Page 38 of Love at a 7-Eleven

"You have the other girl in town still, right?"

"Yeah, tonight's her last night."

"Are you still trying to be friends with Bailey long-term? Are you still planning on working with her?"

"I mean, I was. Bailey's all tied in with everything I do. She keeps track of everything with my social media, and even my ads and revenue."

"She knows about your finances? Hang on. Hey, I'd like to get a Green Day smoothie, please. Large." Caleb waited while Drake ordered and then spoke to him again. "Okay, I'm back."

"You were asking if Bailey has access to my money, and the answer is yes. She knows my passwords and everything. She's really good with numbers, and she keeps all of my books. It's been that way for the last few years. It's a burden off me. Half of our software subscription services are under her emails and passwords. I wouldn't even know where to begin with using some of the software. I'm already breaking her heart. She doesn't like her other job. If I take away this job, I'll… I don't know. People move on from things in life, I guess."

Drake was quiet, thinking for several long seconds. "Is it worth it, you think? This other girl… Lila? Is she worth it?"

Caleb hesitated because the words got stuck in his throat. "Y-yes. You actually have no idea. I've never felt anything like it. I can't even look at her without imagining… I really feel like I want to be with her. I think it's forever. And I'm not even scared I'll become my dad. I know I talked about that being a factor, but it's not. I'll do whatever it takes to have her and build a family."

"Whoa. How does she feel?"

"The same," Caleb said. "And I'll work it out with Bailey. It's not that big of a deal in the long run. Anyway, thank you for listening. I just called to tell you thanks for letting her stay at your place. She's loving it there."

"It's no problem. I'm glad to have someone in there when I'm away."

"You'll have to post some photos of your work once you're finished today."

"I will. I can't believe you found a lady, bro."

Caleb was smiling as he got off of the phone with his brother. It had been a surreal few days, but he felt fully recovered physically, and he was pumped about going to see Lila. She was here in California because she cared about him. It was the most wonderful thing in the world that she cared about him. He had Lila, and everything else would fall into place.

He jogged up the steps and to his brother's front door. Lila must've known he was there because she opened the front door before he made it there. She was wearing a dress, and Caleb wanted to attack her, to ravish her. "Aw, you look so beautiful!" he said, holding back. He stooped down and took her into his arms, gripping her mid-section and lifting her off of her feet. She squealed and smiled, and Caleb was looking straight into her mesmerizing green eyes as he set her back down.

"Lilaaaa," he said in a whisper that caused her to laugh. Oh, the way her eyes squinted and she lit up when he said her name. "What did you do today, my baby?"

"I went shopping and then I did some homework and some planning for that shower."

"Did you find anything when you went shopping?" he asked.

"I got a shirt."

"This one?" he asked, glancing down. "I guess that's a dress, isn't it?"

She let out a little laugh and pulled back doing a curtsey. "Yes, this is a dress," she said. "It's from home."

"How are you so beautiful?"

"You like it?"

"I love it." Caleb felt like he might burst into a thousand pieces. When he held her, his heart was full in a way he had never experienced before. That's not even mentioning what it did to his body. He had to keep Lila. She was now a nonnegotiable in his life.

"Where are we going?" he asked, looking her over in her little blue and white dress.

"I thought we were getting some dinner."

"I know, but we talked about tacos. I have to take you somewhere better than that since you're all dressed up."

She bit her lip to hide a grin. She was so beautiful that Caleb stared at her, unashamed.

"I'm fine eating tacos," she said. "The dress is for you. It's not about the restaurant."

He sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm going to look at my phone because it's the third or fourth time it's gone off in my pocket."

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