Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Bennett
“You do know that Lexi is hating this plan, right?” I look back over my shoulder to see Adley smiling as she continues to pack her things into boxes.
“What?”
“You didn't notice the distaste on her face the minute I threw it out there this was the best option?”
“No.” My stomach tightens.
“Seriously guys are oblivious, I swear.”
“If you knew she hated it, then why are we following through with it?”
“A little nudge in the right direction.” She shrugs. “That girl is hesitant with you for no reason. She knows you love her and that you’d never intentionally hurt her. But because of the shit that went down last year, with you and her and then Derrick and her, she is pumping the brakes.”
Adley turns around and sits on the end of her bed.
“Believe me when I say this is the push that is going to have her manning up.”
“By pissing her off?”
“No. By her imagining things that would never and I do mean never happen with you and I.”
“So your bright plan is to make Lexi think that you and I got something going on?” I am horrified. The last thing I needed was for Lexi to have doubts about the way I feel. “We can’t do this.”
“We can and we will.” She nods standing up and lifting a box. “I give it a week and she will be in your bed.”
“Adley,” I holler after her as she exits her room leaving me unanswered. This is a bad idea, really fucking bad.
“Where is Lexi?” I ask on our second trip to Adley and her apartment. “She hasn’t been here all night.”
“She is with Sutton.”
“Because?”
“She is avoiding us.” I am beginning to understand why at times Rory wants to strangle Adley.
“Seriously Adley, we can’t do this shit.” I block the doorway. “Listen to me.”
“We are doing this.” She nudges my chest. “She is not mad, she is worried. That is good, believe me.”
“That’s the problem, I don’t. How can you be okay with her feeling this way?”
“Bennett I have told you this before, I have to believe in my friends being happy. Right now, Lexi is keeping you at arm’s length even though she has been in love with you since day one.
That girl has been head over heels, forgets her own name, in love with you.
I watched her watch you when you didn’t know she was looking.
I have watched her hang on your every word.
You were a dumbass and couldn’t see it, but the rest of us did. ”
When I try to interrupt her she stops me by holding up her hand.
“Then she tries, you hit pause and she is devastatingly embarrassed. We all know you didn’t push her into the arms of Derrick, but that is where she stumbled.
Fast forward and here you are, ready to give it all and she is the one stalling.
She needs this push, please, you have to trust me.
I know it, hell Jilly and Soph know it too.
That is why they went along so easily with the plan. ”
She squeezes my forearm reassuringly. “Lexi is always going to be gun-shy with you unless we give her this nudge. Let us.” She releases the hold she has on me and slips out of the room.
Grabbing my phone from my pocket I dial Lexi’s number and when it goes to voicemail I leave her a message to call me.
I couldn’t take any chances, not with her.
I’ve already screwed up enough. I was done hurting her, even though I never truly set out to do so.
I was doing this for her. I knew how much she wanted this all to work out with Camryn.
I’d so much rather it be her and I, but slow was what she asked for and I didn’t want to push.
Now I’m standing here wondering if I should have.