Page 71 of Lexi Lets Go

"You cook?"

"I know my way around a kitchen.”

"You're perfect. That settles it. You’re never getting rid of me."

"Is that all it took?" He asked, bringing her in his arms again and pressing a kiss to her lips. "Let's get some groceries and once we have your car back, I’ll send my driver back to the city. I don't think I’ll need it. I'm ready for a summer in Mystic Falls with my girl. Bring on the festivals and the cookouts and the hikes by the waterfall."

"That sounds perfect."

Chapter31

Lexi

Later that evening, Lexi helped Liam pack up dinner. He had made some amazing carne asada and rice and all the fixin’ to make tacos. It smelled delicious. Lexi was thanking her lucky stars he knew how to cook. She would gladly do the dishes if he cooked like this. Men making delicious food for her was something she was glad would stay the way it was. They packed the food into the back of Liam's car service and headed over. After they got the food in, Liam said goodbye to his driver and sent him back to the city. Things felt pretty final when that happened.

Poppy and Josh were thankful for the meal. The four of them sat around the dining room table eating tacos and rice. The banter was easy. They treated Liam like he was one of them. Poppy and Josh were two of the friendliest people that Lexi had ever known. Poppy had been a bit starstruck the first time she met him, but now she was just seeing him as part of the family, and that settled something even deeper in her soul.

Lexi didn't have any family outside of Josh, and she had been distancing herself from Josh. She thought since he got married, he needed independence. She didn’t want him to feel like he needed to include her because he felt bad for her. But now she was beginning to realize it didn't have to be that way. She wasn't a burden. He could invite her to things because he enjoyed her company. And yes, maybe on some level he wanted to bring her along with him into Poppy's family, so she wasn't alone. But what was wrong with that? Every family looked different. The Smith family had always been so full of love. It was okay if Lexi let them in.

The thought that Lexi might go from having no family to two families began to overwhelm her.

Josh looked at her and quirked his head. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm just so glad you and Poppy are okay. And I'm so happy I'm going to be an aunt. We are going to spoil them, aren't we?" she said to Liam.

"If my niece and nephews are any indication, there will be definite spoiling," Liam said, taking her hand.

"So, you guys are doing this then?" Josh asked, looking between them.

"We are," Lexi said, looking over at Liam who was smiling warmly at her. "We’re not quite sure what this looks like, but we are definitely doing it." Liam winked at her, and her heart was in danger of exploding. Her heart had never been this full. Her brother now had an amazing support in his life and the start of the little family he always wanted. And then there was Liam, who was offering love and a life they could make their own. It might take some time for her to trust this, but she knew deep down these people weren't going anywhere.

"I'm really happy for you, Lex," Josh said with a smile.

"Right back atcha, little brother."

They chatted and finished their meal. Lexi and Liam cleaned up while Josh helped Poppy upstairs to get some rest. They packed up all the leftovers, put them in their fridge, and headed home.

Once they were back in Lexi's house, they settled in for the night in front of the TV with a tub of ice cream and a couple spoons. In moments like this, Lexi could forget she was dating The Liam James. In this moment, watching reruns of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and cuddling on the couch, he was just Liam Sheffield.

Their whirlwind love affair had turned both of their lives upside down and had set them right here in this incredible moment. Neither of them had felt normal for a very long time. Neither of them wanted to run from their past, but they were looking forward to the future that lay ahead of them.

"Hey, do you want to show me the paperwork for the house or the land? I would love to start moving on getting out of this house. That is if you were wanting me to move in. I know that’s a lot to assume--"

She was cut off by his mouth on hers, his tongue sweeping into her mouth. Her heart started pick up. The desire she felt just kissing him would never stop surprising her. But it went as soon as it came. She laughed at him as he nearly jumped off the couch to go and get the papers from the kitchen table.

He returned with the folders and spread them out on the coffee table in front of them. Lexi looked at the farmhouse. It was nice, and the barn could be good for Liam, but then she looked at the land. There was a perfect clearing for a house and that clearing wasn't far from the falls. The falls where her mother had taken them camping. The falls where she and Josh had escaped together when things got too hard. The falls where she had first decided to confide in Liam.

It was a blank slate. A place for them both to get what they wanted and exactly what they needed, next to this beautiful natural space that held such meaning to them. The choice was easy.

"The falls," she said quietly.

"Yeah. We build our dream home next to the falls," he agreed softly next to her, as his arm fell around her waist and drew her to him.

She looked over at him, his face so close to her she couldn’t help but reach out and cup it. His stubble scratched her fingers and he smiled at her warmly. The smile lines that bracketed his eyes pulled her attention to his warm brown eyes. She smiled and gave a little chuckle.

"What is it?" he asked as he turned his head to kiss the hand cupping his face.

"I just love you so much." And the honest truth of that statement settled into her. Their romance had been a breathtaking all-consuming love, but in this moment their love felt tender and fond and warm and perfect.

---