Lex and Lu(72)

“You may not regret it, but I do. I regret that I lost the only girl I’ve ever loved at nineteen. I regret that I didn’t get to hold my newborn daughter in my arms. I regret that I didn’t get an opportunity to see her first step, hear her first words, or put money under her pillow when she lost her first tooth. I regret that I stayed away for so long because the thought of Lu aborting our child kept me from crossing the Atlantic until my father died. I regret that you made that decision for me without even considering that you might be making a mistake. I regret that my mother didn’t think I had it in me to achieve my goals while also being a good guy and a father. I’m sure you don’t see it, but to me that’s a reflection on you more than it is on me. What I’m not going to regret is walking away from you now and not looking back.”



His flight didn’t leave until the next day, so he took off in the direction of Long Boat Key, heading for the Ritz-Carlton that had not too long ago sprung up on the shore of the Intracoastal Waterway. But as he passed over the North Bridge, he knew he’d forgo the Ritz. He passed through the Village and pulled into the now familiar driveway. Grabbing his bag from the back of the rental, he made his way to the door. His knuckles wrapped succinctly on the door.

“Lex?”

“Will—I need a place to crash tonight.”

Willa didn’t say anything. She merely stepped aside and held the door open for him to come into her home.





31





Aside from the frosty reception from her mother and the tension between Amber and Jo, there had only been one moment of disappointment throughout her weekend home. Although she knew it was impossible, her heart had this overwhelming wish—hope, really—that somehow Lex would show up to see her walk across the stage and receive her diploma. It was like the hope that you’ll wake up on your sixteenth birthday and there will be a car in your driveway. You already know, in your heart of hearts, that it can’t happen and you convince yourself that it won’t happen so that you can’t possibly be disappointed. But part of you holds on to this infinitesimal particle of hope.

Partly because she was proud of herself and partly because of Willa and Pete, Lu let her disappointment dissipate, much like her hope that Lex would come to celebrate with them all. She could barely contain her excitement over Pete and Willa. She’d done her best to not high-five, chest bump, or drop to her knees while crossing herself, but truly she felt a rush of exhilaration she thought she could only feel if something amazing happened directly to her. All in all, the weekend had worked out quite well, Lu thought as a smile hovered permanently on her face, while she prepped for her meeting with Mr. Helms.

She’d had time to meet with her mentor, Dr. Zeigler, while she was there. He’d been most encouraging of this opportunity for her to work while she was in England. Even as he encouraged her to continue to work with her football teams via Skype, he saw this as a chance for her to expand on her work. And he was all about challenging her. He didn’t know any of the personal struggles she would encounter by working with soccer players; however, his excitement about the prospect for her career captured her imagination and served to bolster her confidence in her decision to meet with him.

As she stepped out of her apartment on the way to her lunch, she almost knocked over two vases of flowers that had been left on her front step. A little stunned, she bent to retrieve them and bring them into her apartment. The first was an assortment of different flowers, the second, a beautiful bunch of Stargazer lilies. Pulling the card from the first, Lu smiled at the thoughtfulness and wooing power of Mr. Helms. Very strategic to send the congratulatory flowers right before their meeting, she conceded. She paused before pulling the card from the lilies. Her absolute favorite flower, she knew that they had to have been sent by someone who knew her well. Pulling the card from the holder, Lu froze, slightly dumbstruck.

So proud—

Lex

In too much of a rush to take the moment she needed, Lu clutched the card in her hand and hurried out the door.



Mr. Helms was a fit, slender man who epitomized, for Lu, everything European. She’d done her research and knew that he was a former soccer player turned coach turned front-office man. He was well respected throughout the world of soccer for his many accomplishments, and he enjoyed a modicum of celebrity throughout Europe. He wore the classic suit that screamed metrosexual to Lu with its slim lines, fully equipped with his own slightly effeminate lavender scarf. She knew that her own American sensibilities were at play. Sue her, she liked her men to look manly. Even fighting against the clothing, she could admit that he was hot. And of course, the accent!