Page 34 of Feels Like Coming Home

“Thanks, it’s perfect for what we need it for,” I said, swallowing hard. Why did I suddenly want to invite him in?

“I hope it brings you what you need, Haley.” He nodded gently, his deep voice spoke with such comfort and knowing that I thought I might start crying.

I guess that’s what happens when you’ve known someone for your entire life. They know what you need to hear even if you don’t ask them to say it. They just know.

Cam was starting to walk away when I realized I hadn’t asked him how long he would be in town.

“Cam!” I called out for him and he turned at the sound of my voice. My insides melted when I saw his smile and green emerald eyes looking back at me. “How long are you here for?”

After a beat, his lips curled up into a hopeful smile.

“As long as it takes.”

18

HALEY | NOW

As long as it takes? As long as what takes? What the hell is that supposed to mean?I clung to his words as I stood on the front pathway, watching him walk down the sidewalk until he disappeared around the corner.

“As long as it takes to do what?” I whispered to myself before moving from the spot where my feet had been frozen and walking towards the front door. As my hand reached for the doorknob it hit me that I had forgotten to bring Piper anything home from the coffee shop like I told myself I would. Before I could decide if I should walk back and grab something or just get in the car and drive, the door swung open to reveal a very excited looking Piper.

“Is that who I think it was?” She had obviously seen who walked me home just a moment before and was gearing up to give me the third degree.

“I was going to bring you a pastry back after I got myself a coffee, but I forgot. Sorry about that!” I pushed past her, forcing my way into the front hallway, ignoring her question.

“Oh no. You arenotgoing to get away from this one.” Piper grabbed my arm and spun me around, putting a stop to my plan of getting as much space between us as possible. “I saw who you just came home with! Where did you find him? Did you tell him you were here?”

“No, actually,youdid!” I leaned into my words, emphasizing the fact that it was entirely Piper’s fault that Cam was here in the first place.

“I did?!” Her face scrunched up in disbelief.

“Yes! You did when you tagged me in that post andadded the location to it!” I pushed past her again, trying to make my way to the kitchen so I could make myself another cup of coffee.

“You need to remove that by the way, it’s not safe to tag your location online when you’re still there. Some creep might try to come and kill you.” I lectured her using my best mom voice, trying to skirt past what Piper really wanted to talk about.

“So what, Camden saw the post and then came here? To see you? To be with you? What the hell is going on, Haley?” Piper spoke so quickly that anyone who hadn’t been her friend for years wouldn’t have been able to keep up. I suddenly felt very defensive.

“I don’t know what’s going on! Okay? I'm just as confused as you are!” I waved my arms over my head and nearly shouted at her. I’m sure anyone watching this conversation would think I’d lost my goddamn mind.

Maybe I had.

I did just walk through a small town I’d never been to with a man I had been in love with since I was fifteen.

Tears sprung in my eyes and my heart started to race from the overwhelming feelings swirling around in my body. I closed my eyes and tried to breathe deeply, focusing my mind on what Deborah had told me about how I control my emotions. They don’t control me. I clasped my fingers together and put them on top of my head, keeping my eyes closed as I started to pace in small circles where I stood, trying to self-soothe before I had a complete and total meltdown.

Sensing my overwhelm, Piper moved across the hall and sat down on the couch in the living room. She waited in silence, watching me, until I finally calmed down enough to drop my hands and open my eyes. Moving toward her and taking a place next to her on the couch, I took another deep breath before speaking.

“I don’t know what he’s doing here,” I offered as calmly as I could. “He literally showed up while I was waiting for breakfast and sat down. We talked; it was nice. I asked him to go for a walk with me and he did. Then we came back here and he left. That’s it. That’s all I know.”

Piper didn’t speak right away and studied me closely. I knew she wanted to ask me more questions, but she decided against it.

“So you forgot to bring me a pastry, huh?” Smiling at my friend, I laughed at her willingness to give me what I needed, which was time to think and process what had happened this morning.

Piper knew my history with Cam and she also knew how much I was hurting with the loss of Connor, even now, six months later. I was grateful she was giving me the space I needed to process what had happened this morning.

“Yeah, and Ireallyam sorry about that. You wanna run back and get something before we start work for the day?”

“I will never say no to a coffee run with my best friend.” She smiled back at me, threw her arms around my neck, and pulled me in for a hug.

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