Great, now she’d hurt her best friend. “I don’t know. I guess I just wanted to keep him to myself. I wasn’t expecting to see him multiple times, and now I like him…but I don’twantto like him.”
Izzy huffed. “You’re not making sense. If you like him, text him. Talk to him. Go on another date with him.”
“I’m not ready for a new relationship,” Cam protested.
“Why? You didn’t have a healthy relationship with Ricky. You told me you wanted to break up with him. I know you’re not hung up on him.”
Izzy was making too much sense. So Cam tried again. “I’m moving soon.”
Her friend tsked. “The perfect reason to date in Phoenix while you can. The options in Oasis have not changed.”
“Ugh. Fine. If I hear from him again, I’ll go out with him.”
The next morning, almost a week since she’d last heard from him, she woke up to a message. Her heart raced as she opened it. What were the odds after last night’s conversation with Izzy?
If you’re free Saturday, could I take you to lunch?
Relieved that he hadn’t given up, she quickly typed out a reply.
I’m free for lunch Saturday.
His response came just as quick.
Does noon work? Is there anywhere you’d like to eat? Do you have a favorite restaurant?
Noon is fine. My favorite is a little hideaway off 16th Street. I love their Santa Fe chicken.
It was an honest reply. The restaurant was nice, but quiet and low-key. A little expensive, but that chicken was probably her favorite meal in Phoenix. She wouldn’t have the opportunity to eat it as often once she moved.
I’ll have to try it. I’ll meet you tomorrow at noon.
After that exchange, she’d heard nothing else, but she showed up the next day to meet him.
He’d been there when she arrived, standing outside the entrance looking handsome in a button-down shirt and chinos.
“Hi,” she greeted as she approached him.
“Hello, Cami,” he said before leaning forward and kissing her cheek.
They went in and ended up having a lovely lunch of Santa Fe chicken. There was none of the awkwardness that sometimes occurs on dates. They’d easily chatted about everything in their lives. How she’d decided on law, how he was nearly done with his doctorate program, their shared love of baseball, their families, and her transition back to her family’s law firm in Oasis.
After lunch she invited Javi back to her place. She still wasn’t comfortable being seen at his. Cal knew Javi had accompanied her to the banquet as he’d suggested, but she didn’t think he was aware of what had happened in San Diego. At least, her brother hadn’t mentioned it, and she was sure he would have if he’d known. Which meant Javi was discreet, and she liked that. Not that she was embarrassed to be with him, but she’d rather not advertise something if she didn’t know where it was going.
Javi lived in the gated community of townhouses owned by the team. In fact, he was in the same townhouse quad as her brother. She’d rather keep quiet for now, so that she didn’t cause issues between them or have to answer questions that she didn’t know how to answer. She didn’t know how to describe what was going on between them.
When they came in through Camdyn’s front door, she sat her bag on the side table and toed off her shoes as she always did when she entered. Javi quickly followed her lead and took his off as well. After locking the door, she wandered into the living room and clicked on the television. It was on the Investigation Discovery channel and the volume was low, but she had nervous energy and needed something to do.
“Would you like a drink?” she asked as she turned to look at Javi.
He walked up and placed his hands on her hips. “Only a drink of you,” he replied.
Her smile was instantaneous, but she rolled her eyes playfully in response. He could be so silly. She put her hand on his chest. “I’m being serious. I’m going to grab some water. Do you want anything?”
“I’ll take a glass, too,” he replied while dropping his hold on her.
While she walked into the small kitchen, Javi took up residence on her floral Victorian-style sofa. His large frame looked ridiculous perched on it, and Camdyn knew from experience that the sofa was hard and uncomfortable.
“Did you pick out this couch?” he asked as he perched on its edge.
