Page 23 of A Very Grumpy Marine

Once he’s gone, I roll over and check my phone. Lilou has texted, saying that she’s getting ready to meet me, and I know that I need to hurry.

Sighing, I push back the covers and get up, stretching. I promised Lilou we’d meet for breakfast this morning, and I could use the girl talk. If anyone can help me figure out what’s going on in my head, it’s her.

After getting ready, I grab my purse and head out, driving back to Milo’s house to change and then to the little café we agreed on. The town is still waking up, and I can’t help but smile at how charming Wolf Valley is. It’s nothing like Los Angeles. It’s slower, quieter, filled with people who actually acknowledge each other instead of rushing past.

I spot Lilou as soon as I step inside the café, waving at me from a booth by the window. She’s already got a coffee in front of her and is flipping through a magazine. When she looks up and sees me, she grins.

“Well, well, well,” she teases as I slide into the seat across from her. “Look who finally made it out of Camden’s clutches.”

I groan. “Don’t start.”

She laughs, setting the magazine aside. “Oh, I’m absolutely starting. Spill. How was your date?”

The waitress comes over, and I take a second to order a latte and some pancakes before turning back to Lilou. “It was…good.”

Her eyes gleam with interest. “Just good?”

I sigh, knowing she’s not going to let this go. “It was really good. He took me to dinner at this steakhouse, and then we went back to his place.”

Lilou’s brows shoot up. “Ooooh. And?”

“And nothing! We talked, hung out, kissed a little. Did a little more…” I admit with a grin, and she squeals.

“I knew it. You like him.”

I bite my lip, not sure what to say. Do I like Camden? Yeah. A little too much. More than I should for someone I just met.

“I’m having fun,” I say instead.

Lilou tilts her head. “And that’s it?”

“What else is there?” I ask, a little defensive. “I’m here for two weeks. That’s all this can be.”

She gives me a knowing look. “Is it?”

I sigh, rubbing my temples. “Lil, my job keeps me traveling constantly. I love it. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. I can’t just…drop everything and stay here.”

Lilou takes a sip of her coffee before setting the cup down carefully. “No one’s saying you have to drop everything. But would it be so bad to slow down a little?”

I frown. “I don’t know. Maybe? I love what I do.”

“But you also love being with Camden,” she points out, watching me closely. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you light up when you talk about him.”

I hesitate, because she’s not wrong. Being with Camden is exhilarating, but in a way that feels…stable. Safe. Like he’s my anchor in the middle of the whirlwind that is my life.

Still, it’s crazy, right? We barely know each other.

“I just don’t see how it could work,” I admit. “Even if I did stay here, what then? We barely know each other.”

Lilou shrugs. “So get to know each other. Figure it out together.”

I sigh, looking down at my coffee. It’s not that simple. But at the same time…maybe it is.

“I don’t know, Lil. I just don’t know.”

She smiles softly. “Well, you’ve got time to figure it out. And something tells me Camden’s not going to let you slip away so easily.”

I roll my eyes, but deep down, I know she’s right. And that thought alone is terrifying—and thrilling—all at once.

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