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“One, when a woman speaks, you listen.” He tapped AJ’s chest. “Especially when she’s speaking from the heart. Two, when faced with the crossroads of lust or love, choose love. Always love. And three, when a woman says, ‘You shouldn’t have,’” do more of that. Trust me, it pays off.”
AJ tossed the ball in the air, mulling over Alex’s advice. After a moment, he looked up. “How much longer do we have to do this?”
“I know, I know. Playing catch isn’t as flashy as grand theft auto, but mark my words, one day you’ll look back on this moment with fondness and gratitude,” Alex assured him, a touch of sentiment in his voice.
AJ shrugged. “Like, father-son bonding?”
Alex grabbed him a playful headlock. Madison knew it was to stop the constriction going on around his heart. “Something like that.”
Alex had only just come to terms with Madison being pregnant. Then, with twins. It was a crazy impossibility that he might already be a father. But, was Paco right? Was it too soon to snap the chalkline and say for sure?
AJ retaliated by messing up Alex’s hair. “Well, I guess bonding here is better for you than bonding in online gaming. If I had an X-Box, I’d annihilate you atQuantum Vortex: Reckoning.”
Alex smiled wide. “Wanna bet?”
Madison dove, head first, into their playful banter. “I’ll take that bet. I have a feeling AJ will give you a run for your money in the gaming world.”
AJ grinned proudly. “I totally would.” He thought for a second. “Maybe Paco would let us use his.”
“His what? X-box?” Alex asked. He pecked Madison sweetly on the lips. “We’ll be right back. There’s a gaming store across the street. My challenger and I need to go pick out some gear.”
She watched them head off—same trademark stride, same jovial spirit. Then, she noticed AJ’s backpack. He might need it to lug some stuff back. “Wait,” she called out, grabbing it to hand it off.
Madison’s eyes widened as a watch slipped out dropped to the ground. AJ removed it to get a better fit on the glove.
Between the thick band and intricate face, it looked expensive. Madison could tell because with Alex, she realized that men adore watches the way women adore shoes. It was a rare day that went by that he wasn’t showing her some fascinating new watch that had just hit the market.
She inspected it. Along the back, it had a single initial.
P.
As in Paco?
She looked over to the gaming store, easily spotting Alex and AJ through the window. Whatever AJ said, Alex was laughing—a full belly laugh with a smile that beamed bright.
She slipped the watch into her pocket. A serious talk could wait for later. Now was the time for laughter. And bonding with possibly his first son. And if he had his way, the first of many.
She needed to approach this with parental caution. Too little pressure would make him think it’s okay. A flash of an orange prison jumpsuit andAmerica’s Most Wantedposter flashed though her mind.
But too much pressure would make him defensive. She could practically hear the words, “I hate you,” echoing through all of time and space.
As the boys headed back laughing and cutting up, Madison nudged the backpack into the spot where it was, collecting herself and looking casual and nonchalant.
Her smile must’ve been a smidge too wide. Alex asked, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she replied defensively, adding, “Where’s all the gaming equipment?”
“Being delivered,” Alex answered.
Which meant he probably bought out the store and their quiet movie nights in the home-theater were about to be transformed to a galactic shoot-out.
She nodded. “Great.”
* * *
Madison quickly pulled out her phone and dialed Paco’s number, opting for a FaceTime call to get his immediate advice. The screen flickered to life, revealing Paco’s handsome face.
“Wow, I almost forgot what you look like,” she greeted him.
