Lexi, Baby Page 9

  “Soon enough it’ll be the right idea,” he shot back.

  “Ugh! I can’t deal with you right now Lan. Please just stop. Nothing’s going to happen between us.”

  “Whatever you say Lexi, baby,” he responded in the fakest sugary-sweet voice I’ve ever heard.

  I growled. He grinned.

  Chapter Fourteen

  I was glad I went with my gut. Before we even made it up the last step, the front door opened and Layla ran out. She headed straight for us and skidded to a halt right in front of Landyn. “Hi,” she breathed, out of breath, looking up at her daddy.

  Landyn bent down and palmed Layla’s cheek. “Hey there, precious girl.” Landyn surprisingly sounded hesitant and nervous now. A far cry from his normal behavior.

  Layla stared at Lan for a beat. Then I watched as big, fat teardrops gathered in her eyes. “Will you keep me? I mean, will you not leave me even if you don’t like me?” she asked in a tiny, innocent voice.

  That little voice pierced my heart. It was a horrible feeling knowing that by keeping Landyn away, I inadvertently caused my baby girl so much pain. I was crying again! I saw Landyn wipe his eyes too.

  “Precious girl, I’m never letting you go,” Landyn choked out and pulled her in for a hug.

  When they finally pulled apart, Lan said “You’re very beautiful, Layla. You take my breath away.”

  She smiled huge. “Will I be as big as you?” she asked excitedly.

  Landyn chuckled. “I really hope not precious. There aren’t too many girls in this world as big as me. But I will say that I think you’re going to be bigger than your mom.” He made it sound like that was a good thing.

  “Yay! I don’t wanna be short like Mama!”

  “Hey! I’m five-four! That’s average for a woman,” I said, offended.

  “You’re short Mama,” Layla said matter-of-factly.

  Trish’s total honesty bit must really be rubbing off on her. “Alright, alright, let’s get going. I have to work in a few hours,” I said.

  We had a blast at the park. Landyn actually brought a pink football for Layla and we all threw it around and laughed and tackled each other. My baby girl was in heaven until it was time for Landyn to leave.

  “I don’t want you to go!” she sobbed against Lan’s leg.

  “I don’t want to leave either precious, but your mom has to go to work. I’ll come back first thing tomorrow if you want.”

  “Why can’t you just stay with me? You’re my Daddy, you’re supposed to stay.”

  This little girl was always breaking my heart.

  “Layla, Daddy and Mommy aren’t married, so it wouldn’t be right for him to stay with us.” I was trying to be logical with a five year old, but all that got me was glares from both father and daughter.

  Shit!

  Landyn chimed in. “Layla, can you bring me something to write with? I want to give you my phone numbers so you can call me anytime you want to. No matter what time it is, if you need me or just want to talk, you call me, okay?”

  “Yeah,” she responded unhappily and dragged her feet down the hall while mumbling, “I’ll be right back.”

  As soon as Layla was out of sight Lan turned on me. “Don’t lie to her, baby. We’re together. The sooner she knows it, the sooner she’ll adjust to me being around.”

  “You’re unbelievable! And stop calling me baby. And Lexi. Everyone calls me Lex and you know it.”

  “I’m glad you think I’m unbelievable, baby, and I will never stop calling you baby. I refuse to call you what everyone else does because you’re not theirs, you’re mine. Now, about your job, I don’t like you working there.”

  I gasped out loud and backed away from him.

  “Excuse me?” I screeched.

  “Bartending is not a safe job and you get out too late. I can’t be there with you and I don’t like it. Why don’t you work with me, I’m sure you’ll make a lot more money… No, forget I said that. You and Layla just need to move in with me and you can work if you want to, or not. That’s up to you.”

  He can’t be serious.

  I opened and closed my mouth numerous times, but no words would come out.

  “Think about it and decide when you’re ready, but I want you and Layla living with me.”

  “You’ve completely lost it,” I whispered irately as I knocked softly on my head with my fist so he would know that I meant he was crazy.

  “We’re not living with you and I love my job. You don’t even know me anymore,” I hissed hysterically.

