Page 45 of Falling for Him
“Your mother insists that I will love her peach jam,” she says this stiff-lipped and with her nostrils flaring. “Your mom is amazing, truly I adore her so much. But if I have to try anything peach, I may throw up. Just the smell is making me gag.”
I chuckle and glance over at Sutton to see she too is trying not to laugh.
“You do know she’s not going to make you taste it.” Poor Lexi looks as though she’s about to have a meltdown.
“I don’t want to hurt her feelings. I could always do it super fast and then smile like it’s the greatest thing. I’m sure it is great, because honestly Bennett your mom doesn’t make anything bad, but I hate peaches.”
“Baby,” I say this not even thinking about anyone else around us. Because right now the only people here are her and I. “You are so fucking cute, and this right here is exactly why I love you so much! But honestly babe, you do not have to eat anything with peaches.”
I cup her face, lean in and kiss her.
Suddenly I hear a few awes around us and Lexi laughs, pulling back to duck her head and hide her face.
When I look up and see Sutton watching us with unshed tears in her eyes. Smiling, she offers me a wink and I know I’ve just been given the stamp of approval.
CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE
Lexi
“She’s happy,”Rose says from my kitchen island as she looks into the living room. Camryn sits at my coffee table, watching cartoons and eating grapes and cheese from a plate in front of her. She’s still wearing her pajamas, but it’s Sunday and we have nowhere to be until later.
“She seems to be,” I say, feeling my chest tighten with the idea of her hiding her true feelings.
“Stop second-guessing yourself, Lexi.” I look up to find Rose watching me.
She and I have worked together for years on other cases. We’ve shared our struggles and helped one another with difficult decisions. She was assigned to Camryn’s case when I bowed out and I’m thankful to be sharing this adventure with her.
“You always do that, but this time, I won’t let you.” Reaching out she places her hand on mine and offers it a squeeze. “I have never met anyone that is made for this job more than you. Eachcase, each hardship, you feel it, you live it. That can be tough on any of us, but you Lexi, you don’t just watch over them, you live every day with them. What you are doing for Camryn, it’s such an amazing choice. Sweetheart, you’ve taken a little girl that has lost everything that has ever made her feel safe and you’ve given her back a sense of home. You didn’t have to do that. There was nothing forcing you to rescue her, but instantly you bonded with Camryn in a way you’ve never bonded with anyone before.”
I nod, feeling her pain and my own all over again as my vision blurs from unshed tears.
“This isn’t just for her, this is for you. I think in the end, the two of you are going to be one hell of an unbreakable team.”
“I hope so.” I glance in her direction again when I hear her laughter echo.
“How are things going with Bennett?” Rose asks and I smile. This is the friendship part. This is the girl that found me crying more than once in my office over the feelings I wish I didn’t have for a man I couldn’t have.
“That good?” she says with a laugh.
“I don’t want to jinx it.” I’ve been waiting for the ball to drop. “Sometimes I feel like things are going a little too good, for something bad not to be on the horizon,” I offer with a shrug.
“Why do you feel like you don’t deserve the good that comes to you?”
“Because no one deserves anything, I mean we all have to pave our own path. But I guess I’m one of those glass half empty people and I wish I wasn’t.”
“I think what you need to do is stop waiting for something to implode. I think you need to live the life you’ve been given. I think you need to let that man love you as often as possible.” I catch the tail end of her waggling her brows.
“Seriously if I had a man like Bennett I’d be loving him at least three times daily.”
“Right now I want to make sure Camryn has all she needs,” I say with a change of subject. “The last thing I want is for her to feel like she’s in the way.”
“Nope,” Rose says, standing up and grabbing her bag off the chair next to her. I wrinkle my forehead in confusion when she gives this long drug out pause. “You do not get to use Camryn as an excuse to hold back. From what I can see Bennett adores Camryn. I’ve heard all about her best friend Bennett, and all the fun things they do. This girl deserves to be happy just like you do. If you ask my opinion, I think Bennett is going to play a key role in that part for both of you.”
She walks away leaving me staring after her. She says a quick goodbye to Camryn, offering me a little wave before leaving.
After cleaning up the kitchen I join Camryn in the living room and together we spend the next hour laughing at cartoons before we get up and get ourselves ready for the rest of our day.
“She’s so polite,”Sutton whispers as she rounds the counter and looks out the back door. Before I can ask, Camryn comeswalking in carrying a cup and a plate. Trailing behind Sutton she places them in the sink and turns around, looking up at her.
