Page 22 of Promise To Marry You
“Oh really,” he says, drawing out the word. “Is she the reason you’ve never had a girlfriend?”
I shoot him a sharp look. “I’ve had plenty of girlfriends.”
“Just none that last more than a month or two. However long it takes for you to realize they’re nother.”
My glare deepens. “Listen, both of you, drop it. Cam is one of my closest friends. There’s never been anything else between us, and there never will be.”Except for, oh, you know, a marriage.“She’s coming for dinner tomorrow at Mom and Dad’s, and I need you both to swear to me you won’t give her a hard time. She’s got enough on her plate right now, what with losing her only family member and all. So don’t be fuckers and just leave it alone.”
To my immense relief — and slight surprise — both Sawyer and Hunter have the decency to look chastised by my statement. Swinging his legs over to the side of the bench, Sawyer looks up at me with a serious expression on his face.
“Got it, bro. Sorry, man, you’re right. Cam needs a friend and you’re being one. We all will be. I just don’t want to see you hurt if she decides Dogwood Cove isn’t the place she wants to settle down when she’s ready to move on.”
My eyes close briefly as I take a deep breath. “I know. And trust me when I say, if she stays here, I’ll be happy, but if she leaves, I’ll still be happy. As long asshe’shappy.”
Silence falls between us three for a minute, then Hunter breaks it. “Damn, you’ve got it bad for this girl.”
Cam and I walk up to my childhood home, where my loud — and nosy — family awaits, and I’m nervous. Just as I have been all day in anticipation of tonight. As far as I know, Sawyer’s the only one of my siblings who had any idea that I ever wanted more than friendship with Cam. Max, Jude, and Kat are all oblivious. Or so I thought. But now, after that gym session where Hunter figured me out in no time, I’m worried it won’t stay that way for long.
Pushing open the front door, we’re greeted by a wall of noise. I watch Cam carefully out of the corner of my eye to make sure she’s not overwhelmed. I know she loves hanging out with my family, but she’s not her usual self right now, and if I get any hint that this is too much, we’re out.
Shit, when did I turn into such a protective caveman? And who am I fooling, thinking Cam would let that stand for a second.
Inside, Cam beelines for the kitchen where I hear the squeals of happy welcome from Mom and Kat. I know she’s in good hands, and they’ll introduce her to Max’s girlfriend Heidi. I find my way into the living room where Dad, Hunter, Max, and Sawyer are all waiting.
“Hey, where’s Jude and Lily?” I ask, giving Dad’s shoulder a squeeze in greeting.
“On their way. Jude’s practice ran late,” he replies.
My second oldest brother recently started as the head coach for a new expansion league hockey team in the neighbouring town of Westport. An injury forced Jude into retirement from the NHL, but he found his passion in coaching, and with Kat’s best friend Lily.
Sawyer stands up and moves to head into the kitchen. “I’m gonna go say hi to Cam, you want a drink, Beck?”
I nod, and he heads out of the room, Hunter following. I can hear his booming voice from here.
“Cami, girl, you are a sight for sore eyes.”
I roll my own eyes at his over-the-top way of saying hello. We could not be more opposite if we tried. The malicious part of me wishes I could hear Cam’s reaction to him calling her Cami… There’s not a single version of her name she hates more than that.
But Dad’s soft voice draws my attention away from the kitchen. “How’s she doing, son?”
“As well as can be expected, I think,” I answer honestly. “I can’t begin to imagine how she feels losing her only remaining relative. But I can see her relaxing little by little just from being out of that damn town.”
I’ve confided in my parents a little bit about Cam’s situation, so he nods in understanding. Before we can talk any further, the room fills with everyone else, and the front door opens at the same time, and Lily and Jude walk in.
The house erupts in chatter, and as usual, I find myself ducking out and heading to the kitchen in search of some peace and quiet. I find my mom at the stove, most likely making some final tweaks on whatever she’s cooked up for dinner.
“Beckett, honey, can you pass me the pepper, please?” she says, holding one hand out behind her. I don’t even bother wondering how she knew it was me, she just always knows. Without missing a beat in her cooking, she continues to jabber away. “Oh, I almost spilled the beans, but figured you might want to be the one to tell her. I was talking with Cheryl at our Walkie Talkie coffee today, and she said the community center folks would love to meet with Cam and discuss the mural.”
“What mural?”
I spin around at Cam’s soft question, not having realized she’d come into the kitchen. She moves to stand beside me, a beer in her hand.
“Mom’s friend Cheryl is on the city arts council. They want a nature-themed mural painted on the wall of the community center, and we thought you might be interested. But you don’t have to, it’s just an idea. Something to fill your time. If you want. Up to you.”
I must be rambling, because with a twinkle in her eye, Cam reaches out and gently pushes up on my chin to stop me from talking.
“That’s amazing, Beck. Thank you.” Turning to my mom, she says, “Thank you, Claire. I would be honoured to meet with your friend and discuss some ideas.”
Mom smiles back, her dancing eyes going between me and Cam and back again. “Wonderful. We can sort out the details tomorrow when we go dress shopping.”
