She replied a few hours later with a silly picture of her making a kissy face that I promptly saved, and had it not been for the picture of her tickling Jack on my home screen, I would have set it there too.
I was well aware how pitiful I was, but it was Lex. I had not one single fuck to give what anyone thought about how I was handling things.
Not that anyone noticed. As far as our friends and family were concerned, our relationship was still sailing on smooth waters. I would have known if Lex had told her parents or Cal that we were having trouble. Since no one had beaten down my door yet to demand answers, I didn’t feel like it was my place to tell them, either. Besides, admitting that there was a problem would have seriously hindered my delusions that everything was going to work out if I just gave her time.
Lex: Houston, we have a problem.
It was a bright Sunday morning and Lauren had taken Jack for the night to meet Mark’s kids. I was still sitting in bed, sipping a cup of coffee, and scrolling through the news when her text had come through. I replied immediately.
Me: What’s up?
Lex: Judy has demanded our presence at brunch.
I set my coffee down and leaned back against the headboard. It had been three weeks since I’d seen her. And while brunch with her family was not in any way how I wanted our reunion to go, I was a desperate and weak man, willing to accept whatever scraps of Alexis Lawson I could get.
Me: Okay. So how do you feel about that?
Lex: I feel like she’s going to commission a tornado to drop a house on me Wizard of Oz style if I don’t show up. I can tell her you have to work if you want.
No, I didn’t fucking want that. I wanted Lex to show up at my damn door and tell me that she had her head and her heart aligned and we could finally be an us again. I wanted her waiting for me at home every afternoon and in my bed every night. I wanted a life with her, and while I had promised her I’d wait, I was getting really fucking impatient.
Me: Nah, I’m good for brunch. Jack’s with Lauren though.
Lex: You do realize my parents think we’re still together.
I gritted my teeth.
Me: You do realize that I think we’re still together too, right? We’re just working through some shit. That’s all.
Lex: That’s not what I meant, Hud. I’m just saying, my parents are going to want to see us together, together. Or we’re going to have a lot of explaining to do. You know my family isn’t known for their subtlety.
Me: Look, if you don’t want me to go, say you don’t want me to go. Your family. Your call.
The text bubbles bounced for entirely too long and I stared at them as if they held all the secrets of the universe.
Lex: I brought dessert to your house last night.
I sat straight up in bed. Since I’d had a ham sandwich for dinner, no dessert, and gone to bed alone, I knew how this story ended. But my heart still kicked up like maybe it had hopes I’d developed a case of amnesia.
Me: What?
Lex: Yep. I picked up a chocolate cake and a six-pack and came straight to your house. I parked out front, but I couldn’t convince myself to knock on your door. I miss you so damn much, but I still have so much work to do on me. But just know, this is not an issue about whether I want you to come to brunch or not. I would give absolutely anything to see you again.
I swallowed hard, and my stomach sank. I hated knowing that she was struggling, but a part of me hoped like hell it meant she was on her way back to me. I wasn’t sure how much more of this I could take.
Me: You should have knocked, babe. You ever find yourself within a ten-mile radius of my house again and you don’t stop by, I’m gonna be pissed, okay?
Lex: Come to brunch, Hud. Please.
My fingers had already sent my answer before I had the chance to consider the hell I was getting myself into.
Me: Pick you up at ten.
She must have heard the Chevelle, because as soon as I put the car into park, she came