Series Starter Firsts in Series Collection - Kaylee Ryan Page 0,213

back.” I flee from the room in search of McKinley.

Chapter 53

McKinley

I find Evan in the kitchen pulling three waters out of the refrigerator. He reaches for the boxes of pizza. “I guess it’s a good thing I ordered extra,” I tease him.

“Come here,” he says gruffly. He pulls me into his arms and buries his face in my neck. “I just need to hold you for a minute.”

I wrap my arms around his waist and hold on tight. I can only imagine the thoughts running through his head right now.

When he finally pulls back, he kisses my temple. “You think we should let her meet, Lexi?” he asks.

I want to scream no, but I believe her, she doesn’t want to be a mom, not right now anyway. “I think giving her the option would be nice. She’s had a rough life from the sound of it, and she did the right thing. They have no case now.” That also means our agreement will be up. A few more weeks, I would say for appearance’s sake, and then I will be leaving. I push that thought out of my mind for now.

“I wanted to ask you before I offered,” he tells me.

“It’s your choice, but I think the offer would be nice. Who knows when we will see her again, and Lexi is too young to remember her.” I know that sounds mean, but psychologically on Lexi, this will mean nothing, but it could mean everything to Misty.

“Will you call, Aaron? I’m going to have her come and make a plate, if she will,” he adds as an afterthought.

“Yes.” I kiss his cheek and he hands me his phone.

I dial my brother. “Hey, bro, everything good?” he asks.

“It’s me,” I say into the line. “Everything’s good, but it’s a long story. I hate to ask this, but can you bring Lex back? We have pizza,” I say to sweeten the pot.

“She still there?” he asks.

“Yes, but it’s really all good. I’ll explain when you get here. We are going to let her meet Lexi,” I tell him.

“Okay, I’ll wrangle her away from Mom and Dad and be right over.” The line goes dead as Evan and Misty enter the kitchen.

“Aaron is going to wrangle her away from my parents—his words not mine—and be right over,” I tell Evan.

“Thanks, babe,” he says.

Fifteen minutes later, Aaron and Lexi join us. She sees Evan and grins, reaching out for him. “Hey, baby girl,” he says, taking her from Aaron. “There’s someone I want you to meet.” Lexi just pulls at his lips, not a care in the world. He pulls her hands down and turns to face Misty. “Lexington Rae, I would like you to meet Misty. She’s a friend of Daddy’s.”

I can see him flinch slightly at the word friend, but what else is he supposed to call her? Not that it matters, because Lexi won’t remember this meeting, but for the four other adults in the room, this will be hard to forget.

“Hi.” Misty waves awkwardly. I can see tears pooling in her eyes. “Evan, she’s beautiful.”

“Thank you. She’s a good baby. Hardly ever cries.” His eyes find mine and he winks.

I set my plate of half-eaten pizza aside and reach for Lex. “What do you say we go show Misty your room?” I ask her. Misty looks relieved at the suggestion. The awkward silence was killing me. “You two finish eating while we girls take a tour,” I suggest.

Evan leans down and kisses me. “Thank you,” he whispers only loud enough for me.

I lead the way upstairs and into Lexi’s room. I sit her in the middle of the floor on her play rug and scatter some toys around her.

“How long have you been married?”

“Two months.”

“I’m happy for him, for both of you. You have a happy family.”

What am I supposed to say to that? I decide to go with manners. “Thank you.”

We spend about twenty minutes in Lexi’s room. Misty stacks blocks and Lexi knocks them down. She could play this game for hours.

“Da da da.” She points toward her bedroom door.

“You’ve been up here for a while,” Evan says in greeting.

“Just playing with blocks,” I tell him.

He smiles. “She could do that for hours.”

“Did Aaron leave?”

“Yeah, just a few minutes ago.”

“I need to be going too.” Misty stands from her spot on the floor. “I already called my parents’ attorney, who is no longer mine. I hired my own as well. You should be receiving a call within the