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“Unless you don’t want to go...” His smile turns when he sees the tears in my eyes. They just appeared all of a sudden. What the fuck. I don’t think I’ve ever cried in my life. “Wait, what’s wrong? I thought you’d be excited.” He looks genuinely concerned.
I take a breath, tipping my head back, willing my tears not to fall. These things better not come out of my eyes. When I’m certain my voice won’t crack, I respond. “I’m excited.” I smile up at him before pulling my hoodie over my head and sliding on my t-shirt. When I meet his gaze again, he’s still worried.
“Baby.” His voice is gentle. He’s never used that term outside of sex. It makes me melt a little. Who am I turning into? “Tell me what you’re thinking.”
“Nothing. It’s not a big deal. It’s dumb.”
He stares at me, expectantly.
“It’s just that no one has ever done something this nice for me. I got overwhelmed for a second.” I turn away from him to go put on my gray Converse that are sitting by the door.
He reaches out and stops me with his fingers wrapping around my wrist, waiting for me to turn to him. “Lexy. Can I say something?”
I nod.
“These past few months with you have been great. I haven’t been this happy in… I don’t know, maybe my entire life. I’m not telling you so you put pressure on yourself or our relationship or anything. I know this trip is mostly about seeing Mack, but it still means a lot that you invited me and that you’re going to let me show you around my hometown. I wanted to do something so you know how much I appreciate you. I also want you to get used to it. This will not be the last nice thing I do for you.” He grips my chin, tilting my face until my gaze meets his and runs his thumb against my cheek.
“Thank you,” I say, meaning it more than the inflection of my voice might imply. I hold his stare for a moment then bend down to slip on my shoes. By the time I stand, it’s registered what he did for me and that I actually get to see my favorite band live. “Troy!” I startle him from where he’s digging in his bag. “I’m so excited!” I practically scream my words as I tackle him onto the bed.
“There’s my girl,” he whispers into my ear and holds me tightly to him.
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
TROY
It’sonly7:30a.m.,but we have another nine and a half hours to drive, and I told Cooper’s mom we would try to be there in time for dinner. She’s excited to meet Lexy. I can’t wait to introduce her to everyone. I know they will love her as much as I do.
As I checked out, Lexy headed to the car. By the time I get there, she’s already curled up against the window falling asleep, the morning sun softly streaming across her face. I gently set my box of breakfast down and quietly pull out my phone to snap a picture, immediately setting it as my new screensaver. When I pull up to the light at the freeway entrance, I take a good, long look at her. She’s changed back into her jean shorts, and she’s wearing her new Good Charlotte t-shirt from the concert last night. Her blonde curls have mostly fallen from sleeping on them–not that we did much of that. By the time we got back to our room and had sex, it was almost 3 a.m.
“What?” Apparently she’s not asleep yet.
“Nothing.” I smile at her. She’s so fucking cute. And mine. These ten days will be great. We’ve both been so busy with work and spring break crowds that we’ve hardly spent time together. Plus, I get to show her around my home for a change. Not that it’s my home anymore.
She’s looking at me like she’s trying to read my thoughts when the light turns green.
“I got you breakfast while I was checking out.” I pull one hand from the steering wheel to hand her the to-go box full of bagels and fruit that I had resting on the center console. “And.” I reach into the pocket of my hoodie. “Got you these out of the vending machine.” She glances down at the pack of gummy bears in my hand. She smiles as she rips them open, not even bothering with the fruit on her lap.
“Thank you,” she says as she digs out an orange and a white bear and eats them together. It’s her favorite combo. She searches through the bag for another moment, and I see the red and yellow out of the corner of my eye–my favorites. She holds them in front of my mouth until I lean forward to bite them from her fingers.
“Thanks.” I smile at her quickly, and catch a weird expression wash over her face. I bring my eyes back to the road while I question her. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“I love you,” she blurts. Before I even have time to process, she turns her gaze to the road and adds, “But don’t say it back right now or anything. I don’t want it to be a big deal, okay?” She mumbles “okay” again under her breath as if she’s trying to convince herself it’s not a big deal. But I know it’s a big fucking deal for her. It’s a big deal to me too. Fuck, I love her so much. I’ll wait to tell her, though. Instead, I smile and reach my hand over, letting it land between her thighs. She goes right back to picking out the gummy bears she wants next, like nothing happened.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
LEXY
Wepullintothedriveway of the cutest two story house I’ve ever seen. The white trim pops as the sage green paint attempts to blend in with the huge trees on either side of the house. There’s literally a white picket fence that encloses a perfectly manicured yard. I’ve never lived in anything other than an apartment. Outside of a few celebrity homes, I’ve never actually spent time in a real house. I feel dumb, but it’s a lot to absorb.
“You ready, baby?” Troy notices I haven’t made a move to open my door.
“There’s going to be a real family in there. Like, with a family dinner and people who don’t hate each other.” Part of why this decision is terrifying is because of how different my life will be compared to everything I’ve ever known. Yes, I’d have Troy, Mack and Maci–I know that makes this seem like a no brainer, but what if something happens? I’d be stuck in an unfamiliar place, surrounded by a lifestyle I’m not accustomed to.
He reaches over and threads his fingers through mine, no sign of judgement on his face even though I’m acting like the most normal thing in the world is foreign as fuck. It is for me, though.
“I felt the same way when Cooper invited me over for dinner the first time. I was nine, I think. Our meal came out of a casserole dish instead of a TV dinner tray, and I was so confused.”
Scanning my memory, I realize that at 24 years old, I’m not sure I’ve ever had a dinner from a casserole dish. Tingles of anxiety flood my body. “I’m nervous.”
