Chapter 26
LEXI
Friday morning began bright and early with Evie jumping on my bed before I had a chance to open my eyes. Evie and I had a small, unplanned dance party with her current favorite song playing on Alexa before we walked downstairs to the kitchen.
I thought I was doing a good job of handling the distance from Jonah.
Four days since he had said we’d need to keep our distance, and I’d only thought about texting him maybe a dozen times.
That was good. Progress, even.
“Daisy texted me,” Sasha said when we walked in, mentioning a mutual friend we loved to hang out with.
She was sitting at the table, Cheerios and milk by her side.
“She said she and Ella are meeting for coffee tomorrow and asked if we could meet up with them. It’s been months since we all met, and Daisy wanted to catch us up on her Europe trip. ”
I ruefully shook my head. I had scheduled a dentist appointment for Evie in the morning, and afterward, I had to run to the grocery store to stock up on her favorite snacks for the week.
I would need most of my Saturday to just finish up errands, and then I’d use Sunday to catch up on cleaning our bedrooms and the bath.
“I would love to, but I can’t,” I said, helping Evie onto the chair while I set out bowls for her and me.
It was hard explaining to my friends—none of whom had kids—why I couldn’t get time away from Evie on the weekends. Even if I could, I usually didn’t want to leave her behind. With my hectic work schedule, weekends were my chance to spend quality time with her.
“Maybe next time.”
The look on Sasha’s face said she doubted it. “We miss you hanging out with us,” she said at last. “Why don’t you ask Dylan to pitch in? Surely, he ought to help take care of Evie too.”
I shook my head. “Dylan’s been absent for years. I’ve learned not to count on him.”
She shook her head darkly but thankfully didn’t press me for more.
After breakfast, I ran upstairs to grab my bag and noticed a text on my phone. The sender made my stomach turn.
DYLAN
Hey, Lexi.
Of course. No how are you. No how’s Evie. Just this vague opener. I ignored it, but a few minutes later, another message came through.
DYLAN
I need to talk to you.
I rolled my eyes. If it was important, he’d say so instead of wasting my time. I ignored both messages.
The morning routine helped me focus as I got Evie and myself ready and headed to the train station.
The platform was busy, as usual, with commuters huddled in their coats, sipping coffee and glancing impatiently at their watches. Getting onto the train, I found a spot for the two of us and checked my phone again, half expecting another message from Dylan, but there were no more.
In half an hour, we exited the train and walked the short distance to my office building, the cool air a stark contrast to the warmth of the morning sun.
I dropped Evie off at her preschool and made my way to my office floor, setting my bag down and logging in to my computer.
Every time I stepped into this building, Jonah was the first person I thought about.
I inhaled and took a deep breath. Focus, I reminded myself. Work was better than thinking about a man whose life was so different from mine.
I saw that Stacey and Brian had already gotten coffee from the café down the road, and I knew I was missing out on bonding with them. Something Jonah had suggested I do.
I sighed, realizing I was losing the battle to not think about him.
Before I could brood on that, I received another unwelcome text from Dylan.
DYLAN
See you at noon.
This time I texted back, asking him what he wanted.
Dylan never responded. I followed up with another text, asking if he wanted to see Evie later in the evening.
Hours went by without any response.
So much for him wanting to be involved.
Noon came and went, but Dylan never showed up.
I wasn’t surprised.
I had fallen behind on my tasks, and texted Sasha asking if she could pick up Evie at 4pm, since I planned to work late. Stacey seemed determined to dislike me, and I felt equally determined to prove my competence, even if working late nights and weekends was the only way.
It was half-past four when I was reading documentation about the app’s features and creating a test plan, when I heard footsteps. I was tired, and certainly not ready for more drama.
I looked up to see Dylan standing next to my desk
My jaw fell.
Dylan was in my office, appearing out of nowhere after two years.
“Well, well, look at you all nice and fancy,” he said while my co-workers looked around at him, surprised by the familiar and possessive tone. His voice was calm, but there was a tension in his posture that didn’t go unnoticed.
His long blond hair was in a sleek ponytail and he reeked of arrogance, leaning against my desk like he owned the place. Bright red headphones hung around, music audible easily from them.
He had the vibe of someone who desperately wanted to be in his teens despite being in his mid-twenties.
