When In Doubt, Grab a Towel
WHEN IN DOUBT, GRAB A TOWEL
RACHEL
“Are you crazy?” I ducked down on the sofa and then swat-rolled onto the floor. “Why is he here?”
“That’s who was on the phone. He asked if he could come up since he was in the neighborhood, and I said yes. I may have neglected to tell him you’re here having a slumber party.”
“Foster! Damn you! I don’t want him to see me like this!”
“Why?” Foster said with his hand on the doorknob. “You look cute.”
“Foster, you said it yourself, Cam has this GQ model thing.” I crouched down so Cam couldn’t see me through the door window and started to crawl to the bathroom. “My eyes and nose are swollen, and I’m in my pajamas. I like to be a little more presentable when I’m around a GQ model.”
“Oh my gah, oh my gah,” Laura said, jumping up and down in place. “You know what this is, Foss? Do you know what’s happening?”
Foster shrugged. “Uh, I’m about to open the door and let our friend in so he’s not left standing out there.”
“No!” Laura flailed her hands so fast I thought she was going to take flight. “We’re the couple that, that … you know, in the movies, where the friends talk to each of them about their dates, and we give them advice and get them together. This is everything.”
“Not helping, Laura!” I sprinted to the bathroom as Foster greeted Cam. A tiny yelp left my body when I leapt into the half bath and slammed the door and then heard Cam ask, “What was that?”
“Nothing. How are ya, man?” Foster asked.
“Cam, so good to see you,” Laura said. “Come in, come in.”
“Oh, are you all in the middle of something?” Cam asked. “Don’t want to interrupt.”
Do not tell him I’m here.
Do not tell him I’m here.
Do not tell him I’m here.
“Oh, you’re not interrupting. We’re having a casual night in with Rachel. Won’t you join us?” Laura asked.
“Rachel?” Cam asked. “She’s here?”
Damnit! How the hell am I going to get out of this? My keys and phone were by the door, so maybe I could still escape without making too much contact with Grumpy Groomsman. Unless, maybe now that he’s heard my name, he’ll leave.
“Yeah, sure, I’ll stay for a bit,” he said in his cool, gristly vibrato.
Damn . Welp, time to grab something and make a run for it.
I snatched the first thing I saw. Unfortunately, it was the hand towel. I hopped out of the bathroom, but with Cam blocking my exit, I froze. He wore a crisp white T-shirt and cargos. A stray curl of hair danced across his forehead. Those dangerous lips of his formed a slight curve as his aqua eyes were gliding over me. The same fairy that had been kicking my insides every time I was around Cam resumed its work.
“Rachel?” Laura asked. “What happened?”
“Uh, oh, blamo, found my towel. Yep, right where I left it. Okay, so good seeing all of you.” I bolted for the door, tuning out Laura and Foster’s protests.
Cam took the tiniest step into my path. “You should stay.”
The hypnotizing aroma of amber and sandalwood enveloped me, and the rest of the world fell away for a moment.
Am I floating?
I’m floating.
Laura’s gentle touch on my arm pulled me out of the clouds back to where I was standing in front of Cam.
“I mean, you were here first,” Cam continued. “I’ll call you tomorrow, Foster.”
Towel in hand, I swiped up my keys and phone and dashed by Cam. He called after me, but I pretended not to hear him.
One very sleepless night later, I finally acknowledged my phone after several cups of coffee. Let’s see, ten screaming texts from Laura, one from Foster sharing Cam’s contact information, twenty from my mother, one from Emily, and one from an unknown number. I clicked on the unknown number ready to send it to spam.
You should have stayed.
I threw my phone on the sofa and pushed a pillow over it. Four contemplative moments and one deep breath later, I picked it back up. Obviously, Laura or Foster had given Cam my number. My heart pounded in my throat as I typed several responses only to delete all of them. I met men all the time, whether that be through friends wanting to set me up or them coming into my store, but none got me so flustered as Cameron Nash did.
I had to shake it off and go about my day. I checked my email and saw that Cam had sent his mother’s address. His email was less playful than his text.
Looking forward to seeing what you pick out.
