Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
THE TRUTH ABOUT MOODS
JULIANA
It’s an understatement to say that my mind has been all over the place in the span of twenty-four hours.
My fingers grip the edge of the counter like it can anchor me. I need something to keep me steady.
All I can think about is Camden.
The way his lips felt on mine, the warmth of his palm cupping my jaw like I was something sacred…the kiss—slow and deliberate, like he was savoring every second and never wanted it to end.
I’ve been swimming in that memory all night and all morning, letting it settle into me…adjusting to the way it feels to have Camden’s affection versus his annoyance.
I far prefer it.
In fact, last night, I was giddy about it. I thought it was the start of something big—the start of us.
And then he saw Jackson.
He took one look at my brother, and it was as if the entire day we’d spent together vanished. He stiffened, eyes like a caged animal, and then he ran. Not literally, but close enough.
Jackson pops into town without warning all the time. But Camden hasn’t been here long enough to know that yet. And even though they’ve practically shared brain cells for years, he acted like seeing Jackson was a shock to his system.
God, why are men so complicated?
I press a hand to my forehead, trying to rub away the pressure. I don’t have time to have a headache or to overthink everything, for that matter.
I just thought yesterday meant something. The way Camden looked at me was like he saw me. Like I wasn’t Jackson’s little sister anymore.
Maybe he’s going to tell me later that the kiss was a lapse in judgment, a heat-of-the-moment kind of thing.
But if things are anything like the past, I think he’s scared of Jackson. Well, not scared exactly…more like loyal. He practically bleeds honor, and my guess is that kissing your best friend’s younger sister after promising to never date her checks all of his dishonor boxes.
If that’s what this is about, I swear…
It was one thing when we were younger. I hated it then, that he dropped me like a dirty shirt because my brother said it was weird that we were close, but so help me, if that’s still really going to be an issue…
I shouldn’t get ahead of myself. It was one kiss. One great day after many horrible days. But he watches me when he thinks I’m not looking. And yesterday I remembered the guy who really knows me. I felt like I remembered who he was too.
Which is what makes all of this so frustrating.
He’s infuriatingly closed off. I could always get him to talk when he went quiet.
Sometimes people accused him of being moody, but I knew it was just that he kept so much inside.
He felt everything but said very little.
When Camden’s siblings or Jackson thought he was in a bad mood, it was usually because he was worried about a grade or he needed some quiet for a while…
or sometimes, he was sick and didn’t want to bother anyone about it.
I used to get such a thrill from thinking I knew Camden better than anyone. That’s why it hurt so much when it felt like, all of a sudden, I hadn’t really known him at all.
Well, guess what, Whitman? You’ve let me in a little bit now, and I don’t plan on letting you pretend otherwise.
Unless he’s a better actor than I’ve ever given him credit for, he wanted that kiss to happen yesterday.
When I get off work, I still haven’t heard from Camden, and since he’s working by now, I don’t know if I will.
Jackson keeps asking if I’m okay, and I keep lying and saying I’m fine. He left a little while ago to go see Camden…another reason I don’t really expect to hear from Camden.
I drag myself up the steps of the porch, exhausted. My shoulders ache from a long day of distracted work while I dissected the inner workings of Camden Whitman’s mind. I can’t wait to sink into Mildred. My feet are tired from all the walking I did yesterday in new boots.
I freeze before I reach the door. There’s noise coming from the backyard. My eyes narrow as I try to decipher that sound.
I walk back down the porch steps and go around to the back of the house, where Papa and Uncle Hal are hard at work.
On the opposite side of the yard stands a chicken coop.
Not just any old coop. Of course not. It’s a big production.
There’s a little shed in the shape of a small barn on one side.
They probably picked that up at Cox Trading Post. And then they’re wrapping plastic around chicken wire on what I’m guessing is a large run where the hens can hang out.
Wait. I blink. Yes, I’m seeing correctly.
At least a dozen squawking chickens are inside, maybe more.
“Hey, sweetheart!” Papa Hector shouts, nearly making me drop my bag.
Uncle Hal pops his head around the opposite side of the building, and both are beaming like they’re proud new parents.
“You guys have been busy,” I tell them.
“I’ll say.” Papa steps back and puts his hands on his hips, assessing their progress.
“It’s a chicken palace,” Uncle Hal says as he wipes the sweat from his brow.
“It’s zero degrees today. How are they supposed to survive out here?” I ask.
“It’s insulated, and we put heated pads under their straw so the eggs don’t freeze…
and so our little ladies don’t freeze their tushes off too,” Uncle Hal says, grinning.
“What you’re seeing here is a roomy, well-ventilated, state-of-the-art insulated space that will keep the hens happy.
We can take the plastic off in the summer, and they’ll enjoy the weather. ”
One of the hens lets out a dramatic squawk, like she agrees.
