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Jamie tucked his chin into his chest and blew out a puff of air. “You know what? Never mind that.”
He advanced into the cabana and sat beside me. I almost scooted away from him because his proximity wreaked havoc on my body. My heart thundered and my breath hitched. God, he smelled good… like rich musk and spicy cinnamon. Some super expensive cologne, I bet.
“Whether you want to hear my apology or not, I’m sorry about the way I sounded,” he said. “I’m not an asshole, I swear.”
I laughed. “Yeah, I figured you aren’t, not after what you did for Kaia.”
He turned to me with a frown and my face heated up several degrees.
“I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. After I told her I was taking a walk, I saw her head to the bar. I followed her to make sure she didn’t pull a stunt to get her hands on alcohol… Teenagers.”
He laughed, and the sound practically wrapped around me. I tried not to gawk at his softened features.
“Anyway, I heard how you encouraged her. I was stunned that she opened up to you. I’ve spent six months trying to figure out why she found every excuse to stay here with me in my tiny apartment instead of going home. She wouldn’t tell me why.”
Jamie shrugged. “Maybe she sensed that I’d understand her.”
I turned to stare at him then, not caring if it was weird. Was he saying that he didn’t get along with his parents? No matter how much I tried to get over my interest in all things Jamie, I kept getting reeled back in.
“It was sweet of you to engage her and listen like that. You made that girl’s night, Jamie… or should I go back to calling you James Wilfred Winchester?” I even added the haughty tone and accent he teased me about using the last time.
His lips kicked up at the corners. “Why would you do that?”
I shrugged. “I’m a little confused about our friendship status. It was hard not to notice that you weren’t happy about me joining you guys for dinner. I mean, you scowled at the sight of me.”
He grunted and shook his head. “I keep messing up with you, don’t I? Look, Charlotte, it wasn’t like that. When I saw you…” He stopped and deep furrows formed in his forehead as if he contemplated finishing his statement or not.
Once again, he struggled to tell me what he was thinking, and I wondered why. In the end, I guess he decided not to tell me what was on his mind because he said, “We’re friends. Jamie will do.”
My lips twisted into a half-smile because I was disappointed that he kept holding back something from me. “Alrighty, Jamie Wilfred.”
“I’m starting to regret telling you my middle name.”
“You should. I’ve got plenty of material for jokes now.”
He laughed as he rubbed his chin. “I see why Lincoln likes you.”
My eyebrows furrowed. Did Lincoln say that? And what kind of like? Surely, as a friend. I shoved the thought aside because Jamie and I were having another one of our moments, and I didn’t want to ruin it.
“So, are you okay?” Jamie asked.
“Sure. Why?”
“You seemed a little sad when I arrived.” He glanced at the phone I’d placed on the bench beside me. “Did it have anything to do with your phone call?”
Our gazes locked, and I felt that familiar kick in my chest and the flutter in my stomach. I was shocked that he noticed. I was pleased too because maybe his level of interest in me matched my interest in him… Dare I ask him if I was right?
I decided against it and replied, “I was thinking about my dad and about how he'd love to be here on the beach. He died last year.”
“I’m sorry.”
I nodded and then we sat in silence. It was a comfortable silence though. After a while, I felt him looking at me and I turned to him.
“What?” I asked with a little nervous laugh. “You’re staring.”
His throat bobbed up and down as he gulped and then he looked away. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking…”
“About?”
