Page 108 of The Maxwell Brothers

"Nothing. I'm frustrated. I just… I'm wondering if I'm being selfish, choosing my happiness even at the risk of hurting my daughter in the future."

I stared at him, feeling like I couldn't breathe.He's emotional from today's events. That's all, I told myself.That's all.

But what if it was more?

“So, what, you want to call things off on the off chance it might not work out in the future?” My voice was high-pitched. I pressed my lips together, feeling like I couldn’t breathe.

Tate’s eyes widened. “Lexi, I don’t want to hurt you. Or Paisley. It’s just… This is a big fear of mine.”

Oh my God, he’s not saying no.

“I’m not going to—” I broke off midsentence because my voice was even more high-pitched than before. I couldn’t control it. My eyes were burning, and my tear ducts seemed to be connected to the lump in my throat.

“I love you,” I whispered, moving closer until he was right in front of me.

He put his hands on my arms, and his touch warmed me. But the concern in his eyes slayed me. If my love wasn’t enough…

“I love you too. You know I do. But I can’t help fearing that one day, it might fall apart.”

“It won’t,” I said honestly before covering my mouth. My voice was completely undependable. It went from high-pitchedto a whisper, and now to high-pitched and loud again. I didn’t want to wake Paisley. That was the last thing she needed after how today went.

“Lexi. I love you,” he repeated.

“But you don’t know if it’s enough.” My whole body sagged with a bone-deep sadness. “Tate, I’m going to go.”

“What? No. Why? Let’s talk about this.” He moved one hand from my arm to my cheek, but I took a step back, needing distance.

“I can’t. Not right now. We’ve both had a difficult day, and I don’t want Paisley to wake up and see us like this.”

“Lexi—”

I shook my head, a bit afraid of what he wanted to say. I wasn’t ready to hear it. Grabbing my purse from the kitchen counter, I slung it on my shoulder, fiddling with the strap.

“I love you, Tate. You and Paisley. That’s all I can tell you.”

He opened his mouth, but I shook my head again, hurrying past him.

I needed to get out.

CHAPTER 29

TATE

The second Lexiwas out the door, I regretted every word I said. Fuck, I was a mess, but now I’dhurther. That was unacceptable.

For the next two hours, I paced my living room, torn between staying put or calling someone to stay with Paisley so I could run out the door after Lexi. But I couldn’t leave my little girl, not after what happened today. I needed to make things good with Lexi, though. She was so damn important to me, and I wanted her to know that.

I took out my phone, starting to dial Lexi’s number when I heard a patter of feet on the staircase.

“Daaaaad?” Paisley asked.

“I’m in the kitchen.”

She ran toward me and hugged my waist. I put the phone on the counter. Maybe it was better. There was no way I could make this right over the phone. I hugged my daughter back with all I had.

“Daddy, can I have waffles?”

Today of all days, I couldn’t say no to her, so of course I gave in.