Page 20 of Building Romance
I laugh, which comes out more like a snort. “Right.”
He gives me a pointed look. “He’s not, Camryn. He’s a good kid. He lost his way for a bit, but he’s made up for lost time. He’s a decent young man. I think you both have a lot in common.”
This time I laugh harder. “Al, we have nothing in common aside from running competing businesses.”
He shakes his head. “You are both youngest siblings looking to prove yourselves. You are both stubborn. You both love your family. And you’re both very driven when you want something. But you also are both fiercely loyal and kind to those you love.”
I find all of those things very hard to believe, but I know Al won’t back down, so I just nod. “OK, Al.”
He walks around the bar and pats my knee. “I’m serious, Cam. Give the guy a chance. I think if you combined your talents, you’d be a force to be reckoned with. No one would be able to beat you at this competition.”
“I plan on winning it,” I state. With or without Fletcher McDowell.
“Good. I look forward to watching you do just that,” he says with a warm smile. “You’re a talented baker. I know you can win this.”
I hop off my stool and hug him. He pats my back. “Now, go figure out the winning recipes. I’m always here to try them out.”
I giggle and pull away. “And here I thought Ava would be my only taste tester.”
“The kid can’t have all the fun,” he says as we walk to the door. He turns while we’re on the stairs. “Just remember what I said. Fletch isn’t a bad guy.”
“OK,” I manage but inside I’m seriously doubting this. And why is Al pushing it? Fletcher probably puts on some show for family and friends. He seems like the type of person to manipulate people in that way.
I walk down to my apartment and find Drew sitting on the sofa, clearly just out of the shower. The man showers in two minutes flat, which is shocking considering how long he takes to do his hair. He literally just left the rooftop five minutes ago.
“So, what the hell, Cam?” he says, and I know I’m in trouble.
I sit across from him in my cozy chair and curl my legs beneath me. “I’m sorry. I told you I was considering his offer. I just didn’t see it till this afternoon and I sent it to Winston and then I…signed it.” He gives me a knowing look. “Fine. I knew you’d try to talk me out of it and I wanted to make this decision all on my own.”
“But why? You know I’m always here for you,” he says and I hate he sounds hurt.
“Because one, if something goes wrong, I don’t want to feel like it’s your fault for talking me into or out of something. And two, for once, I wanted to make a business decision all on my own. I love your advice. I cherish it, but this was something that I needed to do alone,” I try to explain.
I get up and walk over to him, plopping down on the sofa and leaning my head on his shoulder. “Please don’t be mad. I really need to take ownership of this all alone. It’s important to me that I did this. I made this decision,” I try again to put my thoughts into words.
“Promise me something,” he says.
I pause and wait for his request.
“If Fletcher so much as walks an inch out of line, you tell me. I will pummel his uppity ass, OK?” he says and I shake with laughter.
“Fine. That I can agree to,” I say as I hold out my hand and we do our secret handshake, the one we came up with while drinking together one night many years ago.
“Love ya, Drew. Thank you for always wanting the best for me,” I say because I do. This man has stuck with me through so many things. He’s my rock.
“Love you, too, you crazy beotch.” He pauses and I wonder if he’s going to keep laying into me, but instead, he says, “Now, let’s figure out these competition-winning flavors. We have a major corporation to take down.”
“Yes, let’s do that,” I agree as we begin going through the notes I took upstairs, looking for inspiration. But as we discuss flavors, I keep thinking about what Al said. There’s no way Fletcher can be a good guy. He’s the villain in my story, right? A crazy, good-looking villain. A villain that I might sleep with if I lost my good judgment. But a villain nonetheless.
CHAPTER TEN
Fletch
I knock on the door to Cam’s Café for a second time. Cam had confirmed that I should meet her here at nine fifteen sharp. It’s now nine seventeen.
The door to the back of the café opens and Cam appears. She’s backlit by the light in the kitchen. Her red hair looks ethereal.
She slowly walks to the door and for a long moment we stare at each other through the glass. Finally, she unlocks the door and pushes it open.
