Chapter 20 #3
The kitchen and bathrooms are a bit outdated, and need, if not a full remodel, at least new coats of paint and appliances.
The four bedrooms each have their own en-suite bathrooms, though, which is apparently a must for Lex.
He spends most of the tour admiring the big windows in every room, and Lyla talks about how the three-car garage on the left of the main house and the kitchen nook on the right side have lower ceilings and give so much character to the build.
Ruko’s favorite part is the back yard with the big kidney-shaped pool and outdoor kitchen that has enough room for a big table and a cozy hang-out place.
He cracks me up every time he mentions where a TV should go in each room, showing his priorities clearly, and he even chooses what will be his room for visits.
Lex spends the whole time smiling like a lunatic.
Once the tour is done and we’re walking out, though, Lyla demands Lex give her the phone number of the realtor, and we listen while she impersonates his personal assistant or whatever and negotiates with them on the first offer.
“You’re a grown man, baby,” she says, somehow not sounding condescending. “But that house is not worth the asking price, and we’re not going to let you get robbed blind just because you can pay.”
I think about mentioning how I’d like to pay for half of it, but refrain. Not only because we’re in front of his parents, but because I want to be able to really talk about it and explain my reasoning to him.
If he refuses, then I’ll understand, but I do want to ask him if we can move in together. It might seem stupid to him, since we practically already are, but it’s still important to me to ask.
When we get back home, though, he mentions the team gathering the next day and I lose my nerve.
I’ll do it tomorrow, I tell myself.
I’m mentally rehearsing everything I want to say when I go out and buy tiny racetracks for Tucker’s brothers—Mason and Maddox are apparently car enthusiasts and quite knowledgeable at three years old.
But when he gets back late Friday night, I admit I grab the chance to avoid it with both hands and let Lex go on and on about the dinner.
It’s not like I don’t care anyway, I do, and he clearly had an amazing time. So even with the nerves bubbling in my belly, I still go to sleep with a smile knowing tomorrow we’re going somewhere together, and surely nothing bad will happen at a kids birthday party, right?
January 16
“Holy shit.”
I’m grateful Lex is whispering because the event hall is full to the brim with kids, and I really don’t want to get on the bad side of any of the many . . . adults.
Okay, it’s only women.
Why is it only women?
“Seriously,” I mumble looking around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Tucker.
For a second, the terrible thought flashes through my mind that he might not even be here, but then I catch a glimpse of him.
Through the windows the playground outside is visible, and despite the shock of the huge party, a smile tugs at my cheeks.
He’s running away from a gaggle of little kids, looking back and shouting something that has them all screaming in glee.
A whiny, just grating enough voice steals my attention back.
“I’m sorry, I don’t believe I’ve had the pleasure.”
The woman can’t be over twenty-five, but she’s dressed like she’s fifty, in a crisp, tight, baby-pink dress and heels that match the dress perfectly.
Her face is a bit frozen in that fake smile so many women who’ve had work done get, but I recognize the fact that she’s not actually happy to be talking to us.
“Hi, uh. Yeah, sorry,” I stammer, and suck in a deep breath when I feel the warmth of Lex’s hand on my back.
“We’re—” I stop myself and suddenly remember I’ve been dealing with women like this my whole life.
“I’m Eli Ellsworth, Tucker invited us.” My voice comes out sharper than before, certainly more confident.
It shows when the woman—I’m guessing Tucker’s stepmother—straightens.
Her eyes light up with a predatory glint that tells me exactly how she’s survived—willingly—in a marriage with Jim Barclay. Her blue eyes are too sharp, too cold.
It’s freaking scary. But I survived middle school with girls from the Upper East Side, I can survive this too.
“I’m Amanda Barclay,” she says, and offers her hand palm-side down as if I’m going to kiss it or some shit.
I shake it with way too much enthusiasm instead.
“Thanks for having us,” I tell her simply. “Where should we leave these?” I hold up the huge bag with the boys’ presents, and miraculously, her lip twitches with an almost-snarl.
I bite down on my lip hard to stop myself from laughing, and right then is when Tucker arrives.
“Hey guys, thanks for coming. Oh man, I bet you got them something good,” he says, not waiting for us to greet him. “Come on, I’ll show you where you can put it, and then we’re going outside. The kids are gonna love running you ragged, Lex.”
He’s walking away before he’s even done speaking, so we just . . . follow him.
After putting the bag on a mountain of presents, Tucker drags us outside and speaks very low all of a sudden.
“Sorry, I wish I could’ve saved you from that, but number five is especially feisty."
“Number five?” I ask.
He nods but he’s looking around the playground . . . Is he making sure the kids are safe? That’s kind of adorable. “Yup. That’s what my sisters and I call the wives. She’s wife number five.”
“That’s . . .” I trail off. What is that exactly? One of those five is his mom . . . number four, I suppose?
“Sad? Yeah, but you know we get our fun where we can get it.”
Thankfully Lex knows what to say.
“At least you have each other, right?”
That does make Tuck look at us again, and his smile is soft and easy.
“Yeah, having three older sisters is insane, man, but the two hellions have more than made up for that. Come on, all the kids want to meet you, Lex. I earned so many points when I told them you’d be here.”
“Asshole,” Lex mutters. “As long as none of them kick me in the nose, I guess,” he says, as if terribly put out, but I know that he actually loves playing with little kids. He’s always been good at it.
We spend three hours surrounded by too many little boys and girls who hang onto every word out of Lex’s mouth.
I also win them over eventually—maybe. Maybe I hack into the building’s network, and maybe I mess with the lights and the music.
It has all the moms inside frowning and growing irritated, but the kids love it, so no regrets.
The constant running ends up being a bit too much for Lex’s still-healing face, though, so we take our leave with big smiles on our faces and promises to visit the kids’ school soon.
I should’ve known, though, that it couldn’t last.
Walking into the house, I’m thinking of pulling Lex into a shower with me, of kissing every inch of his face softly and then maybe kissing down the rest of his body when the door bangs open again, and running footsteps make the pit of my stomach harden up.
Then the shout, I’ll never forget it.
“Eli!”
Austin sounds scared, and looks it too, I see when he runs into the hallway.
“Wha—” I have to swallow hard to be able to speak. “What happened?”
“Your parents. They were in an accident.” He holds up his phone and I see he’s talking to Bryce, one of Lyla’s bodyguards.
“They’re on their way to the hospital now.
Your Dad . . .” He pauses, and a cold I didn’t know existed freezes the blood in my veins.
And though I want to collapse and cry, maybe hide behind Lex, I know I can’t. “Bryce said they T-boned them.”
“A-and Mom?” Lex asks, his voice shaking as bad as his hand. I realize when I grip it.
“I don’t know, they’re both—”
Bryce’s voice comes through the tiny speaker of the phone and Austin pulls it up to his ear.
“What?” A nod, then another, then he pinches the bridge of his nose. “Okay, we’re on our way.”
“Don’t hang up,” I snap. “Tell us.”
Austin nods and holds out the phone for me to take but relays the information.
“Troy is in rough shape, he was driving, but he refused help and got into the same ambulance as your Dad who was unconscious. Lyla was awake but they also loaded her into the ambulance and Sil is going with her to Mount Sinai.”