14. Lizzy
The hairs on the back of my neck tingle, and I know Cameron’s arrived.
I have no idea how I sense it, but the next thing I know, there’s a commotion at the door, and Milli’s bursting into the living room. That girl has two modes—full speed ahead or hyper focused on her task at hand—well, three. She also sleeps.
She’s always on a mission, and at the moment—her sights are set on me.
The second her eyes meet mine, she squeals, “My Iz,” and launches herself into my open arms. Scooping her up into a hug, I spin us in a circle. Her giggle is infectious and before I know it, I’m laughing right along with her.
It’s hard to believe someone I’ve known for such a short time can bring me so much joy.
She clings to me like I’ve seen her do with Cameron after a long day at work.
When I stop spinning, her chubby hands cup my face to look me in the eye.
“I come for dinner.” She beams. “Daddy says I have ta be good… I miss you.” She throws her arms around my neck, squeezes me tight, and I gladly return her hug.
“I missed you, too, Mills,” I admit. It’s only been a day, but this little girl has wormed her way deep into my heart. I find myself thinking of both her and her father much more often than I should on my days off.
“Is this the infamous Mills?” Finn asks, stepping closer to us.
“Yep! She’s the one I’m lucky enough to spend the summer with.” I beam at my future brother-in-law. I dart my eyes around for Cameron but no such luck.
Milli gasps, drawing my attention to her, then points to one of Finn’s tattoos peeking out from his shirt. “You like to draw?”
Chuckling, Finn pulls up his sleeve so she can see the entire tattoo. “Uh, not really. But I like meaningful tattoos. I prefer making the music I’ve got inked here.”
“You make this?” Milli’s lips purse together as she reaches for the music notes he has inked on his upper arm and traces a note with her finger.
“It’s the opening notes to a song I wrote for Raven,” Finn admits, giving his fiancée a knowing glance before returning his attention to us.
Turning to me, she asks, “Your sister?”
Of course, I’ve told her all about my family.
We’ve spent countless hours together in these past few weeks, and I swear, once this girl’s curiosity is piqued, she relentlessly garners all the information she can until she’s satisfied.
She’s precocious for a three-year-old, but then again, what else would you expect from an only child?
As if on cue, Raven steps up beside us. “Hi, Milli. I’m Raven.” Pointing across the room, she adds, “That’s our sister Sloane. You’ve already met our oldest sister Lanie.”
Milli looks from Raven to Sloane, then back to me.
“She looks like her,” Milli observes, pointing at the twins.
“She sure does,” I whisper conspiratorially. “But once you get to know them, they’re easy to tell apart.”
Milli’s eyes bounce back and forth between the twins, and I’m certain she’s about to say more, but Jax and Cameron enter the room with Milli’s bike in tow, and all focus on my family is forgotten.
Squirming in my arms to get down, she pleads, “I ride now?”
“Not yet, squirt,” Ryan says before Cameron responds. “Dinner’s ready, and you’re a speed demon. We need energy if we’re gonna stand a chance of keeping up with you later.”
A smile plays on his lips as Cameron darts his attention from his daughter to Ryan, then to me.
Once his eyes land on mine, I feel a weight I didn’t know I’d been holding lift.
I’ve been on edge since Lanie mentioned they might come today.
I’m not sure what I’ve been so worked up about but seeing him here in this moment makes everything right once again.
My heart races when I inhale a faint scent of his cologne.
Mmmm. He smells amazing.
How does this man both simultaneously excite me and put me at ease?
I don’t get to contemplate my response because the next thing I know, my arm is being tugged. “We eat?”
Just like that, Milli’s joined my entire family with ease.
*****
True to his word, Ryan does indeed take a turn chasing Milli as she relentlessly rides her bike along The Promenade.
At first, it’s just Cameron or myself, but then my sister Raven steps up and insists we grab ourselves something to drink and relax and let the others take over.
It’ll get dark soon, and we’ll head to the beach when she can no longer ride.
As Cameron and I walk up the back deck and grab a drink from the cooler, I can’t help but glance back at all three members of Ruby Frax gleefully chasing that precious girl down the path.
“Do you think she knows she’s hanging out with one of her favorite bands?” I ask, handing Cameron a beer, while grabbing myself a Pepsi.
“I doubt it,” Cameron guffaws. “With my line of work, she’ll meet plenty of famous people in her lifetime. I want her to get to know people for who they are to her, not for their notoriety or what they are to the public.”
