Page 33 of Staying for You

“Hi.” It’s stupid of me to say. I’ve already greeted everyone but I’m a tad embarrassed by the attention and my nerves are ramping up.

“It’s you, then?” Olivia asks excitedly. “You’re one of my favorite authors. I’ve been a fan since the beginning, read everything you’ve published. What are you doing here? Are you writing? What are you writing now? Is it a new series or the same people? Holy crap, are we finally going to get Ryan and Lindsay’s story? I’ve been wanting that one for years! Please say yes. They need their HEA. They really do. Please?”

“Liv!” Owen snaps back at his sister. “Re-lax.”

“I’m sorry! I’m just so excited.”

“Not to sound like less of a fangirl than Liv, here,” she grins, shoving Olivia away from me, “but I read your books, too,” Chloe announces, taking a step closer, but not quite as close and in my face as Olivia was — or, rather, is considering that she moved right back to in my face territory.

“I always love meeting fans,” I say, wondering if they read my last few books. Because if they did, they’re probably no longer superfans. Those books sucked, man. I’ve come to accept it as it is. Sometimes we lose our mojo or inspiration. For me, it was the fact that I’d completely fallen out of love with love.

“We so are, aren’t we Chloe?” Liv’s excited voice interrupts my soon-to-be internal battle. I know I need to have a better attitude about my own writing and thus, my life. Coming up here’s sole purpose was to snap myself out of it. Get back to me. To Cami.

Chloe nods when Olivia nudges her in the side. “Yup. Fans.”

“Thank you,” I murmur.

“Cami made soup!” Owen suddenly shouts. All eyes turn to him and I’m so grateful for the distraction.

“I love soup!” Rex says. It’s the first time he’s spoken to anyone but his daughter since I walked in the room. Even when we were introduced, he barely gave me a head nod. I can tell he’s not rude, just focused on his daughter.

“It smells amazing,” Ethan says, eyes on me. They’re a deep brown and all-knowing. He winks and I chew on my bottom lip when he gives me a subtle nod of his head and small smile. He heard me wishing to turn back time and questioning why I’m here in the first place. I can tell he knows I’m unsure about being here.

“Thank you. It’s nothing special, but I figured you’d all be hungry after traveling.”

“It was really nice of you. And, truly, thank you for helping with the kids. I know it’s a lot of work but I’m so glad you were here so that Owen could open up the road for us.” Chloe’s voice is quiet, but just like Ethan, she seems to be all-knowing. There’s something about the two that remind me of each other, too. I’m just not sure what it is, though.

“I was happy to help,” I say, ducking my head.

“Okay,” Owen says, clapping once. “Let’s get some lunch then you can relax for a while.”

We follow Owen to the kitchen where he’s already pulled out a stack of bowls and plates. A loaf of bread is set out, also, as well as some crackers.

I take the lead and start ladling soup into bowls and Owen hands them to his family.

“Water okay for everyone to drink? I think I need to hydrate after…”

“A week of boozing?” Owen teases his sister.

She glares at him. “Shut up. But, yes. Good golly, you’d think having a husband who owns a bar would mean that I have a high tolerance for alcohol but clearly I haven’t been a good bar wife.”

“You’re perfect,” Ethan says, nuzzling his nose into her neck.

Owen gags. “Brother is right here. How’d you like it if Rex started that shit up with Chloe?”

“Wait, you’re brother and sister?” I ask Ethan or Chloe, whoever wants to answer.

“Long story, again, but yeah, they’re half-siblings,” Owen explains.

“Sounds like maybe I’d have book material if I just hung out with y’all.”

“Word,” Chloe says. “It could be an entire series.”

We all sit at the table, Brody pulled up next to us where Olivia is helping him eat some chowder. It’s relatively quiet for several minutes as we all eat. They talk a little about their recent vacation to the Caribbean, which for the first time in my life doesn’t sound as wonderful as it normally does. Not even after the heavy snow that fell overnight. I’m content. Happy. I’m where I want to be. Right here at The Escape, relaxing and enjoying the nature that’s around me.

“Would you go back?” I ask and they all look at each other.

“I think so. It was great to get away, be alone together. And it helped that we had great weather. It’s a beautiful island.”

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