Page 82 of You Met Me There

“Am I?” Her eyes scan mine from across the room.

I nod. “You are.”

She smiles a little and then goes back to packing her camera bag. I watch her. The neon-orange athletic dress she’s wearing showcases her tan skin, and her hair hangs loose around her shoulders, bleach-blonde waves accentuating her long neck. The straps of her dress crisscross over her back, then tie into a knot at the back of her waist. It shows a lot of skin, but I’m not complaining. I imagine my fingers on the knot and on the small of her back.

“What?” she asks warily.

Busted.

“Nothing.” I smile.

“It’s not nothing. Why were you staring at me like that? Does this dress look weird? It’s kind of tight. Does it look bad?”

“No, not at all.” I glide across the room and take her hands in mine. “You look wonderful. Amazing. A husband can appreciate his wife, right? I just can’t keep my eyes off you.”

Her cheeks turn a light pink. “Thanks.”

I give her a kiss, but she pulls away much sooner than I like. Something flickers over her face that I can’t name.

“What’s wrong?” I ask.

“Nothing.” She shakes her head. “Just anxious, I guess. I’m going to be late if I don’t go now.” She lifts her bags over her shoulder, pulling the car keys from her purse. “Are you sure you want to come?”

“I wouldn’t miss this throw down for anything,” I tease. “Maybe there will be a mud pit.”

She groans and I chase her out the cabin door.

Chapter 41

Natalie

When Luke parks the car outside Juliet’s house, he grabs my hand.

“It will all work out,” he says.

I wish I had as much confidence in myself as he does, but I nod along anyway, hoping it’s true. “I know.”

Cam opens the door a few seconds after we ring the bell. He looks flustered, with his brown hair slightly askew in the front and his green dress shirt hanging open to show the white undershirt beneath.

“Hey, come on in.” He motions for us to enter the house and closes the door behind us. He’s barefoot, and the boys behind him don’t look much better. Levi and Archie are tossing pillows at each other in the living room, shirtless.

At least they have their jeans on.

“Is everyone almost ready for the photos?” I ask slowly, peering around at the mess of socks, shoes, and matching shirts on the carpet. The boys don’t even notice us as they loudly continue their pillow fight.

Cam smooths his hand over his frumpy hair. “Jules isn’t really in a good headspace today. I don’t know.” He shrugs on an exhale. “She hasn’t been doing well the past few days.”

If she’s been struggling with a torrent of emotions like I have, then I know exactly how she feels. Being here in Maple Lake again makes me hopeful for a future with my family, but it’s also been tossing me around like a kite in the wind. Some very rough, harsh, unforgiving wind.

“Should I talk to her?” I ask. I don’t know what I’ll say exactly, but at this point I know we need to hash it out. Nothing will get better until we both try to talk through our frustrations.

I might come out of this with a black eye, or a cat scratch at best. If I’m being completely honest with myself, I’m a little scared.

Cam’s eyes light up. “Would you?”

Luke’s hand presses gently against my back. I feel his strength seep into my skin.

I nod at Cam, unsure what I’ll say. “I can try. We have a lot to work out.”