Lexi starts to fuss. I want to say it’s because she’s hungry, but my little girl, she’s a smart one. She knows I’m talking to Kinley and she wants to as well.
“She hungry?” Kinley asks.
“Probably, but I think she’s mad I’m talking to you. Let me put you on speaker and see what happens.” I switch to speakerphone and stretch out on the bed beside Lexi. I place the phone on the pillow between us.
“You’re on speaker, babe,” I tell Kinley.
“Lex, are you being a good girl for Daddy?” At the sound of her voice, Lexi stops fussing. She holds still, waiting.
“She’s stone still, Kinley. She misses you,” I confirm.
“I miss you too, sweet girl. I’ll see you in a few hours.” Her voice sounds sad. “Evan, do you think . . .” Her voice trails off.
“McKinley?”
“Never mind,” she says.
“Not never mind, what were you going to say?” Was she going to ask if I thought we were doing the right thing? Is she getting cold feet?
“I was wondering if, I don’t know, maybe I can have Aaron or Mom come get Lex and spend some time with her this morning. I can get her dressed here and bring her with me.” I can hear the hope in her voice. I can also hear she’s hesitant to ask. Does she think I would be mad? She loves my daughter, and she’s the only mother figure in her life. I’m honored she loves Lex enough to want her with her.
“Baby, you’re going to be my wife in a few short hours. Lexi, you, and me, we’re going to be a family. This is real, baby. We talked about this. You never have to ask to spend time with her, even when . . . you never have to ask, McKinley.”
“I miss you both so much, and being close to her will make me feel close to you,” she murmurs.
If I didn’t already know I was falling in love with her, that right there sealed the deal. She’s not using Lexi as an excuse to get close to me. She wants to feel close to me, to both of us.
I’m falling hard.
“Send Aaron on over. I’ll feed her breakfast and get her bag packed.”
“Thank you, Evan.”
“I can’t fucking wait to see you walking down that aisle,” I blurt out.
“Yeah?”
“Yeah, I’ll see you soon, babe.”
“I’ll be there,” she says with conviction.
“Let’s get some breakfast. Then you’re going to go see your m—” Shit! I almost referred to Kinley as her momma. It’s true in every sense that matters, and today she becomes my wife, but we need to talk about that first. When . . . when this is all over, will she still want that title and the responsibility with it?
The kitchen is quiet, which is strange, but I go about making Lexi her bottle and settle in at the table to feed her. I nibble on a pastry while she eats.
“You’re going to spend the day with Kinley, baby girl. Then, in a few hours, you’ll come back here while Kinley and Daddy get married.” She coos like she likes the idea. “Can I tell you a secret?” I whisper next to her ear. I should feel ridiculous confiding in my infant daughter, but I know she can keep a secret. She stops eating and lets the bottle fall from her mouth, a grin gracing her lips. I swear she understands every word. “Daddy loves Kinley very much.” It feels good to say it out loud. “I know you love her too. She’s going to be living with us, Lex. Daddy’s not sure how long he will be able to do that and not beg her to stay with us forever.”
“So the truth comes out.”
Shit! Looking up, I see Aaron standing in the doorway. “I didn’t hear you come in.”
“Obviously.” He’s not giving anything away. He takes the seat beside me and grabs Lexi’s foot. “Morning, sweetheart.”
She grins and coos at him. “I have her bag packed. She just needs to finish eating.” I ignore the fact I’m pretty damn sure he heard me
tell my daughter I’m in love with his sister.
“I’m in no hurry, although don’t be surprised if Kinley calls wondering where I am,” he laughs.