Page 21 of Just Like This
“Can I ask you a question?” she inquired.
“Sure.”
“Where did you go after breakfast at Palmer’s?”
“I had changed my flight after his party the night before and went home to see my family.”
“Why?”
I shifted uncomfortably in the seat. If I said I didn’t want to talk about why I left Palmer’s, then we’d have nothing to discuss. “I didn’t like being around a lot of strangers. Even though I’m home, back in the States, my body was still on alert. I was constantly waiting for someone to blow us all up.”
“Did you feel that way at the concert?”
“Yes. You know I did, but things were different.”
“Why?”
“Because of you, Cami. You make me feel grounded. I’ve never met a woman like you before.” She was the first woman I had ever wanted to claim completely as mine. Deep inside my soul, I wanted her more than I wanted anything in my entire life.
From the corner of my eye, I saw Cami pick up her hand and examine it, turning it over and holding it up against the passing streetlights. “I know what you mean.”
The ride turned silent again until Cami asked, “Is it like this for everyone? Do you think most people feel something like this?”
“I thought you said you weren’t innocent and inexperienced,” I joked.
“I’m being serious!”
“Fine.” I took a moment to think about what she was asking me.Do most people feel what we’ve experienced?“I’m not sure, Cami. I think this is … different.”
She sighed and said, “I thought so.”
As we reached the outskirts of Tacoma, Cami asked me about my family. “Palmer said your family owns a winery. Does that mean you grew up in Napa Valley?”
“Sort of. I grew up in Healdsburg, which is a little west of Napa Valley. That’s where my family’s winery is located.”
“And you went there after Palmer’s?”
I nodded. “I’d planned on going back there anyway while I’m on leave. I just went earlier.”
“Are you close to your family?”
I battled with myself over how much I wanted to share. If I wanted her to open up to me about her father, then I’d have to show her some honesty. “I wouldn’t say we’re close. My father has always been a little closed off from all of us. He’s strict. He expected me to take over the family business.”
“But you didn’t want that?”
“I do want it. Now. But when I was eighteen, I didn’t. I needed to figure it out for myself instead of having him constantly tell me what was expected of me. Planned for me. So, I enlisted.”
“Your dad wasn’t happy about that?”
“He screamed at me for hours after I told him. And then he went cold. And I stopped going home.”
“Why?” I thought that all of her questions would be awkward to answer, that I’d have a hard time with telling her the truth, but Cami made it all so easy. I wanted to share everything with her.
“My mom died. I was a complete mama’s boy. Probably still am. She loved the land, the vines, and the earth. When she died, I didn’t want to be reminded of what I’d lost. So, I stayed away. I traveled. I’ve been to almost every wine-producing region in the world. And I’ve enjoyed being in the Army. I like leading my men.”
Cami reached over and placed her hand on my thigh. I removed one hand from the steering wheel and covered hers with mine. “Thank you for telling me all of this,” she whispered.
“Tell me about your dad,” I pushed, hoping she would open up.