Cam
I had known what his mother would like the second I glanced at her photo. First of all, she was stunning. Tall, shapely, long auburn hair, and wearing a killer emerald-green dress. Since that color brought out her eyes, it was most likely one of her favorites, probably above purple as Cam had suggested.
While the dress made a statement, her jewelry did not. She wore diamond studs and a simple malachite Van Cleef & Arpels clover. Based on the Christmas tree behind them, which was not decorated with various ornaments, but with flowers and ribbons, I would say her taste is elegant and classic.
I texted Carol at the store and gave her instructions on what to pick out, how to wrap it, and where to ship it. Then I clicked my way through Amazon and sent Cam’s gift off. In less than forty-eight hours, I would know if both my gifts hit the mark.
I went through all the other texts. I accepted the invitation to brunch Saturday with Emily and Laura, told my mother that I would speak with her once my week vacation ended, and left Cam’s text dangling.
For now.
I considered myself married to my job and since I didn’t have anyone waiting for me at home, I poured all my time and energy into our store. Taking a week off was unprecedented, but it would be so good for my soul. It also meant my mother would have to step up in my absence, something she isn’t used to doing. On my second day off, I decided to walk around one of my favorite places, Old Town Scottsdale. I go there from time to time to people watch and walk through the stores. The sun warmed me, but the spring breeze took the edge off the heat.
I love the vibe of Old Town. It’s such an interesting mix of the modern and historic. The Sugar Bowl is an iconic ice cream parlor that was originally a general and automotive parts store in the 1950s. It shares the street with rows of fun and funky shops that make it feel like you’re in the wild, Wild West. The Soleri Bridge and Plaza lines the Arizona Canal, but it also becomes the backdrop for beautiful art projects every now and then. The area near the canal consists of contemporary boutiques and restaurants. Everything from old-school Italian to a Tiki bar to Jeni’s Ice Cream, where you can smell the homemade waffle cones two blocks away.
After snagging my regular smoothie from Olive & Ivy, I headed towards the water feature and took a seat on a nearby bench. From there, I watched the people passing by. It was always interesting to see who was carrying bags from which stores. I like to browse through those same stores afterwards to try and see what people might be buying.
It was then that I saw something I’ve probably seen a million times but paid no attention to until now.
Cam’s Rubicon.
And there it went: my heart thundering in my ears. The sight of him getting out of his Jeep in the parking lot adjacent to a row of businesses sent me into a tizzy.
Cam walked to the front of a cute building in the row of shops and shook hands with another man wearing a suit. The building behind them was a bakery that had just reopened called Sugar & Spice. They chatted outside for a few minutes before walking through the front door.
What was he doing there? Probably getting coffee. I decided to investigate, nevertheless.
I casually walked by the window and peered in, valiantly trying not to look like I was peeking in, but I didn’t see him. Part of me didn’t think I should’ve been stalking the man who rejected me but it was as if Cam were some cosmic magnet pulling me to him by a gravitational force.
Inside the shop, the hiss of steam and the rhythmic tapping of the coffee grounds blended seamlessly with the gentle hum of conversation. The air was filled with a symphony of comforting scents—the rich fragrance of espresso mingling with the sweetness of pastries cooling on wire racks.
What the hell are you doing, Rachel?
I didn’t have a good answer for that question. I’d gone in there looking for Cam with no real plan of what to do if I actually ran into him.
Since I didn’t see him and I had already been waiting in line, I decided I might as well support this small business and take a pastry to go. The line slowly moved forward, and I was so transfixed by the row of éclairs that I failed to notice Cam waiting behind the counter. The low vibrato of his voice almost took me out, and my knees began to liquefy.
“What can I get you?” Cam asked, keeping his eyes on whatever he was jotting down on a clipboard.
“I …”
The man in the suit I saw outside emerged from the back room, shook Cam’s hand, and said, “Order should be to you next week.”
“Thanks, Tom.”
“Sorry about that …” Finally, his eyes met mine when he turned his attention back to the line.
He went still.
My breath hitched.
And then, I forgot there were other people in the room.