Page 47 of Fight for Me
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking, and, to be honest, I don’t want to commit a felony,” Lexie said, staring into her cup.
“That’s okay. I’ll take one for the team,” Olivia quipped, but Lexie stopped her with a sad smile.
“No, I mean, I don’t want to punish Colt; I don’t want to dwell on him. I just...” She took a long breath, choosing her words thoughtfully. “I just want to move on, you know? I just want to tell myself the past two years never happened. I just... How did I get here, Liv?” Lexie asked, suddenly pivoting the conversation. “How did I get to this place where I’m basically dating my father? Somehow, I went out and chose a guy who is all the things I grew up hating about my dad, and I couldn’t even see it!”
Olivia focused on her handful of popcorn, putting one piece at a time into her mouth.
“I think maybe you didn’t want to see it,” she said, finally meeting Lexie’s eyes.
“But you did?”
“Well, I hoped I was wrong.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?” Lexie blurted, setting her cup down.
“Would you have believed me? You were starstruck in the beginning, Lex. You thought he’d had the moon special-ordered and engraved just for you. And I was happy for you, I really was! You know how cynical I can be about the whole ‘falling in love’ thing. I didn’t want to project that on you,” Olivia said, looking guilty.
Lexie leaned back against her headboard and tipped her face toward the ceiling. The crying she’d done Friday night—first in Jake’s arms and then with Olivia—was enough to last a lifetime. There were no tears left for Colt; he’d finally met his quota.
“You also told me he didn’t hurt you anymore,” Olivia added quietly. It wasn’t an accusation, simply a statement of fact.
Lexie sighed. “It was always little things, and never in public,” she admitted, though she felt oddly numb about that statement. “Friday was the worst time.”
“I’m just glad Jake went looking for you,” Olivia said, and Lexie watched as her friend’s eyes scanned the greenish-purple bruise along the crest of her cheekbone, courtesy of the conference room table.
“I wish he hadn’t,” Lexie said, her voice barely a whisper.
“Lex, it could have been worse—”
“I know, I know, and I’m grateful. I am. I just wish he hadn’t had to see how broken I am.”
“Lexie, that boy doesnotthink you’re broken,” Olivia said with conviction. “You should have seen the way he was looking at you. He went to bat for you, and if you’d even thought the words, he would have gone out and finished the job. As it was, I thought he was going to sleep on the landing. I almost had to walk him down to his truck and make sure he got in it.”
Lexie groaned, her face hot with embarrassment. “He could have been hurt. He could have lost his job. He could have been arrested, and for what?”
“Foryou, sweetheart,” Olivia said, a smile on her face. “That boy would slay dragons for you without batting an eye.”
Lexie sighed, suddenly conflicted. Regardless of how Jake might feel, she didn’t want to be that girl who just jumped from one man to another—no matter how shiny his armor might be. There was something to be said for finally standing on her own two feet.
Olivia, as usual, seemed to be reading her mind.
“I’m not saying you should leave Colt for Jake,” she clarified. “I’m saying you should leave Colt foryou. Anyone who comes after that is just incidental.”
Lexie cradled her mug in both hands, silently watching the last of the whipped cream melt into the hot chocolate.
“Jake respects you, Lex, and that’s huge,” Olivia said. “You told him to leave, and he left, even when he didn’t want to. He found out you had a boyfriend, and he backed off, even though we both know he’s been crushing on you for ages. And when you needed him, he was there, and he didn’t ask for anything in return.” She picked up the flattened penny where it rested next to Lexie’s alarm clock. “You could definitely do worse is all I’m saying. Figure yourself out, but don’t punish yourself for stumbling upon somebody better than Colton Derricks. Maybe it’s time the universe finally gave you something good.”
Lexie mulled this over as she watched her friend trace the edges of the copper oval with her thumb. Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by a loud knock on the front door.
“That must be the pizza,” Olivia said. She rose to her feet and headed for the hall without another word, though what she’d already said had found its mark.
Lexie nestled back under her comforter, distractedly listening to her friend move through the apartment and slide the chain lock on the front door. She jumped when she heard a shout.
“What areyoudoing here?” Olivia yelled. “Get out!”
“I’m not leaving until I see her,” Colt growled, and his voice sent a shiver down Lexie’s spine.
“I have a baseball bat, and I am not afraid to use it. Now get out before I start swinging,” Olivia threatened, and Lexie leapt from the bed in a rush. She’d imagined seeing Colt again would be difficult, but right at that moment, she decided enough was enough.
