Chapter 20

TWENTY

It’s mid-November when I’m finally able to introduce Lexi to the guys.I hold her hand as we walk up to Romel’s house, my thumb rubbing soothing circles on her hand. She’s been nervous about this get-together—it’s one of the reasons I suspect she still hasn’t attended a home game—but I’m determined to make it as stress free as possible for her.

These guys are my family as much as my brothers are. Now that she’s become an important part of my life—arguably the most important part—I’m desperate for her to meet the group and see how great they are. I don’t know what I’ll do if they don’t get along. It’s not something I’ve planned for, and I hope it’s not something I need to worry about, but I guess we’ll find out soon enough.

I knock on the door, and a minute later it’s pulled open by a cute little toddler with the biggest mischievous grin on her face, a flustered Romel right on her heels. “Kay, what have I told you about answering the door?”

Her smile falls as guilt fills her light-brown eyes which look identical to Sydney’s. I wonder how hard it is for Romel to look at his daughter when she looks so much like her mother. “Sorry, Daddy,” she says softly.

He smiles gently as he crouches down in front of her. “I just want you to be safe, Princess. I know it’s Uncle Ty, but you still shouldn’t answer the door, okay?”

She nods, but her eyes still hold a shimmer of tears from his reproach. Romel lets out a heavy sigh and then lifts her into his arms, holding her tight. He offers me a small smile that doesn’t come anywhere near his eyes and then opens the door wider and gestures with his free hand for us to come inside. Once we’re in, he closes the door and extends his hand to Lexi, his smile growing. “So you’re the mystery woman. This guy doesn’t shut up about you.”

“Wow, thanks, man. What happened to bro code?”

His brows lift in surprise. “I thought bro code was just about not poaching each other’s women, which has never been our thing anyway.”

“Thank God for that. But you’re also supposed to keep my secrets.”

His smile grows like the Cheshire cat, and I brace myself for the embarrassment I’m sure he’s about to serve me. “Sorry, man, but she deserves to know you’re obsessed with her.” He looks at Lexi. “I’ve never seen a man more smitten, and that’s saying something considering how Gabe and Dom are with their ladies. But you’ve got yourself a keeper here.” He slaps me on the back. “He’ll go to the ends of the earth for the people he loves.”

I rub my free hand down my face. That wasn’t as bad as it could’ve been, but I’ve been trying not to pressure Lexi too much. She doesn’t need to know I talk about her all the time to anyone who will listen. When I glance down at her to see how she’s taking it, I find her already looking up at me, a thoughtful expression filling her eyes while the corners of her pink mouth tilt up in a sweet smile. My heart stutters because I know without a doubt I’ve fallen in love with her, and I have no idea if she feels the same way.

She looks back at Romel. “Thanks for the heads-up.”

Kay pulls her head from where she’s had it buried against his neck. “You’re pretty,” she says, her lilting voice soft.

Lexi’s cheeks flush, but her eyes brighten as she gives a friendly smile to Kay. It’s the same one she had when we were in her classroom—her teacher smile I called it at the time, designed to put the kids at ease and make them feel seen.

“You’re pretty too. I love your curls.”

Kay sits up in her dad’s arms, her smile wide, and it has the infectious effect of making all the adults around her smile.

If possible, I fall even harder for Lexi for making Kay light up like a firefly. I can’t wait to see her love on our kid when he or she arrives in May.

Romel starts walking toward the living room and we follow, Lexi’s hand still firmly in mine. Everyone stops talking when we enter the room, and four sets of eyes stare at us.

I clear my throat. “Everyone, this is Lexi,” I announce. “Lexi, this is Gabe and his wife, Danae. And that’s Dom and his wife, Alayna.”

“If you hear Dom say Laney, he’s talking about me,” Alayna adds with a smile at her husband.

“And that’s only my name to use,” Dom says before dropping a quick kiss to her lips.

Lexi waves at everyone, but whatever ease she found with Kaylee in the hallway has completely vanished. Her palm is now clammy in mine, and she can barely hold eye contact with anyone but the floor.

