“She was the soft to my rough edges,” I start. It’s been a long time since I really thought about our relationship and everything it was and wasn’t. “She lit up any room she walked into. We met in junior high. We were both in seventh grade, I was captain of the football team and she was the head cheerleader,” I laugh, shaking my head. “Such a cliché. But, I saw her on the field one day during a game and I just knew. I told Zander that night that I was gonna marry that girl.”
“And what did he say?” she asks. I laugh again. “He told me I was crazy and I should never settle down with just one girl.” Lex laughs at that.
“Sounds just like him,” she says.
“Our relationship wasn’t easy. Quite the opposite actually. We fought a lot. She could be really jealous, which in high school I always thought was annoying. I couldn’t even talk to another girl in the hallway without her getting upset. We actually broke up often over it.” Man, I haven’t thought about this shit in a long time. I forgot how jealous she used to get. “But, we were in love. We’d break up and then we’d get back together. It’s just what we did. She started to grow up our senior year and we started to make plans.”
“Wedding plans?” She asks, tucking her leg over mine and pulling me closer.
“Wedding plans. Life plans. All the plans,” I chuckle. “She loved life and she was just so ready to get out of school and be adults. We got a small one bedroom apartment right after high school, above the bar. Saved all of our pennies to afford it. Then this house came up for sale and she loved it and I loved her so we scrimped and saved some more to put the down payment on it and my mom co-signed the loan for us.” I laugh, tears stinging the back of my eyes. “She had this vision of the way she wanted the house to look and I worked really hard to bring that to life for her. I took all the things I learned working construction and started updating things around here. We were happy,” I finish, letting out a heavy sigh
. I shrug my shoulders. “And then she died, right in the middle of this incredible life we were trying to build,” she looks at me with a sad smile.
“Do you miss her?” she asks, snuggling closer and tucking her small body against me. I run my hand down her back and look her in the eye.
“Every day,” I whisper back honestly and something passes across her face. We stay like that a while longer, until it’s time to go get the kids.
Lex
The weather is getting cooler and the leaves are changing colors. It’s been a rollercoaster so far with me and Ford. I sleep over there more often than I sleep at home. I’m loving teaching at the school and having Clarissa here has been amazing. I finally feel like I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
Now it’s Saturday and I’ve been planning a get together with all of our friends and us and Ford’s family. It will be the first time all of us will really be together as a big group and I’m super excited. Ford was hesitant to invite everyone over, but I persuaded him. I’m at the counter in his kitchen putting the finishing touches on the burgers before we throw them on the grill when Ford strolls into the kitchen, all broody and whatnot.
“Remind me again why we're doing this?” he grumbles, grabbing a beer from the fridge and eyeing the ever-growing group of people in his backyard.
“Because you love me,” I quip, spinning around and shoving the tray of hamburger patties at him and say seriously, “now go forth and grill.”
He grunts before pressing a kiss at my temple and sulking out the back door. I snag my glass of wine from the counter and make my way outside. Everyone is here and then some. We’ve invited some of the teachers we work with and their families, so there’s about half a dozen kids running around out back on top of ours and Avery’s. She’s here with Gen and Blake. Sophie’s here with a couple of girlfriends and Jaxson showed up about twenty minutes ago. Clarissa is of course here and we’ve also invited a couple of people from the neighborhood.
I drop down in the Adirondack chair next to Riss, who’s chatting with Jaxson and a couple other guys from the neighborhood. But I’d have to say I think Jax is more interested in Avery than talking with these guys. He’s barely taken his eyes off of her since I walked into the backyard. The group of guys break up and wander off to find their wives and that leaves just Clarissa, Jaxson, and me.
“Jax, if you stare much harder, that poor girl is going to take a restraining order out on you,” Clarissa says, and I crack up. Jax narrows his eyes at her.
“Whatever,” he grumbles, downing the rest of his beer and striding over to Ford at the grill. Apparently, that gives Avery the opening she wanted to come over and sit with us because not long after, she’s plopping down in the chair Jax just got out of.
