“Jeremy, she’s four.”
“Yeah, and if you and I don’t start biting our tongues, she’s going to be the richest four-year-old on the block. That or your mom’s going to kick my ass.”
I felt a tug on my jeans before I even realized what I’d said. When I looked down, Ava was standing there with her hand out.
“You said the A-word, Daddy! Pay up!”
With a groan, I pulled my wallet out and paid up. She scampered off, squealing about putting her money in her piggy bank.
Sierra laughed, shaking her head. “You’ve created a monster, Jeremy.”
I gripped her hips and drew her to me. Then I wrapped my arms around her back. She placed her hands on my chest and slid them up to go around my neck.
I leaned down and nibbled on her ear. “Nah, baby. We created that little monster.”
She shivered as I trailed kisses down her neck. It amazed me that, after twenty fucking years, I still affected her this way.
After an impromptu make-out session in the kitchen, which was interrupted by our little monster, we made dinner—one of my favorite parts of the day. Regardless of how long my day at the office was or how much Ava wiped Sierra out, we always made dinner together. We’d been doing it since we’d lived in her parents’ house, and it hadn’t changed after seven years of marriage. On occasion, Ava would help out.
“So, what was that phone call?” I asked, remembering how the whole paying-Ava thing had begun.
A beaming smile formed on Sierra’s lips. She leaned her hip against the counter, watching as I cut up peppers. “I may have planted a seed a few days ago, and it may have sprouted today,” she said cryptically.
I set the knife down and gave her my full attention. “What’d you do?” I asked, unsure if I even wanted to know.
She grinned. “I may have sent Jace a second reunion invitation.”
“Why? He already RSVP’ed and said he was coming.”
“Because I may have put Lexi’s number on this one. He may have just called her,” she said, practically squealing the last bit.
I raised an eyebrow. “And let me guess. That was Lexi calling to rip you a new one?”
Sierra clapped her hands, her face animated and radiating her satisfaction. “Yes! And it was amazing,” she said, whirling around.
“Amazing, huh?” I wasn’t quite buying it.
“Jeremy, she was breathless. Sure, she sounded mad, but I could hear it in her voice.”
“Hear what?”
“Excitement. She was excited.”
It was my turn to smile. “Then I’d say well played, baby.”
As Sierra and I went back to making dinner, I couldn’t get my mind off my sister-in-law. I’d been a little skeptical of Sierra’s plan to bring Jace and Lexi back together. But maybe, just maybe, it was exactly what Lexi needed to move on with her life. And, if she needed a push or two from us, then she’d get them.
Because, at the end of the day, we were family, and we’d do anything to make Lexi smile again. No matter what it took.
THE MONTHS LEADING UP to the reunion both dragged and flew by. They dragged because I was anxiously awaiting the moment Jace and Lexi would be together again. They flew by because, by the time we were boarding the airplane, I couldn’t believe we were finally on our way. Nerves twinged in my belly as I wondered if I’d made the right decision. When I glanced next to me and saw my sister, I knew I had.
Ever since the phone call with Jace, there’d been a lightness around her. As if some weight, even if the littlest amount, had been lifted from her shoulders. Maybe there was even some hope deep down in there somewhere. I was feeling hope by the bucketfuls. I couldn’t quite put my finger on what had changed in her, but something had definitely shifted. The old Lexi was starting to emerge, and I hoped that, after this weekend, she’d be back in full form.
“Guess what, Aunt Lexi?” Ava’s excited voice broke me from my thoughts. Sitting next to Jeremy, she leaned across the aisle to get closer to my sister.
“What’s that, Ava?” Lexi asked, looking around to make sure Ava wasn’t in anyone’s way.
“I get to spend the night with Gramma and Grampa!” she exclaimed.
Shit.
Shit. Shit. Shit.
I’d told Jeremy that we should’ve kept that to ourselves.
Lexi gave Ava a smile before turning to me. It faded as she raised an eyebrow. “Gramma and Grampa?” she repeated.
I wasn’t sure how to play this, so I just waved it off. “You know how the Banks clan can be. Jay and Lydia were really excited about it being Ava’s first time at the beach, so they decided to spend the week in Navarre playing golf and visiting old friends.”
Lexi’s mouth dropped open. “So you don’t need a nanny?” she asked.
“Not tonight, but I’m sure they’ll be busy the rest of the time.” I put my arm around her shoulder and squeezed. “That means you can come hang out and see all the old gang tonight!”
“Great,” she muttered. Then she shook her head and stuck her nose back in her book.
She pretended not to care, but her cheeks flushed pink, giving her interest away. Lexi was going to see Jace again. I couldn’t wait.
Lexi’d been quiet ever since we’d landed at the airport. I had a feeling she was reeling from the change of plans, and a twinge of guilt crept in the back of my mind. But hey, why not rip the Band-Aid off, right? The sooner she and Jace broke the ice, the better. And I was sure it’d melt in two seconds flat.
By the time we made it to the condo, Ava was exhausted from the trip. I wanted to hit the beach; Jeremy wanted to see some old teammates. Lexi yawned and feigned sleepiness. Instead of trying to force her to go to the beach, I let her stay in while Ava napped.
The second my toes curled in the white sand, I released an appreciative sighed before closing my eyes and inhaling deeply, allowing the saltwater scent to invade my senses, reminding me of all the amazing memories I had here. A sense of peace washed over me. God, I loved this place.
When my eyes opened, I was greeted with a gorgeous sight. Just ten short feet away, there he was. Jace McAllister, in all of his glory, appeared to be napping on a beach towel, soaking up the sun's rays. Not that he needed them. When I approached, I nearly whistled at the tan, muscular, tattooed sight before me. If Lexi didn't hit that, she was crazy.
“Well, if it ain’t Jace freakin’ McAllister?!” I squealed as soon as I was standing over him. Probably a little too enthusiastically, but I couldn’t help myself.
I smiled at his groan. He used his arm to shield his eyes from the sun then sat up and came face-to-face with me. When he saw that it was me, he sprang to his feet.
"Hey, Sierra," he mumbled, looking past me, his eyes searching and seeking.
My heart dipped and I couldn't help but laugh, knowing exactly what he was doing. "“You haven’t changed a bit. She’s not down here, so you can stop the search party your eyes are currently on.” Before he could respond, I gave him a big hug. "It's so good to see you, Jace."
He returned my hug then pulled back. There was no masking the disappointment on his face. “Good to see you, too, Sierra. And, for your information, I was looking to see if Jeremy was with you."
Sure he was. “Whatever. You never could fool me, and you’re not going to start now. Jeremy went to see some of the guys from the football team. Lexi and Ava are up in the condo, taking a nap. The flight wore them out."