“What are you doing with Cami?”
“I’m not doing anything with her right now.”
“Don’t be a dick,” she says calmly. Mia can be wildly passionate, or the calmest person in the room. She would have made an excellent pilot.
As it is, she’s a scary woman.
“Why don’t you tell me what your concerns are?”
“My concern is Cami. I saw you yesterday, Landon. You weren’t just doing your harmless-flirting thing that you usually do with her.”
“No, I wasn’t.”
Her big brown eyes narrow. “You know, Cami is maybe the sweetest person I know. She’s giving and loyal and she’s the best person to have in your corner.”
“Yes, she is.”
“And she’s had a crush on you since the beginning of time. And you knew that. So don’t do the flirty thing with her and then turn around and date someone else under her nose the way you used to do when we were teenagers, Landon. It’s mean and she doesn’t deserve that.”
“I wouldn’t do that to her.”
“You have done that to her,” she says, getting heated now. “I know that you’re not thrilled to be home, and that you didn’t want to leave the Navy, especially the way it all went down. But don’t start something with Cami because you’re home and bored and want to fill your time with someone that you know will hang on your every word.”
“I’m not sure who you just insulted more; Cami or me,” I reply, and toss the disposable plate of food in the trash, not able to eat any more. “But I do know that if you were a dude, I’d be decking you right now.”
“I’m not trying to insult anyone,” Mia replies. “I’m being honest. I don’t want you to hurt her.”
“I don’t want to hurt her either, Mia. We haven’t even been out on a date.”
“But you’re taking her to dinner tonight. She told me.”
I want to ask her what Cami said, but that sounds way too much like high school. “The crush wasn’t always one-sided,” I admit quietly, then shove my hand through my hair and pace away from her, my boots echoing through the space. “But we were young, and then I left.”
“And then she got married,” Mia says, completing my thought. “I’m sorry. I didn’t know.”
“No one knew. Well, except for Dad.”
“Dad?” she asks, surprised. I nod.
“Dad saw the lust written all over my face when she was around.” I sigh. “And he warned me that she was too young. And he was right.”
“So you left.”
I nod again.
“And now you’ve decided to scratch an old itch?”
“Watch yourself, Mia.” My voice is hard.
“Hey, I’m just asking. We’ve always considered her family, but now that her folks are gone, and her brother and sister moved away, I feel even more protective of her.”
“I’m going to see her. Get to know her. I like her, Mia. Not because I’m bored or I think she’ll hang on my every word. Hell, she’s barely looked at me since I’ve been home.”
“She notices you,” Mia says.
“I want her to do more than notice me,” I reply.
“It feels like it’s moving fast. You just got home, and I know it’s been rough on you.”
“It’s getting easier,” I reply, surprised to discover that it’s the truth. “And it’s not fast, Mia, I’ve known her forever. But, something I’ve learned through all of this is that life’s damn short. I could have died up there.” I swallow hard as tears fill my sister’s eyes. “And in those seconds when all hell broke loose and I knew I’d have to eject, Cami was my only regret.”
“Oh, Landon.” Mia wraps her arms around me and hugs me tight. “I hope that whatever you both want to come from this is what happens. I love you both. I don’t want to see anyone with their feelings hurt.”
“You’ll hurt my feelings if you don’t bring me lunch again tomorrow.”
“You only ate half.” Her eyes flare as she pulls away. “You threw my food away.”
“You pissed me off,” I reply with a shrug.
“I have to work.” She turns to walk away, then stops and looks back at me. “She loves sunflowers. She says they always look happy.”
“Where am I supposed to find sunflowers in February?”
“That’s not my problem,” she says with a laugh.
“You always were a pain in my ass!” I call after her, but she just waves and keeps walking.
“Love you too!”
I frown, suddenly wishing I hadn’t thrown the last of that food away, and pull out my phone to start calling florists.
If Cami likes sunflowers, then she’ll have sunflowers.
IT’S BEEN A long day. Maybe that’s because we had a tool malfunction, requiring me to drive out to another job site to get another one. Maybe it’s because I know I’ll get Cami all to myself in just a few hours and that’s making the seconds drag by.
Either way, I’m itching to get the hell out of here.
“I’m gonna run next door for some water,” I tell my guys, and saunter over to the restaurant.
Who am I kidding? I want to get a glimpse of her. I’m pathetic.
But I don’t want to change it.