Page 20 of Fall For You

“Yes,” I tell Camp. “It absolutely is. I’ve seen her portfolio. We’re damned lucky to get someone with her experience—and she’s doing it as a favor to her aunt, so it’s not even costing us anything.

“You mean it’s not costingusanything,” Camp corrects, gesturing to himself and Cash. “I’m sure it’s costing you plenty.”

“Speak for yourself,” Cash mutters. “Youhaven’t had to be civil to her yet.”

“Civil?” I eye my younger brother incredulously. “I hope you’re not talking about last week? Because neither have you.”

“What happened last week?” Camp turns to Cash and asks. “Have you seen her? Where was this? How long has she been in town?”

“She was here,” Cash answers. Then he pauses to make air quotes, “meeting with Carter.”

“Ah.” Camp looks at me expectantly. “So, are you two…?”

“No.” I shake my head. “I’m not discussing this. Have a biscuit. And be sure to try the preserves. The spiced cranberry-apple butter is a new recipe.”

Camp picks out a piece of cornbread and—no surprise there—pairs it with the pepper-peach jelly. Cash takes a biscuit, skips the preserves, and slathers it with butter and honey.

Same old same old. So. Predictable. Honestly, I don’t even know why I bother.

For a moment, I’m lulled into thinking we’ve moved on. But then, “So, what brought Jo back to town?” Camp asks, a short while later as he goes back for a second piece of cornbread. “Her aunt, I presume?”

I nod. “Yeah. I guess she heard about the concussion—although I’m not sure how.” I pause a moment to consider this. How did she find out? I knowIdidn’t call her and I doubt she talked to Vi.

Campbell frowns. “Wait. Just the concussion? What about, you know, the other issue?”

I shake my head, split a biscuit in half, smear apple butter over one of the halves and stuff it in my mouth.

Cash’s mouth has dropped open. He closes it, nods once and says, “Well, that explains some things.”

“Such as?” Camp asks, arching an eyebrow in his direction.

“Jo told me it was Ms. Vi’s idea that she give Carter a hand with the dinner,” Cash explains. Then he looks at me and adds, “Right? Isn’t that what she said?”

I nod, still eating.

“The way she said it… It was like she thought that would make the idea sound more reasonable.”

Camp is scowling as he turns to me and says, “So, lemme get this straight. You’re not gonna tell her? Don’t you think she’ll figure it out?”

“I have no idea,” I reply. “But I figure it’s not my place to intervene, and it’s not yours either, so butt out.”

“Not your place?” Cash scowls. “That’s rich. Is that what Jo told you?”

“Obviously not,” I snap. “Didn’t we just get through discussing the fact that she doesn’t know what’s going on? In what scenario would you expect her to have an opinion about a situation that she doesn’t know exists?”

“Knowing Jo? Any scenario at all.”

“Well, if you want my opinion,” Camp says. “I would say it’s one hundred percent your place. Not to mention the fact that you already have intervened.”

“Look,” I tell them. “I’m not asking for advice. I’m gonna continue to do what I think is best, and that’s the end of it. I don’t know how long Jo’s going to be in town. And it’s not like there’s anything she can do about the situation, anyway. So, I don’t see the point in burdening her with information she doesn’t need, or to force her to deal with something she doesn’t have to.”

“I don’t think that—” Camp says, but I override him.

“However, if you really want to help me out, I’d appreciate it if you both could just give her a break. I know you’re mad at her on my behalf, but seriously, you need to let that shit go. What’s done is done. And, besides, everything that happened between us was at least as much my fault as it was hers.”

Cash snorts derisively.

Camp says, “I think that’s debatable.”

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