“Hey babe,” I say, grabbing a White Claw out of the cooler beside me and tossing it to her. “Are you enjoying yourself?”
She heaves out a sigh and gives me a sad smile, “yeah, I am. The kids are, too. Thank you for inviting us.”
“Of course. You’re family.” I gently remind her, and myself if I’m being honest.
“Alright, enough of the sappy shit. When are you and Jaxson gonna fuck each other out of your systems?” Clarissa asks, and Avery sprays her drink all over herself.
“Oh my god,” Avery hisses, “he’s my boss, Clarissa. And he fucking hates me. What makes you think we would fuck?!” She finishes quietly, cutting her eyes to make sure Jax isn’t listening.
“Oh, sweet girl,” Clarissa says, patting her on the knee and giving her a sympathetic look, “there’s a fine line between love and hate. And that line, is fucking.” She says with all the wisdom in the world.
“God, you’re such a bastard, Dean!” Is shouted from across the yard. I turn and look towards the commotion and discover Whitley and Dean have entered the backyard and they’re already involved in a full-blown argument. Well, not really an argument, more like Whitley is hollerin’ and Dean shaking his head and grinning.
“Don’t forget baby, you used to love this bastard,” he calls as she storms away from him and flops down in the chair beside Avery.
“That son of a bitch,” she seethes, leaning forward and ripping the white claw out of Avery’s hand and downing it. “Why’d you invite him?”
“I didn’t, babe. Ford did,” I say, as if that is going to calm her down at all. Things have just been ratcheting up between the two of them and I’m afraid if they don’t resolve it, one of them will end up dead. She shakes her head.
“He just gets under my fuckin’ skin, ya know?” She says and we all murmur that we do know, we listen to ‘em every day.
“Anyways, enough about me. Who wants to tell me what’s up with Jax and Avery since this bitch won’t talk?” She asks and Ave groans, dropping her head back against the chair and rolling her eyes.
“Fine line, Avery. Fine. Line.” Clarissa reminds her, raising her drink in salute. Avery flips her the bird and we all laugh.
◆◆◆
It’s later in the evening and we’ve all ate, drank, and laughed. The adults are gathered around the bonfire while the kids play flashlight tag. The music is low, playing some country ballad, and I’m curled up in Ford’s lap and he’s running his fingers through my hair. Jax and Avery are sitting together, and Whitley stormed out about an hour ago, so Clarissa and Dean are chatting. Most of the other families have dispersed and it’s just us and our close friends now. Nina and Steve, her boyfriend, popped by to eat and headed out to a movie.
“Happy?” Ford asks and I loll my head towards him and snuggle in deeper, nodding my head yes. He chuckles, pulling me closer. “Me too,” he whispers and presses a kiss to my head.
A loud crash comes from the front of the house that sounds like broken glass shattering and we both startle.
“What the hell,” Ford mumbles, lifting me off his lap so he can stand up and then depositing me back into his chair. “Don’t fucking move,” he orders, storming off to the front of the house. Dean and Jax follow him. I holler for the kids to come up to the firepit so I c
an see all of them and once they’re all accounted for, I order them to stay with Avery and jog to the front of the house.
I round the corner and stutter step to a stop. The guys are all standing around Ford’s truck. The windshield is smashed in and all the other windows are knocked out. I gasp and my stomach drops. Jason. Who else would do this?
Ford turns towards me and reaches his hand out. “Baby, I told you to stay out back.” I immediately run towards him.
“I’m so sorry,” I say but he cuts me off.
“Sorry? For what? This isn’t your fault, Lex.” He says and I’m just at a loss for words. I want to scream that it is my fault. I know who did this. I open my mouth to say the words. To tell Crawford that it’s my piece of shit fucking husband doing this, showing me he still controls the situation even if he can no longer control me, but the words just won’t come out. I can feel the panic creeping in at telling Ford my secrets. Everything I stand to lose, this community that I’ve built in the time I’ve been in Monroeville. I would lose it all. Ford, our friends, the kids.
