Page 81 of Where You Left Me

“Yes, you did.” She pushes on tiptoe and presses a kiss to my cheek. “You are so gonna get rewarded tonight,” she whispers in my ear, her breath tickling me.

“I’ve never been one to turn down a reward,” I say, my words rumbling out.

CHAPTER 22

Mia

The event is a success. At least as far as I know. I never participated in Bikes and Beers when I used to live in Maple Ridge, and this is the first time I’ve ever organized the event. But based on Jones’s calm demeanor and the constant smile on his face, I’ll take it as a win.

The vibe of the event continues into the night. From the looks of how packed the park is, it seems as if the entire town of Maple Ridge is here. The live band plays from a makeshift stage, kids run around playing and eating popsicles, and adults sit and visit with one another, drink beer, and dance.

Jones has offered to settle things up with the charity trustee which allows me time to finally relax with our friends. I’m exhausted. Even the hairs on my head are exhausted.

Cammie has laid out blankets on the grass and I plop myself down and don’t plan on getting back up until Jones offers to carry me. Just when I sit, the live band begins playing a cover ofJoleneand Nico drags Rosie out to dance with him.

“C’mon, Mav, let’s dance,” Cammie says to Maverick.

He rubs at the back of his neck and his gaze shifts back and forth between her and the crowd dancing. “How about, instead, I go get you two ladies a drink?”

Cammie pouts and he presses a kiss to the top of her head. “You know I’m not much of a dancer, Sunshine.”

She nods. “Okay, fine, you’re off the hook this time. But only because me and my girl Mia need to have ourselves a little chat.”

It’s the familiar quote we girls have been saying for years. It’s the one Jones and Cammie’s grandma Nettie and Rosie’s grandma Gigi used to say to each other.

But I’m too tired to have a chat. Especially if it has anything to do with Jones or my plans for the future.

“Damn, would you look at the butt on him?” Cammie squeals and I can’t help but look.

She’s not wrong. Maverick has the body most girls fantasize about. The one that’s described in every fictional romance book. He’s tall, dark, and handsome. The perfect book boyfriend.

Only he’s not Jones.

I exhale a deep sigh and fling myself backward, lying flat on the blanket. Cammie joins me, snuggling in next to me. She sings out some of the lyrics, “Please don’t take my man,” and she giggles.

I smile and even though I don’t turn my face toward her, I can feel her smiling next to me. There’s just a hint of a breeze in the air and I don’t know how, but it carries the scent of Colorado. Of Maple Ridge. Of home.

Every single body part throbs but, in this moment, I’m content. I’m tempted to shut my eyes, but the sky is boasting a million twinkling stars.

“It’s beautiful,” I whisper.

“Yeah,” she agrees. “No matter how many times I’ve seen it, it still never ceases to amaze me.”

“I wish I could stay lying here all night,” I mumble.

I feel her facing me again, this time I do turn my head. Her blue eyes search me and it looks like a million things are going on in that head of hers, but maybe she’s too afraid to say them out loud.

Fear etches at me now, too.

“So why don’t you?” she finally asks.

I pinch my brows together. “Why don’t I what? Sleep here?” I snort a laugh. “I’m pretty sure Jones isn’t gonna go for that.”

But Cammie shakes her head, and a crease appears on her forehead. “No. Why don’t you stay? In Maple Ridge?”

“Cams,” I say on an exhaled sigh, while I turn my face to the sky again, and regret twists in my gut. “This has been the best summer. But that’s all it can be…a summer. I have to get back to my life in Connecticut.”

“What life? That friends-with-benefits situation? And you’ve hardly heard from any of your friends over there. I mean, how good of friends can they be if they’ve barely contacted you all summer?”

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