Page 98 of Puppy Love

“What’s it gonna be, kid?” Al chuckles.

I already know what Cam is going to order. She finds one thing she likes and sticks to it. Vodka Cranberries. Seattle Strawberry Swirl. Me.

We Postmated Tex-Mex after last week’s rendezvous. I offered her a bite of my enchiladas, to which she promptly scrunched her nose, and turned back to her quesadilla.

“I only want this,” she said, taking a large bite into her mouth. “I only ever get this.”

Cam continues to stare at the menu, almost like she’s frozen.

“She’ll take a qu—” I start to say, but Cam cuts me off.

“Make me whatever your favorite is,” she says to Al. “But no tomatoes.”

My brows press together, and I look at her in shock. A huge smile spreads across Al’s face, and he points at her with a sideways thumb.

“I like her,” he says, picking up his metal spatula. I shrug, shooting her a teasing grin.

“Eh, she’s alright.”

I look at her, still shocked at the words that came out of her mouth. Cam isn’t a “you choose” type of person. She isn’t someone you guess for because she only likes certain things, and she only likes those certain things a certain way.

“Are you sure you don’t just want a quesadilla?” I whisper. “It’s not too late.”

Cam looks at me, a hint of panic in her eyes, but I can tell she’s trying to hide it.

“I trust you,” she says softly. Warmth fills my stomach when those words leave her lips. It’s just Mexican food; I know it isn’t that deep. But it is with Cam, at least partially. She’s so skeptical of everything. So unsure of new things, so stuck in her ways. I think about what Hayden said, how he knew she liked me too. In this moment, I’d almost believe him. A smile spreads over my face as I turn the stone over in my hand.

I lean forward, tapping the crystal on the windowsill to draw Al’s attention to it. Al tilts his head, immediately accepting it from my hand.

“This one,” he says, holding it up to the light. “This one looks nice.”

I grin and look over at Cam, but she just looks confused. I don’t want to explain the full story to her. Not in front of Al, at least. But her head drops to the side, and I know if I leave her in the dark for a second longer, she’s going to force the entire story out of me right here right now.

“I bring Al crystals sometimes,” I explain. “Trying to promote good energies.”

She nods, approving of my short, vague explanation. “What’s that one?” She points to the yellow stone.

“That’s Yellow Jasper,” I say, making sure to look at both her and Al. “For happiness.”

A loud scoff exits her throat. “Seems on brand for you.”

“Don’t knock it till you try it, mija,” Al says defensively, shooting her a disapproving look. “I thought it was bullshit too but…” He looks at me and smiles. “Violet has helped me in more ways than I can count.”

The warmth in my chest grows with those words. Al has helped me more than he knows too.

“It’s okay,” I say nonchalantly. “She doesn’t have to believe in it.”

“I didn’t say I don’t believe in it,” Cam shoots back. Her eyes lock onto mine.

“Okay,” I respond, not breaking the contact.

She continues, “I just don’t know enough about it.”

I tilt my head and smile. “Let me teach you.”

Al’s eyes dart back and forth between us, a subtle smile peeking from beneath his mustache. His brow raises slightly, and our eye contact breaks when he speaks.

“Here,” he says, handing me a white paper bag.

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