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Chapter Nine
Lexi
Iwoke up Saturday more excited than I should have been. I’d been to the aquarium at least a dozen times, so it wasn’t like it was something new. I found myself there whenever I needed to chill, and I loved watching the aquatic animals. I always felt so relaxed while walking from exhibit to exhibit. I knew that the anticipation that I felt today wasn’t for the scenery, but for the company I’d be in.
After Alex left last night, I’d found myself smiling on and off all evening. When I climbed in bed, I lay on my side, staring at the empty side of the bed. Would he one day lie there? I could imagine us sleeping together, could picture my body up against his as he drifted off to sleep. A yearning began to build deep within me, and I rolled to my other side and willed myself to sleep.
Now it was almost eight-thirty Saturday morning, and I grabbed my coat and purse and locked my door behind me. As I came down the stairs, I heard Nica’s excited voice echoing through the corridor below. Perfect timing.
“Morning,” I said as they rounded the corner, and Nica’s happy face turned to me, her gray eyes bright with pleasure.
“Morning, Lexi! I’m so glad you’re coming with us.”
I smiled as I took the last step down. “Well, I really appreciate you asking.”
My gaze shifted to Alex, and I instantly got lost in his matching gray eyes. “Morning, Lexi.”
“Hello, Alex.”
The two of us continued to stare at one another, and Nica spoke, breaking the connection. “Oh, my god, would you two just kiss each other already so we can go.”
I felt my cheeks begin to warm as Alex stared at his daughter. “Hey, mind your manners, young lady.”
“What? It’s obvious that you want to kiss each other.” Her voice was overly dramatic.
He sighed. “Come on, let’s go.” He turned her toward the door and mouthed the word sorry to me over his shoulder.
I chuckled softly as I followed them out and down the stairs to the parking lot. I was surprised when he stopped next to a black Suburban and paused by the passenger door to open it for me.
I stepped around him, glancing up at him as I did. “Thank you.”
Nica climbed in the back as he closed my door and went around to the driver’s seat. I let my gaze drift around the caramel-colored interior and found myself inhaling the subtle scent of his cologne. We glanced at one another as he started the vehicle, and I wondered if he was just a tiny bit nervous like I was.
“Glad you could make it today,” he said.
“Me too. I love visiting the aquarium.”
“Have you been to this one before?” Nica asked from the back seat.
I turned to speak to her over my shoulder. “Oh, yes, I go as often as I can.”
“Have you seen the new shark tunnel?”
“I have. It’s fantastic. The last time I was there, I think I stood in it for a good thirty minutes, just watching. I was mesmerized.”
“I can’t wait to see it.” As we got on the road, Nica shared tales of her adventures at the aquarium, and I told her a few of mine. Alex remained mostly quiet, although he chuckled occasionally and glanced at me quite a few times.
We had just arrived at the aquarium when Nica mentioned the last time she had been here was with her cheerleading squad. I twisted around in my seat. “You’re a cheerleader?”
“Yeah,” she said excitedly.
“School sports or competition?”
“Competition.” She looked surprised that I would know that. “Were you a cheerleader?”
“Actually, I was, but my best friend’s niece is a competitive cheerleader. I’ve gone to a few of her competitions. They are quite intense. Are you a base?”
Alex looked at me in surprise as Nica replied, “In the one routine we do, I base twice, but because I’m pretty tall, I’m better at back-spotting. I only base once in our other routine.”
