Roxanne's Redemption

by Aisling Keegan

  “You didn't have to make breakfast you know.”

  Sebastian raised a brow in Roxanne’s direction. She scowled at him and he grinned. “What do you drink in the morning, Zach?” he asked as he turned back to the stove.

  “Mommy gives me orange juice.”

  Sebastian nodded as he took down plates from the cabinet and spooned scrambled eggs, bacon and toast on each. With that finished, he pulled down two mugs and a glass. He filled the mugs with coffee and the glass with orange juice.

  “Thank you,” they said as he sat down.

  “You’re welcome.”

  They ate in silence, which was all right for him, since he was thinking of a way to ask Roxanne if Nick and his brothers could come over to her house and meet Zach. Then he had to ask Zach if he wanted to meet his brothers and friend, not to mention telling him that they were his father’s brothers.

  If it was this hard to tell a four-year-old that they were his uncles, how hard would it be for Michael to tell him that he was his father when he returned. Damn! He’d even forgotten that Michael was returning soon. As much as how he’d like to tell Lexi he couldn’t, for fear she would disappear with Zach. He’d agreed against his better judgment to keep Michael in the dark about his son, but Sebastian knew Lexi’s reason and he agreed, even if a part of him didn't like it.

  “Problem?”

  He blinked and focused his attention on Roxanne. “Huh?”

  “Is there a problem? You were scowling.”

  “No there isn't a problem, just thinking.” It wasn’t a lie and yet it wasn’t the truth either.

  Sebastian continued eating, which was one way to get his mind off the worries about what his brother’s return would do to Lexi. And if his brother’s return wasn’t bad enough, he still had to worry about Ashley and how dangerous she was to Roxanne. He sighed, shaking his head at Roxanne’s arched brow.

  “Can I invite my brothers and Nick to your home?”

  She looked over at Zach who was busy eating and he nodded. She nodded in return and he nodded his thanks to her.

  “Zach?” When Zach looked up, Sebastian continued. “Would you like to meet my brothers and my friend today?”

  “Are they friends of Mommy or Auntie Roxanne?” he asked.

  Sebastian smiled. “No, but your mother and aunt met them already.”

  “Okay, I’ll meet them.” He smiled then returned to his breakfast.

  Sebastian smiled at Roxanne. That wasn’t as bad as he thought it would be, but then again he hadn’t gotten to the part where he would have to tell Zach that they were his uncles. It was silent again for a while until Roxanne spoke.

  “Are you done?”

  Sebastian looked down at his plate and frowned. His plate was empty, although he hadn't realized it until Roxanne pointed it out. Guess that’s what happens when you think too much, he mused.

  “Yes.” She took it up.

  He was going to tell her not to but kept his mouth closed when she raised a brow at him. A few minutes he heard the dishwasher start. He knew he was stalling. He didn’t want to be the one to tell Joshua and Adrian about Zach or tell Zach that they were his uncles, but he didn't have a choice. If his brothers ran into Lexi and Zach by accident one day, Sebastian was sure that they would call Michael and ask him why they didn't know he had a son and that would be bad.

  “Auntie Roxanne, can I go watch TV please?”

  “Sure, sweetie.”

  Sebastian watched as Roxanne and Zach left the kitchen hand in hand. He left a few minutes after, heading for his room to unplug his phone from the charger. He dialed Joshua, but the phone kept ringing with no answer. Adrian’s was the same. Sebastian decided to call Nick, before any gray hairs began growing from his head.

  “Hello.”

  “It’s Sebastian. Have you seen my brothers?”

  “Yep, they’re over at my house getting ready to watch the game. Why?”

  He opened his mouth to tell Nick that Michael had a son, but nothing came out so he closed it.

  “Sebastian. Are you still there?”

  “Yes, can I talk to…never mind. Can you drive them over to Roxanne’s house, please? I swear to make up for the missed game.”

  “Sure.” He sounded like he wanted to ask more, but Sebastian cut him off before he could begin.