He gave me a triumphant look and my heart sank.
He’d known I was working here, I realized. He showed up knowing I’d be here.
I stood up and motioned for him to follow me away from my teammates.
“Let’s talk somewhere else,” I managed to say, leading the way down the aisle.
I felt a mix of anger and confusion bubble up inside me as he followed lazily. What was his game? Why here, why now?
“Why are you here?” I asked, once we had gotten into the elevator and had the car to ourselves. I hated that he’d shown up hat my workplace, talking like he owned me, and giving Stacey even more ammunition to dislike me.
“I wanted to see you, Lexi,” he said, lowering his voice. His gaze went over me, and I flinched at his appraisal. “You look good.”
Thanks to a good outfit and an income I earned from my hard work, I thought, seething.
“I’d forgotten how good you could look. You didn’t used to look this way after Evie was born,” Dylan continued.
When the elevator doors opened at the lobby my blood was boiling.
Of course I hadn’t looked put together and pretty in the months following Evie’s birth.
She’d been colicky, wouldn’t sleep unless I was holding her and Dylan had been no help.
He’d disappear for work and want downtime with his buddies when he returned.
I’d been drowning in postpartum depression while being Evie’s sole caregiver.
I had no time to care about looking pretty or the finances for it.
“What do you want, Dylan?” I asked, staying rooted outside the elevator while he pointed to the glass doors on the side that led to the gardens.
“If you have anything to say, say it here, or leave, Dylan,” I snapped.
He gave me a searching look, as though his version of me was new to him.
“Fine,” he said, talking louder. “I miss you, Lexi. And Evie.” He added as an afterthought.
“How did you even know I worked here?” I demanded, feeling riled up.
He smirked. “Your mom told me you were interviewing with this company, so I looked into getting work here too. Turns out they needed an office technician, and I got lucky with a contract position.”
Shit.
“Were you fixing the copier machine the other day?” I asked.
His smile told me he’d seen me then too. I cursed myself for telling my mom about the interview.
Dylan’s eyes went distant. “She’s gambling again, by the way. Thought you should know.”
I didn’t need the reminder. I’d already given her five hundred dollars the last time she’d called and I regretted it. Just like I regretted Dylan’s presence here.
“Why are you here?” I repeated.
“I want you back, Lexi. I messed up last time. I didn’t know how to be a father, and with Evie crying constantly, I lost my head. I was a fool. I was wrong to let you go.
“I know you regret breaking our family up. I know you’re angry, and I want to give you time to deal with that. Just get over it and come back to me.” He took a step closer and put a hand on my hair brushing it off my face. I pushed his hand away irritably.
“See, I was right about the anger,” he said with a laugh.
“We’re not getting back, Dylan,” I hissed, taking a step closer.
“I knew you would say something like that. So I moved to New York to be closer to you. You’ll see I’ve changed, Lexi. Besides, doesn’t Evie deserve a family?”
The jerk. I’d forgotten how manipulative Dylan had been during our relationship. And now, here he was again, using Evie as leverage, guilt-tripping me under the guise of family values.
He leaned in closer, his lips near my ear. “If that doesn’t convince you, think about how great we were in bed.”
Dylan’s hand closed over my wrist just as my mind flashed back to how unhappy I’d been with our sex life.
He thought me pleasing him was how he defined being great in bed. He never once thought of pleasing me, no matter how much I’d asked.
I yanked my hand out of his grip. “You were terrible in bed, Dylan. Just terrible.”
I turned away to storm off, when something struck me. I faced him again. “If you really cared about Evie, you’d ask to see her instead of insinuating you’ll step up once I take you back. I’m not falling for that again, Dylan. Don’t show up at my desk again.”
I didn’t like Dylan being this close. I didn’t want him suggesting we could go back to what we were. I’d buried those memories deep in my mind, never wanting to revisit those dreary days of Evie’s first year and my depression. Seeing him here brought it all back.
I turned toward the elevator, but Dylan gripped my wrist again, making me cry out in pain.
I spun around, ready to smack him.
“Get your fucking hands off her,” came a voice from behind me.
Jonah’s voice.
I turned to see him striding out of an elevator, his expression furious. His gaze locked on Dylan, and a muscle tensed in his jaw as he positioned himself directly between us.
