9. Shayna
CHAPTER 9
Shayna
Thursday
I walk in the front door from dropping the boys off for school, with only one thing on my mind. I’m going to corner Lexi and make her fucking talk to me. She gets in her head too much and I know that’s what the issue is.
I throw the keys on the table next to the front door and walk to the kitchen. Quickly glancing around, I can see she hasn’t been in here yet. It is still pretty early. Maybe she hasn’t woken up yet. I walk through the living room into the hall that leads to both our bedrooms. I approach her door and press my ear against it to see if I hear her. Nothing.
I lift my hand and give the wooden door a soft knock. Leaning closer to the door to listen again, and I hear the rustling of the blankets on the bed. “Yeah,” I hear her muffled, groggy voice through the door, so slowly I open it.
Peeking my head in, I see she is still in bed. Giving her a small smile I walk in, but don’t close the door. No need. No one is home anyway.
“Hey there sleepy head. It’s time to get up,” I say as she slowly sits up, leaning against the headboard. The blanket is still haphazardly lain over her legs. I walk to the bed and sit on the edge. As I do, she leans over grabbing her phone from the bedside table to check the time.
“Damn. I slept late. That’s not like me,” she says as she places the phone back down. Rubbing her eyes and stretching, it gives me a second to admire her beauty as she just wakes up. She rarely wears makeup, but when she does it is minimal. But for some reason when she’s just waking up, she gives off this glow that’s almost innocent, when I know she is the furthest from that.
“Hungry?” I ask her leaning back a bit with my arms behind me.
Finally, her tired eyes meet mine and I give her a smile. When she smiles back, it reaches her eyes so I know she is still half asleep. She nods and throws the blanket off her legs. That’s my cue to get up, so I stand and she throws her legs over the side and stands.
“How about I go make coffee and egg sandwiches for breakfast, while you completely wake up,” I say, taking small steps to the kitchen. She stretches again, making her camisole top rise showing off her flawless skin. My eyes dip immediately to take it all in. I just want to taste every part of her delicious body. She’s not petite but she’s not considered overweight either. She is full bodied and tall for a woman. At least tall to me. I know she stands about half a foot taller than me.
She drops her arms again and walks toward the en suite bathroom. “That sounds amazing, Shay. Thanks. I will be out in a minute. Let me just freshen up a bit, ‘kay?”
“Take your time, babe. I’ll be in the kitchen,” I say and walking out of her door, I close it behind me. Standing just outside her door, I take a deep breath. ‘You can do this.’ I tell myself. Releasing the breath, and feeling a little more confident about this, I walk to the kitchen to start our breakfast. Letting everything that I need to say run through my head, going over every different scenario of how this will play out.
About 15 minutes later, I hear Lexi’s socked feet pad across the hardwood floor to the kitchen. I glance over my shoulder smiling as she makes her way to the coffee maker.
“Smells good,” she says as she pulls two mugs down from the cabinet and begins to make both of our coffees.
“Thank you. The Sweet Italian Creamer is in the fridge,” I reply as I turn the stove off, and begin placing the eggs on the toast I have set on the counter. After adding the cheese and condiments, I pick up both of our plates and head over to kitchen island, where Lexi is already sitting, coffee in hand.
She sits her coffee down and immediately begins to eat the sandwich I made. I in turn pick up my coffee, noting that it is made to perfection just like I like it. “Mmmmm,” I moan softly while the sweet taste hits my tongue. “Perfect.”
Lexi gives a little chuckle and continues to eat.
After taking the last bite, I brush my hands over the plate getting the last bit of crumbs from the toast off. Lexi reaches over, grabbing all of our dishes and stands. Walking them over to the sink, she turns on the water and begins to wash them.
“Just leave them for later,” I say in hopes she will just sit down so we can talk about last night. She’s silent for a moment as her hands are still under the water for just a moment before continuing.
“It’s okay. It’s better to just get them done now,” she says. I can hear in her voice that she's nervous. I stand from my chair and walk over to where she is. Using my arms, I pop myself up onto the counter right next to the sink so I can see her face. She looks up at me, stunned I just did that, and gives me a little laugh.
“Well then, I guess I will come to you. We need to talk about last night,” I say.
“No we don’t actually,” she says looking back down into the sink.
“Yeah… we most definitely do. Lex… you know I care about you very fucking much. And I know you have feelings for me that are the same,” I say. When she opens her mouth to speak, I place my finger over her lips, quieting her. “Let me finish.”
She nods her head slightly. My eyes look down at where my finger is still pressed against her soft lips. I drag my finger down her lips, pulling her bottom lip slightly, to her chin slowly before dropping my hand back to the counter. Her breath hitches as I do and I see goosebumps rise on her arms.
