Chapter 15
CHAPTER
FIFTEEN
Camden
I hurry through my shower, anxious to get next door.
Hell, that anxiety isn’t just now either. All damn day, every time I looked at the clock, I’d been willing it to go faster so I could get to dinner.
I wish I could say it was just Theo I’m excited to spend a little time with, but it’s not just him.
It’s his mom too. I’m still mad she left, and I still need to hear the rest of the story, but I’m unable to fight the pull I feel toward her.
The same pull I felt in high school when I walked into PE class our junior year and saw the most beautiful girl in the world.
I don’t know what had changed. One day she was Maren Holm, classmate, and the next day, I was hooked and infatuated.
I asked her out a few days later, and we spent more than a year together. Two proms, a homecoming dance, basketball and football games, and dates every weekend. Too many shared dinners with our families, fishing in the creek, and tailgate make-out sessions to count.
And even though I’m hurt and angry still at what happened between us, being with her feels right.
I don’t think it’s a case of my first love reappearing and rekindling those old feelings.
At least I hope that’s not it. It doesn’t feel like it though, because the moment I saw her standing across the property line, staring at me, I didn’t feel love.
I felt that anger and betrayal and hurt all over again.
It was like I was transported back in time to that warm summer morning when she came over and broke my heart.
There’s still confusion, but my heart calls to her.
It wants to clear the air, to hear the whole story, to know the truth, even though what I heard last night was painful.
Was it really that simple? She listened to her mom—her parent—and made a decision she thought was right?
Does she really regret it? The torture reflecting in those blue eyes told me she does.
I suppose only time will tell, and hopefully hearing the entire story will help put those doubts and concerns I have to rest. But if not, well, then I’ll have to make some serious decisions about what my future looks like, and whether or not my new neighbor is a part of it.
For now, I’m letting what happens…happen.
I’m channeling my best Linda Miller and willing to hear her out, to follow my heart.
And my heart is calling to Maren.
I throw on a pair of comfortable jeans, a T-shirt, and a dark blue Henley before returning to my bathroom and styling my hair.
I only do that on weekends, or when I’m going out.
My normal day-to-day hairstyle is combed but not styled, thanks to my line of work, but tonight, it feels like a time to add a little styling product for the longer hair on top of my head.
After covering my feet in socks and my nicer pair of boots, I grab my phone and fire off a text.
Me
Still good to go?
Maren
Yep. Theo and I are ready.
I can only smile at that.
Me
Heading over now.
I slip my phone into the back pocket of my jeans before putting on my coat. Then, I grab my keys off the counter and head out, making sure my back door is firmly latched before walking down the steps and toward the neighbor’s house.
When I reach her back door, I can see it open. Through the storm door, I find Maren helping Theo into his winter coat. The moment he sees me on the opposite side of the window, he starts waving frantically. “Cam!”
“Hey, little dude,” I say as I open the storm door and step inside. “You ready to go?”
Maren slides his hat onto his head. “Yep!” He runs over and places his gloved hand inside mine.
“Let me grab my coat,” she says, standing up tall and going to the hook where her coat hangs.
I take in the view of her backside. Her hair is down, soft curls hanging loosely, and she’s wearing a red sweater and dark blue jeans.
My cock jumps in my pants at the swell of her ass formed in the tight denim.
She’s not dressed provocatively, but the sight of her in a pair of comfortable jeans, hugging her ass the way they do, is putting all sorts of inappropriate thoughts in my head.
“Ready,” she says, putting on her coat and turning to face me.
“Want to take your vehicle or my truck? It’s probably easier to take yours, right? Since the car seat is already there?”
She nods. “Yes.” She pulls her keys out of her purse and adds, “Let’s go.”
I take Theo over to the side with his car seat and open the door. While I get him situated and listen to him tell me all about his day at daycare, Maren starts her vehicle to warm the engine.
“Do you want to drive?” she asks, climbing from the driver’s seat.
“You can.”
Once the buckles are secured, I stand up and shut the door. When I turn, Maren seems shocked. “What?” I ask, confused.
“You never used to let me drive,” she replies, making me laugh.
“I was a dumb kid once too, Shortcake,” I say. “It’s your vehicle. You can drive.”
She flashes a small smile and climbs behind the wheel. “All right.”
When I reach the passenger side and buckle myself into the seat, we head out. “Still thinking you want the diner?”
She nods, a little twinkle lighting her eyes. “Yeah. I’ve been dreaming about a strawberry shortcake all day,” she replies, and even though it’s dark out, I don’t miss the faint blush creeping across her cheeks.
