Chapter 33 – Lexi #2
I’m shuffled from person to person, getting all the hugs and kisses, talking to each and every one of them.
I look around and the only thing that is truly missing from all of this, who I want by my side, is Kirby.
My phone is in my hand with the last text he sent me and I never got a chance to answer him.
Except, he’s not pressing me to answer him.
I know if I don’t answer him, he’s not going to belittle me about it.
Not make me feel guilty for not taking the time to answer him.
It’s going to be the opposite. He’s going to want to hear all about how my day with my family was and he’s going to do it holding my hand.
He won’t have to say a word, all he’ll have to do is hold my hand, and I know it’ll be okay.
I hear commotion again and look over when Matty walks in, wearing his tracksuit. He goes to Sofia first and then kisses his kids before going to my parents. He finally finds me at the end and gives me the biggest hug.
“Hi, my sister,” he greets softly in my ear, and like with Zara, I bury myself in his hug and softly cry. “Hey,” he says and walks with me to the side, “you’re okay.”
I let go of him and wipe away the tears from my face. “I know, it’s just.” I take a deep inhale. “It’s so good to see you.”
“It’s good to see you too.” He looks around to see if we are alone. “Met your guy today.”
“My guy,” I say anxiously but then the feeling leaves, and I just feel proud that he is my guy.
“Kirby.” That’s all he has to say and the smile on my face just gets even broader and my heart feels like it’s getting even bigger inside my chest. “He’s a good guy.”
“Yeah, I know.” I nod, wanting to say that he’s more than a good guy.
“But how did you know about him?” I ask him, knowing the girls would not have shared that with him.
“He came to see me. Introduced himself to me.” He snickers. “Got to say, he’s got balls.” I look down, trying not to giggle. “Told me something that burned me to my soul.” His words go low and my head whips up to look at him.
“What?” I ask, the back of my neck starts to fill with heat.
“Doesn’t matter what,” he says, lifting his big hand to my cheek.
“What matters is that you know you were too good for Trent. You were and always will be,” he says.
“Also, if I ever see him, I’m going to break his face.
” I can’t help but snort out laughing at the end.
“I mean, I’m sure there is a line I have to get into but… ” He shrugs. “Just so you know.”
“Thank you. I think I have to make a phone call.” His eyebrows shoot up. “Yeah, excuse me.” I turn and walk away from him, going into the house and toward the front where the formal living room is.
I pull up his phone number, and he answers on the second ring. “Hey,” he says softly, “I wasn’t expecting to hear from you.”
“I know. What are you doing?”
“Sitting on the couch, watching television,” he returns and I turn my head toward the sound of my family.
“Can you come over?” I ask him. “It’s literally three minutes from you.”
“Are you sure?” he asks me.
“Yeah, something is missing, and it’s you.”
“Okay, baby. Drop me a pin and I’ll come right over.”
“Text me when you get here,” I tell him, dropping him the pin. “I’ll meet you outside.”
“Okay,” he says, hanging up.
“There you are.” I look over and see my father coming into the room. “Was looking around for you and didn’t see you.”
“I’m here,” I say, turning to him. “I was just on the phone.” I hold it up.
“Everything okay?” he asks me and I nod my head. “You look different.”
I’m about to answer him when my mother comes into the room. “Hey, you two,” she says, smiling at us and walking over to my father and wrapping her arms around his waist. “They are bringing out the desserts.”
“I don’t think I can eat another bite,” I state and my phone vibrates with a text.
Kirby:
I’m here.
“Can you guys stay here?” I ask them, not giving them anything else before I walk out the door and I see him walking up the driveway. He’s wearing jeans and a white T-shirt. I haven’t seen him in five days and I practically run to him. He wraps his arms around me and his mouth finds mine.
His tongue slides into my mouth as my front is pressed to his. “Hi,” he says when he lets go of my mouth, but not of me, his hand coming up to touch my face, “missed you.”
“I missed you.” I put my hand to his throat. “Did you get my notes?” While I was there this week, I left him little notes about missing him, all through the house. One in the kitchen, another one on his side table, and another one in the bathroom. I even left one on the garage door.
He laughs. “I liked the one that said I ate cereal leaning over the counter and no one tried to do me.” I rub my finger over his lips as we laugh together.
“It was shocking,” I retort as he turns me in his arms and we walk to the front door. “I ate the whole bowl and the only one I had to worry about was Jefferson trying to get the milk.”
We walk up the steps and head into the house, my parents waiting where I left them.
My father’s shoulders go back, as he takes in the way I’m holding on to Kirby while my mother’s eyes look like they are going to fall out of her sockets.
“Hey,” I say to them, my arm falling from around his waist and then slipping into his hand.
“I would like you guys to meet Kirby”—I look up at him—“my boyfriend.” Kirby’s eyes look into mine and his eyebrows go up like, “Oh, we’re doing this. ”
“Boyfriend,” my father says, his voice tight. “What?”
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Petrov.” He extends his hand and my father just looks at it.
“Viktor,” my mother hisses, “shake his hand.”
He extends his hand reluctantly. “Lexi,” he says my name and I hold up my hand.
“I know it’s not what you think I should do.
” I cut through all the tension. “Jumping from one man to the other isn’t a smart thing.
That I should take time to find myself. Be by myself.
Get to know myself.” I take a deep inhale.
“But he’s helped me through all of that and gives me the space to still figure it all out.
Sometimes we find someone we needed all along, and it’s hard to walk away from them. ”
“Are you trying to convince us or yourself?” My father folds his arms over his chest.
“I’ve been in therapy since I left Trent.
I’ve taken the steps I needed to take, and I’m working on trusting myself and my decisions.
” I stare at him. “I know you must be doubting me right now because you had to rescue me not too long ago. I’ve doubted myself for the last ten years, and I’ve lived in almost a fear of who I wanted to be and who I was.
I’m not living like that anymore. I’m me and this is who I want.
” I look up at him, wrapping my arm around his waist and then rubbing his back. “I love him.”