Chapter 42
CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Bennett
“Do you mind if I take her over to get a caramel apple?” I ask Lexi. She is knee deep in pies, cider, and jams, as my mother’s stuff always does really well at the Hudson fall festival.
She’d recruited both Lexi and Sutton to help her run her booth. I’m not gonna lie and say that I don’t love seeing Lexi bonding with my mother. She’s already got us married in her head, but nothing about that freaks me out.
“Only one,” she says, looking up over Mrs. Henry’s silver curls. “She’s already had a piece of pie, pumpkin cheesecake, and candy corn. At this rate she’ll be up all night on a sugar high or with an upset stomach.”
“I’ll share one with her,” I offer with a wink as I place my hands on her shoulders and start to lead her away.
“Do we really have to share?” Camryn asks and I chuckle.
“Depends on if you’ve had any real food today.”
“Granny O’Shay fed me hot ham and cheese before we helped her open the booth.”
Camryn’s already been deemed a member of the family, my mother insisting she call her granny. She’s attached to Cam, setting up plans for sleepovers and helping her pick her fruit next year.
My dad is the same, insisting we teach her to fish, because girls should know the basics too.
“When was that?” I ask, wondering how long ago she had anything that didn’t contain sugar.
“It was before lunch, but after breakfast.” I glance over to find Camryn trotting along swinging her arms, almost mimicking my movements. “Oh and I had bacon and toast when I got up today.”
“So I’ll make a deal with you.” I stop walking and she does the same, looking up at me. “I’ll let you have the entire caramel apple, if you have one of those pulled pork sandwiches first.”
“Can we split one?” she asks with a lift of one brow. I can’t help but laugh. “Because if I eat that big sandwich I won’t be able to eat a whole apple.”
That was my point, but I had to give it to the little lady, she wasn’t a fool.
In that moment I get what Lexi refers to as her getting anything she wants face. Those big doe eyes, that sweet smile, it screams, please say yes.
“Deal,” I say and she holds out her hand for us to shake on it.
With a quick shake, we make our way over to the pork tent and order two sandwiches.
Taking a seat at one of the picnic tables the two of us get lost in conversation over last night’s card game face off.
We’d had ourselves a little Goldfish tournament going.
“Bennett?” I glance up and notice Emily rounding the table and coming right for me. I barely have time to put my sandwich down before she practically tackles me. Arms around my neck, I grip the edge of the bench to keep from toppling over. “Oh my God, look at you.”
Emily was a girl I dated back in high school but she moved away for college after graduation. She was the cheerleader, the caption of the volleyball team, and crowned Miss Hudson her senior year. She was loved by all, and yeah, I was real fond of her too.
Was!
That was long ago.
“Yours?” she says, pointing to Camryn with her brow lifted in question.
“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.