by Lisa Shelby
A moment later, a family of four appears on the trail just below the boulder we’ve climbed up on. We exchange waves, and they keep moving along the path and are out of our sight in less than a minute.
“I guess it’s a good thing we stopped when we did. If I had let your hand go any further, those parents would have had a lot to explain to their kids.”
He gives me a squeeze, and we take some time to soak in the tranquility we aren’t able to find at home in the city or even the suburbs. The green of the trees, the rush of the water in the stream below, and wildlife all around us is hard to find anywhere but out here in the woods.
Leaning back against his chest, I can feel his breath in my hair when he breaks my tranquil thoughts with his deep, smooth voice.
“So, have you always been so competitive? I mean that would have been a pretty nice outcome for both of us no matter how we got there.”
His question takes me by surprise.
“I don’t think I’m really that competitive.”
He huffs out a quiet laugh.
“It’s not that I’m competitive…I guess I just like to set goals and achieve them as best I can. I try to always do my best. I always give a hundred and ten percent. Always.”
“Hmmm…and where does this drive come from do you think?”
“Well, I would hope we all had that drive in us. I don’t think I’m that different from everyone else.”
“I think you can be pretty hard on yourself sometimes. I’ve been watching you work on this Avenue of Dreams project with Gabe and you beat yourself up pretty bad. You never seem to be happy or feel confident with anything that you’re designing for the project. I know it’s a big deal but you love to design, and you should be having more fun with it than you are.”
I wasn’t expecting a conversation of this tone up here on our tranquil little rock. I’m actually quite taken aback that he has noticed the stress I’m feeling over this project.
Turning myself around to face him, I plant my legs on either side of his, and I’m pulled in close enough that we can talk without having to shout over the thundering falls. His hand comes up to my hair, and he smooths it back away from my face. The mist from the water has dampened his hair quite a bit, and there are droplets of water starting to drip from the short hair on his forehead.
“You’re right, I should be making this project more fun, and I generally try to mix a little bit of fun into everything I do, but this is a big deal. I also made the mistake of telling my little sister about the project, and my mom was there when I did. She told my mom that I was designing for Gabe, and I could hear my mom in the background. She couldn’t understand why in the world he would ask me to do something like this. She said I had no business working on a project of this magnitude.”
“Well, she clearly has never seen your work. You have an eye for this stuff, and you are going to slay this, Cam.”
I give him a grin of appreciation, and he gives me a wink that says he’s got me.
“She doesn’t even know that I’ve always dreamed of designing. To be honest, she doesn’t really know much about me at all.”
“I’m sorry, baby. Did something happen to put a wedge between the two of you when you were younger?”
“Not unless you mean the fact that my parents got pregnant with me when they were in college, and I was sort of nuisance that got in the way of their dreams.”
“Excuse me?” he asks sharply, and I can feel his hackles rise and his protectiveness rear its head.
“Don’t worry I was well taken care of. Not by my parents for most of my early years, but I was taken care of.”
“Where exactly were you’re parents, Cami?” He is seething, and I do my best to make him feel better by rubbing my hands up and down his arms.
“Hey, don’t worry about me. I had a good life. I was taken care of.”
He leans forward and kisses me gently. “Who took care of you then? I want to hear everything that you want to share, little lady. I have no place to be, so talk as long as you want.” He puts his hands behind him and leans back in preparation of the rest of my story.
How is this big man, who’s mere presence scares the crap out of lesser men, so sweet and kind? There is something to be said for kindness. Today I am finding kindness can be awfully sexy on some people.
“Let’s see…my story. Um…well…I don’t usually talk about it. I mean, it’s not really that exciting. My parents met their freshman year in college and fell madly in love. Actually, they still are madly in love to this day. You can tell they were meant to be together when you’re around them. My parents may not have been a lot of things in my life but they have always been proof to me that true love really does exist, and I guess they are one of the reasons I have never wanted to settle.”
Shit, does he think I am implying something? Ugh, just keep talking and don’t think about the rest.
“Anyway, they met, fell in love and were engaged. They both came from very prominent families and were at an ivy league school. Appearances were everything. So, when my mom got pregnant with me, their worlds came crashing down around them. They weren’t married. They were still in college and both had planned to continue on for their medical degrees. Needless to say, I was not a part of their plan.”
“Don’t move,” he says, moving in close and using his finger to take something off of my face.
“Sorry to interrupt but you had an eyelash on your cheek. I had to get it so you could make a wish.”
Kind and seriously sweet equals very, very sexy.
I make my wish and blow my eyelash off the finger he’s holding in front of me.
“Okay, back to your story.”
He’s back to resting on his hands and waiting for me to start again. This man is so much more than I could have ever dreamed he would be the first time I met him at Emily and Jonathan’s wedding. If someone had told me four years ago that I would be sitting here, on this rock, having this conversation with this man, I would have laughed them away.
But, back to my sad little story.