“Do you not understand when someone says no?” Jonah asked, his voice eerily calm but carrying a sharp edge. “Because I can make it very clear for you if that’s the problem.”
Dylan hesitated, his eyes taking in Jonah’s broad shoulders and height. I could see his confidence falter.
Jonah’s eyes narrowed ever so slightly. “Did you just assault one of my employees?” he asked softly, as Dylan released my wrist and stepped back.
“No, not at all,” Dylan stammered.
Jonah turned to me. “Show me your wrist.”
We had an audience. People in the lobby were staring, including a group that had apparently come down with Jonah. I didn’t want to make things worse, but I held out my arm.
Jonah gently took my wrist, his touch soft and deliberate. Unlike Dylan’s grip, Jonah’s touch didn’t make my skin crawl. Instead, goosebumps spread along my skin, the good kind, I thought as he examined my wrist.
“Lucky for you, there are no bruises,” he said, turning back to Dylan. “So I’ll consider this a reason not to press charges. This time,” he said.
Jonah motioned to the security guard, who began escorting Dylan out of the lobby.
“I’m an employee here, dammit!” Dylan shouted, probably for the benefit of the onlookers.
Jonah pulled out his phone. “Check the security cameras for 5:07 p.m.,” he spoke into his phone. “Make sure this guy is escorted off the premises and doesn’t return.”
He turned back to me, but I’d had enough.
People were already staring, and I’d spotted Stacey in the crowd watching us. This would simply add to her reasons to dislike me.
“I’m leaving,” I said, heading for the elevator.
I raced upstairs, grabbed my laptop and bag, my face burning with shame.
It had been a terrible day already, and now people were going to gossip about me. Dylan was making me look like a joke at the workplace where I was trying my darned best to fit in and start afresh.
Tears pricking my eyes, I took the elevator back down, feeling the lingering gazes of people follow me as I strode across the lobby and out the doors.
I’d barely reached the sidewalk when a sleek black car pulled up to the curb. I quickened my pace, but the driver stepped out and called my name.
I turned and froze. It was Clark, the driver from my date with Jonah.
“Ms. Haley,” he said, opening the back door. “In here, please.”
I debated my options, but judging by the whispers from the people on the sidewalk and stares from inside the lobby, I was eager for a quick getaway.
I got into the car. The door shut behind me, and when I turned around, to my shock, Jonah was sitting beside me. We held each other’s gaze for a long moment before Clark got into the front seat.
“Where to, Mr. Walkers?” Clark asked.
“Lexi’s home,” Jonah answered, not tearing his gaze away from me. “In Queens.”
I swallowed a large lump in my throat at those words. I really needed to get home right away, and Jonah knew. I just wanted to see Evie, hold her tight, and remind myself that even though today had been miserable, I was still lucky because I had her. We were enough.
“Lexi,” Jonah said, bending his head slightly to look at me. He took my hand in his. “I promise, that man will never trouble you again.”
I looked at our hands together. Jonah had no obligation to kind to me, but here he was, doing exactly that.
I snuck a glance at him. He held himself upright, looking as handsome as ever. His eyes, however, had lost their usual cold, detached look. They were softer, and they were looking right back at me. What was that strange new thing I saw in his eyes?
If I didn’t know better, I’d say it was worry.
For a long time, we sat together in silence, my hand in his. When we were closer to my home, Jonah finally spoke.
“About that man –” Jonah began.
I felt embarrassment spread over my face. Dylan was one part of my life that I wasn’t proud of. “That’s Dylan,” I said in a low voice. “My ex.”
“I could have him arrested for assault,” Jonah continued, as nonchalantly as though he was talking about dinner plans.
“I don’t want that,” I said instantly. I didn’t need more drama or more reasons for Dylan to remain a constant in my life. If I ignored this incident, perhaps Dylan would disappear like he always had before.
“Lexi,” Jonah sucked in a sharp breath, his gaze assessing me. “Is he Evie’s Dad?”
“Yes, he is,” I said, exhaling just as the car pulled up to my building. “Goodbye, Jonah.” I got out of the car before he could stop me and tried to shut the door behind me.
“Lexi,” he called urgently, as he unbuckled his seatbelt and moved to stop the door from closing. I glanced back at him as he took a deep breath. “Can I please meet Evie again?”