20. Camden
CHAPTER 20
Camden
Sunday afternoon
“ M om, what’s for dinner?” Darian yells as he and his best friend CJ walks in from his room. CJ brought Darian home a bit ago and they’ve been playing Call of Duty ever since. Knowing them they slept until it was time for CJ to bring him home and haven’t eaten all day. Lexi and I are sitting on the couch watching Supernatural while Shayna is in the kitchen. Lexi has her socked feet in my lap, and I have my hand on her ankle.
“Quit yelling, D. Go to the kitchen and ask her,” I say, turning my head as they walk past the couch.
“Sorry Dad,” he says and I turn back to the TV. “Hey Lexi,” he says, passing by holding his hand out and Lexi slaps it, giving him a high five, then immediately doing the same to CJ.
“What's up, guys? Finally coming out of the cave?” she asks, giving them her attention. I love how Lexi just fits in here. The boys and all their friends love her. She’s like the cool aunt they can just talk to or have fun with. Sometimes she will game with them like she’s one of the guys too. She’s even known to go skateboarding with them.
“Yeah… plus we haven’t eaten all day. I’m starving,” Darian says, making Lexi laugh.
“You’re always hungry,” she says with a laugh. “I think your mom is making chicken parmigiana for dinner. You probably need to go tell her if CJ is staying so she makes enough though,” Lexi says and turns back around. I start rubbing her foot as the boys head into the kitchen where Shayna is.
Sitting in silence, just watching the show, we can hear Shayna talking to the boys in the kitchen. I’m so hyper aware of how everything has just fallen into place. I squeeze her foot and glance over at her. She’s so focused on the television, I don’t think she notices me watching her.
“What Cam?” she asks with a smirk, never taking her eyes off the television. Laughing, I lean over, wrapping my arm over her thighs, laying my head on her hip. She scratches my back and finally looks down at me with a little smile. “You okay?” she questions.
Looking up at her with a little smile, I nod. “Yeah, I’m good. Just thinking is all,” I reply. Lexi grabs the remote from the table next to her, lowering the volume.
“Thinking about what?” she asks. She looks a little nervous. Like maybe none of this is really what I want. How wrong she is.
I lean up on my elbow still laying next to her, throwing my legs up on the couch also. “Just thinking how everything just fell so perfectly into place. You’re the missing puzzle piece that we didn’t realize we needed. And you’ve been right here this whole time,” I say, and she smiles softly.
“And I’m not going anywhere,” she replies.
“Good. So no more talk of getting your own place anymore, alright?” I ask her. She gives me a soft smile and shakes her head.
“Babe…” I hear Shayna coming into the living room before we see her. My head lifts as I sit up on the couch. Both Lexi and I turn our heads toward her voice giving her attention. “Is there anything we need from the store? I’m sending CJ and Darian to go pick up Bugg from the Miller’s place,” she says leaning against the end of the couch Lexi is sitting at.
Shayna is looking at me but her hand immediately goes to Lexi’s hair, running her fingers through it. It’s such a calming gesture for both of them, and for me it sets my mind at ease knowing this is real. And since Lexi is our best friend, this just works.
The boys walk to stand behind the couch. CJ is watching how Shayna is playing with Lexi’s hair, but Darian is focused on me to see what I say. He’s used to seeing my wife and Lexi be like this, just not as intimate.
“Probably more soda since the boys are here,” I say and Shayna nods.
“Oh…” Lexi says looking at Darian this time. “Can you grab me that Red Bull you got for me last time?” she asks, looking excited, making Shayna laugh.
“The peach one?” Darian asks and she nods.
“Yeah. That one’s amazing,” she says and looks up at Shayna. “I think you would like that one. It doesn’t even taste like a Red Bull. Better yet,” she says quickly looking back to Darian, “Grab two. I know your mom will like it,” she says.
CJ fumbles in his pocket for his keys taking a step back looking at Darian. “You got it,” he says smiling at Lexi. When I go to speak, Darian pulls a debit card out of his back pocket, “Mom already covered it,” he says and they walk to the front door. I laugh and shake my head.
