“We need to toast to that.”
With a mischievous smile she only mastered after meeting Jake, Rachael said, “I can arrange that.” She opened the fridge, revealing a shelf full of beer bottles.
Elena covered her mouth and laughed. “Where’d all that come from?”
Rachael’s shrug said,duh. “The guys, of course. First thing they carried up from one of their trucks. Priorities, right?” Rachael pulled a bottle of champagne from the door. “But this is from me. And I just happened to have unpacked the glasses already.”
The doorbell rang. Pizza had arrived. Everyone protested when Elena got out her wallet, Camden the loudest. Since she hadn’t bought a new kitchen table and chairs yet—Rachael promised to go furniture shopping with her once she moved in—everyone gathered around the coffee table. Elena and Rachael bookended Tina on the couch, with Toby lying at her feet hoping for a stray crumb, while the guys sat on the floor around the low table, Jake at Rachael’s end and Camden closest to Elena.
“Surprised you aren’t picking off half the toppings, brother,” Jake joked with Camden. He turned to Kyle. “Camden’s a fussy eater.”
“George Carlin said ‘fussy eater’ was a euphemism for big pain in the ass,” Nashville said.
“Naw. Pizza’s a perfect food,” Camden said, then took another big bite. “Mmm.”
Elena, a little tipsy from the glass of champagne Rachael poured for her, toed him with her foot. “You never picked anything off the plate when I fed you back in Ross.”
“Your food’s perfect, too,” Camden answered. “You guys have no idea how amazing this woman is.”
Elena felt the blood go straight to her cheeks, warming them, and when he scooted closer and his arm brushed her bare leg, she tried to ignore the other place that decided to heat up.
Your daughter’s sitting right next to you, she silently scolded herself.Focus on her, not some guy. Sweet and hot though he may be. Elena moved ever so slightly away from Camden. She immediately missed the warmth coming off his sun-kissed skin. “Tina, that’s it for the chocolate milk. You’re still getting used to your new insulin pump.”
“If she can get you to eat your vegetables, Cam, she’s a miracle-worker,” Nash said.
“She does and she is,” Camden assured him.
“I’m no miracle-worker,” Elena said.
“Don’t let her fool you. She bakes like a dream, too,” Rachael said.
“Oh, stop it, Chica.” Elena shot her friend a warning look. “But, once I finish getting set up here, I insist on bringing you guys cookies at work. It’s the least I can do to say thanks. I can’t believe how much you guys did. I am so grateful.”
“Our pleasure. Welcome to Cali,” Kyle said, raising his beer to toast her. His smile carried a hint of interest that went beyond Elena’s culinary skills.
From out of the corner of her eye, Elena saw Camden lean toward her. He could’ve given Toby a run for his money with the protective look he shot Kyle. Elena’s pulse quickened the way it used to when she knew Antonio was on his way home from work.Calm down, girl. It’s just nerves catching up with you. And the champagne.
The guys stayed a couple more hours, moving the bigger furniture around until Elena—but more to the point, Tina—was happy with where everything was. When Costello, Nash, and Kyle said their goodbyes, Elena hugged each of them, thanking them profusely. “You’re like my brothers now,” she said, noting the slight disappointment in Kyle’s eyes despite his smile.Kid, you’re a bit too young for me anyway, she thought, though she did feel flattered. At thirty, she wasn’t ready to become invisible just yet.
After she closed the door, Jake laughed behind her.
She turned. “What?”
“Triple friend-zoned. Impressive.”
“Jake!” Rachael tagged her husband on the arm. “Rude.” She rolled her eyes and huffed. “We’ll get out of your hair now, Elena. Let me know what time you want to go furniture shopping tomorrow. We’ll use the moving van before you return it.”
“I’m out the door right behind you,” Camden called from the balcony. He’d gone out there at Tina’s insistence that he put her on his shoulders so she could see the ocean. She wasn’t quite tall enough to enjoy the peek-a-boo view without a boost, or at least that was her story. Toby shadowed them, of course.
Rachael hugged Elena and kissed her cheek. “Just give him a chance,” she whispered.
“We’ll see,” Elena whispered back. Giving Camden a chance felt more and more like a possibility.We can at least be friends, right?she thought. Good friends help each other move. That’s practically the definition of true friendship.
Though still on the small side, the apartment looked bigger without five huge guys crowding it. Elena smiled. Rachael had found a nice place. It was the tip-top of Elena’s budget, but after years of living in a horrible house that wasn’t much cheaper, she craved a little luxury. She walked out to the balcony to enjoy the view.
And maybe Camden, too.Just a little. Just as friends.
“Hi,” she said as she came up behind him.
