He paused, sucking in a breath and then letting it out. "I don't like admitting when you're right."

"Another reason I can't move in. Let's be real. I'm always right, and you haven't accepted that yet," she teased and he rolled his eyes, running his hand down his face.

"Babe, I'm dying. I miss you."

Her lips quirked as she looked over at him for a second before looking back at the road. It sucked only seeing him on the phone, but she had to work. Now that she was getting the office back up and running, she would be hiring another designer. To afford to do that, she had to work. "I miss you too, I do. But I'm coming over tomorrow, and let's be honest, I probably won't leave till Sunday when I get Angie. Gotta figure out how I'm going to explain that to my brother."

"You act like everyone doesn't know about us."

She pursed her lips together. "I don't want to admit it and have them be right."

"You're impossible, you know that?" She stuck her tongue out at him and he laughed. "Anyway, are you coming to the game tomorrow?"

She paused. "Shit. I forgot you had a game. Do you want me to?"

"I'd love you to."

"Okay, I'll go, then."

"Cool, but since you won't move in with me, you and Angie can come over for dinner and a movie tonight."

She let out a long breath. "Benji, I haven't even told her about us yet."

"Perfect time. We can do it together."

He was so ready, so confident. If he had his way, they would come and never leave. It was really sweet and she loved how much he wanted them there, but shouldn't they, like, love each other before all that? It just seemed kind of crazy. No matter how great and amazing it sounded, she had to keep her head about this.

She had to be smart.

"Benji," she whined and he shook his head.

"Plus, I want to hang out with her before I leave. Starting Monday, I'm gone for almost two weeks."

She made a disgruntled face. He was leaving? Wait, she knew this. Jayden was leaving, too. "Boo."

"Yeah. So, tell me, what's your favorite food?"

She gave him a look. "I love all food."

"No, you have a favorite. What is it?"

She let out a breath. He wasn't going to take a no, plus, Angie would really like to see him before he left. But that meant Lucy really needed to tell Angie. She was leaving for Rick's the following day, and Lucy was sure he was going to bitch about Benji in front of her. He was just a dick that way, but she wanted Angie to hear it from her. It just worried her. What if she didn't take it well? Who was she kidding? Angie would probably pee her pants with excitement.

She loved Benji.

The problem was, if she told Angie, it was real. Her family knowing was one thing, but Angie knowing-that was real. She was doing this, she was trying, and there was no turning back. A part of her was still hesitant for good reason. Her track record in love was nonexistent, and she didn't like heartache. Plus, it all seemed too damned good to be true. Great guy who loves kids, who enjoys a lot of the same things she does, and just clicks with her? Yeah, that didn't happen to Lucy Sinclair. No, her life was hard, but with him...

It wasn't.

Clearing her throat, she shrugged. "I actually love chicken potpies the way my mom makes them."

"My specialty," he said simply, and her face twisted in disbelief.

"What? You cook?"

"Duh, I'm an alcoholic who did nothing before you. Of course, I learned to cook." She made a noise of appreciation and he grinned. "Still so against moving in?"

She laughed. "Hush. I gotta go," she said, pulling into the parking lot. "I'll call you later."

"Okay, babe, have fun," he said and she smiled before pushing end and getting her phone. She begged the butterflies to stop going crazy in her gut before she got out and went to work.

With Benji loud and clear in her mind.

Before she could reach the building, though, her phone chimed with a text.

It was the dreaded group text with her brothers.

Jace: Rumor is Lucy is getting laid, by a real boy. Like a boyfriend.

Jude: That's what I heard.

Jayden: That's what I know. I saw them after they made out like little high schoolers at our niece's game.

Jude: Wow. I'm speechless.

Jace: Like, real life? She really kissed a guy? It wasn't a girl?

Jayden: Nope, real dude. Superawesome dude too.

Lucy: Really, guys? Go find something else to do other than talk about my love life.

Jace: She doesn't deny it!

Jude: Holy crap, our Lucy is growing up!

Lucy: I hate you all.

Jace: Man, he must be brave.

Jude: Right? I'm surprised you haven't eaten him alive yet.

Jayden: I think she tries but he puts her in her place. He's awesome, guys, really.

Jude: He better be.

Jace: Yeah, only the best for our sister.

Jayden: Agreed Jude: Yup.

Lucy: Okay, maybe I love you guys.

They weren't really that bad, she decided as her heart warmed. She did deserve the best, and while admitting that Benji may be the best scared her, she was leaning toward that. He was great and he was so patient, but Rick still weighed heavy on her heart. He hadn't spoken to her since Saturday, even with her texting him to confirm a time for pickup. It wasn't like him to ignore her. Even if it was just a sly remark, he always answered. But all she got was silence.

It made her crazy nervous.