Hearing the front door open and close behind them, leaving us three once again alone. Shayna sits on the arm of the couch next to Lexi, still playing with her hair and I lean over a bit getting comfortable. We all focus on Supernatural again. It’s not like we haven’t already watched all the episodes, but when there’s nothing else we can agree on, we tend to go back to watch this.
“I better go check on dinner, I will be right back,” Shayna says standing up. Lexi’s head turns to look up at her with a smile and my wife leans down giving her a soft kiss. Nothing passionate or deep, just a quick gentle touch of the lips. I don’t let them know I’m paying attention. It’s just nice seeing the way they interact with one another.
Just as we get back to watching the episode, there is a knock on the front door. Both Lexi and I go to stand and I hold my hand out. “Stay… I got it,” I tell her before standing up completely. She relaxes back pulling her feet back up on the couch getting comfortable again.
Walking through the front of the house, I can see through the side plate glass window next to the door, there is a guy standing there. Probably my height and build. I wonder who would be coming to our door on a Sunday afternoon. I reach for the door knob knowing the boys left it unlocked and open it. My blood begins to boil at the sight in front of me.
I step just in the doorway with a furious look on my face. I am livid that this asshole thinks it’s okay to just waltz up to my door. “What the fuck do you want?” I ask in a growl.
“Babe, who is it?” Shayna asks, walking out of the kitchen drying her hands on a small dish towel. I’m just glad that the living room is out of sight from the front door. I turn to look at Shayna, who stops dead in her tracks staring at Jason.
Her eyes jump between mine and Jason. Shock takes over and she’s both stunned and speechless right now. When her eyes finally settle on mine, I tilt my head to the side, gesturing for her to leave. “It’s absolutely no one,” I say and turn back to face the dick. I can tell by Jason now focusing on just me, my wife has gone out of sight.
Crossing my arms over my chest and standing to my full height, I stare at him. He mimics my posture. I raise and eyebrow asking, “What do you want, Webb?”
“Where’s Lexi?” he asks, getting straight to the point.
“What’s it to you?”
“Cam… tell me–” he starts but I cut him off, stepping even closer.
“First off, you don’t fucking know me. We are not friends. Don’t call me Cam. Second, I don’t need to tell you shit. You came to my fucking house uninvited. So, with that said you need to fuck off,” I say and step back to shut the door.
Jason’s hand shoots out to stop me from closing it. “Look here, Lezzaro ,” he emphasizes my last name with a sneer, “Lexi is my girlfriend and she will be coming back home where she belongs.”
I throw my head back in a wicked laugh, holding the door where it’s at. I have to laugh in order not to strangle this motherfucker. “Let’s get one thing straight right now, Webb . Lexi is no longer your girlfriend. She dumped your sorry, woman beating ass. And if I have anything to say about it… she won’t be going back,” I finish in a growl.
Jason chuckles darkly and steps closer to the door. “Well then,” he starts and looks me up and down before continuing, “I guess it’s a good thing you don’t have anything to say about it.”
I open the door once again and step into him. “I have everything to say about it,” I say with an evil smirk on my lips. His brow raises and he guffaws at my words.
“Oh really? And how do you figure that?” He asks with a sneer on his face and in his voice. He’s challenging me right now. And I don’t want to take the bait, telling him that she’s with both me and my wife. It could cause Lexi even more issues than we expect. Right now, Jason seems to be calm. But we all know he’s a hot head and will lose his temper. I don’t want to think about what he will do if he doesn’t just leave well enough alone.
My lip curls in disgust having to bite back the words that I want to spew at him. But I know it’s for the best right now.
“Because she’s in my house. She’s my wife’s best friend and that means she’s under my protection. And you… you worthless, piece of shit, aren’t getting near her,” I growl out not moving an inch from standing in the way.
We stare down one another for what feels like several minutes, before he gives a little laugh and steps back a half step, dropping his arms. “We’ll see about that, Lezzaro . Lexi will be crawling back to me soon enough,” he says, taking a few more steps back. “Because she’s nothing without me and she fucking knows it. Nobody will want a used up whore like her anyway.”