“So, my grandparents threw together a wedding. It wasn’t the dream wedding they had always hoped to have covered in the paper for all of the socialites around town to gossip about. They had to do it quick before my mom was showing. The audacity of her having a baby bump in her wedding dress was simply unacceptable.”
“Sounds like Savannah. Sugar money. Cotton money. Old money that isn’t polite to talk about. I know exactly who these people are.”
“Well, luckily for my mom, I was due near the end of summer, and she didn’t have to waddle around campus in her third trimester. She went home for the summer after her junior year, had me, and then she and my dad went back to school a few weeks later.”
“If they went back to school where did that leave you?”
“My grandmother on my mom’s side got a couple of nannies, and I stayed with my grandparents. I was too young to really remember much about my years there. I’m sure I had the best. Nothing but the best for the Anderson family, you know.”
“Did you say years, Cami? Did your parents leave you with your grandparents for years?”
“Well, they had one more year of undergraduate studies, and then they both went to medical school, had their residency years, and then we moved to Portland. When they were in school, they would take me for the summers but they didn’t really know what to do with me. Once they were done with school, they moved to Oregon, bought a house, and took me on full time. They worked a lot of hours, and I was usually with babysitters, but I was with them and that felt good. It meant they did want me after all. I was so excited to move here and have my parents all to myself.”
“Cam…”
“Liam, this isn’t a sob story. I come from money, I had everything I could have ever wanted. I wasn’t abused or miss-treated. They just didn’t pay a lot of attention to me. I didn’t know any different and had no idea this wasn’t the norm until I was ten and Addison was born. They were
overjoyed. The way they doted on her, all the pictures they took, the way they showed her off…I was invisible. At least, that’s the way it felt.”
I move my legs so we both have to shift around on our rock and get comfortable in new positions.
“So, I did everything in my power to do well at whatever I did. I wanted them to be proud of me. To want to show me off to all of their doctor friends. To hear them talk about me when they called back home and talked to my grandparents. In the end, it didn’t matter what I did, they just weren’t that into me.” I shrug.
“They clearly have poor taste.” He takes my fingers in his hand and comforts me by running his thumb back and forth across the back of my hand.
“Nah, Addison is pretty awesome, thanks though. She’s a sweetheart, and the older she gets the closer we become. She was too young to really see the difference in our upbringing, and I don’t blame her at all. Besides, soon after we moved here, I found Emily and then Alex and life got pretty good. I spent all my time with them, and my parents never really noticed or cared that I stayed at Emily’s as often as possible. Once I figured out that my gregarious personality got me the attention at school that I didn’t get at home, everything changed. At school, everybody thought that I was confident without a care in the world. The truth is, once I let my true freak flag fly, I realized this was who I am. I wasn’t the quiet girl in the corner who only spoke when spoken to. I loved to laugh and have fun. I was one of the cool kids, and I had more friends than I knew what to do with. Being one of the cool kids was great, but Emily and Alex were the only ones that mattered. They were my family. Even Mick and Riley…I felt closer to them than I did my own parents.”
“How close?” He narrows his eyes at me, and I get the implication.
“Oh, shut your face! They were like my big brothers and still are. Don’t even go there.” The thought of wanting more from either of them sends a shiver down my spine. “So gross. Ick!”
“That’s what I like to hear.”
“So there you have it. My sister was planned and I wasn’t. Because of that, I ended up outgoing and yes, still a tad bit insecure and therefore a bit of an over-achiever. I also ended up going to California for school and staying when Emily asked me to. I didn’t have a family to come home to, and I vowed when I went away to college that I would never ask for help or take a penny from my family. I worked my way through college and created a life for myself with Emily and eventually Ireland. So, staying in California wasn’t any big deal, but I did miss Portland. I love it here, and I don’t think I’d want to live anywhere else. I mean I want to travel and see the world but this…” I spread my arms wide and throw my head back and take in another big breath of fresh air, “…This is home.”
He gets on his knees in preparation of getting up but stops on his way to kiss me and says tenderly, “Well, I’m glad you came home. I can’t imagine Portland without you.”
“You better not imagine it without me. I’m starting to get used to you.” I stand and offer him my hand. “We should probably get moving. We still have to hike to the top of the falls.”
He stands and puts his hoodie back on. I’m standing with my hands on my hips trying to figure out how to get back off of our rock without breaking any bones when I feel his long fingers around my wrist.
“Cami…baby…” He turns me around and rests his hands on my hips and his forehead against mine.
“Yes…”
“Thank you. I really appreciate you sharing all of that with me. I’m sorry that your parents are idiots and missed out on experiencing the coolest person I have ever known.” He plants a kiss on my forehead. “Now, Miss Independent…how exactly do you plan on getting off of this rock?”
He walks around me and sits on the edge of the rock and hops off with no problem while I stand above him arms crossed over my chest staring down at him.
“I mean, I know you don’t need help from me or anyone else for that matter, but you could just sit down on the edge there, and I could reach up and lift you off and place you safely on your feet. It’s just a thought. I know you don’t need my help, but I wanted to throw that out there.”
