Page 14 of Just Like This
I nodded and placed my hand in his. I followed him outside and down to the rocky beach. “Who’s Nikki?” I asked.
“She’s just a friend,” he answered cautiously, but it felt like he was leaving something out. I had the urge to pry for more information, but when Garrett stopped and turned his smoldering gaze on me, I swallowed any other questions.
“I only have two weeks left,” Garrett started to say before tripping over his words. “I have two weeks left of my leave, and I want to spend them with you.”
“You do?” His honesty surprised me, considering he wasn’t exactly forthcoming about Nikki moments ago.
“You sound surprised. Maybe I got the wrong idea. I just thought …” It was cute how Garrett seemed flustered and trailed off. I couldn’t help the giggle that slipped past my lips. I took a step forward and slipped my hand into his. He looked down at our joined hands and studied them intently before lifting them. He extracted his hand from mine, leaving mine to lay flat against his chest. His heartbeat was a rapid tattoo against my palm. “Do you feel that? That’s because of you. You make me excited, Cami. You make me want things I’ve never wanted before.”
I swallowed the lump that had formed in my throat. I felt exactly the same way but something—someone—kept me from completely taking the plunge. “You didn’t get the wrong idea,” I told him quietly before slowly removing my hand from his chest and stepping slightly back. “But I don’t want to come between you and anyone else either.”
Garrett scoffed. “Are you talking about Nikki? I told you, she’s just a friend. There’s absolutely nothing going on between us.”
I was still skeptical. “Does she know that?”
“It’s difficult for me to ask this of you, but will you take my word that there’s absolutely nothing going on between us?”
My brain was still wavering, while my heart beat uncontrollably in my chest. “I’ve never felt so strongly about someone like this before. I’m scared.”
“Don’t be scared of me, Cami,” he said with a wink. He settled his hands on my waist and pulled me forward. Nervously, I looked up at him only to become lost in his intense brown eyes. My knees started to tremble with anticipation, and my lips parted expectantly. He lowered his head and brushed his lips against mine so softly that it was barely a kiss.
“Come on. I need to find that asshole and apologize.” My eyes popped open as Garrett tugged on my hand and started to pull me back toward Palmer’s house. My free hand grazed my lips trying to search for that kiss. Did it really happen? Garrett tossed me a look over his shoulder that told me that kiss was definitely real.
Garrett didn’t really have anything to apologize for, but I liked that he was trying to smooth things over between him and Palmer. It showed how much he valued their friendship. We took our time, slowly walking back up the beach, our connected hands swinging lightly between us. A bonfire blazed on the stretch of beach in front of Palmer’s house, and it was clear that he resumed the party without us.
“I thought I told you to get the fuck out of my house,” Palmer growled the moment he saw us climbing the stairs to the deck.
“Palmer, please just listen to what Garrett has to say,” I pleaded with him.
“Listen, I’m sorry. I should have talked to you about this sooner, and I didn’t. I really don’t want this to come between us,” Garrett said, extending his hand toward Palmer.
Palmer scowled at Garrett’s hand for a few tense moments before grasping it tightly. “What can I say, Garrett? You’re clearly the better man.”
Even though they shook hands and claimed to be brothers again, I didn’t think Palmer truly had forgiveness in his heart when he accepted Garrett’s apology. But I hoped that someday he would get there.
Garrett shoved Palmer away from the grill, telling him that he was turning the steaks into leather and that seemed to lighten the mood. I quietly returned to the comfort of the kitchen and prepared the side dishes that would accompany the steaks and took them out onto the patio.
“Hey, Cami, you should come and see Coldplay with us,” Jackson said as we all finished dinner.
“Oh, I’d love to, but I don’t have a ticket.” Coldplay was undoubtedly my favorite band, and even though I’d wanted to see them in concert, I had decided against getting tickets because my dad’s prognosis had been uncertain when tickets first went on sale.
“I have an extra one,” Garrett informed me. “Do you want to go?”
“Of course! Thank you.”
“I wish I could go. I love Coldplay too,” Nikki pouted. She looked at each of the guys and batted her eyelashes at them. Inwardly, I scoffed and rolled my eyes. Her looks definitely made me feel self-conscious, but I wasn’t envious of her personality.
“I have an extra ticket,” Palmer offered. “You can come. The show’s this Saturday night.”
Nikki clapped her hands excitedly and then, instead of thanking Palmer, she reached out and grabbed Garrett’s hand. “Oh my god, Garrett! I can’t believe we’re going to see Coldplay together. This is so exciting.”
Garrett was quick to disentangle himself from Nikki. “It’ll be a fun night out,” he said woodenly with a forced smile.
Across the table, Jackson shot me a look that said, “Can you believe her?” and Palmer looked downright annoyed. I felt sorry for him because Garrett and I had already ruined his night once, and now Garrett was inadvertently ruining it again. I looked down at my phone and decided it was time to go.
“Palmer, would you mind driving me home? Valerie dropped me off on her way to Tacoma tonight,” I asked.
Palmer started to stand, but Garrett held up a hand to stop him. “Can I take you home?” Garrett’s question was so quiet that I seemed to be the only person who heard him.