Everyone seems to snap out of whatever stupor they were in when we walked in and comes bustling over. Gabe and Dom start telling embarrassing stories about me from the locker room while Danae and Alayna roll their eyes at them. But I’m not sure Lexi hears a word. She’s got this slightly vacant look in her gaze I’ve never seen before, and her pulse flutters like crazy in her neck.

“Should we eat?” Romel asks. Everyone starts talking about the next home game as we walk to the dining room where Romel has a whole spread laid out.

“Lexi, you should come with us,” Alayna says, turning back to Lexi.

Lexi’s steps falter. “To the game?”

“Yeah.” Alayna’s brow quirks like that should’ve been obvious.

“Uh.” Lexi looks at me, and I can’t quite read her expression, but I can definitely pick up on her unease.

“That game is on Thursday. Lexi has work the next day.”

Alayna’s smile slowly fades from her face as she moves her quizzical expression my way. “We all do.”

“I’m not sure, but I’ll let you know,” Lexi says. Her voice carries an air of calm, but the tight-lipped smile she gives Alayna doesn’t come anywhere near her eyes.

Does she not want to see me play? I thought she’d really put it off because she hadn’t been feeling well, but what if she just doesn’t want to come?

The idea curdles the hope in my stomach. I don’t expect her to come to every game, but I’d love for her to try to watch at least one. I want her there in the stadium with my jersey on her body.

In my family, we all supported each other and showed up. Even now, my parents fly out as often as they can to attend my games—and my brothers’. I don’t know much about Lexi’s childhood, but I know it wasn’t filled with the kind of familial support mine was if her scars are anything to go by—and those are only the ones I’ve seen on the outside. The longer I’m with her, the more it becomes obvious she’s got scars on the inside she’s never let anyone see.

Alayna watches us more carefully as she sits down next to Dom and starts dishing up her plate. When my gaze slides around the table, everyone is darting glances between the food and Lexi and me. My jaw tics as my back teeth grind. This night is not going how I expected or hoped.

When conversation picks up, I lean over and whisper in Lexi’s ear. “You okay?”

“Mm-hmm.”

Frustration and unease builds, sliding up my back and making my body tense. “You aren’t eating, and you’ve hardly said a word.” Her eyes meet mine, and once again I wish I could read her better. I lower my voice even more, not wanting anyone to overhear. “These are good people. You don’t have to freeze them out.”

I know the minute the words leave my mouth they’re the wrong ones, which is only confirmed when her whole body stiffens.

“Um, if you’ll excuse me, I need to use the bathroom.” She doesn’t even look at me as she pushes her chair back and looks to Romel. “Where’s your restroom?”

His brow furrows slightly, but it’s gone in a blink. “Third door down the hall on the right.”

“Thanks,” she mutters, spinning on her heels and making a dash to the bathroom without a backward glance. I watch her until she turns the corner and is gone from my sight.

“She okay?” Danae asks.

I rub the back of my neck, not sure what to do here. Should I follow her? Give her some space? “I’m not really sure,” I reply, feeling helpless. This night already wasn’t going great, and I’m pretty sure I just made it worse.

“This crew can be pretty intimidating to a newcomer,” Danae says with sympathy in her eyes. She would know, since she was thrown into our group without much warning.

“What should I do?”

She cocks her head to the side and then to the other, thinking. “It depends on her personality. Does she do better if you give her space?”

That helpless feeling grows. “I’m not sure, to be honest. We haven’t exactly been in this situation before.”

“Haven’t you taken her out on dates?” Gabe asks. “That can get pretty intimidating too, especially if the press finds out where you are.”

I shake my head before he’s even done talking. “Not really. She’s wanted to keep things low-key so she doesn’t have to answer questions from her students and the staff at her school if our picture is taken. We’ve only been out in public together a couple of times.”

Everyone nods in understanding. They get wanting to keep a low profile, especially Dom and Alayna, who’ve remained out of the limelight as much as possible since their PR-stunt-turned-real relationship started.

“Is the pretty lady okay?” Kay asks, her mouth half full of her bread roll.

Romel leans over. “I’m sure she’ll be fine, Princess.” He looks at me and nods with his head toward the direction Lexi disappeared to.

That’s the only push I need to go check on my girl. I can still salvage this night, but I can’t do anything if I don’t know what’s wrong.

And there’s only one person who can tell me.