Savor You (Fusion #5)(11)

“Oh God, I’m so full,” Cami says as she unbuttons the top of her jeans and lounges back in her chair on the patio.

“It was good,” I reply.

“Why do you sound surprised?” Landon, my brother, asks. “I can cook, you know.”

“I’m not surprised. I am, however, hopeful that I’ll still be alive tomorrow.”

“Har har,” he says, then plants a kiss on Cami’s cheek. “How was your day?”

“Long,” I reply with a yawn. “I didn’t sleep last night, and had to be in my kitchen at about seven this morning to start working with Camden, so I’m tired.”

“How did that go?” Cami asks.

“Fine.” I shrug. “He’s nice enough.”

“Are you ever going to tell us what happened?” Cami asks. “We’ve tried to be patient and wait until you offer the information, but I think you have top-level security clearance with the CIA because getting information out of you is impossible.”

“I could tell you, but then I’d have to kill you,” I reply with a sassy wink.

“I have security clearance with the navy, so you can tell me,” Landon says. His voice sounds like he’s being funny, but his eyes are hard. “He hurt you, didn’t he? I’m going to have to kill him and make it look like an accident.”

Scoot, Cami’s cat, comes out onto the patio and jumps up onto the chaise next to Landon. He curls up and purrs loudly.

I frown and shake my head. “He didn’t really do anything wrong.”

Neither of them replies, they just sit quietly, watching me. Maybe it’s time I talk about it in detail with someone, rather than just give out bits and pieces. I’m not going to have a more supportive audience than my best friend and my brother.

“Camden and I went to culinary school together up in Seattle. He was so hot. I mean, you’ve seen what he looks like now, and to be honest he’s gotten hotter, but at about twenty, he was just—”

“I can only imagine,” Cami says with a wink. “He’s a hottie.”

“Hey,” Landon says.

“You’re a hottie too, babe,” she says and kisses his shoulder. “Keep talking.”

“We were lab partners, so we worked together in the kitchen about three times a week. We worked well together. We laughed a lot, and he was just a nice guy.”

“He sounds horrible,” Cami says with a wink.

“Yeah, it was tough.” I sigh and stand, not able to sit anymore, and pace the big patio. “One day, he came into class and looked stressed out. Turns out, his roommate had to suddenly move out. So that meant that Camden was left without a roommate, and he was worried that he’d have to quit school because he couldn’t afford it all himself.”

“So, he doesn’t come from a wealthy family,” Landon says.

“No. In fact, both of his parents were killed when he was young, like maybe around twelve I think? And his older sister Stephanie raised him.”

“Wow,” Cami says. “That’s sad.”

“Anyway, at about that same time, the house that I was renting with a couple other girls was being sold out from under us, so we needed to find a new place.”

“I remember that,” Cami says.

“I don’t remember any of this,” Landon says with a scowl.

“You were off being a sexy pilot,” Cami replies, waving him off.

Scoot jumps off the chaise and begins to follow me around the patio as I pace.

“So, when he told me that he needed a roommate, I said I did too, and it made sense to just move in together.”

“Wait. You were dating him?” Cami asks.

“No. We were just friends.”

“Okay,” she says with a nod. “Just clarifying.”

“It was a two-bedroom apartment, not far from the school. He already had all the furniture, so it was great because all I had was my personal stuff. We got along well.” I grin and then feel myself blush. “Really well, actually. After I moved in, and we were spending more time together, he couldn’t keep his hands off me.”

“I don’t want to know this part,” Landon says, but Cami hushes him.

“I do. I really do. Keep talking.”

“Now, I need to clarify that we never said we were girlfriend and boyfriend. He never said the L word. Ever. But we fucked all the damn time.”

“Atta girl,” Cami says as Landon continues to scowl.

“So, there was chemistry and good sex and I truly believe we were also good friends. We watched a lot of movies, practiced recipes, and just generally hung out.”

“He was totally your boyfriend,” Cami says.

“I was so insecure,” I reply with a sigh. “You remember, Cami. If you think I have insecurities now, it’s nothing compared to then. I was overweight, and kids are horrible. Boys were horrible. And suddenly, this super-hot guy wanted me.” I turn and stare at Cami, just as confused now as I was then. “Why did he do that?”

“Because he was hot for you,” Landon says. “Because he’s not an asshole and knows that women come in all shapes and sizes, and you’re an amazing girl.”

“All of that,” Cami says with a nod. “Also, I want to marry you all over again.”