Page 63 of Falling for Him
Me: Why aren’t you in bed?
I stand at the side of my truck waiting for her response. When it doesn’t come I hit the unlock button and climb inside. Lexi’s place is only about a five minute drive.
Turning onto her road I am just about to hit my signal to indicate I’m pulling into her parking lot when a text message comes through.
Parking I grab my phone and wake it up.
Lexi: She was supposed to be in bed. Snagged my phone when I was in the shower.
I smile, knowing that both Lexi and I can’t figure out how the little ninja sneaks in and out shooting off rapid texts like she’s never even been in the room. It’s an ongoing joke with the two of them.
Me: Can I come in?
Lexi: You have a key.
I do, yes, but somehow her response doesn’t sit well with me. We’ve barely talked today, and that’s unusual for us. But between the house and the classes, I’m stretched a little thin.
Grabbing my bag, I climb out of my truck and close the door, locking it as I walk toward the front of her apartment. It’s dark when I step inside, even her bedroom.
Doing my best to remain as quiet as possible I walk down the hall and just as I step past Camryn’s room the door opens.
There in the doorway she stands, unicorn onesie pajamas, looking at me.
“You’re late,” she says without a smile. I feel like she kicked me in the gut.
“Sorry,” I say, kneeling down. “I had some things to get done and it ran later than I thought.”
“What things?”
Feeling sick, I look away because lying while looking into her sweet eyes seems impossible.
“Had to help Gramps with moving some things.”
Cam doesn’t respond and I look up to find her looking toward the end of the hall, where Lexi now stands.
“Cam,” she says, crossing her arms over her chest. “You need to get into bed. You have an early morning and if you don’t get some sleep, you’re going to be exhausted tomorrow.”
“But Bennett just got here,” she whines.
“What if I read you a story?” I ask her and she smiles, nodding her head while rubbing her eyes. I know it won’t take much for her to fall asleep. The kid loves naps, she could sleep through a hurricane and hardly ever makes it through the end of a movie.
Fifteen minutes, and two stories later, she finally gives up. I know she missed me, she held on to my arm like she was afraid I was going to escape. It’s hard to leave her.
Pulling her door closed behind me I tiptoe down the hallway and find Lexi softly snoring in her bed. Stripping down to my boxers, I slip in beneath the blankets and get close behind her.
“She asleep?”
“Yeah.” I kiss the top of Lexi’s head. “Took two stories and a promise to pick her up from school tomorrow.”
“She’s going to hold you to that I hope you know.”
“I’ll be there,” I assure her as silence settles over the room once more. I can feel my body start to relax.
“How was your night?” Lexi asks through a yawn and my body jerks in response, making her laugh.
“Finn needed some help unloading one of the trucks that arrived later with the shipment at his dad’s store. Lost track of time.” Again I am thankful for the dark room because the lie sours my stomach. I can’t imagine looking her in the face.
CHAPTER FIFTY-THREE