“I… I know, I’m just, fuck. This is going to cost a fortune,” I say, shaking my head, still in disbelief that Jason would do something like this with all the cars parked in the driveway and on the street.
“Cops are on their way,” Dean breaks in, stuffing his phone in his pocket and crossing his arms. He looks between the both of us. “Any idea who would do this?” He asks, keeping his eyes trained on my face. I shake my head and Ford sighs.
“No man, no clue. Rival football team, pissed off parents. Could be anybody,” he says, steering me towards the backyard. “Why don’t you go tell everyone the party is over and take the kids inside so they can get ready for bed? I’ll be in once I’m done filling out the police report.”
I do what Ford asks and say my goodbyes to all our friends. Clarissa pulls me aside and asks if there’s anything she can do. I tell her to just go home and lock the doors, I’ll be home later. I usher the kids into the house and double lock the backdoor. I clean up the kitchen while they get ready for bed. I tuck Z in first, kissing him on the forehead and telling him how special he is, how much I love him. I read Aria her favorite story and when she’s sound asleep I press a kiss to her chubby little cheek and tuck the blankets around her. Ford is still outside talking to the police, so I quietly unlock the back door, locking it up with my spare key. I make the trek to my house, where Clarissa is waiting for me by the back door and I collapse in her arms, sobbing while she reassures me everything will be okay.
But I know better. Nothing will be okay. Things will never be fine until Jase is gone. For good.
Ford
It’s been two days since Lex slipped out of my house like a thief in the night. I finished up my statement for the police and went inside to look for her, but she was nowhere to be found. I checked on the kids and made the trek to her house to see what was going on, but Clarissa answered the door and wouldn’t let me in. She said Lex needed some time and didn’t want to see me.
I’ve been busy with the kids and trying to get arrangements squared away for the state championship, making sure all of the hotel accommodations are ready to go and we have enough buses and drivers. I’ve been running myself ragged and haven’t had a chance to talk to Lex, but that shit ends tonight.
Mom just got here to sit with the kids for a while and Lex and I are going to talk about whatever is bothering her, even if I have to bust her door down to fucking do it.
Her car is the only one parked in the driveway so that means Clarrisa is gone, which is fine by me. I bound up her back steps and pound on the door. It takes a minute before she comes into view. She sees it’s me and lets out a big sigh. I’ve never seen her look this run-down before. There are bags under her eyes and she’s in what looks to be her pajamas,
“Open the door, Alexandra,” I say, motioning to the handle. She shakes her head.
“I can’t do this with you right now, Ford. Just go,” she says, and I shake my head in return.
“Nope, that’s not good enough for me. Open the goddamn door before I do.” Enough with this shit. Whatever is going on, whatever I did, we are figuring it out right now.
She heaves out another sigh and flips the lock on the door before turning around and heading back into the living room. I follow her and she flops down on the couch.
“You’re in. Say what you need to say and then please, just go,” her voice cracks. I take in the state of her house. All the curtains are drawn and the blinds are closed, there’s coffee cups and wine glasses littering the coffee table. A blanket and pillow rest on the couch, like she’s been sleeping out here instead of in her room. I move the blanket and sit beside her, resting my elbows on my knees and running my hands through my hair.
“What the hell happened the other night? I come inside from talking to the cops and you’re just gone. And then Clarissa tells me you don’t want to see me? What’s going on, Lex?” My stomach is all tied up in knots at the thought of losing her, at losing what we have that I know is special. She sucks in a shaky breath.
“I’m just not sure I was ready to do whatever this,” she gestures between the two of us, “is. I’m not sure I’m ready to have a family, Ford.” She whispers, still refusing to make eye contact with me. I drop to my knees in front of her as she swipes tears from her face.
