Sam's POV

"Sam!" I hear Lexi running down the hall with Jake yelling after her to slow down. I'm so jealous of Jake in this moment. He has the security of knowing that whatever he does Bella and Lexi will always be in his life. He's good for them though. I'm glad they have someone to always be there for them. I want to 0always be there for them too but I don't want to spend the rest of my life competing with him or doubting her feelings for me.

"Hey sweetie what are you doing here?" I'm pretty sure Bella does not know about this.

"We brought you lunch! Why is my mommy mad at you?" She goes from happy to sad in just seconds.

I look at Jake but he just shrugs. Helpful.

"That's not really something I should talk to you about Lexi."

Then she asks if I still love them and I tell her of course I do and I always will. Jake looks at me suspiciously but what was I supposed to say? Yes, of course I love you both and I will continue to as long as your mom stops being stubborn and realizes that I'm not an ass and finally chooses me over Jake. I don't think he would have liked that any better.

"We love you too!" And she's back to happy. I hate to think about how sad she's going to be if we can't work things out. Bella too, it will take her forever to trust another man. I don't want either of them to have to go through that but I can't give in on this.

Leah comes down the hall and Jake tells Lexi to go to her so she hugs me and runs off.

"You're right about the kids thing but you're wrong about me being more important. You can probably win the kid thing, but you won't win if you try to make her choose between us. I'm not more important to her than you are but I'm her family. You don't give up family." And he walks away before I can say anything else. Not that I had anything else to say.

Later in the day Leah comes to talk to me.

"It used to bother me too. How close they are. But you get to know them together and they do love each other but not in a way that threatens me or you. And it used to bother me how much Jake loved Lexi because I thought along the same lines as Bella only I thought he would never love our kids as much as he loves her. Everyone we love, we love a little bit differently. And sometimes it is a threat. But not with them, I promise you. I wouldn't be with Jake if I thought any other way. If they loved each other like that then they would be together and they would have been together a long time ago. When I first met her I couldn't figure out why they aren't together but the chemistry just isn't there." I never even thought about Leah is all this.

"She's always going to run to him."

"Yes she is. And you can either accept that or move on. But I know you don't want to move on. Why is it wrong for her to have someone to run to? Especially someone who loves her and Lexi so much and only wants the best for them? Jake will always be on her side but he knows she's stubborn so he'll always push her back to you unless you screw up. She does the same for him when we argue. Though luckily for me he's not stubborn like her. If you really want her you will always have your hands full. According to him she was stubborn before but Marcus pushed it over the edge. And Lex is just like her. Did anyone ever tell you how incredible it is Lexi took to you so fast?" I shake my head no.

"I can probably get past her running to Jake for everything but I can't get past her not having kids with me because she thinks I'll love Lexi less. Especially when I know she'll never doubt Jake's love for her." I feel pathetic.

"I get that. And so does he. He's good to have on your side. She'll come around." And she goes back to work.

I try to call Bella but I get her voicemail. I wonder if she's still working or ignoring me. I wonder if she took the ring off.