With each minute of the day that passed since I woke up, I felt more and more like myself. How could I let a man almost ruin me? Again? Picking up my laptop and cold coffee, I vowed to myself I’d never let a man wreck me or break my heart again.
As I got close to my house, I saw Lexie, Ryder, and their daughter out on the beach splashing in the water. I could hear Delilah’s squeals each time the water went over her feet, making me smile. I wasn’t sure why seeing them out there together now over all the other times I’d seen them made me want a family more than any other, but it did.
I waved to them, not wanting to interrupt their family time as I went up the walk to my place. Once again, I was hungry with no food in my house. The muffin I’d had earlier wasn’t cutting it after so many days without food. Pulling out my phone, I pulled up my favorite Chinese restaurant, deciding I’d treat myself to a feast. My finger hovered over the order button when I heard a knock on my sliding glass door. Lexie rarely came to the front door. It was kind of how we knew it wasn’t a salesman. I didn’t bother getting up, knowing she’d let herself in.
“You look better.”
Looking over at her, I smiled. “I feel better. I was getting ready to make a big order at Yin Chang. I didn’t want to bother you guys, but I should have asked if you all wanted to join me. Do you want anything?”
“We already ate, but thanks for asking. I just wanted to come over and check on you. I saw you had your laptop with you, so…” She paused, waiting to see if I would finish the thought.
“I went to get coffee and breakfast down at The Dream Bean when I realized I had no food. I have no idea how long I was there. Not once did I look at the time, but I wrote three chapters.” I leaned back into the cushion of my couch with a happy smile on my face. “I can’t remember the last time it was that easy to get down my words. When I woke up today...I felt like a new woman. Something inside of me changed. I’m not saying I’m not still sad because I am, but I know I’m going to get through this. I’m going to write this book, and then I’m going to look into starting a family of my own. When I close my eyes, I can see myself holding a little baby in my arms.”
Rushing over to me, Lexie plopped down beside me and hugged me to her sides. “This is good news.” She shook me a little, making me laugh as I hugged her back. “I have to say I was worried about you. I even thought about calling Pen.”
“I’ll call her after I eat.” Starving, I woke up my phone. “If you’re sure you don’t want any Chinese, I’m going to get my order going.”
“I’m positive. Ryder made Delilah and me some amazing chicken Alfredo, and I’m stuffed. That’s why we were out on the beach. I was trying to work off some of it.”
“And what did your poor husband eat?” I felt bad for him when he’d watch us all eat whatever our hearts desired while he stuck to a regimen of almost all chicken and vegetables.
“He actually had a tiny portion of the noodles and sauce, and then he had a chicken breast and broccoli.” She let out a dreamy sigh. “I don’t know how he does it, but I admire his dedication to his body. I worship it nightly.”
I bet she did.
“Soon, you’ll be pregnant with baby number two if you’re not already.”
“I don’t know. You can never tell how long it will take once you stop taking birth control, but it doesn’t matter to me because I’ll have fun trying to get pregnant all the same.” Getting up from the couch, Lexie looked outside. Probably to where her family was still out playing on the beach. “Now that I know you’re doing okay, I’m going to get back to them. Even though the air isn’t too bad, I still don’t want Delilah out in it too much.”
I understood that. Who knew what it might do to her little lungs?
“But if you need anything, and I mean anything, you know where to find me. Day or night, you know I got you.”
Even more than when we met, I knew I was one lucky bitch to get Lexie and her family as my neighbors. She was the best.
Standing from my perch on the couch, I gave her a big hug. “I feel like I’m always saying this on repeat with you, but thank you. Don’t bother to hesitate to call me if you need anything. In fact, if you and Ryder want to go out or have a night alone, I’d love to watch Delilah for you.”
“We’ll definitely take you up on babysitting.” Opening the sliding glass door, she looked over her shoulder. “Enjoy your Chinese. Next time you plan to order the entire menu, let me know, and I’ll join you.”
“Deal,” I laughed. “At least I have a good excuse. I need the leftovers since I have no food in my house.”
“You never need to have an excuse for ordering from there. If I could, I’d eat it every day, but then my husband would probably kill me. It’s one of his only food weaknesses.”
I tapped my
