Chapter 25
Cameron
Since I first came to Whispering Tide, I haven’t taken a vacation. I’ve taken days off here and there, but most of them I ended up on the property in some capacity. I finagled five days away, five days to spend with Juli on her turf, getting to know her better, observing the way she lives.
Her condo is quaint, in a quiet development of only a few units.
She has two bedrooms, one used as an office, and a larger one where she sleeps and stores her clothes, complete with a walk-in closet to herself, brimming with apparel.
It’s a stark contrast to the house she grew up in because of the size, though every appliance is top-of-the-line, and granite countertops line the counters in the galley kitchen.
She’s made it a home but was quick to add it’s temporary.
I didn’t want to read anything into it. She’s lived here for two years, and while it’s “home,” it’s not forever.
Some days I feel the same way about my townhouse. I like it well enough, but I don’t want to live there forever. At least not by myself. And even then, we’ll eventually outgrow it.
Whoever the “we” happens to be.
I can’t get ahead of myself. I’m confident in my heart that Juli and I aren’t a fling.
What I can’t say with certainty is whether we’re forever material.
Right now, I’m happy knowing it’s more than casual.
I’m committed to her, for as long as she’ll have me.
Maybe it’s odd to be at the “boyfriend/girlfriend” stage at our ages, but I’m here as long as she wants me.
However it looks when we have to say goodbye in five days.
I’m glad it’s not as friends. We’ve yet to talk about what will happen, but I’m guessing we’ll do our own version of long distance.
I’m avoiding thoughts of when I have to leave and enjoying all the moments until then.
Like now, I’m going to rile her up about the amount of towels for one person.
They are neatly organized in four drawers—drawers, not a linen closet.
She’s yet to tell me about the rotation, but I plan to take notes while I’m here.
“So, I kinda thought you were kidding about the whole ‘thirty’ towels thing. But I see you’re not.”
“I’m very serious about my towel obsession. You’ll have to get used to it.”
The funny thing is, I already am. Not as obsessive as needing a new one every time, but I’m all over making sure she has a clean one for herself.
“I can do that. Mind if I poke a little fun every now and again?”
“I’d be afraid something was wrong if you didn’t.”
We’re lying on her bed after the tour of her condo, both of us a little tired from the travel. Or maybe it’s the late night and early morning catching up with us. Whatever it is, rest was required.
“What’s on our agenda for the next few days?”
“I need like an hour or two a day for work so I can meet some deadlines, but the rest of the time is up to you. We’ll have dinner with my parents and Elisa on Friday. I’ll need a day to introduce you to my favorite spots around town. Anything special you want to see?”
“I’ve yet to study up on Atlanta. I’ll work on that tomorrow morning while you’re busy staring at pictures of hot men.”
“Oh! I forgot to tell you.” She sits up on her knees, excitement drifting off her.
“A few months ago, I started chatting with a local photographer. She’s venturing into cover model photo shoots.
She invited me to come to a session next week.
After you’re gone,” she clarifies. “She said she wants my opinion on what poses will work best for covers. Isn’t that amazing? ”
I want to be happy for her. I really do. But damn, jealousy’s a bitch sometimes.
“Live, half-naked men? Not only pictures on the screen?”
“Yes! I’ll have first dibs on a few different ones to offer my clients exclusive covers. It’s gonna be freaking amazing. And a tremendous boost for my business if we can sell them.”
“That’s awesome.” My comment is half-hearted, and she’s quick to call me out.
“You could pretend to be happy for me. It’s something great.”
“I am. Pretending to be happy for you.”
“You understand this could be huge for my business, right? For her, too.”
“Yeah, I get that, but . . .”
How do I explain myself without sounding like I’m insecure and don’t trust her? Because I do. My ego’s getting in the way. I want to be the only man she sees at any stage of nakedness.
“Like it or not, I’m not backing out. I’ll let you deal with it however you want, but I’m doing it.”
“I wouldn’t ever stand in the way of you doing something you want. Even if it’s with other naked men.”
“Your jealousy’s not warranted.” She drags her eyes down my body, her tongue licking her lips as her eyes undress me. “Ever thought about modeling?”
“It was my childhood dream,” I deadpan, rolling my eyes.
“I’m serious. Want me to see if the photographer has time while you’re here?”
“No.”
“Let me know if you change your mind.”