  “Thanks Nick, I owe you. Bye.” He ended the call, praying his brothers would accept what he had to tell them better than he had.

  * * * *

  What have I done? Roxanne asked herself for the fifth time.

  Last night and this morning with Sebastian were fantastic. When he’d entered the bathroom last night, she hadn’t thought to say no to him when he’d asked. After seeing his naked chest with a sprinkle of black hair going down his washboard abs to his cock, which was hard and pointing in her direction, she knew she wouldn’t turn him away.

  And if that wasn’t enough, the unconcealed desire she saw in his eyes matched her own, was also a reason why she couldn’t reject him. She was so close to doing the one thing she didn't want to do by giving in to her desire but, no matter the consequence, she would do it again.

  Why couldn’t she have met Sebastian before she’d met Daniel?

  Maybe if it had happened like that she would have been very happy now. In her heart, Roxanne knew Sebastian would never hurt her but it was hard having her heart broken every time she opened up and let a man close to her. Prior to meeting Daniel, Roxanne made a promise to herself to stay out of the scene until she found her Prince Charming. Then after Daniel cheated on her she’d sworn she would stay away from the male species and now here she was tying herself up in knots about a man.

  She sighed. Her life was never this complicated.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  Roxanne jumped. She hadn’t heard him enter the kitchen and she’d always known when he entered a room she was in. She must have been thinking too much.

  “I was just wondering how your brothers are going to take the news.” That wasn’t the truth, but that question wasn’t far from her mind either.

  “I want to tell you that everything will be all right, but the truth is I really don't know what their reactions will be.”

  She nodded. “I want to invite my friends over and throw a few steaks on the grill in the back yard when your brothers get here.”

  “Sounds like a plan. I’ll help with the grilling, just call your friends.”

  “Okay.”

  He kissed her slowly before leaving the room.

  * * * *

  She debated for a while if she should call her friends or text them. Calling them seemed best just in case they didn't get their messages in time. She dialed Lexi’s number first; she picked up after the third ring.

  “Hello.”

  “It’s Roxanne. I wanted to know how long will it take for you to get home.”

  Chapter Eighteen

  There was a pause. A few minutes after Lexi spoke. “Is Zach misbehaving?”

  “No. Sebastian and I are going to grill a few steaks outside, so I wanted you to stop by your house to get a swimsuit and join us.”

  “Sure, but I won't reach home until about one hour from now. Are Kira and Ava coming?”

  “I'm calling them afterward.”

  “Zach already has swim trunks in his bag. Umm, did Sebastian tell his brothers about Zach? How did they react to the news?”

  “They are coming over, but they don't know why as yet.”

  “All right, I’ll see you in a few.”

  “Bye.”

  “Bye.” She hung up and dialed Ava’s number immediately.

  “Hello.”

  “Want to come over? Sebastian and I are going to throw a few steaks on the grill outside when his brothers arrive.”

  “Why?” Ava asked.

  “To lighten the mood after he tells them something.”

  “Are you two getting married?”

  “No,” she choked out. Where had Ava gotten that id
ea?

  “So, what's the news?”

  Roxanne sighed. She knew Ava was the only one who was going to be difficult. “I can't say. Just come over and bring a swimsuit.”

  “But—”

  “I'm not telling you. If you want to know, come over.” Roxanne hung up on Ava, muttering about stubborn people who lived to drive her insane with curiosity.

  Roxanne smiled while she dialed Kira’s number. She answered on the first ring. It was one of Kira’s bad habits and no matter how many times they told her to make the phone ring at least twice before answering she still wouldn't listen.

  “Hello.”

  “You have a bad habit, but that’s not why I called. Do you want to come over to my house?”

  “Why?”

  “Sebastian and I are going to throw a few steaks on the grill outside. The others are coming over and if you do, bring a swimsuit with you.”

  “What time?”

  “In about two hours or you can come over now.”

  “Okay, I’ll be there.” With that she ended the call.

