Page 74 of Golden Ruin

Replacing a ceiling fan turned into Benny having a list of five other things he needed help with. I didn’t mind, though. Time flies quickly whenever I get the chance to hang with him.

A call comes through as I pull into my driveway, and my stomach sinks when I see the name.

Tiffany.

Her things should’ve made it down to Florida today, and I’m guessing the finality of having all her belongings out of Cypress Pointe hit hard. Now, she wants to talk about us, and I don’t have it in me.

I had a good afternoon with Jax, then had a good evening with Benny. Now, I just want to spend the rest of my night with the two people I’ve somehow gotten used to coming home to.

The call goes to voicemail, but I honestly don’t intend to return it. The garage closes behind me, and I head inside, smiling when I hear Lexi roasting Jax because she just beat him in a race. Kid’s gonna have thick skin if she has anything to do with it.

I breathe in something savory, then see a plate wrapped in plastic in the middle of the counter, and without having to guess, I know it’s mine. Because she always makes me a plate, too.

“Is that Daddy?”

I smile when Jax asks, then I set my keys down on the counter to answer his question.

“It’s Daddy!”

The next second I hear his controller hit the sofa, then his small feet are thundering across the floor. I scoop him up mid-run, and he hugs me tight.

“What’s up, big guy? Mommy beating you tonight?”

“She’s–”

“Kicking his butt,” Lexi calls out from the living room, finishing Jax’s sentence. He laughs and rolls his eyes.

“Not that many times,” he clarifies.

“Hey.”

I look up when Lexi speaks, and I try to ignore how my eyes want to wander lower when I see the short, spandex shorts peeking out from underneath her hoodie. I picked them out with this exact visual in mind, but can’t seem to let myself enjoy it.

“Hey. Sounds like you two are having fun.”

“Winning is always fun,” she teases, rubbing it in.

“Mommyyyy…”

“Jaxonnnnn…”

She tickles him, and he giggles, leaning halfway out of my arms and into his mom’s. My eyes lock with hers now that she’s so close, and for the fraction of a second, this feels like something else.

Not like coming home to my son and my ex. It feels deceptively like… coming home to my family.

I shake off the thought and lower Jax to the kitchen floor. He immediately takes off for the living room again, leaving Lex and me behind.

“How was it with Benny?”

“Eventful,” I say with a laugh, and she smiles, too.

“Always, right?”

“Always.”

Our gazes linger again, and she takes a small step back. Not far, just enough that I notice. Then, her eyes shift to the covered plate.

“Want me to warm up your food? I made a casserole I found online. Jax liked it.”