Unbeautifully Loved (Breathe Again) (31 page)

“Erik already knows Lexie, I told him everything,” she said her eyes leaving mine.

Great, just what I needed. How could she, it’s not for her to tell.

My eyes shot to Erik, lingering for a minute before shooting back to her. “
What
?” I fumed, pushing away from the wall.

“Lex, it’s okay. Everything is starting to make sense now and now that I know, I can help you by being here for all of you,” Erik said moving closer to Mollie, wrapping his arms loosely around her midsection.

I hated him calling me Lex

I didn’t say anything to him, just looked at Mollie when she spoke. “See Lexie, there’s no need to go anywhere. Erik and Lukas are here and we can face Dex together, it’ll all be fine.”

“Lukas and I are done, it’s over or whatever,” I said crossing my arms over my chest tightly to hold in the ache I felt.

“You ended things?” Erik uttered causing Mollie and I to look at him.

“There was never anything to end...” I trailed off lying then turned around to leave.

“Lex wait,” Erik said gaining my attention and I looked over my shoulder at him, “give it a day, sleep on it until tomorrow. Maybe Mollie and I can talk things over and figure out a better solution then we’ll...” he trailed off looking at Mollie who looked just as confused as I felt.

“You’ll what?” “We’ll what?” Mollie and I both said at the same time.

“Just give it ‘til the morning, can you do that for me?” he asked almost pleadingly.

I wanted to say no and just leave but looking at Mollie, her eyes begging and pleading with me, I nodded my head then left her room.

“Hey bud,” I said walking into Finn’s room where he was lying on his bed playing his video game, “I think it’s time you turn that thing off and spend some time with me.” I smiled as I flopped down next to him.

“But I’m at the best part, after this level?” He didn’t once move his eyes from the screen when he spoke and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Sure baby.” I cuddled in next to him and watched his small fingers move over the buttons and the way his mouth slightly parted as he was completely in the zone.

A few minutes passed as I continued watching Finn who paused the game and looked at me. “Are we leaving?”

“Where did you hear that?” I asked brushing a loose piece of hair to the side.

“I heard aunt Mollie and uncle Erik talking.”

Uncle Erik
? That was new.

“When did you start calling him that?”

“I don’t know, he said it was okay.” I nodded, “Are we going?” he asked again.

“I don’t know bud, maybe,” I whispered.

I hated putting him through this, it wasn’t fair to him. He needed a place to call home, a place where we were safe and not have to pack up and go at any moment.

“But… I like it here mommy. Lukas is here, he’s so cool. He took me to the police station and I got to meet all his friends,” he whispered, his lip quivering as I watched his eyes fill with tears. “I don’t wanna leave him; can I bring him with us?”

Just like I knew it would happen, Finn grew attached to Lukas– as did I. Leaving him would be worse for me, Finn would eventually forget him but me, I was never going to be able to do that.

I pulled him into my arms and kissed the top of his head. “I know baby, Mommy just–”

Finn pulled away from my embrace. “Please mommy can we just stay, please,” he begged.

I swallowed the lump that formed in my throat.

“We’ll see Finn,” I said forcing a smile. “Now come downstairs with me and let’s get something to eat then watch a movie or something.”

Just as I was about to get off his bed, out of the corner of my eye I saw a shadow move away from the door. I don’t know who it was but whoever it was had been listening to my conversation with Finn.

Leaving his game behind he jumped off the bed and took my hand as we went downstairs to make lunch then find something to watch, something that would keep my mind off of everything for at least a couple of hours.

Finn and I spent the day cuddled on the couch watching movies and taking turns playing his game when he couldn’t make it through certain levels. Mollie joined us when Erik left for work and we talked, but all things regarding what tomorrow might bring or Lukas was avoided.

Our movie ended and Finn got up to put a new one in when a knock sounded at the door. Mollie and I looked at one another for a half a second before she got up to answer it. All that ran through my head was that it was Dex, that as soon as she opened the door all hell was going to break loose.

Shit.

Please let that be the church people wanting us to let God into our hearts and not Dex.

I held my breath as I heard the door open, followed by Mollie’s hushed voice along with someone else’s. I exhaled and relaxed when I didn’t hear her scream and yell and turned my attention back to Finn’s game.

“Lexie,” Mollie called.

I sat up on the couch and looked over the back to her standing in the hall. “Yeah?”

“Come here a second would you?” she motioned then disappeared back to the door to whoever was there.

“Bud, just put your movie in then back to the couch, keep my spot warm okay.” I smiled then stood up, smoothing my hand over his head before he climbed up and settled in.

“What is it Moll?” I asked walking around the corner to the front door then stopping in my tracks.

Shit.
This
can’t be good.