  Roxanne sighed in relief. All her friends were coming and it didn't take much coaxing—except with Ava—on her part to get them to accept her invitation without questioning her motives…much. She walked over to the fridge and took out the frozen steaks, setting them in the sink to thaw. As she was gathering the seasoning the doorbell rang. She was about to answer it but stopped when Sebastian called, “I’ll get it,” from the living room where he was watching television with Zach.

  She shrugged, trying her best not to think how well he fit into her life and home.

  * * * *

  Not discovering who was outside before opening the door was one of Sebastian’s many bad habits, and one of the hardest to get rid of. He was pretty sure it was his brothers and Nick, though. Sure, it could have been one of Roxanne’s friends, but from what he heard—he wasn’t eavesdropping, honest to god—from her side of the conversation, he knew they wouldn’t have arrived so quickly. Nick and his brothers were on the other side waiting patiently when he opened the door.

  He stepped aside so they could enter. Adrian was the last to enter and Sebastian watched as he closed the door behind him.

  “What did you want to tell us?” Adrian asked.

  “Not here. Follow me.” He turned and moved in the direction of his room. It would be the best place for what he had to tell them. Also it was far enough away from the living room, so Zach wouldn’t hear until his mother was ready to tell him that they were his father’s brothers.

  He entered the room, closing the door behind him after everyone was inside. He began pacing the length of the room. He could feel their eyes on him, but for the life of him he couldn’t seem to find the words to tell them about Zach.

  Someone sighed dramatically.

  “Just spit it out already,” Joshua mumbled.

  “Michael has a child,” Sebastian said.

  When no one said anything he turned and saw them looking at him as if he had gone loony.

  “What?”

  “Sebastian, we know about Caleigh. We spent Christmas and her birthday with her and Michael last year and the year before,” Joshua answered dryly.

  Sebastian shook his head. Instead of saying a child he should have said a son and then they wouldn’t have thought that he’d forgotten about Caleigh, Michael’s three-year-old daughter. He grimaced, wondering how Lexi was going to handle Michael coming back, plus the fact that he also had a daughter with the woman he’d married after hurting her.

  “I didn't mean Caleigh. I meant to say, he has a son.”

  Silence met his response. Sebastian swore he could hear a pin drop.

  “What? When? Who’s the mother?” Adrian asked with narrowed eyes.

  “Four years ago with Lexi,” he answered.

  “Do you mean Roxanne’s friend, Lexi?”

  “Yes.”

  “How could she—”

  Sebastian shook his head, cutting off Adrian before he could finish.

  “Adrian I suggest you listen to the full story, before you start judging her for something she did to protect her son and her heart.”

  Adrian scowled.

  Sebastian ignored him and began. “Like you, Adrian, I was ready to pass judgment on Lexi before she told me the full story. She told me that one night, a few minutes after she told him she loved him like she did every night, Michael told her that he was moving to Texas with his high school sweetheart and getting married. In addition to that, when Michael dropped his news—” Sebastian winced, “they had just made love and he’d also admitted that he had no intention of telling her his plans.”

  As Sebastian watched their faces he wondered if he’d also turned pale after Lexi told him. Sebastian watched as Joshua opened and then closed his mouth like he was at a loss for words. Adrian and Nick were no better but Sebastian understood because he knew how they felt. Michael was family and, though Sebastian loved him, what he did to Lexi was wrong and their mother had taught them better than to intentionally hurt a woman.

  “What's his name?”

  “Zach.”

  “Does she hate him?”

  He didn't have to ask to know who Joshua was talking about. “No. She said she couldn't because it felt like she was trying to hate her own son.”

  Joshua frowned.

  “Zach is the spitting image of Michael. He has the Ferguson eyes and Michael’s dark brown hair, but he has Lexi’s complexion.”

  “Does Michael know?”

  “No and promise me you won't tell him.”

  “Why?”

  “Lexi made me promise and even if I didn't, I don't think she’s ready to see Michael again after four years. Joshua, she flinched when she said his name and her eyes held such pain, it made me want to beat the shit out of Michael the next time I see him.”

