The Story of Flint and Lexi

By Anita Claire

Flint has had a crush on Lexi since he was fourteen. Being two years older, Lexi never really paid attention. Twenty years later... Lexi’s personal life has come crashing down. When Lexi’s at her lowest, having a handsome man hitting on her sure feels good. It can’t hurt to flirt back, right? Maybe he’s the diversion she needs right now. While Flint might have the chance to make his high school dreams come true.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Anita Claire
• Release date: Mar 5, 2018
• ISBN: 9780463749258

Anita Claire

Anita Claire is an author of contemporary romance novels. Her books explore women who hold non-traditional jobs and the situations they encounter. She writes about smart, hard-working women and the men they fall in love with.

Book preview

Chapter 1 – Soccer

Flint

Seven years later…

Near the end of a pick-up game of soccer, as I extend my foot to reach around an opposing player, I hear a pop and feel a strange sensation as severe pain runs down my leg and around my hip.

Shit, I gasp as the opposing player gets the ball. I clench my fists to control the pain that rolls through me. The players run down the field leaving me behind, since I’m unable to move. With my fists on my knees, I hold my breath, as the pain persists. Slowly I try to breathe out. Someone I don’t know approaches.

Dude, are you okay?

With my index finger lifted, I try to breathe through the pain. This totally sucks. At some point, I manage to look up. The play has stopped. All the guys are staring at me.

I think I pulled something.

Can you walk off the field?

With a nod, I pull all my resolve together and attempt to stand up straight. As I attempt a step, searing pain causes me to falter. A guy grabs me by the waist and somehow I find my arm around his shoulder. With red hot pain running through me, we walk off the field together. We land at a nearby picnic table. Someone else hands me an icepack. I place it on my groin.

What do you think you did?

He probably pulled something.

I’ll be fine, I manage to say.

Dude, you should go to the hospital.

I don’t need to go to the hospital.

When I finally get home, I sit on my couch, with another cold pack on my groin and look up my symptoms. Pulled groin or hernia – does it hurt to bring your legs together? I try it and hiss from the pain. Try and raise your knee. The pain rolls up my leg. I’m not going to mess around, if it hurts in the morning, I’m calling an orthopedist.

***

My sleep is fitful. I lay awake most of the night as my groin throbs in pain and shooting stars of pain run around my hip, with a dull throb running down my leg. In the morning I hesitantly get out of bed, it takes a monumental level of effort to get ready. I collapse back into my bed, grab my phone, and check out doctors. Through gasps of pain, I manage to make it to the closest clinic and hobble into an exam room.

Groin injuries are really painful, the nurse’s voice rolls over me as she hands me a paper blanket. You’ll need to take off your pants and underwear. Doctor Shepard will be with you shortly.

While I wait, I find a neutral position to sit in, pull out my phone, and check e-mail and texts. Eventually, the door opens, I look up and gasp. Doctor Shepard is still looking down at her tablet.

Mathew Flinter, groin injury from soccer.

Good news, whatever I did, it didn’t impact my dick. Doctor Shepard is Lexi Wallace. With my hands over my now suddenly enlarge member, I look up into Lexi Wallace Shepard’s dark eyes. She must register my surprise and mortification. Her eyebrows pinch as she looks down at her tablet, and then back up at me.

Mom, Emma, nuns, rocks… I quickly run through anything I can think of that would get my mind off Lexi. I haven’t seen her in years, but she still looks fine. Shit, the woman I have had a thing for since I was fourteen years old is about to look at my enlarged groin. Double shit, and my very enlarged dick.

Have we met before?

This is even worse. She doesn’t remember who I am. Okay, well that deflated the big guy a bit.

We went to the same high school.

Oh, Mathew Flinter…Flint, she exclaims suddenly flustered. Yes, now I remember. I was in your sister’s class in high school. You and your sister have the same blue eyes.

She looks down at my hands which are covering my now deflating dick. My expression must move from mortification to horror. Is Lexi going to look at my dick? Not the way I fantasized that experience…Don’t think about sex.

Do you want me to call in another doctor? Since you know me, this might be a little awkward.

My brain flatlines. Yes, I want a different doctor. No, I want Lexi. Shit!

Whatever, I’m cool, I sputter out.

Oh, she says with a strained smile. So you injured your groin playing soccer. Can you scoot back on the bench? I’ll need to examine the injury.

On second thought…maybe a new doctor would be a good idea.

Yeah, I’ll be right on that.

Lexi, when did you move to Silicon Valley? I blurt out as she turns to leave.

Five months ago. My husband got a new job and I was lucky enough to land here.

Welcome to California, I blurt out. Real smooth, I’m now acting like a stupid fourteen-year-old.

Nice to see you again. You take care. I’ll get another doctor to see you.

Now that went well. Who the hell am I fooling? That went awful. That was the most embarrassing five minutes of my life. Now my dick is back to normal. Thanks guy for being there just when I need you.

I go back to checking e-mail and texts on my phone while I wait for the next doctor to come in. It takes a while. Finally, the door opens and a big guy enters.

