Page 39 of I Loved You First
Glancing around his bedroom that now felt empty after she’d been in it, he headed downstairs, finding her scooping watermelon chunks into bowls. Classic potato chips and half sandwiches sat on two plates.
“This looks good,” he said, snagging one of the chips. And he didn’t just mean the food. Fi’s summer dress cinched at her slim waist and showed off her pretty legs.
She smiled. “Thanks for sharing your lunch.”
“No problem.” He grabbed both of their plates. “Do you want to sit on the dock? We can stick our feet in the water.”
“Yes.” Her smile returned as she picked up the bowls and two forks.
He led the way across the lawn and then over the wooden dock planks, stopping at the edge.
Fi sighed as she sat down, letting her feet sink beneath the depths. “This is amazing.”
Sitting beside her, he followed her lead, finding the water nice and cool in the summer heat. “It’s not a bad way to have a lunch break.”
She popped a piece of watermelon into her mouth. “How’s Brady doing with the gluten-free lifestyle?”
Cam nodded. “Pretty great, actually. The chart’s been a game-changer. Most of the food’s not too bad.”
“Except for the bread,” she said before she took a bite of her sandwich.
He grinned as he bit into his own half. “Except for the bread,” he said over his mouthful. He waited until he swallowed before he spoke again. “Brady’s bloodwork came back. They didn’t see any nutrient deficiencies, and he doesn’t have any of the antibodies that suggest celiac disease, so we’re in the clear there.”
“That’s great, Cam.”
He exhaled a sigh of relief. “For sure. The headaches, stomachaches, and rashes haven’t made an appearance since we gave up gluten, so it’s looking like that’s probably the culprit.”
She stabbed another piece of fruit with her fork. “I imagine that’s nice to know.”
He nodded. “It’s nice that there’s no more guessing.”
They both took another bite of their lunch, chewing in the quiet.
She leaned close to him, bumping her arm against his as she smiled. “This is really nice. I like that we can be here like this again.”
He nodded. “Definitely.” Because he’d given up hope that this would ever happen.
“My mom was surprised when I told her we were going to be friends.”
He frowned. “Why’s that?”
She shrugged. “I guess she thought it seemed too simple when we have so much history.”
He nodded again. “I can see that, but ultimately, this gets to be whatever we want it to be.”
“I like simple. I like friends.”
He took another bite instead of responding because there wasn’t a lot he could say when this was what Fi wanted. “So, tell me about your big, exciting life. How’s living in Seattle?”
“It’s okay. It’s good.”
He raised his brow as he looked at her. “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?”
She chuckled. “Don’t act like you know me.”
He grinned. “I kinda do.”
“Yeah,” she said with a sigh. “Mostly, it really is good. I’ve been traveling a lot for my job, which hasn’t been a whole lot of fun, but I shouldn’t have to do that much when I get back.”