“You are such a smart ass, Liam Fanua!” I sit down on the edge just as he described. “Get over here and get me off this stupid rock.”
“Yes, ma’am. With pleasure.”
He takes me in his strong arms, and as he brings me off the rock, he grants me a deliciously warm kiss and then places me on my feet safe and sound as promised.
We start the trek up the hill to the falls. The afternoon sun makes its presence known so, I take off my hoodie and start to wrap it around my waist when it’s suddenly ripped from hands.
“Hey, what are you doing?”
I turn around to see Liam, all six foot four and a half inches of him, tying my pink hoodie around his neck like a yuppie at a country club.
“Oh, honey. Pink is most definitely your color.”
“You kid, little missy, but you were about to cover up that hot ass of yours and take away the best view up here. I simply could not let such a travesty occur on my watch. Therefore, the hoodie stays with me.”
“Liam, you are in the Columbia River Gorge, surrounded by waterfalls, rivers, trees, and an endless blue sky. My ass does not compare.” My hands are on his shoulders, and I lift up on my toes, but he still has to bend down to meet me half way so I can kiss him. “I thank you for the boost to my ego, though.”
We turn to head up the hill, but first I bend over and touch my toes, pretending I need the stretch. Coyly, I look over my shoulder and give him a wink and a smile.
“Oh, I know what you’re up to. You better get that ass up that hill unless you want me to take you back on that rock and give the Jones’ quite the show when they come back down that hill.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about. It’s important to stretch before a hike. You seem to be in pretty good shape. I’m sure you stretch before and after a workout, don’t you?”
I make sure my hips have a little extra swing in their sway on my way up the hill.
If he wants a view, then I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure it’s the best dang view I can give him.
Always one hundred and ten percent.
Always.
Chapter 15
Liam
“God, Liam. Do you even have a clue how fortunate you are to have the parents that you do?”
We just left my mom and dad at the airport after their week-long visit. Because I don’t have an extra bedroom at the loft, they stayed with Jonathan and Emily, but we spent every day together. Dad and I spent time at the new office going over contracts and finances with Frank. He’s met most of the staff, but it was also a chance for those who haven’t met him to get the opportunity to introduce themselves to the man, without whom none of this would be possible.
I took him to explore all of the sites for our new builds, and it felt good to show him how well Uso Construction Portland was taking off. We talk daily, or at the very least every other day, about the business, but it was nice to have him here this week. It reminds me just how much I miss him. This would all be so much better if my dad was here running things with me.
Cami spent a lot of time with my mom, doing girly things. I’m sure I should be worried about what they talked about, but I’m not. I’m just glad they get along so well. I’ve never had a girlfriend that I’ve incorporated into my family life, but it isn’t an issue at all.
Cami is a natural fit.
We all went out to see the new piece of property I purchased out in the burbs. I finally pulled the trigger when Gabe brought the amazing acreage to my attention. It’s three acres, and it’s surrounded by nurseries and some small farms. It’s only a few minutes from the busy hustle and bustle where the rest of the gang live but private enough to feel secluded and away. It was great to have them here when we broke ground. I hate that they won’t be here to be a part of it.
As sad as they were to hear I had planne
d on staying in Portland they seemed proud that I was putting down new roots and had made such a wise investment. Most of all, they loved that Cami was in my life, and I know that deep down they think she’s my one.
If I’m being honest with myself, so do I. Well…I don’t think she is, I know she is.
“I sure do. They are my two favorite people in the world. Present company excluded, of course.”
“Well, I’m glad you do, because they are pretty special.” She squeezes my hand. “They made you so…I’m a big fan.”
“Aw, thanks baby. They’re pretty big fans of yours too. It means a lot to me that you like them.”
“Has it ever bothered you how close they are with Jonathan and now Emily and Ireland too?”
“Nah. I’ve never been jealous of J’s relationship with my family. He was my first real friend, and our parents were close. We grew up together every step of the way. I was there when his dad died and then again when he lost his mom and then Matt in the war. He really does feel like a brother to me and not just a friend. I love that he is absolutely, without a doubt a part of our family. I can’t imagine it any other way.”
“I know what you mean. I feel the same about Emily and Alex. I think you and I are both pretty lucky in that respect. I may not feel that close to my parents, but I have my girls and all of the people that come with them to make up the family I want to spend my time with.”
I kiss the back of her hand. I hate that her family isn’t a part of her life.
“Baby, if you ever want to spend time with your parents you know I’m game, right?”
She sighs. “I know and thank you. It’s not that they are horrible people; they are just consumed with their own lives and my sister’s, for that matter. We don’t have a lot in common, and as much as I love them, things always feel clunky when we’re together.”
“Clunky?”
“You know…uncomfortable, awkward, quiet. It never seems to go smoothly, and somebody always seems disappointed. I love my sister and we get along great. But, being ten years apart we sort of grew up differently and aren’t as close as you and Kate are.”