This is officially the worst day of my life. Instantly I remember where I’ve met this guy before. He’s dating one of my employees. At our Christmas party, I mistook his girlfriend for Lexi Wallace. I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. After he caught me checking his girlfriend out, we had a stupid testosterone filled interaction.

Mr. Flinter, I’m Doctor Lombard, I understand you have a groin injury from playing soccer. Can I have you sit back so I can examine the injury?

He doesn’t remember me. This will soon be over.

Have we met before? he questions as I lean back.

I make a non-committal shrug. I don’t need some guy I had a run in with this close to my balls. He moves the paper blanket I’ve been using to cover my groin.

Can you bring your legs together?

Slowly I bring them together as I hold my breath to manage the pain.

Can you raise your knee.

Red hot pain runs down my leg as I lift my knee.

My recommendation is an MRI.

Can this be fixed? I ask as I struggle to sit up.

He stares at me. I can see the wheels turning. He’s trying to remember where he knows me from.

Most groin pulls heal on their own. The last resort is surgery. We’ll see if this is just a bruise or if it’s torn.

There’s a lot of pain.

The best course of action for the next three to four days is ice packs and ibuprofen. Then you can go back to working out. Use pain as your guide. My hunch is it’s a groin pull and not a hernia. If you’re too aggressive, you’ll further damage your groin and turn this into a hernia.

Thanks, doc.

He looks down at his tablet and starts typing something in. Then he stops. I know the moment he sees where I work. He looks back up at me.

I think your girlfriend Juliette works for me. If I remember correctly we met at the company Christmas party, I blurt out. She’s a good engineer. We’re really happy to have her.

He nods once as he gives me the same death glare he gave me at the Christmas party, then he leaves. Thank god he didn’t put it together before he had his fingers an inch from my balls.

Chapter 2 – Zoe’s Pregnant

Lexi

Eight months later …

I pace my house with my screaming four-week-old daughter. She’s a very sweet happy infant, except from five to seven in the evening, when she screams continually.

Mommy, my two-year-old whines as he covers his ears. Tell Aubrey to stop.

My nerves are on edge. Why did I think I could handle two kids on my own? I should never have let my mother leave before I hired someone to help me out.

Carson, do you want to watch Thomas? I’ll let you wear my really special headphones.

Yes, he shouts with glee.

I know this isn’t the best thing to do for his ears, but I’m at my wits end. I put my screaming infant down to set up Carson. When I go to pick her back up, she’s so angry she’s holding her breath. Am I an evil mother for appreciating the ten seconds of quiet? I use it to brace myself for the release. Would earphones work for me too? Could I find some that cancel crying noise?

Jake better get home soon, I really need his help. But Jake…he was the one that really pushed for a second child. Now that she’s here, he’s never around, and when he’s home, he’s all irritated and distant. I swaddle Aubrey tightly and rub her belly as I swing her in my arms. Nothing seems to soothe her.

When Aubrey finally settles down, I feel drained. Carson is still watching TV. How have I turned into this kind of mom? After getting Carson to sleep, I enter my bedroom to change into something clean. That’s when Jake finally gets home. He leans against the doorjamb staring at me.

We have about ten minutes before Aubrey wakes up, I explain.

I’m exhausted, Jake says as his eyes look me over.

Immediately I reach for my robe to cover myself up. I never really took off all the weight I put on with Carson, and now with the extra weight I put on with Aubrey, his scrutiny makes me feel insecure.

You’ve been working really late. Can’t you tell your boss you have a new baby? Can you try to make it home in time for dinner? I plead.

He bristles as he moves to the bathroom. I sit down at the side of our bed and stare at the closed bathroom door. We’ve been together for years. When did we start closing doors? With all my focus on our babies, have I stopped considering him as a man? Do I need to find time for us to be a couple? I think back, it’s been a few months since we’ve had sex. I was too big and tired at the end of my pregnancy, and with my episiotomy, I’ve had no interest since Aubrey was born. I pray that Aubrey doesn’t wake up. We need a few moments alone.

You’re still here? he exclaims.

Hey, I gently say as I reach my hand out to him, join me.

Lexi, he replies. His voice drips with annoyance. I’m tired. The baby’s been up every two hours.

I know, I’m the one who gets up to feed her.

Jake winces. I hold my breath and remind myself that a comment like that isn’t helpful. Jake’s been so aloof, maybe he’s struggling with the male form of postpartum depression. I don’t want to push him away.

Jake, I love you. You know how hard it is the first few months with a baby. Maybe a night off would be good for both of us. I can call a sitter and we can go out for dinner. There’re so many new places we’ve yet to try.

How about we just go to sleep, he says.

He sits down on his side of the bed and sets his alarm. I crawl across the bed and run my hand down his arm as I land a soft kiss on his neck. He pulls away.

What’s up? I say feeling frustrated. Maybe you should go to a doctor?

Is that your medical opinion?

I did a six-week rotation in psych eight years ago. I don’t think it’s enough to provide a diagnosis. But you’ve been avoiding us. Maybe if you spoke to someone you’d feel better.

I don’t need any counseling.

