Page 47 of Feels Like Coming Home

“Well, well, look at you all gussied up,” she teased playfully. Part of me felt like I was making a bigger deal out of this…whatever it was…than it needed to be, and I considered retreating to my room to change.

“Don’t. Don’t even think about it, I see it in your eyes. I’m just teasing you, you look beautiful, Hays.”

“Thank you. I don’t really know what we’re doing today, so I hope what I’m wearing is okay.” I nervously wiped my hands down the front of my dress to smooth it out.

“You’re meeting at Coastal Brews?”

“Yep. Other than that, I don’t know what we’re doing.”

“Is there something youwantto do with Camden?” Piper wiggled her eyebrows at me and my cheeks suddenly felt very hot.

“Goodbye, Piper.” I rolled my eyes at her and walked toward the door. As it was closing behind me I heard her say, “Bye, have fun! Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do! Or do!”

The walk to Coastal Brews was short, just two turns down from where the bungalow sat, but today it felt like miles. My stomach was rolling with every new step I took. I was excited to spend time with Cam and had decided to just let life give me this potential happiness, but I was also still trying to resist the feeling that I was betraying Connor.

Grief is such a bitch.

As I got close enough to see Coastal Brews in the distance, I started to take in the image of Cam, leaning against the old, cracked, white picket fence that dotted the perimeter of the coffee shop. His muscular body was leaning up against a post, his hands tucked behind him.

He was wearing loose-fitted dark jeans and a gray t-shirt that hugged his well-formed arms. On his head was a baseball hat turned backward, covering up his dark brown hair. The afternoon sunlight highlighted the deep shade of emerald in his eyes and I could feel my insides turning into pudding.

I approached him and stopped just a few feet away, trying to catch my breath and fix my face before Cam noticed how my jaw was hanging open slightly more than it should be.

“Jones.” He spoke first, my name sliding off his tongue like honey.

“Johnson.” Our standard back-and-forth greeting came easily, and I was glad for it. I don’t think I would be able to produce normal words otherwise.

“Your boss have any issues with you leaving work early today?” His lips were pulled back into a smirk, and I could feel a smile starting to form of my own.

“I told you earlier, Cam, I am the boss.”

“Yes, you are,” he said it slowly, his voice gritty and low. I let out a breathy laugh through my nose and chewed on the inside of my lip. The thought of bossing Cam around like he was insinuating sent a shiver down my spine.

“So,” he continued. “I thought we could go for a walk if you were up for it. It seems to be our thing. Plus, it’s a nice enough day. What do you think?”

“A walk sounds nice.” I nodded.

We walked down the sidewalk together and I followed Cam’s lead. Piper and I had been here nearly a week but we hadn’t had the chance to explore the tiny beach town beyond coming down to Coastal Brews. As we walked, Cam led us through what I’m sure was considered downtown. We passed several storefronts including a flower shop, a small library, a grocery store, and an Italian restaurant.

“That’s where I got dinner from for you the other day,” Cam said, pointing toward the restaurant window.

“The food was amazing. I could eat there every day if I knew I wouldn’t put on four hundred pounds by doing so.”

“You’d still be just as stunning if you did.”

I tried to hide my smile and the fact that he had made me blush,again, and continued to follow him down the street. We weren’t talking, just enjoying the time and space between us. Eventually, we hit the end of a boardwalk that connected the main road to the beach. Cam started down it but stopped when he realized I wasn’t following him anymore.

“Jones…you coming?” His body was turned to face me and he gave me a confused expression.

“I don’t like the sand,” I stated apprehensively. For as long as I could remember, the feeling of sand on my feet—or anywhere else for that matter—made me uncomfortable. This was a huge reason why whenever my mom and I took a trip, we didn’t go to the beach.

“Oh come on, Haley, you can’t come to the beach and not see the water. Come on, once we get to the end, I’ll carry you so you don’t have to touch the sand if you don’t want to.”

I looked at Cam to gauge how serious he was, and by the look on his face, he’d meant what he’d said. Curious to see if he would follow through on his offer, I followed him down the boardwalk until we hit the sand. When we did, Cam kicked off his shoes and turned so his back was facing me and tapped his shoulder with his hand.

“You want to give me a piggyback ride?” I asked incredulously. “Are you serious?” I hadn’t been given a piggyback ride since I was probably ten years old.

“Why are you acting surprised? I told you I would carry you once we got to the end of the boardwalk.”

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