“Okay, so I tried just focusing on getting to Cade, but I have to ask. How did this happen?” Mare asks, looking at me with an unreadable look on her face. She keeps looking over her shoulder at Camden, as if she’s checking to see if he’s real or not.
I meet Camden’s eyes through my rearview mirror. It’s been silent for a majority of the car ride, but we still have some time until we make it to the airport. Apparently, Mare wants to spend that time talking about me, even when she’s the one doing a big, elaborate gesture of love.
“Pip, are you dating the asshole tourist?” Mare presses, her voice full of shock. She bites her lip anxiously, her eyes darting from Camden to me and back again.
“Yeah, Pip, are you dating the asshole tourist?” Camden asks sarcastically from his tiny seat in the back. It’d be way more funny seeing his tall, athletic body squeezed into the seat way too small for him if I wasn’t getting the third degree from my best friend.
I sigh, risking a glance over at Mare. “You’re asking an awful lot of questions. Can’t we just talk about what you’re going to say to Cade when we get to the airport?”
She shakes her head, a small smile blooming on her face. Bitch. I’m not prying into what’s been happening between her and Cade, even though I have plenty of questions.
“I already know what I’m going to say to him. We’re talking about you.” She looks back over her shoulder again. “And how you ended up hooking up with this asshole.”
Camden whistles. “Kind of harsh, considering you haven’t even met me until today.”
“Technically, I met you at your friend’s wedding.”
“I’d hardly call that meeting.”
Mare hums. “It doesn’t matter. I know things.”
“And what kind of things are those?”
“Things.” She huffs, looking to me for help. I don’t say anything because I don’t know what to say. I wasn’t prepared for my best friend to meet my…Camden. I don’t know what else to call him. Boyfriend? Lover? Maybe it is time for me and Camden to talk about what this is.
“Well, those things you were told were wrong. In fact, if you see her walking a little funny today, it’s from me.”
“Camden!” I yell, wanting to disappear. Mare just gawks, her jaw hanging open.
My cheeks have to be as red as the tomatoes Mom used to grow in her garden. I’m not cut out for this. My only saving grace is the fact that Cade isn’t here, too. Then I actually would die from embarrassment.
“She started it,” Camden gripes from the back. I don’t have the nerve to meet his eyes through the mirror, even though I can feel him watching me. He’s going to be pissed when we drop Mare off, I already know it. I squirm, thinking about what that can mean for me later.
“So you’re just hooking up?” Mare prods. “What are you even doing in Sutten anyway?” she asks, turning back to Camden.
“I own the gallery next door to her bakery.”
“The one the Richardsons used to own,” I add. At least that’s an answer I can give at the moment.
Mare blinks, clearly still confused. “Okay, so you bought the gallery next door, and that led to the two of you…you know…”
“Fucking?” Camden finishes.
I don’t have to look over to know that Mare is blushing as well. Camden and that mouth of his.
I laugh. “You know, Mare, you write really dirty books to not be able to say the word fucking.”
“Shut up,” she warns. “We aren’t talking about me. We’re talking about you.”
“Well, I don’t want to talk about me either,” I counter.
“Maybe I want to talk about us,” Camden pipes up from the back seat. Traitor.
“Probably not the time,” I suggest, risking a glance at him through the mirror.
He smirks, but there’s no humor in his face. I know for a fact he’s simmering back there, just waiting for Mare to be gone. Maybe this was all a big mistake. I shouldn’t have brought him with us.
Or I shouldn’t have answered my phone at all.
I’m one hundred percent going to regret this.
“Tell her what we are, shortcake,” he pushes, leaning forward to put his arms around both of our seats. His breath tickles my neck, making me shift in my seat.
“Shortcake? What kind of nickname is that?”
I shoot her a look. “Funny you’re saying that, Goldie,” I emphasize, raising my eyebrows when I briefly look over at her.
“I don’t have to explain the meaning behind it to you,” Camden drawls, his body still right next to mine.
“There’s meaning?” I ask, unable to resist.
He kisses my cheek. He can’t be that pissed off at me if he’s doing that. Right?
“I have no words,” Mare admonishes.
Trying to change the subject, I smack Camden in the chest. “Sit back. And buckle your seat belt.”
“There isn’t a seat belt,” he counters.
Good point.
It’s silent for a minute or two. My mind races with what I could say. I don’t feel like I have to explain everything to Mare. It’s not like she’s made me privy to her entire dating life before—not that I’d want to know every detail because, ew, it’s my brother—but I’m also excited to have her back and don’t want to act like I’m keeping secrets from her. I just truly don’t know what Camden and I are. It’s been fun and nice to not put pressure on it. To just see what happens.
“I wanted to prove to Camden how great Sutten was. How we had talent right here in our lovable town and he didn’t have to bring in rich assholes from New York. One thing led to another, and now we’re here. He’s kind of a softie underneath that asshole persona.”
Camden laughs. “I’m not a softie.”
I smile. “You totally are.”
When Mare doesn’t say anything, I look over at her. I find her looking right at me, a slight smile playing on her lips. Normally, Mare isn’t one to ask other people’s business. She’s quiet and reserved. I don’t know why she chose today to dig into my life. Maybe it’s to distract herself from thinking about if she’ll make it to the airport in time.
It’s quiet for a while before Mare speaks up. “Just don’t hurt my best friend, okay? I don’t want to have to get away with murder.”
I snort, almost missing Camden’s deep sigh with the sound.
“What is up with people in Sutten and murder?”
Mare gives me a look.
I smile. “Rosemary already got to him,” I explain.
This makes her bust out in laughter. “My god. I miss that woman.”
“The whole town misses you, Mare. Do you think you’ll be back for a while?”
“I’m hoping I’ll be back forever,” she answers immediately.
I press down on the gas, sending Camden flying backward. I try not to laugh at the stream of curses from him. “Oops,” I manage to get out before cracking up.
Mare joins in. He grumbles in the back while I speed to the airport.
“Alright, Mare, let’s go get your man!” I yell, turning my blinker on and flying into the right lane before I miss my exit.
“That’s if you don’t get us all killed first,” Camden quips.
