Page 31 of Staying for You

She beams and practically skips into the kitchen. The pot of chowder looks big enough to feed an army. I lift an eyebrow at her and she shrugs. “You said the kids’ parents were going to be here around noon and I thought they might be hungry, too.”

She’s really incredible. My hazel eyes hold her bright blues. That pulse that picked up earlier? It’s galloping now. Thoughtful already when she came up here so I could take care of the snow. But then to care enough to have a hot meal waiting for me and my family? It’s too much.She’stoo much. I hear Issy crying and it breaks our stare.

I look in the direction of the bedroom where she was sleeping but Cami’s already heading in there. Before I can get my feet to move, she’s already coming out with a still-sleepy looking Isabelle. Her hair is a mess and her head is resting on Cami’s shoulder, pacifier still in her mouth.

“Hi, baby girl. Have a good nap?” I coo and cup her cheek, rubbing my thumb over her skin. Holy crap, she’s cute. Rex and Chloe made one incredibly adorable kid. I almost feel a pang of jealousy that they’re going to take her home with them which means my time with my niece and nephew is over.

She reaches a hand to me and I kiss her palm.

“I’ll go change her pants then get out of your hair.”

“Wait. What? You’re leaving? You made soup!” I tell her this though she obviously knows it already.

“I made it for you,” she explains.

“And you’ll stay and enjoy it with me otherwise I’m going to have to assume that you poisoned it and you’re plotting a way to steal The Escape from me.” I grin widely.

“Boy that escalated quickly.”

I waggle my eyebrows. “What can I say? You’re not the only one with a vivid imagination who can make up stories.”

She shifts nervously on the balls of her feet, switching Issy to her other hip. “Don’t you want some time with your family? I just showed up here today without being invited. I don’t need to stick around…”

I set Brody down for him to go play and check my phone that just buzzed in my back pocket.

Liv:We’re about five minutes away.

I don’t bother replying to her just to say okay. It’s something that drives me nuts. One of my pet peeves. We don’t have to reply to every single text we receive if all we’re going to do is acknowledge it. My sister knows this so she won’t be concerned. The read receipt went through. “Not really,” I joke then rush to explain when her eyes widen comically. “I’m kidding. They’re not leaving again until tomorrow anyway.” I shrug, as if I don’t care either way whether she stays or goes back to her cabin. Even though, I really don’t want to see her leave yet. I should probably be monumentally concerned about that – especially because I know my family. They’ll definitely read into the situation and assume things. “Besides, my sister is a huge reader and I’m sure she’d love to meet you.”

She bites her bottom lip and glances at the door. “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude. I can leave and no one would know.”

“Intruding would be if you weren’t invited. Which you were. Stay, please? You made this huge pot of soup and helped me out this morning. Consider it part of my payback.” I go for my most boyish grin. The one that even my sister can rarely say no to. It works. I see her shoulders drop in defeat and her subtle nod when she whispers, “Okay. Fine. You win.” I want to fist pump which immediately makes me nervous. I can’t allow myself to get attached to Cami. She’s not here for good. She’s temporary.

“I do love winning.”

“But just for that, you have to change her.” Cami thrusts Isabelle into my arms with a smirk and I chuckle, doing as I’m told.

Chapter Ten

Cami

I feellike I’m meeting my boyfriend’s family for the first time but it’s not even close to the truth.

My stomach is in knots and my nerves are causing everything inside me to feel like it’s on fire.

What was I thinking making soup and offering to help like I’m Owen’s girlfriend or something? I’m almost embarrassed for myself. I must look like I’m so desperate for attention to him.

I make Owen stick to his promise of changing Issy’s diaper wondering what in the world I am doing here. My gosh. Did Scott mess with my head so much, not giving me a minute of attention that I’m willing to basically become a nanny for kids whose parents I’ve never met just so I can spend some time with their sexy-as-sin uncle?

I ask to use his restroom even though everything inside me is screaming for me to leave. I’m already in his home, he’s made it clear it’s okay for me to stick around for a little while, but that doesn’t mean I’m okay with meeting his family looking like a ragamuffin — or at all for that matter. I should leave. There’s no reason for me to stay.

At the same time, I can’t get myself to truly want to leave. Geesh. I’m a mess. I’ve never teetered back and forth between decisions so often in my life.

Stay or go.

Stay or go.

I roll my eyes, realizing that I just need to suck it up and grow up already. I’m overreacting, I’m sure, but I’ve been made to feelin the wayin the past and that’s hard to move on from.

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