Page 7 of Falling for Him
“I’m just trying to make him wise up, see what’s right in front of him.”
It’s my turn to kiss my mother’s opposite cheek before pulling back and ensuring she is looking directly at me. “I see, Ma,” I assure her. “May have taken me longer than it should have, but I promise you, I see.”
CHAPTER EIGHT
Lexi
“It was beautiful.We were secluded in our own little suite that had everything we needed, and the view was amazing. I could have stayed forever but to be honest I started getting homesick.” Sutton looks around at each of us as we hang on her every word. She pauses on me and I feel the rawness settle in my chest once again.
“So tell me, is there anything new happening around here?”
Just then Bennett and Rory come in the front door and the uneasy feeling in me only intensifies. I’ve done a really great job avoiding him since the wedding because I live thirty minutes away and there haven’t been any gatherings with Brent and Sutton being gone. Now here we are again.
“Good evening, ladies,” Rory says, pausing at the end of the couch. “Aren’t we all looking cozy and inviting.”
Sutton throws a pillow at him off the couch and he catches it, laughing.
“Rory,” Brantley’s voice echoes from the other side of the room as he emerges from his mancave in the basement. Instantly he sits on the arm of the couch next to Sutton, his hand instantly finding its way to touch her shoulder. Rory flops down between Adley and Jillian. Leaning over he sniffs Jilly and she shoves him away. “Jilly Bean you always smell like chocolate or sweet vanilla.”
Marshall and the others emerge, joining us and of course his eyes don’t leave Rory as he continues to hassle Jill.
Feeling the oversized chair dip next to me, just before Bennett’s entire side brushes against mine sets off a round of chills to rack through me. I do my best to even my breathing and continue to stare ahead.
Sutton and Brantley tell us about the honeymoon, the people they met, and how they’d like to go back, only bringing all of us next time.
“Can’t avoid me forever,” Bennett says in a low whisper next to my ear. I know my eyes grow wide with surprise and Sutton sees it too. She arches a brow and I stare at her to avoid looking at him. “Or you could but it won’t keep me away.”
His cologne lingers between us, his jean clad thigh pressing firm to my own and it all makes it harder to concentrate. Wanting to hate someone you love is so much harder than it should be.
I fell for him almost immediately and then I was forced to watch as he fell for my best friend. It was torture and yet here I am still harboring all these feelings that I wish more than anything would all disappear.
“Excuse me.” I stand in a hurry and make my way to the hallway leading to the bathroom. Pacing, undecided as to where I shouldgo, I step into the guest room that at one time Sutton tried to convince me would be mine. Her and Brantley were willing to take me in when she left our apartment to move in with him. Like I was in need of protection, and I know their intentions were good.
But people are always trying to take care of me.
“So is this what we’re gonna do?” I spin around to find Bennett standing in the doorway. “Dance around one another pretending that neither of us notices there is something more. Something pulling at us, refusing to let go.”
“I don’t know what you are talking about.”
“So we are then.” He chuckles and damn it I love the sound. “I screwed up with you Lex, I know this. I was an idiot, but it doesn’t mean for one second that I didn’t see you. I saw you, and I still do. Only now you are all I see.”
“Yeah, that’s easier to say now because the one you were chasing is no longer available.”
He steps in closer, placing one hand on either side of the dresser I am leaning against, caging me in.
“I wasn’t chasing her, and I wasn’t chasing you. But I was drowning in stupid, acting like I didn’t have a care in the world. I hurt you, and that, it’s the worst part about this. Because you, Lex, are and have been from the beginning someone I never wanted to hurt.”
I notice the way his eyes shift as he looks at my mouth. Suddenly the room feels three sizes smaller, like the walls are closing in on us.
Bennett has at least six inches on me, so it’s easy to focus on his chest and avoid his eyes. But not when he is leaning in close. His eyes are beautiful, soulful, and it’s so hard to look away.
“I want to hate you.” The words are out before I have the chance to stop them.
He doesn’t falter, doesn’t flinch, just holds my stare. “But?”
In that moment I won’t lie to myself, I want to reach out and wrap my arms around him, allowing him to do the same. I want to feel him hold me, but I’m stubborn and I still can’t seem to grasp on to the old me. The Lexi that is far too forgiving. So instead I place my hand on his chest and nudge him, forcing him to step back.
“That’s all I’m giving you,” I say with a shrug. “I want to hate you.”