“So, you’ve given this some thought? I wouldn’t have the slightest clue how to handle fame as a parent.”
“Yes… and no. It’s how I treat everyone—I try not to let reputations precede anyone, good or bad. I focus on getting to know them personally before casting judgement. As for parenting, full disclosure… I make that shit up as I go.”
His sexy laugh sends tingles down my spine, and it’s all I can do to not close the distance between us. If I didn’t already like this man, this right here would be why I could easily fall for him.
“I’m certain that’s what everyone does,” I admit on a laugh.
“Wanna head out to the beach and start the bonfire?” I suggest. “The guys already brought some wood down to our favorite place, but we may as well go out there and get things started. Does Milli like s’mores? Lanie bought things to make them.”
Looking to Milli, Cameron sighs. “Sure, I think she’s covered for now.”
Slinging a blanket over my shoulder, I grab one of the folded chairs we’ve set out on the deck and motion for Cameron to grab another for himself.
I don’t get more than a few steps before Cameron suggests, “Here, let me get that for you.”
I could totally handle it myself, but his don’t be difficult expression has me giving the chair up with ease.
It takes a few minutes of walking along the path through the seagrass before the ocean comes into view again. Cameron sighs heavily and pauses to look around. “Wow… You got to experience this view every summer? This sunset is gorgeous.”
“It’s the same in the winter, too,” I admit. “Seaside is one of my favorite places in the world. The view from the house is amazing, especially upstairs from Lanie’s room. But nothing beats the unobstructed view from the dunes.”
“I’ve spent years in LA. Don’t get me wrong, I love their beaches, but I love the simplicity of Seaside—even if it barely gets warm. Wait…” He points to the cove. “Are they surfing over there?”
“Yes, the cove’s great for morning rides.”
“Wait… you surf, too?” Cameron’s mouth drops open.
“We all do… Raven and I can be found out here most mornings when we’re not working. Do you surf?”
“I’ve only gone out a few times. The ocean in Oregon is way too cold for me.”
“Duh, that’s what dry suits are for,” I cut in. “You can go out in your sweats and never get cold.”
“Fair point,” he muses. “That would make a difference, I’m sure.”
When we reach the crest of the next hill, we find Ryan’s beat us out here. His back is to us, stoking the fire. The moment the kindling he’s placing lights up with flames, he stands and grabs more wood.
“I told you I’d take care of this,” I warn when we finally get within earshot.
“I know, but you all looked like you were having too much fun with Mills.” To Cameron, he grins. “She’s great, by the way. You’ve got one hell of a kid on your hands.”
Cameron nods in agreement. “I can’t complain. I got pretty lucky having her come into my life.”
The way he says it reminds me of an earlier comment.
What happened between Cameron and Milli’s mom?
He always talks as if Milli is a blessing—which she rightfully is, but as far as I can tell, her mom has nothing to do with them. Did something happen to her? I can’t imagine walking away from that precious girl—or him for that matter.
As much as I’m dying to know, I won’t ask such a personal question in front of Ryan.
Technically, it’s none of my business, and I need to remember this.
Besides, if he wants to share the details, he will in his own time.
“So have we.” Ryan beams. “She sure knows how to keep you on your toes. I nearly died when Lizzy told us how she thought she was eating bones the other day.”
This draws laughter from us all.
“I felt so bad for her,” I gasp. “I had no idea she thought I was feeding her dog food.”
“She was a hoot when I helped her ride that first day, too.” Ryan shakes his head at a memory, then adds, “That girl doesn’t know the meaning of giving up. I’ve never seen anyone more determined to ride a bike… all in one day.”
Cameron turns to me. “Lizzy must’ve been wiped out by the time she went home that night. I know I was… and I barely spent an hour running beside her.”
“Her smile made it all worth it,” I admit. “But keeping up with Mills has me in the best shape of my life. Between swimming each afternoon and walking all over Seaside, I’ll never need a gym membership.”
“Kids will do that to you, I suppose,” Ryan muses and from the far-off look on his face, I’d bet my next paycheck he’s thinking about having his own one day. He would be an incredible dad.
“You guys ready for us?” Raven shouts as she crests the last hill. “We’ve got a girl who’s hoping there will be s’mores and music soon.”
“Come on down,” Ryan calls back.
My family ascends, and it’s blissful chaos.
We’re loud, boisterous, and full of opinions.
I wouldn’t trade it for the world. It’s hard to believe but when I’m on my own at college, I truly miss the noise.