  “Then I’ll move in here if that’s better for you, but it’s not close to my job and in all honesty, my house is a few times bigger than this place. Not to mention, I don’t think Trish would like having me around all the time, but I’ll do it.”

  I closed my eyes. My life was a mess.

  “You’re too much,” I whispered, exasperated.

  “I’ll give you some time baby, but not much. I’ve missed out on too much with Layla already.” He bent down and snuck in a quick kiss just before Layla came in the room with a marker and construction paper.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Once Landyn left and Layla went sulking to her room, I called home. When Dad answered I barked, “He knows and he’s back.” Every word was clipped.

  “Lex? Who’s back honey?” Dad asked, confused. “Landyn,” I answered irritated. “Shit!” I heard Dad say as he pulled the phone away to call for my mom. She picked up the cordless. “Sweetheart, what’s going on?” Mom asked gently. I sighed. I told them about running into Destiny.

  “Landyn knows about Layla and he’s back. He’s already seen her and Layla knows Lan’s her father. It’s a long story, but Ryan was furious about the situation and spilled the beans. He also went crazy and bruised my wrist. Now Landyn’s ordering me to get rid of Ryan. Lan loves Layla and vice versa. He wants Layla and me to move in with him and he wants me quit my job.”

  I paused trying to think of what I left out.

  “Oh! He also owns a bar. He said if I wanted to work, I could work there. This all happened in the last forty-eight hours and this is the first chance I’ve had to call you. My life is shit!”

  “Oh my, that’s a lot to take in honey,” Mom said. “No shit, Mom!” I replied as she stated the obvious. “Alexis Sky, watch the mouth,” she warned. I sighed for the millionth time.

  “Honey, I have to say Landyn’s right,” Dad said. “You better stay away from Ryan. He never should have touched you. It’s actually really hard to believe he would do something like that. As for the rest, it’ll all work out. I know how much Landyn hurt you, but it sounds like he hasn’t changed much, and I mean that in a good way. He didn’t need to change. He’ll do right by you and my grandbaby.”

  “I agree honey. You know I always thought you should have told him about Layla,” Mom said in a tender voice trying to soften the punch.

  “Are you both serious? He’s acting like we’ve been together this whole time. It’s insane, really,” I fumed.

  “Sweetheart, just follow your heart. Last time you decided with your head and it wasn’t on straight. I think this time things will work out between the two of you. Make love, not war,” Mom said.

  My damn hippie parents! I wanted to scream. “Are you forgetting that he cheated on me and how?”

  “Not at all, but it was a mistake. You have to learn how to forgive,” Dad said.

  This was not going my way at all. They were actually pissing me off more than anything. “Alright, I love you. I have to get ready for work.”

  “Keep us posted and give Layla a hug and kiss from us.”

  I hung up the phone and took my time getting ready for my shift.

  Luckily, work ended up being a great distraction from reality. I was thankful it was a busy night, but what happened with Ryan still weighed heavily on my mind. How could things be so good one minute and turn so bad the next? I truly was sad that things ended between us, but I wasn’t cut up about it. I guess that makes
me a bad person, but it also tells me that maybe I wasn’t as in love with him as I thought.

  Maybe I did lead Ryan on all this time, but it never felt that way. I loved him, I really did, but right now my feelings were being greatly overshadowed by thoughts of him getting physical with me. He turned into a monster overnight. Maybe there were signs and I just ignored them? I just didn’t know.

  Now I had Lan back in my life and it didn’t seem like he was interested in leaving me alone any time soon. I mean, the crazy man expects us to just pack up and move in with him, and quit my job.

  He was nuts! Never gonna happen!

  Chapter Sixteen

  It was almost time for lunch the next day when Landyn called. I was trying to finish dressing so I could take Layla to the Burger Hut.

  “Hello.”

  “Hey, baby.” That reply brought back some very nice memories of the way we used to talk on the phone. It was also very maddening.

  “What do you want Lan? I’m a little busy right now.”

  “What are you doing?” he prodded.

