Page 70 of Lock 'em Down

“Damn, Cami. You really are lucky. When you married Leif, I thought you went off the deep end, but you obviously chose him for a real reason. He’s the perfect partner for you.”

“Thanks, J. I can’t wait for you two to meet.”

“Me too! I’m going to try to come visit this summer.”

I perk up instantly. “Really?”

“Yes! Send me the dates that you’ll be away?—”

“In Honey Harbor.”

“I’m jealous you’re going. It looks so cute and quaint. Very romantic.” Jenna bats her eyelashes.

“I’m looking forward to it, too.” Plus, it will be nice to see Leif’s friends again and meet their significant others. I chatted with Hudson’s girlfriend, Piper, on the phone and I’m looking forward to hanging out with her during Chris and Casey’s wedding weekend. “But I would love for you to come visit. We have a guest room.”

“I’m going to try my best with work,” Jenna promises. “If not, you will need to come in early before the wedding anyway.”

“True. Hey—did you see the sketches I did?” I emailed them to her a few days ago.

“Yes! And Cami, they’re beautiful. You should really consider fashion and design. Especially wedding gowns.”

I snort. “I’m working at an accounting firm.”

“So? You don’t even like it,” Jenna reminds me.

“You sound like Izzy.” I shake my head. “And it’s not that bad.”

“You’re only saying that because you like your work friends.”

I sigh, hating when my sister is right. She’s almost always right.

“I’m just saying, your sketches are beautiful. You’re talented, sissy.”

I roll my eyes, but I’m pleased by her praise. “Thank you, J.”

“Think about it!” my sister says enthusiastically.

The front door creaks open and Leif appears.

I smile back at Jenna. “I gotta go. Leif is home from his run.”

“Hi, Leif!” Jenna calls.

“What’s up, J?” Leif asks, coming into the frame.

I pass him the phone and he and Jenna chat for a few minutes. It makes me happy, seeing two of the most important people in my life, communicate. For the weeks that Levi flipped my world upside down, I don’t know if he ever spoke to Jenna. He wasn’t interested, he didn’t care, and the fact that I couldn’t see that for what it was—a giant red flag—shames me.

Ever since I told Leif the truth, I feel lighter. Better. Able to move forward with him without any shadows lurking in the corners of our marriage. It was cleansing and cathartic.

But now, I’m worried about how he’s taking it. Leif’s been quieter than usual and I think my story caught him off guard. While we’re still spending time together, hanging out with his teammates and friends, and making love to each other every night, there’s a distance that didn’t used to exist.

When I try to talk to him about it, he brushes it off as us still getting to know each other. He gives me the laid-back persona instead of the man behind it and while I want to give him time to process things, I also want the real him. Always.

Leif ends the call with Jenna and passes me my phone. “I hope J can come visit next month.”

“Same,” I say, following him into the kitchen. “I made pasta for dinner.”

“Sounds delicious, baby. I’m starving.” Leif walks toward our bedroom. “I’m going to rinse off really quickly.”

---