“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 withthem 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 bitgetting 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 thedick. 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.