She was standing with the door open and Lukas’s frame took up the entrance. The two of them had just finished whispering something when both eyes came to me. Mollie stepped back, holding the door open wider, “Sorry babe,” she said her lips twitching.

Sorry? Sorry for what?

Oomph.
Lukas was in front of me bent over; his shoulder into my stomach and his arms came up and wrapped around my legs then lifted me up and over his shoulders.

Oh my God.

“What the
fuck
are you
doing
? Lukas put me down
right now
.” I shrieked, trying to squirm out of his grasp but only able to bring my head up to look at Mollie. “Uh, a little help here Moll’s.”

Mollie looked at me with a grin spread across her face as she shrugged her shoulders, mouthing
sorry
and trying to keep from laughing.

That little bitch.

“Lukas, put me down,” I said firmly, trying to wiggle from his grasp.

“Sure Lex I’ll put you down,” Lukas said amused, turning and walking towards the door. “When we get to my place.”

I grabbed onto the back of his shirt, holding on tight. “Lukas, come on. Put me down, Finn’s waiting for me,” I cried.

“He’ll be fine babe,” Mollie said grinning.

I glared at her as Lukas, with me over his shoulder, walked out the door and down the steps. Mollie watched us, laughing at what I could only imagine to be an interesting sight of me being treated like a sack of flour by Mr. Caveman himself.

“You won’t think it’s funny when I get my hands on you later Mollie,” I shouted brushing the hair out of my face.

I’m going to kill her.

Laughing she closed the door. It was just me hanging over Lukas’ shoulder, bouncing up and down as he stalked towards his place. “Lukas put me down, I can walk,” I whined, “I promise to walk to your place. Just put me down, people can see us!”

Walking up Lukas’ driveway, I felt it. Someone was watching us. My head shot up to look but I didn’t get a chance to see anything because we had rounded the back of his house. He carried me in through the back door then up three steps and straight into his living room where he finally put me back on my feet. I stumbled away from him, bumping into the couch and falling on my ass.

Jerk.

“You really need to work on the whole ‘I’m a caveman, I’ll just pick you up when I want’ bit you know that,” I snapped standing to my feet. “Girls like to be
swept
off their feet not
tossed
over the shoulder.”

“I asked you to come and you said no. Did what I had to do.”

Ask? Ha! More like demanded.

He grinned then walked away. “If I had asked again would you have listened?”

Nope.

I didn’t answer because he already knew my answer so I just crossed my arms over my chest and glared at him. “Exactly my point,” he said disappearing into his kitchen. “Want something to drink?” he called.

“Yeah a shot of tequila would be fucking great,” I muttered under my breath.

“Sorry Peaches, I don’t have tequila,” he called back.

“How did you hear– you know what, never mind, no I’m fine,” I said and I looked around his living room.

I’d never been to Lukas’ but I always wondered what it would look like and whether he was a messy guy like I always assumed he’d be.

Looking around, it was further from what I had ever pictured. Not at all messy, it was actually completely tidy and well-kept and also completely a guy's place. Hardwood flooring like ours, plain white walls, flat screen on the wall with a sound system set up around it, two book cases on each side full of movies, CD’s and video games.

Behind me was the most comfortable couch I’d ever sat in, even if it was just for a second. In front of it a coffee table almost like the one we had and at both ends of the couch were dark wood end tables; the farthest away from me having a lamp on it. To my right a giant Lazy-Boy leather recliner that actually looked more comfortable then the couch, and sport pictures on the wall the couch sat against.

Lukas made his way back into the living room carrying a bottle of water and a beer in one hand and a cream colored folder in the other. He handed me the bottle of water, and I took it without hesitation; my mouth was dry from the nerves. I gulped half the bottle back then turned to face Lukas who was standing in front of his coffee table with his hand wrapped around the neck of his beer, watching me contently.

“Okay what gives, you gonna tell me why I’m here or
I can head back to my son who I was enjoying watching movies with today.” I held the plastic bottle in my hands unable to read his face; I couldn’t tell if he was angry still or doing a good job at masking it.

He tossed the cream colored folder he was holding down onto the coffee table.

“Tell me about Dex Davis, Lexie.”

Oh.

Fuck.

“Dex,” I said breathy.

“Dex, Finn’s father, the guy who made you flee Kingston all the way out here,” he said his voice calm and steady, his eyes not leaving mine. He didn’t look mad or anything, he just had a lot of questions; I could see them swirling in his eyes.

Staring at Lukas my heart thumped fast and hard against my chest. I thought it was going to burst out of my chest and fall on the floor right in front of him. “I think I should go,” I said taking a step forward, halting when Lukas stepped in my way.

“No, you’re gonna stay and you and I are going to talk this out, and you’re gonna tell me what the
fuck
is going on with this Dex guy,” He grabbed his beer and took a pull from it.