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His breath burst out as he stared off, avoiding her eyes. “Became emancipated.”
Confusion furrowed Madison’s brow. “You left home at fifteen?”
He smoothed his lips against her forehead. “Sixteen by the time it was all said and done. I don’t want that for AJ. He deserves a different life…”
Madison kissed him again. It never made the heartache and pain go all the way away. But her love was one hell of a numbing agent. With it, he could breathe again.
Her words were soft. “Let’s focus on getting him settled. Making this his home.”
CHAPTER14
MADISON
“Catch!” Alex said, lobbing a softball to AJ.
Despite AJ’s insistence that he’d never play, he easily caught it every time. It was clear he was a natural athlete. As natural as hacking corporate networks or stealing cars.
Madison smiled, watching with a mix of amusement and affection as Alex and AJ played catch in Central Park. The sun bathed the city skyline in a warm glow, and the laughter of father and son echoed through the air. The moment was picture perfect, a snapshot of happiness and joy. One that next year would have two little ones added to the mix.
As AJ threw the ball with determination, Alex’s eyes glimmered with pride. He had taken AJ to all his favorite spots in the city, showing him the hidden gems and sharing stories of his own adventures. They had explored museums, indulged in delicious street food, and even braved the bustling crowds of Times Square.
Madison couldn’t help but smile at the sight of Alex effortlessly guiding AJ, teaching him the art of navigating the busy streets and subway systems. They had become a team, inseparable in their quest to discover the vibrant heartbeat of the city.
But the strangest thing of all was AJ himself. Sharp and polite and fluent in half a dozen languages by Paco’s estimation, but cash seemed to perplex him. As if receiving change from their hotdogs nearly exploded his head.
He was naturally athletic. It just wasn’t his interest. No matter how quick or high Alex tossed the baseball, Madison could almost imagine AJ catching a ball, yawning and bored, while reading a book.
And then, there were the questions. As if he’d never been schooled in social norms.
“What about condoms?” he asked casually in the middle of the park. A mother hurried her two toddlers along, and a young couple laughed.
Alex’s cheeks flushed crimson as he shot AJ a wide-eyed glare, the shock of his question hitting the air like a loudspeaker
He quickly scanned the area, and said, “You’re fifteen.”
“So?”
Madison, completely unfazed, chuckled softly and relaxed back on the picnic blanket, wondering how her man would handle this new level of parental freak out.
Alex stood taller. Determined. Petrified. “How about we talk about this at home?”
AJ shrugged nonchalantly, his youthful innocence shining through. “But do you always have to use them?”
Alex gloved the ball and walked over to him, serious as a heart attack. “Yes. Every. Single. Time.” He quickly covered with, “But you shouldn’tneedto use them for several more years.”
“How many more years?”
Alex shrugged. “Ten.”
“Ten?”
“Keep it up, mister, and we’ll make it fifteen.”
Watching AJ bite his lip was amusing, really. Madison could tell AJ was beginning to understand when to press Alex’s buttons, and when to bide his time. Now, how long will it take their new little ones to learn that?
Alex took a long breath, wrapped an arm around AJ’s shoulders, and lowered his voice. “Look, when it comes to women, it’s not all sunshine and condoms. Take it from me, here’s the real deal when it comes to women.”
AJ listened attentively, ready to soak up every drop of Alex’sLife Lessons from a Reformed Player.
