Page 37 of Lock 'em Down

“A lot more,” she admits. “Mom and I have a complicated relationship.”

I dip my head in understanding. We all have our family dynamics. With four brothers and a sister, I’ve got my fair share too.

“And now,” Cami sighs, “she’s going to want to talk about wedding planning and floral arrangements. She’s going to wonder where we’ll live and if we want to buy a dog.” She arches an eyebrow at me. “We can still get out of this—before the crazy begins.”

My stomach twists at the suggestion. I know it’s a valid point but the thought of losing her, of letting this thing between us go before giving it a true chance at success, bothers me. I tug on the edge of her hair. “Where’s your sense of adventure, Camille?”

She smiles but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “Don’t say I didn’t give you an out, Leif.”

“I don’t want one.” I mean it, too.

Our moms come out of the restaurant, their arms linked, their heads bent together. I hold open my arms and Cami falls into them. I give her a hard hug. “We got this, Cam.”

“Yeah,” she murmurs, sounding less convinced than me. That’s okay, I’ll prove to her that we can make this work. That it will be for the best.

When Cami hugs Mom, I turn toward Cheryl.

“I know this is a huge surprise.” I gesture toward the restaurant where it all when down.

Cheryl smiles. “I just want Cami happy, with a good, strong man.”

“I want the best for your daughter,” I agree.

“Good.” She smiles, giving me a hug. “With a little direction, Camille will make a wonderful wife.”

Something about her words strikes me as odd. I don’t want Cami because I want a wife. I just want her.

Cheryl pulls back. “Thank you, Leif. Honestly, I feel so much better leaving Cami in Knoxville now that I know she has you. Her husband.” She grins broadly. “And now, we can begin wedding planning!”

Mom laughs at Cheryl’s enthusiasm, but Cami remains distant, quiet.

“See you later, Cam,” I tell my wife, turning toward my little bungalow with Mom.

Cami waves and sets off in the opposite direction with her mother.

“Well…” I say, waiting for my mom to fill in the blanks.

She pinches the side of my ribs and twists the skin.

“Ouch!” I swat her hand away. “What the hell was that for?”

“You got married in Vegas and didn’t tell me!”

“I wanted to talk to her first.” I gesture down the street where Cami’s back recedes. “She’s been ignoring me.”

Mom harrumphs. “Serves you right.”

“You’re the first to know in our family,” I appease her.

She eyes me suspiciously. “Even before Jensen?”

“Yep,” I confirm.

“And Annie?”

“Uh-huh.”

Mom brightens slightly before sighing. “This is serious, Leif.”

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