“You bought chickens,” I say slowly. “In January, our coldest month. How did you do all of this in one day?”
“We rescued them from Eugene,” Papa says. “He’s decided to be a snowbird in Florida. I hope it’s okay that we said yes. We thought you’d be happy about it. Think of all the fresh eggs you can use at the cafe.”
“People will taste the difference!” Uncle Hal adds.
“We might even have enough for Camden to use,” Papa says.
He probably would be happy about that. But it’s one more thing to take care of! I put my hand on top of my head.
“Chickens,” I whisper, still unable to believe what I’m seeing. “How many are we talking?”
“Twenty,” Uncle Hal says proudly.
“Twenty,” I gasp. “Unbelievable.”
“We’ll take care of them, don’t you worry!” Papa says.
“Look at those girls,” Uncle Hal says. “They’re settling in already. It’s supposed to warm up tomorrow, so maybe they can wander out of the coop…get some exercise.”
A handful are sitting on boards that are staggered at different heights, and a bunch are walking around clucking. It sounds like they’re talking to each other.
“Don’t they have enough room in there?” I point to the area they’re in.
Papa nods, and Uncle Hector shakes his head at the same time.
“They do,” Papa tells his brother.
“Would you want to be cooped up in there if you had the chance to roam?” Uncle Hal puts his hand on his hip. “Yes, they’ll be okay in there, but I think they should be free sometimes too.”
“What if they try to cross the road?” I ask.
Their heads fall back as they laugh.
“To get to the other side?” Papa says once he’s caught his breath.
“Just beak-cause she could,” Uncle Hal adds, and they both crack up. “To bawk twaffic.” He does chicken arms, which makes them laugh harder.
I sigh, and when Papa notices I’m not laughing, he sobers up.
“Oh!” he says, biting back his smile. “You were wondering about them crossing the street for real.” He clears his throat, and his lips twitch. “We might have to keep an eye on them at first,” he admits. “But then I think they’ll get used to their parameters.”
My phone buzzes in my bag, and because I’ve been checking it every chance I have a free moment, all day long, I pull it out. My heart flutters.
Camden
Jackson got here right before I started my shift. I’m sorry––I’d planned on coming to you. Would you mind coming to the restaurant? I can take a break whenever you get here. We can talk in my office or go for a little drive. I really want to see you.
I can’t read between the lines. He could want to kiss me again, or tell me it was a mistake. Flip a coin.
Camden
Or we can wait until tomorrow if that’s better for you.
Camden
But I hope tonight is better.
I smile at my phone.
I can come to the restaurant. Maybe an hour or so?
Camden
Great. See you then.
The restaurant’s parking lot is packed when I arrive. I wanted to avoid the early dinner rush, but I have to be up so early tomorrow morning that I didn’t want to get here too late either.
Camden is the last person I expect to see when I push open the heavy doors of Elm & Echo.
He’s near the entrance like he’s the ma?tre d’ or something.
I freeze mid-step. He’s not supposed to be out here.
He should be buried in the kitchen, yelling about garnishes and plating and whatever else he does on a nightly basis.
His face lights up when he sees me.
“Camden? What are you doing out here?”
Joey, the kid who’s usually doing host duties with Annie or Hannah, depending on the day, perks up. “Hi, Juju!”
His eyes wander down the neckline of my fitted sweater and don’t stop until they reach my feet before wandering back up.
I’m saying “Hey, Joey!” when Camden snaps his fingers in front of Joey’s face.
“Eyes up here, Joey,” he says, his fingers not the only thing snapping.
I laugh. “Don’t you have, I don’t know––food to cook?”
A slow grin spreads across his face. The next thing I know, he steps forward, catches my arm, and steers me toward the side hallway with a speed that doesn’t allow for questions.
“What––”
He pushes open his office door, and we step inside. The noise from the dining room instantly muffles. My pulse trips over itself. I spin on him.
“Are we avoiding Jackson?” I ask.
He laughs, low and unguarded. He leans back against his desk, crossing his arms and giving me the same slow perusal Joey did, except coming from this man, it makes me hot all over.
“He’s busy flirting out there,” he says, his eyes sparking with amusement. “And I’ve been waiting all day to talk to you. So yes, we’re avoiding Jackson.”
The way he’s looking at me and the fact that he’s waited all day to talk to me…it all makes my stomach swoop in a way I’d rather not acknowledge.
“You’re wearing the same color you wore to prom,” he says.
I glance down at my blue sweater. “You’re…yeah…I never thought of that. How do you remember what I was wearing to prom?”
“I brought you home, remember?” He moves toward me.
“Yeah, but you weren’t exactly looking at me that night.”
“Ah, Juliana. I’ve always been looking at you.”