Chapter Eighteen
ALEX
As we walk inside Tomi’s home, I reminisce on the first time I was here. The first time we made love. The first time I truly knew I was done for with her. I knew I was in deep. I knew we would end up together. But whether we could weather the storm that hit when she found out about me was another thing completely. We made it through the hurricane. Now, we just have to deal with the cleanup.
We walk inside, and it appears exactly the same. Utterly perfect. Levi strolls in and sits on his sofa in the family room and glances at me to follow him. I sit, and as I peer up at Tomi, she nods at me. Levi goes to start up his video game, but I place my hand out to stop him. He eyes me suspiciously as I take the lead.
“Levi, before you start playing, there are some things Tomi and I want to talk to you about.”
Levi sits back on the sofa, his stature tall, like he’s alert and listening.
Tomi slides onto the armrest of the sofa, sitting next to me in support. The three of us together as a family. Well, technically, the four of us, just Levi doesn’t know that yet.
I reach up, grab Tomi’s hand, and link her fingers with mine, making Levi smile. “You two are back together.” It’s more of a statement than a question.
“Yes, is that okay with you?” Tomi asks.
Levi shrugs. “I like having Xander around.”
My chest fills with pride. I love this kid, and knowing I’ve made an impact on him like he’s made one on me means everything. “Levi, how would you feel if I was here a lot more?”
His eyes dart around the room. “Like for breakfast after you sleep here?”
I smirk. “Like if I slept here every night, and my things were here, too.”
His eyes stop darting around the room as he turns to me. “You want to move in?”
I bob my head. “Only if you’re okay with that?”
He hums under his breath like he’s debating it. “Will I still have my room?”
Tomi leans forward. “Of course, Xander will share my room.”
Levi nods. “Okay.” His voice is high-pitched, like he’s excited. “Will you get married now?” he asks as Tomi stiffens beside me.
I glance at her, and she’s calmly avoiding eye contact. We’re not at that place just yet. We’ve only just gotten back together, and I need to prove to her that I’m in this, that I am trustworthy, and that I only have this family’s best interests at heart.
I’m never going to fail her again.
I need to prove that to her before I even think of asking her something this huge.
I know it.
She knows it too.
I glance back at Levi and shake my head. “No, buddy, we’re not getting married. Not yet, anyway.” I add that in to let Tomi know I see that future for us. “But there is something else we need to tell you.”
Tomi stands from the sofa and shifts to sit in front of Levi on the coffee table. She wants to take it from here. So, I let her. This subject is a little more life-altering than me moving in, so it has to be broached with care.
She leans in, and he turns from her to me and back to her. He obviously senses there’s more and starts to panic. “You’re keeping something from me,” he blurts as Tomi licks her lips, letting out an exhale. I rest my hand on her thigh to let her know I’m here if she needs me.
“Levi, I found out some news. Something that’s going to change all our lives,” Tomi starts.
Levi turns from her to me again as his face lights up. “We can go back to the shop after school?”
I tense up, knowing that the shop is all but gone, but another one is being built in its place as we speak.
Tomi exhales. “No… no, Levi, the shop’s gone.”
His face falls like it’s broken his heart all over again. It stabs me right through mine once more. I hate I was a party to his heartache.
“In a few months, there will be a new shop, Levi,” I tell him.
Tomi glares at me like I’ve said the worst thing possible.
Levi’s eyes open wide like that’s the best thing I could have possibly said. “We can go there after school?”
“We haven’t finished discussing what’s going to happen with that shop yet, Levi,” Tomi grunts. Levi’s face falls again.
“We haven’t?” I ask, a little confused. I thought it was a given she was going to go back into the studio. It’s there, for her. Why the hell wouldn’t she take it?
“No, we haven’t, but that’s beside the point. We’re not here to discuss the shop right now, Levi. We have other news. Something very exciting.”
Levi tilts his head while I sit here reeling.
Is she not going to start up the new Hope & Faith Ink?
I can’t think of that right now. This is a discussion we need to have in private later. Right now, is a celebration of life, so I need to be in the moment.
“Levi, we want you to know how important you are to both of us.” Tomi beams, love oozing from her.
I sit forward, nodding my head in agreement. “Absolutely.”
He furrows his brows, obviously sensing something is coming.
Tomi stares Levi in the eyes and exhales. “Xander and I are having a baby.”
Levi scrunches up his face. Then he exhales. “So, you have one…” he points to her stomach, “… in there, now?”
Tomi sniffs and nods. “Yes.”
He shifts on the sofa like he’s taking this all in. “Will it scream?”
Tomi winces. “It will cry. Yes.”
He hums under his breath like he’s deep in thought. “Okay,” he says in his high-pitched voice, again shocking us both.
Tomi sits up taller as I open my eyes wide. “Okay?” Tomi asks for clarification.
“Yes, okay. I will be an uncle.”
Tomi slowly smiles. “Yes, you will.”
Levi smiles. “I will be a good uncle.”
Tomi sighs as I squeeze her thigh. This wasn’t the reaction we were expecting, but it’s definitely one we will take. “Yeah, buddy, you sure will,” I tell him as he smiles to himself.
“You sure you’re okay with this? The baby will take up space in the house, and it will cry and sometimes smell and change the way we have to do things.” Tomi can’t take a good outcome and roll with it.
Levi shrugs. “I will love peanut. I will be a good uncle.”
I want to rush forward and embrace him, but if I did that, he would tense up. Instead, I tilt my head at him as Tomi giggles.
“Peanut?”
“It’s the baby’s name.”
I raise my brow. “Peanut. We can work with that for now.”
“ ’Cause I love peanut butter,” Levi clarifies, making me smile.
“Okay,” Tomi chuckles.
“And I’ll love the baby—”
“Okay, you’re getting yourself excited now. How about you turn on your game and relax a little while Xander and I go make dinner?”
Levi smiles, then leans forward, taking Tomi into a tight embrace. “It will be hard. But we will be okay.” He pulls back, and I see Tomi’s eyes glistening as she leans in, kissing Levi on the cheek. “You’re so freaking awesome, you know that?”
Levi nods. “I am.”
I chuckle as Tomi stands, grabbing my hand. Levi focuses on the television and his game. Tomi’s cheery demeanor fades. She glares at me as we head for the kitchen.
She leans into my side, her mouth against my ear. “We need to talk… in private.”
The tone of her voice sends a shudder down my spine.
She has that glare about her, and her anger is aimed directly at me.
Again…