  “What was he thinking?”

  “That’s what I want to know.”

  “Where is Zach now?”

  “Probably still in the living room, if not, maybe in the kitchen with Roxanne.”

  “He’s here?”

  Sebastian nodded. He was about to say more when he heard the doorbell ring. He left his room, leaving it up to the others to follow him or stay.

  Chapter Nineteen

  As soon as Sebastian went to get the door, Roxanne had called Zach into the kitchen to prepare lunch for him. It was lunch time, but the real reason was so Sebastian’s brothers didn’t see him before Sebastian could tell them. She wondered how far with the news he would get before they started assuming the worst about Lexi. The ring of the doorbell pulled her out of her thoughts.

  “Is that Mommy, Auntie Roxy?”

  She smiled. It had been a while since Zach called her that, but that was what he used to call her when he couldn’t pronounce her name properly. Ava had picked up the nickname and called her that any time she was thinking of doing something mischievous.

  “Sorry, kiddo, I think it’s either Ava or Kira.”

  He smiled brightly. “Okay. Can I go to the door with you?”

  “If I was going, then sure, but your mother, Kira and Ava each have a key so they can let themselves in.”

  “Mommy didn't use a key, she rang the doorbell.”

  “She probably put it somewhere and didn't remember that she had it.” And that was a good thing, else Lexi would have walked in and caught Roxanne and Sebastian kissing the hell out of each other with their clothes practically off.

  He nodded.

  “Roxanne Allayna Reynolds, didn't you hear me ringing the doorbell?” Roxanne looked up to see Kira glaring at her.

  “Auntie Kira,” Zach said, running to her.

  “Hey, squirt.” She tickled him as she picked him up. He laughed.

  “Auntie Kira, what did you bring me?” he asked after he stopped laughing.

  Before Kira answered, Sebastian, his brothers and Nick walked into the kitchen. Zach turned to look behind him; all of them except Sebastian froze as they l
ooked at Zach with wide eyes. Zach smiled at them then turned back to Kira and frowned.

  “Oh squirt, I didn't bring anything for you. How about next week we have a sleepover at my house?” Zach nodded eagerly. “Then it’s settled.”

  She sat Zach back on the floor. As she did so, Roxanne saw a flash of pink in her hair. “Kira, turn around.” She did and Roxanne scowled. The back half of her hair was pink.

  “For all that’s holy, what did you do?”

  “What?” Kira asked, her voice the epitome of innocence.

  “Your hair is pink!”

  Kira arched a brow.

  “Half of your hair is colored pink!”

  “It’s for the video of my new song. Besides it could have been worse,” Kira replied.

  “How worse?” Roxanne asked.

  “Yellow.”

  Roxanne laughed. Then, after managing to catch a breath, she glanced around then said, “Where’s your bodyguard?” Kira hunched her shoulders and then looked away.

  “Kira, don't make me call Ava.”

  She sighed dramatically. “I ditched him on my way here. Happy now?”

  Roxanne glared at her friend as she barely resisted the urge to shake some sense into her. “Call him and give him the address.”

  “Don't have to. He’ll call in five seconds, watch.”

  Her phone rang. She smiled before answering, and then she rattled off the address after saying it was an accident and she was sorry, even as she rolled her eyes. Roxanne shook her head and scowled at her when she hung up. She opened her mouth to chastise her about her safety when a throat cleared. Roxanne turned around. She winced when she realized she’d forgotten that Sebastian, his brothers and Nick had joined them.

  “Sorry.”

  “It’s all right. Hey, Kira it’s nice to see you again. You remember my brothers, Adrian and Joshua, and our friend Nick.”

  “Hey, Sebastian it’s nice to see you again. Yes, I remember. Hello Joshua, Adrian, Nick.”

  Sebastian’s brothers nodded.

  “Hello, babe,” Nick drawled.

  Kira snorted and rolled her eyes.