“Then that’s what you’ll have,” I reply.
“I pwaydid with the trucks, Cam!”
“You did?” I ask, twisting in the seat so I can catch sight of Theo. “I used to love playing with trucks too. They were my favorite, and now I play with them for a living.”
He seems confused.
“I fix cars and trucks when they break down,” I state, telling the three-year-old.
“I hewp?”
“You want to help me fix something?”
He nods eagerly.
“All right. Maybe this weekend you can come over for a little bit and help me work on my truck, like you did with your mom’s vehicle. Sound good?”
“Yep!”
We pull into the parking lot of the diner and park.
“Cheese,” Theo bellows, kicking his feet in anticipation of whatever he’s going to have for dinner.
“Hang on, little dude,” I tell him, climbing from the passenger seat and moving to his door. The moment the buckles are released, he practically leaps from the seat and into my arms.
I close his door and turn my attention to the woman beside me. “Ready?”
She nods, looking ahead at the diner we’re about to enter. “Yes.”
I don’t move, but I do take her hand. “You’re probably going to be recognized. They’ll probably talk.”
Her attention turns toward me. “Because we’re together?”
I nod.
With a quick second glance at the diner’s front entrance, she replies, “I’m okay with that if you are.”
“I’m fine,” I assure her. “But they’ll definitely talk.”
“Because we dated?”
“Because I never really go anywhere with someone who isn’t my family.”
Her eyebrows draw together in confusion. “You haven’t dated?”
I shrug. “A little, but nothing…serious.”
I think back to the last woman I dated. Laura Fischer is a nice woman but definitely caught more feelings than I did.
We actually dated twice, and each time, she seemed ready to take a walk down the aisle a bit too quickly for my liking.
Like, within weeks. When I found out she was registering for bridal magazines online and having things sent to my house, I had to take a step back.
She doesn’t reply right away, but when she nods, I give her hand a gentle squeeze and we walk into the diner. The sights, sounds, and faces are familiar, and immediately all eyes are on the newcomers.
“Hey, everyone,” I state, earning waves, greetings, and head nods from those who reside in my hometown.
Before I can suggest we head to one of the available booths, the door opens behind us and a couple of familiar faces walk in.
“Holy crap, Maren?”
We turn to see my brother, Cade, and his fiancée, Oaklee, standing there. “Cade, it’s so good to see you,” Maren replies with a bit of awkwardness in her voice.
“Get over here, girl,” Cade says, pulling Maren into a friendly hug. “This is Oaklee, the only woman in the world who puts up with my shenanigans.”
“It’s a full-time job,” Oaklee replies, extending her hand to Maren. “Nice to meet you.”
“Nice to meet you too,” she says, shaking her hand. “This is Theo, my son.”
“I Theo!” the three-year-old in my arms proclaims, making my brother and future sister-in-law smile.
“Hey, guys. Have a seat wherever, and I’ll bring you menus,” Emma, one of the young servers, says.
“You want to join us?” Cade asks, his eyes on me.
I open my mouth to decline but realize it’s not really my decision. Glancing to my left to ask Maren for her thoughts, the decision is made when Theo bellows a loud, “Yep!”
The four adults chuckle, and we all head toward the rounded corner booth.
Maren grabs a plastic booster seat from the stack and sets it on the bench while I help Theo remove his hat and coat.
Theo opts to sit between his mom and me, with Cade and Oaklee on the opposite side of the table, and moments later, Emma is delivering four menus and a colorable paper children’s menu for Theo.
“Oh my word, this place hasn’t changed a bit,” Maren says, opening the four-pack of crayons for Theo. “Remember, the color stays on the paper only.”
“Okay,” he agrees before going to town on his menu, coloring the building green.
“He’s adorable. How old is he?” Oaklee asks.
“He just turned three on Christmas,” Maren answers politely, flipping her menu over to check the dinner specials.
“Wow, really? That’s cool. A Christmas baby. He looks like your dad,” Cade states with a chuckle.
“It’s those Scandinavian genes. They’re strong,” Maren replies with a grin.
“Whatcha gonna have, little dude? They have chicken fingers, grilled cheese, hamburg—”
“Cheese!” he proclaims, and again, everyone laughs.
“Grilled cheese it is. Fries?”
He nods, retrieving the blue crayon and scribbling.
We make small talk while we browse the menu and Emma stops by to take our drink orders. When she delivers drinks, we order our meals.