Then I’ll find a babysitter. This Saturday night, the two of us will go out. It will be a fun sexy date, something both of us can look forward to.

Yeah, whatever, he says in a way that’s too dismissive.

Blahhhh, Aubrey screams.

My chest immediately starts to throb. I feel exhausted. I wish I had spent the last thirty minutes napping.

In the morning I call Zoe. She’s my college roommate. She’s also the reason we’re in California since she got Jake his job. She sees him at work. Maybe she has some insight.

What’s up? Zoe answers.

Zoe has spent the last two years trying to get pregnant. After her last round of failed IVF treatments, she became distant. I avoid talking about my babies since I’m trying to be sensitive.

You work with Jake, have you noticed him acting detached?

Why would you ask me that?

It’s just, he’s been working late and when he gets home…I was thinking of doing something romantic this weekend. With the baby we can’t go away overnight, but what do you think of me getting a hotel room and calling room service? Or should I pack a picnic dinner with all of his favorite things? Which do you think would be better?

When do you plan on doing this?

Saturday, I already have a call out to a couple of possible sitters.

***

The next day …

Jake, thank god you got home early.

Exhaustion runs through me as I place a screaming Aubrey in his arms.

I think she’s hungry, he says.

She’s not hungry, or wet, or anything else. She just screams every night. She gets even angrier if you set her down. You need to walk her.

I leave Jake with Aubrey and enter Carson’s room. He’s surrounded by trucks, I close the door, it softens Aubrey’s cries.

Sweetie, which book do you want to read? I cajole as I sit down cross-legged on the floor near him. With his favorite book in hand, I start reading. Carson climbs into my lap and snuggles in as I turn the first page.

Lexi, we need to talk, Jake says as he opens the door. He has a screaming Aubrey in his arms. He looks angry and resigned. I close my eyes and take a few breaths to relax my annoyance.

Jake, we can do it after Carson goes to bed. Maybe if you drive Aubrey around the block she’ll settle down.

I turn my attention back to Carson. After he’s asleep in his crib, I quietly sneak out of his room and go to our bedroom.

Lexi, can you come here, Jake’s voice implores from our living room.

Instead of going to bed, I drag my exhausted butt to the living room to see what Jake wants. He hands me a sleeping Aubrey.

Thank god she’s finally sleeping. They both get so fussy around five. I’ve got the lead on a couple of Nanny’s. Most want a full-time job; it’s really hard to find someone who just wants to work in the afternoon and during dinner hours, I tell him. But I think I have a babysitter for Saturday night, it will be good to have some adult time.

Cradling a sleeping Aubrey in my arms, I look down on my baby’s beautiful face. With a deeply exhausted moan, I lean back into the couch and tuck my feet under me. I don’t know how I’m going to handle two kids, once I go back to work. Thank god I’m waiting until she’s five months old. It’s got to get easier once Aubrey is a little older, don’t you think? I lean down and smell her sweet skin. I look up and smile at Jake as I feel myself relax. It’s the first time I’ve noticed the pinched look he gets when he’s upset.

What’s wrong?

I had lunch with Zoe today, he says as he gets up and starts pacing.

Did she tell you I spoke with her? I hope she didn’t tell you about all my plans for Saturday night.

Jake rubs his hands over his face as he continues to pace back and forth. He looks down, finally running his fingers through his hair.

What’s wrong? I ask.

I just have to say this.

Say what?

Zoe’s pregnant.

Really! She didn’t say anything about it to me when we spoke. I know Michael wanted a break from IVF. I guess this is their miracle baby.

It’s my baby.

…What?

How could that be?

Lexi. I’m leaving. Zoe’s having my baby.

Wait. Zoe’s having your baby? That doesn’t make sense. We just had a baby, and what about Carson?

I’ll always be their father. But I want a divorce.

I’m unable to reply. A large gasp fills my chest unable to get out. With our beautiful-month-old girl in my arms, I sit, unable to move, unable to breathe, staring at Jake. The only emotion that registers is confusion.

That makes no sense. Zoe can’t get pregnant. Let alone with your child. You mean Michael’s child.

Obviously, she can be pregnant. She’s now twelve weeks pregnant. She found an apartment for us. I’ll pack up my things. You and the kids can stay here.

Jake leaves the room and enters our bedroom, I hear him opening drawers. I sit on the couch, staring at the big blank TV. My heart is beating a million miles an hour while I feel paralyzed, completely numb.

About ten minutes later, Jake enters the room with a couple of garbage bags filled with clothes and our best wheelie suitcase. I’m unable to move or speak. He never looks my way. He leaves. I hear his car drive off. This isn’t happening. We have two very young children. People whose husbands leave them, they fight, they go for counseling. Your husband leaving you shouldn’t be a surprise.

A wave of panic engulfs me, I start hyperventilating. Aubrey, who is still in my arms starts getting restless. My first thought is panic that she’ll wake. In a trance, I find myself in Aubrey’s room. Gently I place her in her crib. As I walk back down the hall my whole body starts to violently shake. Is this some kind of nightmare? How do I wake