I’m going to ignore a lot of things if I’m going to get through the rest of this meal without freaking out completely. I mean, I knew my little Lexi Lou would eventually start having boyfriends and shit, but I was thinking more like eighteen, twenty-one, thirty-five.
Not this damn soon. Not to a smart little science-y prick named Connor. I mean, Connor? That name just spells fucking trouble.
“Uncle Remy?”
“Yeah, Lex?”
Please don’t tell me you’re engaged. I’ll die right here, I swear.
“Is Maria your girlfriend?”
Fucking hell, so much for ignoring that internal voice, bro. Sounds like it’s external now.
“Uh…” I pause, completely unsure of what to answer—which, I’ll admit, doesn’t make me feel good.
I mean, what is Maria to me? The word girlfriend doesn’t even come close to showcasing what I feel for her. It’s a pathetic fucking word to describe the role she plays in my life, but declaring her as—
“I think you should marry her and make her your wife.” She chews. “That way, Maria will be my real Aunt Maria.”
And there it is. The consequences of my actions.
Just because I’ve been enjoying what Maria and I have been doing over the past few months without putting labels on it doesn’t mean I’m the only one affected by what’s growing between us.
There are two specific someones being affected, actually, and they’re sitting right at this table with me.
I need to start figuring my shit out and quick. Maria deserves more than a helpful guy with the ability to walk away anytime he wants. With everything she is and has been through? She’s earned a hell of a lot more.
Good thing you’re about to have five days alone with her to start figuring it out…
Remy
I’m shocked when my sister is the one who answers my mom’s front door.
“Mommy!” Lex exclaims and steps forward to wrap her arms around Winnie’s waist.
“Hi, sweetie!”
“What are you doing here, Win?”
“I missed my girl,” she explains, giving Lexi a quick but tight hug. “So, I figured I’d stop over here for a bit and spend some time with her before I have to go back to the stadium.”
“Where’s Mom?”
“She ran out to get some groceries. Left right after you texted her to tell her you and the girls were on your way. Should be back soon,” she continues to update as we step inside my mom’s duplex.
Instantly, my sister’s eyes go to Izzy, who is currently sitting cozy in the baby carrier around my chest.
Technically, she’s a little young by her age to be front-facing, but by weight and with her pediatrician’s approval after seeing how much neck strength she has, we’ve graduated her to being able to see the world in front of us, instead of stuck staring at our shirts.
“Well, hello there, my little honeybee. I’ve missed your cute face.”
Izzy squeals and kicks her legs a bit, and Winnie smiles like she’s smitten. Lex joins in on the fun, and it doesn’t take long before she wins a few belly laughs from the baby on my chest.
“I swear, that is the best sound in the world,” Winnie muses and turns her attention back to me. “Everything go okay last night?”
“Of course it did. Lex is the best. And word on the street is that I’m also the best uncle.”
“The game that will never end.” Winnie snorts and looks at Lexi. “Did you have fun? Did Uncle Remy behave himself too?”
“Tons of fun. We watched a movie last night, and Maria gave me this,” Lexi announces, showing off the Chanel necklace I still can’t believe Maria gave to her.
My sister’s eyes grow big as she reaches out to touch the letters that read C-H-A-N-E-L. “Maria gave you this necklace?”
“Yep.” Lex nods proudly. “Isn’t it pretty? It was Maria’s sister’s necklace.”
That catches both Winnie’s and my attention.
“This was Isabella’s?” I ask, and Lexi nods like it’s no big thing.
“Yep.”
But to me, it is a big thing. It’s huge. Both Winnie and I can feel it; I can tell by the gentle sheen I see in her eyes and the sting I feel in mine.
I can’t even begin to imagine how big of a deal—the depth of what Maria must feel for Lexi—this had to be.
“I’m going to put my stuff upstairs in Grandma’s guest room,” Lexi announces and wraps her arms around my waist to give me a quick hug. “Thanks for the sleepover and brunch, Uncle Rem. I had fun.”