Page 148 of Holidating
“Of course it is,” Nicolette says a little more sharply than she meant to. The fact that Cam can’t always recognize his own luggage irritates her, even though it shouldn’t. She’s known him for, what, eight years? Nine?
You’re marrying an overgrown child, Cici had said after Nicolette’s engagement party.Never forget that.
The comment was made in jest, after Cam had opened the dishwasher in the middle of the cycle and sprayed water all over the kitchen. But all humor has a basis in truth.
The fact is that Nicolettechosethis. She married a fun party boy because opposites attract. And because she was a little stunned that Cam could ever love someone like her. It still seems a little unreal.
Besides, it’s not fair to expect Cam to transform his personality just because she’s stuck being the practical half of their marriage for the rest of her days.
Cam grabs his own bag off the belt, but not hers, almost certainly because he doesn’t recognize her bag, even after traveling with her for a week. Instead of prompting him, she darts around his body to grab it herself, hauling it off the carousel and almost tripping in the process.
“Whoa, tiger,” Cam says with a laugh. “Easy. Is someone pickingus up?” This is surely the first moment that the question of their transportation has occurred to him.
“I called a taxi,” she says, pushing her hair out of her eyes. “Rose is probably waiting outside.” At least she hopes so. Cam will be crabby if their ride is late.
“Cool,” he says. “Can’t wait to kick back with your dad and Veronica, plus Margie’s cooking.”
They roll their luggage out to the sidewalk, where the late December temperature is below freezing. She scans the few cars in evidence, but Rose isn’t among them. “I’m sure it will be just a minute,” Nicolette says, pulling out her phone to check for a text. But there aren’t any.
Cam pulls out his new iPhone and ignores her, which is a habit of his that she usually detests. But at least it will keep him occupied.
The wind bites Nicolette’s face as she stares toward the turn in the road, hoping to see Rose’s minivan appear.
Instead, a black Grand Cherokee comes into view, and she stops breathing. It’s like seeing a mirage.
The Jeep stops right in front of her, and she lets out a little gasp when she sees the silhouette inside.
Cam looks up suddenly. “Is this our ride?”
She nods, not trusting her voice, as Damien exits and disappears behind the back of the vehicle, where he raises the rear liftgate, all without saying a word.
Nicolette’s heart stutters as he finally faces her and Cam. His expression is unreadable, but his eyes meet hers for a brief second before shifting to Cam. “Evening,” he says, his tone detached. “Rose is double-booked tonight.”
That’s all he says. No hug. No acknowledgement that they aren’t strangers.
Cam, oblivious to the tension, shrugs. Then he steps away from his suitcase, as if he doesn’t have two functional arms to lift it himself, and opens the door to the Jeep’s backseat. “Headed out to Colebury, yeah?”
Damien nods. Then he grabs Cam’s bag off the pavement and moves it effortlessly into the back.
Nicolette can’t stop cataloguing all the things about Damien thataren’t the same. He's broader across the chest. More muscular. He looks exhausted. There are dark smudges under both eyes.
And he doesn’t smile.
She tries to shake off her surprise, lunging for her bag. But Damien is faster. He grabs it before her hands properly close on the handle, slots it into the back, and then closes the hatch.
They’re face to face now, just her and this stranger who looks like Damien but acts like an alien. “Hi,” she says, with pointed eye contact.
“Hi,” he repeats, dodging her glance. “Good flight?”
“Good flight?” she echoes incredulously. “Seriously?”
He flinches, like he’s ashamed. Then he opens his mouth to say something more.
Except Cam picks that moment to bark something from the backseat. “Can we pick up the tempo a little, buddy? We’re on a tight schedule.”
They are not, by any stretch of the definition, on a tight schedule. But Damien reacts as if he’s been poked with a cattle prod, snapping to attention and ducking around the other side of the vehicle, where he climbs into the driver’s seat.
Nicolette goes in the other direction and finds herself standing next to the front passenger door. From the back, Cam is giving her a funny look. He holds the rear door open for her. “Baby? Come here. I gotta show you something.”