“I really wish you knew exactly what you do to me, Lexi. My body is always on fire whenever you’re near. It has always been like this since we met. In the beginning,” I start and hesitate as I look down at my legs dangling over the counter. I cross my ankles as they slightly swing. I hear her turn off the water. Grabbing the hand towel to dry her hands, I feel her angle her body toward mine.
“Go on,” she encourages me to continue and I give a little laugh. Taking in a deep breath, I release it in a burst of air.
“In the beginning, I was just scared to say anything. Not really knowing how you felt or if you even swung in that direction,” I say with chuckle. “And then after getting to know you better, my feelings became stronger and stronger as we grew closer. And then Jason happened. And I just pushed everything down. All I could do was talk to Cam about it,” I say and finally look up into her eyes.
Lexi’s eyes widen slightly. “Wait. Y-you… you told… you told Cam about your feelings for me?” she asks hesitantly. I don't know whether she’s shocked or worried. I give her a smile.
“Of course I did, Lex. He’s my husband and we’ve known each other since we were kids. Besides you, he’s my best friend also. He cares about you too, whether you want to believe it or not,” I say, trying to hint that Camden wants her too.
Tossing the towel over her shoulder, she rubs her face with both hands. I can feel her frustration and confusion in all of this. I knew this was going to be difficult explaining, but to get where I want to be, it needs to be done.
Reaching up slowly to remove Lexi’s hands from in front of her face, I give her a small smile. She releases an exasperated breath and leans her hip against the counter next to me. I give her a moment to process everything before I speak again.
“Tell me why you are so hesitant, Lex. I need to understand. Did I misinterpret your feelings?” I ask her softly. She raises her eyes up to mine slowly.
“No, Shay, you didn’t misinterpret anything. But Cam is my friend too, and I simply can’t do this to him. I already feel guilty enough as it is kissing you. You cheated on him… with me,” she says looking down at the ground.
Grabbing her arm, I pull her closer. She’s hesitant but still moves slowly. Spreading my legs, I pull her between my thighs and grab her hands in mine. I give her a moment to take everything in. I give her hands a little squeeze.
“Look at me, Shay,” I say to her. Her eyes move slowly up to meet mine. Tilting my head slightly, I smile at her. “Did you not take in everything I said last night? What about me telling you that I talked to him about my feelings towards you?”
“I guess I just want to be sure, Shay. I don’t want to have any doubts in my head that he’s okay with us doing this. I just know how it feels to have things done behind my back and I don’t want to do that to him. Okay?” she says.
And when it’s put like that, and I’m reminded of what Jason did to her, I understand completely. Taking in a deep breath and releasing it, I resign myself to letting it go for now. When Cam comes home and they talk, maybe he will set her mind at ease.
“I get that and you’re right. I know Camden is good with this, but I understand your need to talk it over with him, babe. But can I ask you something?” I question.
She finally smiles at me like she used to, and nods. “Of course.”
“When Cam comes home tomorrow evening, and you guys talk. Is this something you can see yourself doing… with me?” I ask hesitantly. I’m so scared she’s going to say no. That maybe her saying all of this today is her way of trying to say she feels that what happened last night is a mistake and she really doesn’t want me like that.
We stare at one another for a few more seconds. I can see she is processing something in her head, and when she finally decides whatever it is she has decided. Her hands release mine and my heart drops to the pit of my stomach until I feel them cup by face softly and then it begins to race. She steps closer between my legs, pressing her body as close as she can get against the counter. My hands go immediately to her hips.
“Shay,” she says, bringing her face even closer. I can feel her breath ghost over my lips. “If Camden is okay with this, whatever this is between us, then nothing will stop me from claiming you in any way you will allow me.”
A smile curls the sides of my lips as we stare into each other's eyes. She leans close and just brushes her lips over mine, kissing me again. It’s not a passionate kiss like last night but a chaste one. Soft and slow. She pulls slightly back and then does the same to just my top lip then the bottom. She maneuvers my face so she can kiss the corner of my mouth and then my cheek, moving to my ear.
My heart is racing, beating so hard it feels as if it's going to burst through my chest. My hands are shaking on her hips but my hands squeeze slightly. When she’s at my ear, she sneaks her tongue out to just let the tip flick my ear lobe. “I really am hoping Cam is okay with this. You are too tempting and the things I want to do to you… mmmm,” she finishes and I hear almost a growl from her chest, and I shiver all over.
She pulls back and drops her hands to my thighs. “But until then, nothing has changed. You’re still my best friend and he is too,” she says.
I give a little chuckle and nod. “Fine. Until tomorrow,” I say and let my eyes roam over her delicious body, I meet hers once again. “Because I will hold you to that claiming you promised me.”
We laugh together and after she steps back, I jump down from the counter.