But then, thinking about what her brothers said and the fact that Benji would have dinner for her when she got to his house, she couldn't help but grin. Tucking her phone in her purse, she walked into the building. But once she was inside, the grin was gone and the stress was eating her alive. All the orders she had made for the job, with a company she had been using since she started her business, had resulted in their sending the wrong thing. And they couldn't get anything out for a week because most of it was on back order now.

"I understand mistakes, but this is a colossal one. I placed this order two weeks ago. You said I was good, but you sent the wrong items." Lucy said sternly, her body shaking with anger.

"We understand, but the person who took your order was new and ordered the wrong thing."

"I get that, but you need to make this right. I have to have this job done by this weekend. I want my product by tomorrow. You have to fix this, or I will be finding a new distributor."

"It won't happen by tomorrow."

"Oh, it won't? Let me speak to your supervisor," she snapped, and Tina's face was full of worry. She was the owner of the restaurant and it was her baby, one she had inherited from her grandma. She wanted to redo the whole place, give it a facelift. The grand reopening was set for the following Monday. It had to be done this weekend. "It's fine. Everything is okay," Lucy reassured her, but then she caught sight of the time, realizing that Angie had to be picked up.

Shit.

Putting her phone on speaker, she texted Jayden, but he didn't answer and her stomach dropped. Crap. Automatically, she hit Benji's name and texted him.

Lucy: You busy?

Benji: Never for you. What's up?

Lucy: Can you go get Angie for me? I'm stuck at my job right now.

Benji: Yeah, I'll leave now.

Lucy: Thank you so much. I'm calling the school to tell them you're coming.

Benji: Sounds good.

Putting the phone back to her ear, she picked up the landline in front of her, dialing the school and making the request. Thankfully, it was no headache. But when she hung up and the supervisor came on the line of her cell phone, Lucy was sure her head was about to be pounding.

As she yelled at the manager on the phone, she refused to even think about the fact she had just depended on someone, other than family, to pick her child up. Again.

Nope, she had way more to worry about. Plus, she knew Angie was in good hands.

"Benji! Hey!"

"Hey, sunshine," he said as the door was opened by one of the teachers who had checked his ID before Angie was able to get in. He still thought the school was extra swanky, and they weren't playing when it came to him getting Angie. He was pretty sure they were five seconds from asking for a hair sample. He appreciated it, though. It meant Angie was safe and that was good. He hadn't realized it would be this much security, especially as this was the second time he had picked her up. Maybe it was because he was in his truck and not Lucy's car with the school decal? He wasn't sure, but again, he appreciated it.

When Angie hopped into the back of his truck, exclaiming over the new booster seat he'd bought a few days ago in hopes of more outings with her and Lucy, he grinned back at her. "Your mom is working, asked me to get you."

"Oh, cool! So I get to hang with you?"

He nodded as the door shut. "Looks that way. Is that okay? Do you want me to take you to Baylor?"

"No way! Let's go!"

He chuckled as he waited for a signal to go, sending a quick text to Lucy that he had Angie.

Lucy: You're a godsend.

Benji: Sexual favors?

Lucy: Lots.

Grinning, he put his phone down as the crossing guard started to wave him on. "How was your day? Do you have homework?"

"Yeah, I have a test tomorrow in spelling, but it was good. I played some knee ball in gym and learned some like factors. You know, elementary school. It's awesome."

"Good," he said as he chuckled, turning out onto Demonbreun. When his phone rang, he looked down to see it was Lucy. "Oh, it's your mom. Hey."

"Hey, so I don't know when I'm gonna be out of here. It could be another hour or two. Lots of stupid shit went down. Thankfully, I fixed it, but I have to wait for the next delivery. Can you take Angie to Jayden's? I don't know if we'll make it to your house tonight."

Disappointment flooded him. He'd really wanted to see her and hang with Angie. "Well, if it's cool with you, Angie wanted to hang out with me. I asked if she wanted to go to Jayden's, and she said no. So, I mean, I can keep her, and then you can come over and we'll have dinner."

"Oh, yeah. Let's do that," Angie called from the back and Lucy let out a sigh.

"I don't know. I'm not sure how late I'll be."

"It's fine, I promise," he said and then he turned so Angie didn't hear him. "I want to see you."

"Okay. I'll keep you updated."

"Cool, we will be waiting."

"Thank you. So much. Really, you really came through for me. Jayden was napping."

He smiled. "Anytime."

Hanging up the phone, he met Angie's hopeful gaze and he nodded. "We're good."

"Woo-hoo!" she cheered, bouncing in her seat. "Can we play some hockey?"

"Duh! Gotta study first and I gotta put dinner in the oven, okay?"

"Cool."

"Oh, I have to stop by the bank real fast."

"Boring," she sang and he laughed.

"It will be quick."

She nodded as he drove, heading toward the bank. "So are you still dating someone, Benji?"