I drop my arms with my hands in tight fists by my side and take a step towards him. Who the fuck does he think he is and how dare he talk about Lexi like that. He steps backward down the front porch stairs laughing. “What are you gonna do, Lezzaro?” he asks, holding his arms out wide as he takes another step back. I can tell he’s trying to egg me on to get me to do something. I move to take another step forward toward him, to show him what I’m going to do. I’m going to beat his ass until he forgets Lexi’s name all together.
I feel a soft hand grab my upper arm and I halt looking down into Shayna’s eyes. She shakes her head slightly. “It’s not worth it. He’s not worth it,” she says loud enough for Jason to hear, making him stop with his last foot on the bottom step. Then whispering for only me to hear, “Lexi is scared. Don’t give him the satisfaction please. Just let him go.”
I look back over to him, staring down from the top of the stairs now. “Don’t fucking come back, Webb . Next time I will beat your ass then call the cops and show them the pictures of all the bruises you left on Lexi,” I finish taking a step back and then another.
Jason is fuming now. His hands are balled into fists and eyes are narrowed. “We will see about that,” he growls out. Then raising his voice to make it known he wants Lexi to him, “I will be back to get Lexi. She is coming home with me, whether you and your bitch like it or not.” He turns on his heel walking down the driveway to his car. We stand just inside the door and watch as he leaves, only closing the front door when we know he’s out of sight.
The door clicks shut and I lock both locks as I hear Shayna move quickly back toward the living room. I look through the little square glass in the door, making sure he doesn’t come back. Once I’m satisfied that he is actually gone, I move to where I know both of my girls are.
Walking through the entry into the living room, I see Lexi leaning forward with her head in her hands while her elbows are resting on her knees. Shayna is sitting on the coffee table right in front of her, rubbing the outer part of her thighs trying to soothe her.
“He’s gone, babes. Shhh… it’s going to be okay,” Shayna whispers to her.
I walk over and sit next to her on the couch. I put my arm around her back, making her jump, lifting her head quickly looking to make sure who is next to her. Shayna looks at me with sympathy in her eyes.
“Come here,” I whisper and when she leans back, I grab her waist with both hands and lift her to sit on my lap. She gasps at the sudden movement, but then the tears begin to really fall as she lays her head on my shoulder and covers her face with both hands as she silently cries.
I wrap both of my arms around her and rub her back gently. Shayna moves to sit on the couch next to us and she grabs Lexi’s hands pulling them away from her face.
“Don’t cry, Lex. Everything will be okay. We won’t let him near you,” Shayna says, trying to calm our girl down.
I bring my hand up and wipe the tears from under Lexi’s eyes. Placing two fingers under her chin, I angle her head to me. Her red swollen eyes meet mine hesitantly. I give her a serious look and her tears calm down a bit.
“Do you trust me?” I ask her. Shayna still holds her hands, rubbing her thumbs over the soft flesh there. Lexi hesitates a minute, probably wondering exactly what I’m going to say. I lift an eyebrow, and she nods slowly.
I wait, still staring at her. She knows what I want now. “I-” she begins, her voice cracking and she clears her throat. “I trust you, Cam,” she finishes in just barely a breath.
We sit staring at one another. My thumb softly begins to rub over her chin, then moves to graze over her bottom lip. Allowing my eyes to drift down to her lips, I continue to run my thumb over it. Her mouth opens slightly on an intake of breath as her breathing picks up. My eyes move slowly back up to meet hers.
“Trust me when I say, I will do everything within my power to keep you safe and as far away from him as possible,” I say. She gives me a small smile and nods in understanding. I lean forward and kiss her lips softly tasting the saltiness of her tears still lingering there. Releasing a deep breath, she lays her head on my shoulder looking over at Shayna with a smile. My wife leans over me, kissing Lexi softly. Their kiss deepens for just a moment until Shayna sits back down pulling Lexi’s feet into her lap.
We hear the door knob jiggle and Lexi tenses in my lap. Shayna’s head turns quickly toward the front door, until we hear the key enter the lock. Knowing it’s the boys back from their store run and picking up Landon, we all relax. I kiss Lexi’s temple. “It’s just the boys. You’re safe,” I say softly next to her ear and she settles even more as the boys pass through, oblivious to what has happened. And we plan to keep it that way.