Chapter 43
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?”
“Yeah,” Camryn says. “It was really good and by the time I was finished I was too full for anything else.”
I glance at Bennett and he offers me a wink. I figure out quickly that was his plan from the start and I’m thankful. Camryn has had so much junk today I was starting to feel like a terrible guardian.
“Some weird girl wanted Bennett to go for a drink,” Camryn says with a shrug, sitting on the small chair Anita had set up for her earlier. “She wanted a tour of his house too,” she adds.
I look at Bennett and he is looking at Camryn with an arched brow. “Come on, squirt,” he says. “Are you trying to get me in trouble?”
“Should you be in trouble?” I ask and he shifts his attention back to me.
“No, I shouldn’t be.” He hugs me to him a little tighter and moves us off to the side. Being mad would be ridiculous, it was so long ago that he had anything with this girl.
“Emily.” I wrinkle my nose without realizing I’m doing it at the mention of her name. Bennett chuckles. “She’s an old friend.”
“Girlfriend,” I correct him and he hesitantly nods.
“She did mention being in town only for a short time and wanting to get a drink. I quickly shot that down and mentioned I’d been busy working on building a house. Which then led to her saying she’d love to see it.”
I remain quiet wanting to see where this conversation is going to go.
“Why do you have that look on your face?”
“What look?”
“Like you smell something funny.” He holds me, I’m sure to keep me from backing away.
“Do you want to go have a drink with her?”
“Nope.” He shakes his head without any amount of hesitation. “I do not.”
“Give her a tour of your house?”
“Nope,” he responds, bringing his lips closer to mine. “Camryn and I already told her about the rock climbing wall and the library for my girlfriend.”
I say nothing as he skims his lips over mine.
“At the mention of a girlfriend, Emily backed down really quickly.”
“She stopped over here first,” I tell him and he holds my stare. “Your mom isn’t a fan of hers.”
“No, my mom is friendly on most days to pretty much everyone, but Emily was one person that brought out the evil in her.” He chuckles. “She never hid it either. Told me from the start Emily was a self-centered snob.”
I don’t tell him she basically told me the same thing.
“You have nothing to worry about.” Instinctively I attempt to look down and Bennett stops me by placing a finger beneath my chin. “Not with her, and not with anyone else, Lex, that I can promise you.”
When he kisses me this time, he holds me longer, making me forget all about the conversation we’d been having. His tongue drags over the seam of my lips, making me whimper.
“It’s only you, sweetheart.” He kisses along my jaw. “You are all I see.”