Page 62 of After We Fall

“We had an argument. It's no big deal. I think it's for the best.”

“What's for the best? That you had a fight?”

I rolled my eyes. “No, that Grant’s gone for two weeks. He couldn't even bother to tell me. I think that's sort of like a roommate respect thing.”

Cammi studied me quietly. “Hang on.” She passed my coffee over the counter and spun around, pushing through the swinging door into the back. A moment later, a teenage girl came out, dusting her hands on her apron and rinsing her hands in the sink. She turned and smiled at me expectantly. “Can I help you?”

“Oh, I've already got mine.”

Cammi appeared behind her. “Come in the back. Let’s chat.”

“The back?”

“Yeah, I own the place.” She gestured for me to come behind the counter.

I slipped through the opening when she lifted a portion of the counter where it was hinged and followed her into the back where I'd never been. My gaze arced around the space. Even back here, it was cheerful and warm. There was a wide stainless-steel table in the middle of the room.

“What are you making today?” I asked.

“Oh, I do all the prep in the morning. Sit.” She patted a stool.

Once I was seated, she sat on a stool beside me. She took a swallow from a mug on the table. Setting it down, she commented, “I needed a break. You want some pizza?”

Before I could reply, she hurried over to one of the ovens and peered inside. “I'm making mini pizzas.”

“I love pizza. It's a balanced meal,” I teased. She grinned and slid out a pizza. “Ooh, is that pepperoni?”

“Yup, I’ve got this and a few veggie options.”

A few minutes later, I glanced over. “Cammi, everything you make is good.”

Her blue eyes twinkled with her smile. “What's up? You're upset because Grant hadn't mentioned he was going out of town.”

I finished chewing. “It would’ve been nice to know.”

“What was the argument about?”

I sighed, knowing I’d have to explain. “I have this heart thing.” I quickly summarized, ending with, “It’s not a big deal. Totally treatable. Anyway, he got mad at me because he thought I was covering it up. I just learned from Cat the other night that health things are a sore spot for him.”

Cammi nodded sagely. “Because their mom died from an undiagnosed condition. I think he feels bad because he was off at college in Anchorage.”

“That’s not his fault,” I protested.

“Well, of course not,” she said, lifting a hand and letting it fall. “But grief doesn't always make sense. Grief is emotional, old patterns, and all that. Logic doesn't play into it. Elias thinks Grant really likes you.”

“How would he know?”

“Elias is pretty perceptive. He's quiet but dangerous.”

“Dangerous?”

She giggled. “He’s a softy, but he picks up on what's going on. Apparently, the guys had drinks at Sally's the other night, and one of Grant's usual pickups wasn't getting anywhere even though she tried.” I shouldn't have felt a little thrill at that, but I did. “How do you feel about him?”

I finished off a slice of pizza. After swallowing, I shrugged. “I didn't think I would really fall for him. I thought we would have a little fun, and that would be that.”

“What's your history with relationships?” she asked.

“Huh?”

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