“Honey don’t do this. We are good for each other. So good for each other. I love you. The kids love you. I don’t know what happened between the other night and now, but whatever it is can we just let it go? I just want to be back to the way we were before. Some things just go better together, baby, and one of those things is us.” Leaning in, I kiss her tear stained cheek, slowly making my way to her lips, pressing a cautionary kiss on them, waiting to see if she’s going to open up and let me in. She freezes for a second and then melts into me, letting me kiss her. I deepen it, sliding my hand up her leg and around to her back, pressing her into me as I make love to her mouth. Sliding my tongue in, pouring all that I am into this kiss. This woman.
Kissing me back just as feverishly she finally breaks apart and looks at me.
“How do you do it?” She asks, shaking her head and lacing her fingers with mine.
“Do what?”
“Make me fall in love with you every day. Always making me feel like I’m special, like nothing else matters. I’m sorry I’m so hot and cold, I’m just scared,” she whispers.
“Nothing else does matter, Lex. I’d die for you. I would go to the ends of the earth to make sure you feel loved and safe. Loving someone, putting their own needs and wants before yours, it can be scary. But it can also be really, really beautiful,” I say, and she tugs me up and onto the couch with her.
◆◆◆
It’s finally state championship weekend. All the football players and cheerleaders are accounted for and the parents and chaperones know who’s in charge of who. I checked in with mom and got to talk to the kids before they went to bed. I’ve just kicked back on the bed in my hotel room when there’s three quick raps at my door. Assuming it’s one of the players or parents needing something, I toss the room service menu I was perusing on the bedside stand and cross the room to the door. Glancing through the peephole, I see Lex standing there looking awfully nervous. She’s fidgeting with the big bag she has slung over her shoulder and glancing around like she’s afraid to get caught at my door. Interesting.
Flipping the lock and flinging the door open, she catches me off guard by charging through the doorway and pushing me out of the way. I stumble back a few steps. Lex slams the door shut and flips the lock before turning back towards me and resting her back on the door. I arch an eyebrow at her, waiting for her to say something. She’s bites her bottom lip and smiles at me.
“Hey coach,” she breathes out, tucking her hair behind her ear. I can’t help but grin and shake my head at her.
“Ms. Carter. You know there is a strict no fraternizing rule,” I joke with her. She reaches into her tote
bag and pulls out two bottles and shakes ‘em at me.
“Have you met my friends, Jim and Johnny Walker?” She says, sashaying towards me and pressing a kiss to my lips when she’s finally in front of me. “Now, how ‘bout you be a good boy and grab us some paper cups from the bathroom and we can get this party started?” She raises a challenging eyebrow at me. I happily oblige and pour us each a shot from one of the bottles.
“And just what are we celebrating?” I ask, pushing a glass into her hand and raising mine for a toast. She taps her cup against mine and shoots the entire shot like a pro, wincing a little as it slides down her throat. She pours another shot into her cup and kicks her sneakers off, dropping down on the bed and crossing her legs underneath her.
“We, Crawford James, are celebrating the fact that we are alone. In a hotel room. With no kids, no matter how much I adore your children. No interruptions and nowhere to be until tomorrow morning.” She downs her second shot and sits her cup on the nightstand. Leaning back on the bed with her elbows propping her up and crossing her legs, she cocks her head at me and purses her lips. “What do you propose we do, Mr. James?”
Without a second thought, I toss my whiskey back and throw the empty cup over my shoulder, wasting no time pouncing on her. I crawl up the bed and settle myself between her legs, kissing my way up her jaw to her ear. Wrapping her legs around my waist, Lex rocks herself shamelessly against my cock. She moans at the contact and turns her head to give me better access to her ear. I bite her lobe and continue kissing down the side of her neck. She starts undoing the buttons on my shirt but before she pushes it off, she uses the shirt as a bind and tugs my arms behind my back.
“We are doing things my way tonight.” She uses her hand that isn’t restraining my arms and drags her palm down my chest. Dipping her fingers just into the waistband of my jeans, she orders me to stand up. I think I might like this version of my girl. I inch off her and stand at the end of the bed, leaving my hands behind my back like she wanted.
Fall for You: Boys of Alabama Page 13
