I was beyond stupid.
I ran for the bathroom, barely making it into the stall before my breakfast made a second appearance.
Kelly was waiting by the sinks when I came out.
"Jesus Lexi, what is going on with you?"
I looked at her.
"Good news or bad news first?"
She looked at me, concern written all over her face.
"Good."
"I got fired."
Her jaw dropped.
"That's the good news? What's the bad news?"
"I'm pregnant."
Chapter Nineteen Trent
"Are you ready?"
I nodded.
"Well, go get her tiger."
I glared at Joss. He had forced me to get sober. He had forced me to admit my feelings for Lexi. And now he'd forced me to figure out a way to get her back.
This was what I'd come up with.
We stood outside Lexi's house in the middle of the afternoon. I hadn't called. Or texted. We hadn't spoke since I dropped her off after our date. Which I could safely say was the world's best/worst first date in the history of the fucking world.
She could be in Egypt for all I knew. She could hate me. She probably did. She might even have moved on.
Here goes nothing.
I lifted my guitar, settling the strap over my shoulder. Joss knocked on the door. Then I started to play.
"When the darkness falls, When the light goes out, The angel they call Lexi, Is there to help you out.
Her golden hair and hazel eyes, Her kindness and her grit, She'll pull the best out of you, Even if it's not worth shit."
"That's a terrible song, mister."
I turned around to see Lexi and her sister standing on the sidewalk behind me. Charlotte was eating an ice cream cone and staring at me. Lexi looked like she didn't know what to think.
Not angry. Just... confused.
Joss was laughing silently. He was enjoying this way too much. Considering how rarely he laughed, I knew I must look like a complete idiot.
"You're right. I just couldn't quite seem to find the right words to describe what an ass I am."
"You shouldn't say shit."
I nodded eagerly at Char, glad that someone seemed to want to talk to me.
"You're right. I'll fix that. It needs work obviously."
"How long did it take you?"
I stared at her, then at Lexi.
"A couple of weeks. Actually, I wrote it the first day that I realized what an idiot I was. The rest of the time I spent hoping your sister might calm down enough for me to play it to her."
Charlotte licked her ice cream cone.
"She's calm. She cries a lot."
My eyes darted to Lexi. She lifted her chin proudly. God, I loved this woman.
"Can we go for a walk Lexi? Or go somewhere to talk?"
She stared at me. For a minute I thought she was going to say no. Then she nodded.
"Come inside. Your friend too."
"Joss."
She nodded at him.
"Hi, I'm Lexi. This is Char."
Joss followed us inside the cramped little house. It was neat as a pin. But the furniture was old and broken down. This was not a welcoming place to live. For a moment, I clearly saw everything that Lexi was up against.
I could have helped her. Treasured her.
Instead I'd treated her like garbage.
I swallowed.
"Let's go out back."
I followed her to the yard. She'd been making an effort, I could tell. Little flowers were everywhere. Most of them already wilted from the midday heat.
I knew how they felt. I stood there, not sure where to start. I guess I better just get to it.
"Lexi, I'm so sorry."
She sat in a rusted gliding chair, rocking gently back and forth.
"For what?"
"I was upset when you said I was just a fling. I wanted to hurt you like you'd hurt me."
She sighed.
"I thought maybe that's what it was."
"You did?"
She nodded.
"We've made a real mess of things Trent."
"I know and I want to make it up to you. I don't know how to say this but-I'm in love with you."
She was speaking at the same time and barely heard me.
"I'm pregnant."
"What?
She looked as surprised as I was.
"I thought you were on the pill."
"And I thought you had a vasectomy. It was in your chart."
"I did but it reversed itself."
"Apparently."
I was in shock. But it was a good shock. I lifted her up and squeezed her carefully.
"Oh my God Lexi, we're going to have a baby!"
She frowned at me.
"What are you talking about?"
"You and me, and Char and the dogs. We are all moving in together. I will take care of you if you let me."
"Why would you do that?"
"I told you. I'm in love with you. Didn't you hear me?"
She was shaking her head no. She didn't want me. She didn't believe me.
"You are the most stubborn woman I have ever met."
I scooped her up into my arms. She let out an adorable little squeak.
"You are coming with me Lexi. You are mine, God dammit. Enough of this bullshit!"
"But-"
My mouth crashed down on hers, silencing her. I didn't want to hear it. I refused to hear it.
Thank God, she decided to kiss me back. For a minute I hadn't been sure. And then her arms had slid around my neck, holding my head in place so she could kiss the hell out of me.