“Will do. Dinner?”
I’m not sure if this conversation is over, but I have to put my feelings about the subject aside. I don’t have any say in what she does with her life, and if our relationship is going to work, I have to trust her. And she has to trust me.
“I ordered groceries to be delivered later today. What’s your opinion of chicken with mushrooms?”
“If you’re making it, I’m eating it.” She claims to “not be a good cook,” but she has some skills she showed off at my house. Here, in her domain, I’m sure they’ll be better.
“Tell me if there are things you won’t eat, otherwise I’ll expect your plate to be clean from whatever I put in front of you.”
She’s joking, evidenced by the jovial tone and grin on her beautiful lips, but damn if I don’t want to make sure I do exactly that.
“There’s not much I won’t eat.”
“Easy to please. I like that in a man.”
I return her smile. While it’s my easygoing nature, pleasing Juli is at the top of my to-do list. And if it makes her life a little easier, too, I’m going to do it.
Nibbling her bottom lip, she looks like she has more to say.
“What’s up?”
“What happens when you leave?”
My finger falls onto her lips. “We’re not talking about that now, remember? Living in the present, in the moment.”
“I know, it’s—”
I shut her up the only way I know how—with my mouth over hers. Swallowing her gasp, I press her shoulders gently, causing her to fall against the pillows on the headboard.
Thoughts of what happens next week try to infiltrate my brain, but I deepen the kiss, shooing them away.
Here, in the moment, is exactly where I need to be.
Exactly where I want to be.
Four days pass in a blur. A whirlwind of sightseeing, doing touristy things with a local guiding the way, stopping by all of Juli’s favorite haunts, and dinner with her family.
They were less skeptical than she initially made it seem.
We had a pleasant conversation over dinner about the resort, how well it’s doing, catching them up on my life.
Her dad made a few comments about our relationship, but she shut down his worries brilliantly.
With the truth. I grabbed her hand in mine under the table in solidarity.
Maybe I don’t deserve a woman like Juli Langley, but I’m not squandering my chance since I have her.
We didn’t make any plans for my last day, wanting to chill. She forced me up early to watch the sunrise at a nearby lake. It was reminiscent of the last time we said goodbye, except without all the unanswered questions, and with no pretense of being friends.
Sure, we still have some topics on the table to discuss—when she’s coming back for another visit—but I’m reveling in knowing she’s mine for the foreseeable future. However long that future looks, I’m laying claim to her.
“Thanks for showing me your world. I enjoyed my visit.”
“I’m glad. Thanks for coming to visit me. I know it wasn’t easy to take the time off, to leave Whispering Tide in such a rush. I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to you last week.”
“But now you are?” I question, humor in my tone.
“Never, if I’m honest. But I get it has to be like this. For now,” she tacks on.
“But not forever,” I add quietly. Almost so she doesn’t hear me. The comment could go two ways—it’s not forever because one of us moves, or it’s not forever because we’re not forever.
The sky lights up in vibrant orange, the sun starting its ascent over the horizon. Juli sits between my open legs, her back against my chest. She draws my arms around her waist, cinching her hands over mine. “It won’t always be this easy.”
“No. But the hard parts will be worth it. The distance, the not seeing you, the knowing you’re staring at other men’s chests . . .”
We finished the conversation about the photo shoot.
In about five minutes, she made me see it was truly something great for her business.
She also made it clear it’s the equivalent of how she feels with women parading around me in short tennis skirts or bikinis.
I told her I don’t see them, conceding her point about me having nothing to worry about. She’s smart, this girl of mine.
Mine.
Juliana Langley is officially mine.
Her head tilts my way. Looking over her shoulder, she gives me a sad smile. “Missing you is going to be a hard part.”
“At least we won’t be miserable like last time. What were we thinking?” I laugh to lighten the heaviness. I don’t do well with heavy, even if it’s for a reason like this.
“We weren’t, clearly. I’m glad Elisa didn’t let me wallow in my stupidity for too long.”
“Same. I thanked her the other day with some free coupons for the next time she comes to the resort. She didn’t seem overly thrilled with my gesture.”
“Not when she’d rather be off to Europe or foreign countries. Can you imagine staying within the limits of the United States for vacation?” Her hand lands on her chest in mock entitlement, doing a great impression of her sister. “The horror.”