Page 33 of Big Daddy to Go

11

Lexi

Igrab my third cup of coffee for the day and bring it back to my desk. I set down the cup before slowly and carefully sitting down. I’m still a little sore from Friday night, a fact which left me with a constant reminder of Kane the entire weekend. I take a sip of coffee and blink, trying to keep my eyes alert.

I haven’t slept much the past weekend. On Saturday, Melanie and I stayed up late catching up with some old college friends. I didn’t mention my upcoming date with Kane, knowing Melanie wouldn’t understand.

Hell, I don’t fully understand why I am going on a date with Jason’s doppelganger. It’s plain weird, but at the same time, Kane intrigues me. Not because he looks like Jason but because he isn’t Jason. He’s different than anyone I’ve ever met. And as much as I know I should have turned down his date, I just couldn’t bring myself to do it.

I take another gulp of coffee, thinking about the insomnia I had last night. To be honest, I haven’t slept much since the week of my wedding. I made the excuse that I was too anxious about the wedding when I couldn’t sleep in the days leading up to it. And after the wedding, I couldn’t sleep much because my brain wouldn’t turn off.

The only quality sleep I’d had recently was in Kane’s huge, comfortable bed with his strong arms wrapped around me. Maybe if I had just stayed in Kane’s bed instead of trekking all the way to Morningside Heights in the wee hours of the morning on Friday, I would have finally gotten a full night’s sleep.

But I’d convinced myself that nothing good would come of me waking up to Kane in the morning. I was trying to be smart. I didn’t want to make more of our two nights together than what it was… fantastic sex.

Except now, Kane wants to go on a date. That’s really throwing me for a loop. He wants to pursue more with me? Or are we having dinner under the pretense of going back to his place and fucking our brains out again? If I’m being honest, I’m not totally against that idea…

But I can’t keep being this guy’s play thing either. He’s supposed to be my rebound. How can I move on from Jason if I keep having sex with his double?

The phone rings, and I pick it up.

“Elite Interiors. Lexi Smith speaking,” I answer, still in a daze from thinking about Kane.

“You don’t call your mother back?”

I roll my eyes and sigh. “Sorry, Mom. I’ve been busy.”

“All weekend, Lexi?”

“Yes.”

“With what?”

“I do have a life, Mom.”

“I called you at ten o’clock on Friday night, and you didn’t answer.”

“I went out to happy hour with Melanie, and then I went to bed early,” I fib.

Mom sucks her teeth. “You’re never going to meet a guy like Jason at a dive bar, Lexi Jean.”

I almost snort in laughter. If only she knew I’d met a guy who looks identical to Jason at a dive bar… and a guy who has more money… and a guy who makes my toes curl… and a guy who asked me out for tonight…

I smile to myself, realizing that comparing Kane and Jason is like comparing filet mignon to a hamburger. I can’t even stand the thought or the sight of Jason Peckham, but Kane Jones? He’s all I’ve been thinking about.

“Lexi, are you listening to me?” Mom screeches in annoyance.

I have no idea what she has said as I zone out for the billionth time since meeting Kane.

“Yes, Mom,” I lie. “Stop worrying about me, okay? I don’t need a guy like Jason. In fact, I prefer my guy be nothing like him.”

Mom huffs. “Aside from leaving you at the altar, Jason was perfect. I think you can still work things out with him—”

“Mom, no,” I grit my teeth. “It’s over. I don’t love Jason. And if you really care about me, you’ll realize he didn’t make me happy. He didn’t treat me right.”

Silence fills the line for a moment.

“I didn’t know, Lexi. I guess I should. I just want what’s best for you.”