His pattern in the past, whether intentional or not, has always been to make me feel like we’re getting closer, only for him to push me away. I don’t want to think about the other shoe dropping all the time, but itishanging over my head a bit. I can’t let him break my heart again.
“Thinking about me is good,” I say coyly.
“Mm-hmm. Little tease…I didn’t realize how many ways you’d fit that name when I called you that the first time.”
“Almost like you’re speaking it into existence,” I say, laughing.
“I want to kiss you quiet right now.”
I gasp. “You don’t want to hear my words?”
He groans again. “No, I always want to hear your words…less so when they’re shutting me down.”
I can’t help the laugh that comes out.
“You’re loving this, aren’t you?” he says.
“A little bit. The quiet, stoic Camden Whitman has a dirty mouthandwants me all to himself. What’s not to enjoy? If youwere here, I’d pull you into the walk-in cooler and teach you a lesson––”
I hear a snort behind me, and I turn to see Everett Whitman. My face drains of color, and I have to hold on to the counter to steady myself.
Camden is saying, “Don’t threaten me with a good time, Fair. Give me twenty minutes and I’ll be right there.”
“I’ve gotta go,” I say.
“What? All right, I see what you’re doing, little tease.” He laughs. “Will I see you tonight?”
“Mm-hmm,” I say before hanging up.
I meet Everett’s eyes and gulp.
“Hey, Juju. How’s it going?” Everett asks, unable to hold back his grin.
“It’s going.” I laugh awkwardly. “What can I get for you?”
“I’ll have your grilled cheese with a slice of tomato…and a large mug of chamomile tea.”
“Coming right up.” I get his hot water and teabag right away and slide it across the counter to him, and then I get to work on his food while he sits on a stool and watches.
“Everett, I’m really,reallysorry you had to hear that,” I say.
A laugh roars out of him. “I’m not,” he says. “In fact, I cannot tell you how thrilled I am to hear about this development.” He leans over and squeezes my shoulder, and I pause as I’m putting cheese slices on his bread to look up, and I see his earnest expression. “Stella and I always hoped the two of you would end up together.”
My breath stutters, and with a wobbly voice, I say, “You did?”
He nods. “Parents notice things, and Stella was always far more perceptive than I was, but even I always noticed the way the two of you were drawn to each other…even when things were…less than friendly,” he says diplomatically. “When youwent away to school, Stella said again that she thought when the time was right, you’d find your way to one another.”
“It’s not…I mean…we’re not…” I’m a stuttery mess. “Camden would like to keep it a secret.” It comes out in a rush and then hangs there.
Everett blinks and then lifts his eyebrows. “Really?”
He couldn’t sound more surprised.
The weight of it lands between us.
“Well, I’m sure he has a good reason, although I can’t think of any,” he says before wincing.
“He thinks it’s better this way…mostly because of Jackson. They have that agreement, you know.”
