a freaking hard hat like a damn fool.
I stride over to where Tomi’s new shop is going to be positioned. She may not have broken yet, but I’m hoping she will cave when she sees what it looks like when it’s finished. I know she’s working at the grocery store as a cashier. I ask Henry to drive past there every night so I can check up on her. She’s clearly more tired and dejected as the days progress. It’s so hard not to message her every damn second, but restricting my messages is the right thing to do, even if it’s fucking hard. I don’t want to smother or push her further away. Though, her replies let me know she’s not completely out of my reach.
She’s still my feisty girl underneath it all.
I’m standing right out where her front door will be situated when my personal cell beeps. It rarely goes off these days, so I pull it from my pocket.
There’s a message from Tomi.
My heart hammers as my eyes widen, then I swipe to read it.
Tomi: Meet me for a coffee?
My chest tightens as I type back immediately.
Me: Name the time and place.
The three dots appear, so I know she’s writing back.
Tomi: Now? Your place?
I can’t help but tense up. The last time we were at my place, shit went south real quick. I’m hoping for a better outcome this time.
Me: See you soon…
I spin on my heels, dodging and weaving through the construction workers as I make haste for the car. I jump in the back, yanking the stupid hard hat off my head, and loosen my plum tie as Henry glances at me. “Leaving so soon, sir?”
“Afraid so, Henry. To my apartment, and hurry!”
Henry turns back to the front and then speeds off in a race-car-like fashion. Just what I need. The thought of seeing Tomi after all this time apart is like a drug hitting my system. I’m alive and swamped with chaos all at once. I have no idea what she’s going to tell me or what she intends to say—good or bad—but I just need to see her up close so I can hopefully persuade her to follow my way of thinking.
Eventually, we arrive at the apartment. I don’t even wait for Henry to pull the car to a complete stop before I’m out and running toward the elevator, but letting the attendant know Tomi’s on her way and to let her up. I hop in then press the button for my suite. My foot taps nervously on the tiled floor as I ponder what I need to tell her, the pictures I can show her of how her shop is coming along.
I have so much I need to say.
So much I want to say.
The elevator dings, the doors open.
My breath catches when I see Tomi standing at the entrance to my apartment, wearing her usual retro outfit, including those red heels. It knocks my fucking breath away. She appears to be a little tired but still as beautiful as fucking ever as I approach her. I move in to embrace her, but her eyes widen like she’s shocked by my movement, so I catch myself and stop. Instead, I grab my wallet and move past her to open the door.
My heart hammers so damn fast I can hardly hear anything other than the persistent thumping in my ears as the energy sizzles and pops in the air, mixed with the intense tension. The atmosphere is so thick you could cut it with a knife.
I open the giant double doors, and we both walk inside without saying anything. She heads straight for the living room, the room which caused us so much pain and heartbreak, and she makes her way to the sofa to sit down.
Okay, she’s here to talk.
I take her lead, walking over and slowly sitting beside her, but as I go to say something, she starts before I can. “I don’t want you to think I’m forgiving you.”
I sit forward, joining my hands together in a ball. “I need you to understand what happened. You don’t know the full story, Tomi.”
She sits back, placing her hands on her lap. “Okay… I’m ready to listen.”
Elation fills me. It’s taken us a long time to get to where we are right now, but if she’s finally willing to listen, then I’m telling her exactly how it is.
Sighing, I face her, staring straight into her bright green eyes. “The thing about the megacomplex, Tomi… the deal for the expansion was drawn up and made years ago by my father. Nothing could have stopped this build from taking place.”
She narrows her brows as if she didn’t realize how long this development has been in motion.
“You were at Hope & Faith Ink for nearly five years… this project has been in the pipeline for almost eight…” I pause and reach for her hand. She pulls away. “Tomi, your shop was marked for demolition before you even took over your tenancy.”
Her lips pull in tight like she’s becoming angry. “Did Jacob, the owner of my shop, know?”
“Yes, he knew. He should have told you as part of your lease agreement.”
She stares off in another direction like she’s having trouble holding it together. I’m so fucking angry at Jacob myself for putting Tomi in this situation.
Scott Enterprises aren’t the bad guys in this development—Jacob always has been. He was fully aware of the issues his tenants were going to face in the future. At the time, she could have found another shop that had a better lease time, one that wasn’t going to run out. Jacob used her to make the last few bucks he could until he sold it to us to make his fast cash.
Jacob is the asshole.
Hopefully, I think Tomi is seeing that now.
“That sniveling little prick,” Tomi murmurs.
I dip my head in agreement. “I swear when I came into Hope & Faith Ink, I was coming in purely to get my ink, Tomi. It was close to home, you had a great name in town, and honestly, you were the only one who took walk-ins. I couldn’t make appointments ’cause, with my work schedule constantly changing, I needed a place I could simply walk into. Right place, right time. No spying. No snooping involved whatsoever. I swear, Tomi. I wasn’t sussing your store out because the deal was already done. It was in motion long before I came into your store to get my ink.”
She turns back, facing me, her eyes drooping with sadness. There’s so much she’s saying with her eyes, I just have no idea what she’s trying to tell me.
So, I keep going. “When I put two and two together that it was your shop on the cutting block to make way for the megacomplex and I was tasked with the eviction notices, you have to know how much it killed me, Tomi. I fought it. I tried to stop it… but with eight years of planning and deals behind the megacomplex, I just couldn’t. I couldn’t save it, no matter what I did or said. It was out of my power, and it was happening. Like it or not, Hope & Faith Ink could not be saved…”
I take a deep breath as I reach for her hand. She actually lets me take it this time, making a spark ignite inside of me as she gazes into my eyes. “So, I did the only thing I could think of, make sure there was room in the new megacomplex for another tattoo studio… we’ve called it the art precinct.”
