It’s my turn to be confused as I ask, “Dress shopping?”
Cam bites her lip with a cheeky smirk. “Yeah, Kat’s going to start looking at wedding dresses and asked if I wanted to join them.”
I raise an eyebrow at that. The irony of Cam looking at wedding dresses is clearly not lost on either of us.
“You? Wedding dresses? Are you sure you won’t catch on fire?”
Her low laugh stirs something in me, and an image of our wedding day and the deep navy blue dress that clung to her body comes to mind.
“Nah, I’m not the one trying them on. It’ll be fine.”
“Of course, it’ll be fine.” Mom bustles over, nudging me to the side with one hip so she can access the drawer in front of me. “It’ll be lovely to spend some time just us girls and catch up since Cam wasn’t able to come over early today.”
Shifting my gaze back to Cam, I take her in. Wedding dress shopping is definitely not going to be high on her list of preferred activities, but she seems excited about spending time with my mom and sister.
Yet again, I’m struck by the fact that she looks happy, relaxed, and more at home here with my family than I’ve seen her in a long time.
It goes a long way to reassuring me it was the right thing to do, pushing her to come home with me. Whether she stays for a long time, or just long enough to get everything settled with her grandfather’s trust, being here is good for her.
I just can’t avoid hoping that when the money comes through, Cam doesn’t decide it’s her ticket out of Dogwood Cove.
Chapter twelve
Cam
God, do I miss sleep. I don’t think I’ve had one good night of sleep since Grandpa died. And last night was no different. I tossed and turned in Beckett’s spare bed for hours. Maybe I drifted off at some point? I don’t fucking know anymore.
What I do know is that I’m going to need more than just the massive mug of coffee I’ve poured if I’m going to go wedding dress shopping, of all things.
“Ready for a day with my family?” Beckett asks in a far too cheerful voice as he enters the kitchen.
I glower at him over my mug. He looks good. Refreshed. Put together.Bet he didn’t have a hard time sleeping last night.“It’ll be fun.”
“Don’t sound so excited.” He chuckles, pouring his own coffee and coming to sit at the table with me. “You don’t have to go; you know that, right? My mom won’t even guilt trip you that badly.” He visibly winces. “Well probably not.”
It’s hard not to smirk at his statement. I can see Claire Donnelly having an epic ability to guilt trip when necessary. I blow across the richly aromatic steam wafting from my mug. “I want to go. I’m just tired.”
Beckett’s lips tilt down in a frown. “You didn’t sleep well?”
I debate telling him the truth. The last thing I need is him trying to fix things, not that he even could. But it’s Beck, and I can’t keep a secret from him. “I haven’t slept through the night since Grandpa died.”
“Shit,” he swears under his breath, and the sympathy I see is almost worse than him jumping to fix everything. “I’m sorry, Cam. That sucks. Do you want to make a doctor’s appointment? Or talk to Kat? Maybe she can get you something to help?”
And there it is.
“Beckett. Stop.”
I see him wince. “I’m doing it again.”
Nodding, I reach over to squeeze his hand. “I know you’re just being you. But really, please stop. Didn’t you say I’m allowed to not be okay right now? I’m allowed to be sad, or grieve, or whatever?”
Beckett huffs ruefully, giving me a sheepish smile. “Yeah, I did say that. Sorry, Cam. I just hate seeing you suffer.”
“I know, and that’s what makes you my best friend.”
Something flashes across his face. Regret? Disappointment? Both? And why does that make my gut churn? He’s just being my friend. That’s all I want him to be.
Standing up, Beckett drains his coffee, then walks over to the sink, rinsing his cup before turning back around. “Well, I better get to the office. I was thinking, we could go for a walk down at the beach tonight if you wanted. I should be home in time to make something quick for dinner in case you get caught up with my family.”