  “Not that it’s any of your business, but I’m getting ready to take Layla to get something to eat. She’s starving, like always.”

  “Well just come downstairs and I’ll take you.”

  I stopped dead in my tracks. “You’re here? What are you doing here?”

  “I came to spend time with my family, just come downstairs.”

  “Your family? You mean you came to spend time with Layla. We’re not a family so there’s no reason to spend time with me,” I responded haughtily.

  “Lexi, get your ass down here with my little girl or I’ll come get you both.” Now he sounded pissed.

  “What if I just let you take Layla and you bring her back in… say… an hour?”

  “I’m getting off!” he grumbled impatiently and I heard shuffling in the background.

  “No!” I yelled. “We’ll come down. But you’re taking us to that new seafood restaurant downtown and you’re buying.” It was expensive and if he could play the bossy game, so could I.

  “Lexi, do you really think I care?” he sighed. “Please just hurry up baby. I want to see you both.” Click. He hung up. I glared at the phone before throwing it in my purse.

  In the restaurant, Layla sat right next to Landyn, as in; she might as well have been sitting in his lap. She was also calling him Daddy now like it was the most normal thing in the world to do.

  It was turning out to be a very nice lunch…

  Until I watched a beautiful blonde sashay up to our table.

  She was tall and thin with huge (probably fake) boobs. She was wearing a fitted suit, a stupid feminine buttoned-down shirt that was open almost to her bra and pointy toe high-heels. Cleavage was everywhere. She was stunning nonetheless.

  I felt frumpy. Even though I wasn’t, compared to her, I sure as hell felt like it. Thank goodness I changed into my white, flower embroidered, strapless sundress and kickass tan leather five-inch block heeled, one-inch platform sandals before we left.

  Her polished blonde hair gleamed in the light, and she had perfectly pouty full lips and flawless skin. Her eyes were blue and I knew this because she flashed her amazing smile my way before speaking.

  “Hey Landyn, it’s so good to see you. How have you been?”

  She even sounded sweet.

  I caught Landyn’s eye as he glanced at me and then Layla before turning back to her and answering. “I couldn’t be better, Tiffany. How are you?”

  Tiffany! Blah! Not quite as bad as Destiny, but almost.

  “I’ve been good, Lan. I finally got that job I told you about. I’m actually here on business. Maybe we can get together and catch up while I’m in town.”

  First of all, she called him Lan!

  I technically had no right to claim it, but that name was mine. I gave him that nickname and now some other woman called him by it. He used to get pissed when anyone else used it and he always put a stop to it. Obviously, she was allowed to.

  And second, am I invisible? Does she not see me and the very nosey little girl sitting at the table staring daggers at her?

  I looked at Lan who shifted uncomfortably in his seat and now I was pissed.

  “Who’s that Daddy?” Layla asked. Landyn looked at her, but didn’t answer. He didn’t speak. He didn’t introduce us. Nothing.

  He looked to the blonde and back at me and… wait, was that pity I saw? He felt sorry for me?

  “You have a daughter?” the blonde asked in a surprised tone. Landyn still didn’t answer.

  “Yeah, I’m his Precious,” Layla answered sassily.

  The blonde jerked at Layla’s words. She looked startled and completely shocked. I almost felt bad for her. She seemed nice enough.

  I was through with this extremely uncomfortable situation. I picked up the napkin from my lap and threw it over my barely touched plate of food. I stood up, held out my hand to Layla, waited for her to grab it and then spoke to the blonde.

  “Why don’t you two catch up now, while my daughter and I go to the ladies room?” I didn’t wait for a response before turning away from the table. I took about two steps when Landyn spoke gently. “Lexi, baby, please sit down.”

  I shook my head. “No, you two catch up. We’ll be right back.”

  Yeah right! I was calling Trish to come pick us up. Childish, maybe, but I didn’t care.

  “This is Lexi?” I heard the blonde ask; her tone pained. “Lexi, from your tattoo. This is her?”

  At that bombshell, I whipped around to face Landyn and our eyes met. He held my now shocked gaze as he answered the blonde. “Yes, this is her and this is our daughter Layla.”

