Page 39 of Love at a 7-Eleven

"Sure," she said, stepping back. He could tell she was trying to be respectful and give him space, but he didn't want space from her. He reached out for her hand, pulling her closer.

They were standing in Drake's living room. She had it clean and smelling nice in there. Maybe it was just Lila who smelled nice.

He missed the call.

It was from his mom. He navigated calling her back, and at the same time, he pulled Lila close, smelling her neck and causing her to smile at him. It was her that smelled so nice.

"Hey, Mom," he said, standing up straight and sounding all-business when his mom answered. He still had a hand on Lila, keeping her close to him as he listened to his mom.

"I need a ride. I can't get a hold of Gabriella, and my car won't start. I just need a ride to my shift at the restaurant. It's four miles from here, and it's hot. But you need to hurry because I'm supposed to be there at four."

"Can I send you an Uber?"

"Yes. I figured you would say that."

"Actually. Hang on. Can you hang on for a minute?"

"Yes."

Caleb muted the phone and looked straight at her. "Do you want to run an errand with me that involves meeting my mother?"

"Yes," Lila answered. She spoke with such instant certainty that he didn't stop to warn her or make her agree twice. He just smiled and leaned in to kiss her soft cheek before unmuting his phone again.

"Mom?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm coming. I'll drive you. We're leaving right now. It'll be fifteen minutes."

"That's fine. Is Drake coming with you?"

"No."

"Bailey?"

"No. Lila."

"Oooh, Lila! Is that your new girlfriend?" She spoke in a silly teasing tone, knowing the answer before he gave it.

"Yes, she is," he said, calmly. "She's coming with me, so you'll get to meet her."

"You're joking."

"No, I'm not. We'll see you in a minute," he said, trying his best to remain casual. He managed to get off the phone without saying much else. He looked at Lila to get a read on her expression when he hung up. "Do you need to be warned about what you're going into?" he asked.

She shook her head. "Not unless she's going to be mean to me."

"No, I don't think she would."

She nodded and shrugged. "Then I don't need to be warned. I'm happy to meet your mom. I'm excited."

Chapter 15

Lila

Caleb came into Drake's smiling that afternoon. It was my last day in California, and he was making the most of it. Right from the start, he seemed freer and more peaceful than he had been the previous two days. All along, he had been saying that things were going to work out and be all right, but today it seemed like he meant it. I noticed a change in his eyes.

Plus, he was all over me, which was a bonus. We had only been together for a few minutes and already he had kissed me several times. If I had known this would happen, I would have pulled out the little dress days ago. He was acting alpha-male with me, sniffing my neck and holding onto me like he was a hungry animal. I was weak in the knees because of it.

---