Love in a Cup

Bonus Chapter

Robby - Before

"Robby!" I heard Parker yell for me from his office. I checked to make sure the register was locked and headed back.

"Yeah, boss?" I said, peeking inside.

Parker gestured to the loveseat. "This is Lexi. Today is her first day and I wanted to introduce you."

I looked over at her and my breath caught in my throat. My immediate thought was that she was beautiful with her long, blonde hair and bright eyes. Her smile made me smile in return, even though I would have anyway. I reached my hand out to shake her. "I'm Robby," I said.

"Lexi," she smiled. She stood and walked toward the doorway where I still stood. She gave Parker a glance and said, "Should I tell him?"

Parker smiled. "Have at it."

She gave me a shy smile. "I just wanted to let you know I'm pregnant. I have a little bit of morning sickness, but if you see me randomly run out of the room, everything is okay," she laughed nervously. "I just feel like it'd be less awkward to have to conversation now rather than later."

I nodded, giving Parker a questioning look over her shoulder. When my gaze met hers, her eyes became enormous. "Well, don't look at him! He didn't do it!"

I felt heat crawl up my neck, and Lexi's face likely matched the color. "I wasn't thinking that!" I promised.

"Get back to work, Robby," Parker said. "We'll be out there in a few minutes."

I'd worked with Lexi three times since then, and I swore my heart couldn't take another day. I wasn't someone that was a big believer in love at first sight, but good grief, infatuation at first sight certainly had to be a thing.

Every time Parker texted me my schedule and let me know who I was working with, my first read-through was always counting how many days I'd be with Lexi. It was borderline pathetic. I still felt like Talon took the winning position of the biggest pathetic loser, but I was beginning to recognize my thoughts put me in second place.

As time went on, it was as if every laugh, smile, and annoyed look clawed its way into my soul.

I was a hopeless mess.

A lost cause.

Parker was getting annoyed with me, always grumbling something about how women had so much control over men. Honestly, I think he was hung up on Sawyer, but I didn't say that out loud.

I thought it was out of the question.

But then, one day, I caught Lexi watching me...

The End