Page 19 of Promise To Marry You
My teasing comment lands perfectly as Beckett halfway chokes on the swallow of beer he had just taken. He takes off his glasses to wipe his eyes, then mockingly glares at me. “Seriously, Cam?”
It’s my turn to lift my shoulders nonchalantly. “Look, if you can joke about wanting me to be a perfect housewife when you get home from work, I can joke about finally winning the pizza topping battle.”
Beckett picks a piece of pineapple off his slice and chucks it at me, but I react quickly, opening my mouth and catching it with a smirk.
He inclines his head in acknowledgment of my excellent catch, then returns to picking the pineapple off his slice.
“Hate to break it to you, but the joke’s on you, Camilla Byrne, or should I say, Camilla Donnelly.” He winks, but before I can say anything, he continues. “They were meant to only put it on half but messed up the order. I’m just too hungry and tired to argue. You didn’t win anything.”
He’s wrong, but I don’t say it.
The truth is,I won the fucking lottery when Beckett Donnelly became my friend.
Chapter ten
Cam
I woke up this morning feeling untethered, in a way. Aimless, with nothing to fill my time. The grief is still present, a dark cloud over my heart, but I also need to do something with myself. Something to move my life forward. I know that’s what Grandpa would want, I just have to convince myself that I’m ready.
Somehow, I don’t think he’d want you to move forward by marrying someone just to get the money…I firmly push that thought away, locking it in a small box in my mind. Grandpa loved Beckett. He might not approve of how we went about things, but I know he respected the man who’s now my husband.
After spending some time out in Beckett’s front garden, cleaning up some flower beds in an effort to pull my weight, I change into some tights and a light shirt and go for a walk. The spring weather is cooperating, with sunshine and mild temperatures, and I’m familiar enough with the town from all of my visits to not get lost. It feels good to put on some music and shut everything else out for a while.
The route I take ends up going by the street with the vacant storefront on it. My footsteps slow, and I pause out front, placing my hands on my hips and staring into the dark space. The exhausting emotional burden I felt yesterday is still there, but it’s muted slightly. Could I see myself staying in Dogwood Cove long-term? Of course, I could. I’ve always loved this town, and with nothing left holding me to Manitoba, why not relocate to somewhere as beautiful as here.
But starting a business, even with my grandfather’s money, that’s what tips the scales. Shaking my head to dispel the crowded thoughts that are becoming a jumble of noise in my mind, I turn away from the window and start to walk back to Beckett’s house.
An art studio is a pipe dream. Maybe someday, but not while everything else is such a chaotic mess in my life. Even if that would be exactly the kind of thing Grandpa had in mind with the crazy inheritance that led me here.
By the time I get back to the house, my body is tired, even if my head isn’t. Against my better judgment, I’ve started envisioning all the things I would do to the empty space to turn it into my dream. Warm buttery yellow walls with my paintings and students’ projects lining the walls. Room for pottery wheels and kilns in the back, shelves of items for purchase up front. I could host paint and sip nights, kids parties, classes, all of it centered around finding your own way to express yourself — no rules, no limits.
I’m still envisioning all of it as I strip off my clothes, leaving them in a pile on the floor of the spare bedroom I’m sleeping in, and step across the hall into the bathroom.
Half an hour later, I wrap a fluffy towel around my body and open the door, releasing a waft of steam.
“Shit, I’m sorry.”
I start at the sound of Beck’s voice, pivoting on my feet to see him standing in the doorway to his bedroom with his eyes cast upward. “You’re home early.”
“Yeah, I, ah, finished up everything, so I figured I’d just leave. I texted you, but, um, yeah, I guess you were in the shower.”
For fuck’s sake, he looks mortified to have caught me in a towel. It’s not the first time we’ve stayed together, either at his place or mine, but in all that time, we’ve never had a situation like this occur. If I’d known he would be home, I would have taken clothes into the bathroom with me.
“Okay, well, I’m going to get dressed. See you in a bit,” I say, trying to dispel any awkwardness.
Beckett nods and spins around, hitting himself on his door frame. His hand lifts to his forehead. “Ouch. Yup. Okay, cool, see you soon.”
I bite my tongue, holding back a laugh. Shaking my head, I go into my bedroom, close the door, and grab some clean clothes. As I pull a loose sweater over my head, I wonder if maybe I should find my own place to stay while I’m here. After all, we’ve never stayed with each other for more than a few days, and we’re already past that.
It actually stuns me slightly to realize it’s been an entire week since Beckett showed up in Cliveden, the day of Grandpa’s funeral.
But the selfish side of me wins out once again. I don’t know how I’ll ever repay him for everything he’s done for me, but I can’t imagine not having Beckett around right now. Just knowing he’s down the hall grounds me. I need him. I need my friend. And that means I have to make sure the lines around our friendship are drawn clearly and there’s no confusion.
Making my way into the kitchen, I fill a glass with water and take a drink, staring out the window at the backyard. Footsteps tell me of his arrival and I turn around to lean against the counter.
“I failed again at the whole dinner and a drink thing, but in my defense, you came home early.” I paste on what I hope is a teasing smile. If we can keep everything light and friendly between us, the way it’s always been, everything will be fine. He thinks he has to save me from myself, but the truth is, it’s up to me to save us both.
His eyes meet mine, and he gives me a small grin, making me internally sigh with relief. “There’s some teriyaki chicken marinating in the fridge and stuff for a stir-fry, if that sounds good. We can add some of those steamed noodles you love as well.”
