Page 50 of Falling for Him
“This is my best friend, Camryn."
“Well aren’t you a doll?” She taps the tip of her nose and Camryn scowls at her which makes me chuckle.
“I’m in town for a few weeks, we really should catch up.” She turns her attention back to me. “Maybe get a drink, or whatever.”
“I’ve got a lot going on,” I say, hoping she gets the hint. “Building a house, hanging out with this little lady.”
“Wow, a house,” she says with interest. “I would love to see it.”
Before I can say anything Camryn interrupts. “It has a huge lake, and a library upstairs for Lexi. He’s even building me a rock climbing wall inside. It’s so cool.”
Emily looks between him and me. “Lexi?”
“My girlfriend.” That word feels so adolescent because to me she is so much more.
“Do I know Lexi?”
“She’s over there.” Camryn points and both Emily and I follow the direction she is pointing. I notice her looking over at us in between the people that walk up to the booth. She has a perplexed look on her face as she observes Emily without making it too obvious.
“I was just over at your mom’s booth,” Emily announces, regaining my attention. “I had to remind her who I was. Then I think she realized when I mentioned the night you and I fell asleep in the barn.”
Again I look over at Lexi as she is lost in conversation with another group buying from my mother’s booth.
“Well I’d love to catch up more, Bennett,” Emily adds, placing her hand on my shoulder. “Maybe I’ll catch you at Sully’s and I can buy you a drink.”
“Maybe.” Unlikely, but at this point I want this to all come to an end.
She says goodbye, leaning in to offer me a kiss on the cheek that I wasn’t expecting. When I shift my attention back to Lexi, she is looking right at us. My chest grows tight and I hope more than anything that she doesn’t see more than there was.
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Lexi
“That girl was atrocious,”Anita, Bennett’s mom, says. “She was so full of herself back in high school and I’m sure she hasn’t changed much. Selfish and I’ve never before met a girl that praises herself more than that one.”
“So her and Bennett dated?”
I notice the way her nose wrinkles up and a sour look takes over her expression.
“Started the summer before their junior year and then on and off through their senior year. I think it ended a month or so before they graduated. Bennett finally realized that she loved herself more than she could ever love anyone else. It was always about her. What she needed, what she wanted, and no one else mattered.”
She rolls her eyes and I can’t help but smile.
“They fell asleep in the barn, my ass,” She scoffs. “That girl was always trying her best to tie up Bennett. I’m just thankful that nothing ever came of it and he got some sense in the end. I couldn’t imagine having a daughter-in-law like that. I’m thankful I’ve got you and Sutton.”
She busies herself with grabbing more jams from the boxes and placing them on the table. I am still a little floored by her referring to me as her daughter-in-law.
Honestly I loved her the first time I met her. Anita O’Shay is one of the sweetest people I have ever met. She takes in everyone, mothering them like they are her own.
I look up to find the location that Bennett and Camryn were in moments ago is now empty. Stepping forward I start to look around when someone steps up behind me, wrapping me in their arms.
“Looking for us?” Bennett asks, kissing my temple.
I turn in his arms and tip my head back to look up at him. Instantly he kisses me once more, only this time lingering a little longer. Camryn makes a groaning sound at our side that makes us both laugh.
“Guess who ate a pulled pork sandwich, instead of a caramel apple?”
“Oh really?”