  I realized then that the pity I saw on his face earlier wasn’t for me, it was for her.

  I looked at the blonde who was now staring at me. I watched her swallow before she gave me a shaky smile. “It’s nice to meet you.” She turned back to Landyn and whispered, “I’m glad you found her.”

  Then she vanished.

  I stood frozen.

  “Baby, let’s finish our meal and we’ll talk about this later.” Landyn said. I let go of Layla’s hand and she quickly went back to her seat. I slowly went back to mine.

  Other than Layla’s chatter, we finished lunch in silence.

  That evening, after Layla went to sleep, Landyn explained to me that Tiffany was the only woman he dated after me that actually turned into a relationship.

  “Why did you lie to me about your tattoo? What does it even mean?” I asked.

  He shook his head. “I didn’t want to scare you away, baby. There was a lot going on and I was just about to have you in my arms again after so long being apart. I wasn’t going to screw it up.”

  He gave me a small, almost sad smile. “When Tiffany asked me what the tattoo meant, I told her everything about you. The symbols spell out ‘Lexi’ and I got it about a week after I fucked everything up between us. Tiffany was sweet and nice and she tried hard to make it work between us even though she hated the fact that another woman’s name was on my body. In a way, I also wanted it to work because I honestly didn’t think I’d ever get a chance to have you back. I even asked her to call me Lan because I wanted what you and I had, Lexi. It worked for about three months.”

  I was trying so hard not to cry, but I could feel the tears building. “I don’t even know what to say,” I whispered. Lan got up, lifted me off the couch and carried me to my room; to my bed. He showed me just how much he missed me that night and I made damn sure to pay extra close attention to his…

  No, my tattoo.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Somehow, the weeks passed quickly. Landyn became a permanent fixture in our lives. He spent every possible second he could with Layla and me. He managed to visit me regularly at work while still making it to my apartment to spend time with Layla. He even spent nearly every night with us; in my bed.

  Fighting him on this was impossible and he used our little girl to his advantage at every opp
ortunity. They were a team.

  He was also persistently affectionate with me in front of Layla and he ignored all of my efforts to resist. Before I knew it, a month had passed and I was madly in love with him all over again, but no way in hell would I let him in on that secret.

  Right now we were in bed and Landyn was caressing my hip; his lips were brushing against my neck. I felt his breath when he spoke. “I can’t stay tonight, baby. I have a six a.m. meeting with a vendor. I really wish you would just move in with me. Layla’s going to be upset when I tell her I won’t be here later and you know the last thing I ever want to do is upset her.” I twisted my neck to look at him. He always looked delicious in the morning with his sexy bedroom hair, dreamy eyes and scruffy, unshaven face.

  No matter how much I wanted to, one month was still way too soon to make any decisions about moving in. “Lan, it’s too soon to decide on moving in and I have to work tonight. This will give Layla a chance to spend some time with Trish. She’ll be okay.”

  “Baby, I want us living together by the time she goes back to school and that’s only another month away. If you’re worried about leaving Trish, she can move into my garage apartment.”

  Ugh! The man was unbearably persuasive when he was trying to get his way. He continued, “She’s always out with Tony anyway.”

  “I’ll think about it,” I responded sharply and turned my face away from him.

  His hand suddenly slid off my hip, down my belly and into my panties. “What are you doing?” I whispered.

  “Helping you make your decision.” He found my sweet spot and swirled a finger lightly against my clit. A steady pace began. “Dripping.” He breathed in my ear. I moaned and wiggled my hips back into his. He pulled his hand away and ordered, “Turn on your stomach.” I quickly did what he asked. He lifted up over me and pulled my panties off. He spread my legs wide with his knees as he crawled up my back.

  His arm wrapped around my waist and a hand hit my core. He worked magic on me until I was begging him to take me. He bit my shoulder. “Get on your knees,” he ordered, his voice rough. I rose up until my ass met his erection. It glided between my cheeks as I rocked back and forth. A hand started massaging my breasts, tugging on my nipples. I pressed back against him and he guided his erection inside. I moaned.