She shifts a little, listening intently to me.
“I pushed forward the idea in the design process and took on talking to the designers about how the studio should be built, then it could designed the way you wanted it. So, it could be Hope & Faith Ink again.” Her hand trembles in mine. I’m not sure if it’s from excitement, nerves, or something else, but I keep going. “I know it’s not the same, it could never be the same…” I look her in the eyes. “But it was the best I could do. This time, it will be yours to do with as you want. I lay the foundation, and you make it completely your own. That was my idea anyway.”
She softens at my words, but then she gulps. “ Was your idea… so it’s not a tattoo studio anymore?”
My stomach swirls as I watch the hope glimmer in her eyes. I have her. “No, it is, but without your help, I’ve had to improvise.”
She sits taller, resembling her more confident self. “So, who gets the shop if I don’t?”
“No one… it’s yours.”
She gasps. “What… it’s just gonna sit there empty?”
“I pay the rent on it, so I say who can and can’t use it.” I tighten my hand on hers. “It’s your shop. Yours only, Tomi.”
She slowly smiles, but then it falls. “You hurt me.”
A lump forms in my throat. “I know, and I’m so fucking sorry, you have to know that. But I never intended to let it get that far or for you to find out that way. I was going to tell you, that night. It’s just… you got to the file first.”
Her hand subtly moves over her stomach—she appears a little scared. It’s the first time I’ve seen that apprehensive expression. I hold her other hand in mine. A spark ignites as I gaze deep into her eyes. “Tomi, I fell for you a long time ago. I need you to know I’m in. I’m all in. You, me, Levi, I want this to work. Just let me help you. Let me get you back in a shop and doing what you’re made for, what you’re born to do. You’re not a cashier. There’s nothing wrong with it, but your art needs to be out there in the world. I couldn’t bear knowing I was the one who took it away from you, but honestly, you’re the one stopping yourself from getting it back.”
Her eyes glisten as she gnaws on her bottom lip, her hand moving over her stomach again.
I furrow my brows as she clears her throat. “You, me, Levi, and… this little blip.”
My eyes widen.
My heart hammers and leaps into my throat.
My stomach churns as it finally clicks.
Tomi’s pregnant.
With my child.
I gaze into her eyes as joy fills my very soul. “You’re…”
She dips her head.
I lean in, grabbing her and pulling her lips to mine. I don’t care if she fights me. I need her right now.
Damn, it feels good to kiss her again after so fucking long.
Sparks fly in all directions, but she doesn’t fight me. She surrenders to the kiss, her mouth opening, letting my tongue collide with hers as I move my hand to the side of her face, caressing her cheek tenderly while the other grips her bicep, pulling her to me.
Kissing her, after so long apart, is a joy I haven’t felt before in all of my life. Knowing she’s carrying my son or daughter is something I can’t even comprehend. I slowly pull back, placing my hand on her flat stomach. My breathing rushed as she places her hand on top of mine. Elation swirls through me, and I can hardly stop myself from shouting from the windows.
I glance up into her watery eyes.
There’s a connection between us.
It’s always been here.
There was never any question about that as I stare into her beautiful doe eyes. “I’m going to be a father.”
She giggles. “In full disclosure, I found out a week ago…” She pauses and blinks a few times. “I just needed some time to wrap my head around this and figure out what I wanted, what I needed from you.”
I sit taller at her serious tone, paying full attention. “I’m listening.”
She sighs. “I should have heard you out. I should have stayed and listened to what you had to say. I dismissed you. I assumed you were the bad guy because the emails came from you when all the time your orders came from above. I know you couldn’t have stopped it now. I’m sorry for judging you. But I’m still fucking angry you didn’t tell me. For lying to me about your name, for leading me along. I won’t stand for that kind of bullshit, Xander. And if you ever lie to me again, I won’t hesitate in leaving you.” My stomach churns at how deceptive I was around her. “And I’m not calling you, Alex. I can’t do it.”
I lean in, swiping a piece of platinum blonde hair from her face. “I understand. I can’t apologize enough for every shitty thing I did. But Tomi, you mean so much to me. All of it came from a good place. But I promise you, I’m not going to fuck this up again.” I want to lighten the mood a little. “And just so you know, you’re gorgeous when you’re firing orders at me.”
She scoffs. “You’re an asshole.”
“Yeah, but I’m your asshole.”
She laughs, leaning in to kiss me again briefly. The electrical current sends a burning sensation to my cock.
God, I’ve missed her.
Suddenly, she pulls back, gazing into my eyes. “I’m not moving in here, Levi will hate this place.”
Excitement fills me. “It’s settled then, I’ll move in with you. Levi’s fine with me. And with the changes the baby will make around the house, you’ll need the extra hands to watch over Levi’s moods. A screaming baby will be an adjustment for him, and we will need to make sure his needs are met. We have to make sure Levi doesn’t become scared. We can create a safe haven for Levi, one where he can go and have his quiet time. Maybe even use some soundproofing in his room for added comfort. We will make sure he’s well taken care of.”
Tomi exhales. “Yeah, I agree. We can do this. All of us, together.”
My cheeks hurt from the grin on my face. “Together.”
I lean in, pressing my lips to hers, at the same time pulling her over me as I fall back on the sofa. She giggles as she collapses on top of me, smothering me in her as we kiss like long-lost lovers finally reuniting.
I knew she would find her way back to me because she always was my girl .
No matter how hard she fought it, I never lost sight of that fact.