Page 11 of Deception
“Oh, he loves it. Feels like he’s got another woman in bed but can’t get in trouble for it,” Lex says with a giggle.
Not being blood related makes this feel almost normal. She doubts Lex will ever talk about sex like this with Calla when she’s old enough, and it oddly makes Hailey feel special. She has a bond Lex’s biological daughter won’t have with her.
“You really don’t think I have anything to worry about? I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a real family for their kid?”
Like my dad did when he knocked up Iris.
“If he wanted to be with her because they have a kid, he probably would be by now. Does he do anything that makes you think he wants the waitress?”
She loves Lex even more for jumping on the bandwagon and refusing to use her name. She knows it, and she knows Hailey refuses to hear it.
“No, but it’s scary. Plus, I kind of have more experience with people not wanting me than the other way around. Present company excluded, of course.”
“Of course,” Lex says with a laugh. “I don’t think you’re necessarily scared of Gavin wanting to be with the waitress. I think you’re scared of falling in love with that little girl.”
“Why would I be scared of that?”
Leveling Hailey with a stare that only Lex is capable of, she shakes her head slightly. “Because it’s one more person to hurt you if things don’t work out the way you want them to.”
“Yeah, maybe…”
“Babe, you can’t live your life scared to love. It’s going to be so damn empty. It’s okay to be hurt. You have a huge support system to help you get through it, and it teaches you lessons. Trust me, I know how easy it is to try and shy away, but it’s not best.”
Scrunching up her nose, Hailey shakes her head. “I don’t like that answer. Can I have another one?”
Lex pulls her into a hug and squeezes. “Nope.”
“Ah, Mom!” she jokes.
“Just—”
Her cell phone rings, and Hailey gives Lex an apologetic look before answering. “Hey—”
“She left!” Gavin shouts.
“Nancy? She can’t even crawl yet. How’d she—”
“No!” he shouts again, his voice skirting on the edge of sanity. “Emme. She dropped Nancy off, who I’ve only ever had for aday before, so it’s already scary, and then said she’s not coming back.”
Looking at Lex with a shocked expression, she says, “The waitress isn’t coming back for her daughter?”
“No! She said she’s too young to be a mom, and it’s my responsibility now. Nancy’s crying, and I don’t know what she needs. She’s not hungry, and her diaper isn’t full. I tried burping her, but she didn’t eat anything, so I think I just pissed her off more.”
“Okay, Gavin, breathe—”
“She’s not coming back, Hailey!” he cries. “I don’t know what to do. Please come home. I need… Please… I don’t know what I’m doing.”
“Uh, okay. I’ll be… I’ll be right there.”
Hanging up, she grabs her purse, and Lex stops her. “Hey, what’s going on? Is Nancy okay?”
“The waitress told Gavin she’s not coming back to get Nancy. And he’s freaking the hell out.”
“She abandoned her daughter?”
“I guess so. I gotta go. There’s a chance Gavin’s about to implode because Nancy won’t stop crying. Guess we answered the question about whether or not I’ll be bonding with the kid, huh?”
“Hailey, stop. Take a breath.”
