Page 10 of Meeting Me, Loving You (Hearts of Maple Lake #1)

CAMERON

“ H er name is Penny,” I say.

“That’s… a cute name,” she states. She doesn’t make eye contact, vaguely shrugging one shoulder while her bottom lip pouts out ever so slightly. I can tell she’s thinking of what else to say. I wait, wondering what she’s feeling and wanting her to come clean. She’s kind of cute when she pouts.

Finally looking at me with a forced smile on her lips, she says, “I’m sure you miss her.”

“Nope, thankfully I don’t have to. She came to Maple Lake with me.” My smile widens and I don’t look away from her as my stomach tightens and my heart flutters. “She was my roommate’s in college, but I ended up with her. It was kind of a hand-me-down situation.”

Jules’ brows scrunch together in confusion, and she looks utterly shocked at what I’m saying. And, might I say, slightly disgusted.

“You…” she says thoughtfully, “you’re dating your roommate’s ex?”

She tilts her head as her eyes search my face.

“I wouldn’t say dating, exactly. More like I just take care of her.

” I let out a deep sigh, giving up the charade.

“Penny is my pet betta fish.” I grin wide and wait for her reaction.

I couldn’t exactly say I have butterflies in my stomach; it’s probably better described as a caffeinated leprechaun doing a jig. But the feeling is the same.

She just looks at me with her why would you do that face. She doesn’t have to say it in words, but I know by her stern eyes and the firm set of her lips that she’s saying, I will get you back for this .

“I asked about a girlfriend, not your pet.” She scoffs, her dimple on the right side of her face getting deeper as she begins gathering her purse and pulling out her wallet.

Her eyes flick up to mine from under the curtain of her long brown hair, pulling out a credit card to pay for her meal.

“Honestly, I didn’t pin you as a pet fish kind of guy. ”

I wave my hand in her direction, dismissing her payment as I lay my own card on the table. Thankfully, our waitress was nearby and, as if she realizes what’s about to happen, she snatches it up with a quick smile, stating she’ll “be back in a jiff.”

“I’m not a fish guy,” I say quickly as she gawks at me for paying her bill, “but it was the only pet Keith and I could handle in college, and he just had to have one, so he said. Anyway, when we graduated, I got the honor of taking Penny because I lived close enough to the college to drive home. He claimed that he wasn’t allowed to take a fish on his flight home, but I googled it later.

You can , in fact, take a pet fish on a plane.

In case you need to know that for future reference. ”

“Huh, really?” Jules says. “I had no idea. That knowledge will probably never come in handy, but thanks anyway for that fun fact.” She points in the direction that our waitress had gone. “I was going to pay for my own meal, you didn’t have to do that. ”

“Hey, my parents may not have taught me much growing up, but common courtesy is something my grandpa drilled into me. He’d be ashamed if he was watching from Heaven, seeing me let you pay for yourself.”

“Well… thank you. But now I owe you coffee and a meal.” Her warm brown eyes meet mine.

“I will gladly accept any excuse to spend more time with you,” I say.

Cheeks blushing, Jules rolls her eyes at me for the second time within as many minutes.

“Cameron Dunne, Washington made you quite the flirt.”

I roll my shoulders back and grin because she’s completely wrong.

It wasn’t Washington that made me this way at all.

I’m surprised by it myself, but coming back to Maple Lake and seeing Jules has suddenly made me want to do all kinds of flirting, if only to win over my ex-best friend’s little sister.

After lunch, I asked Jules about what other changes the town has made in the last twelve years, and with lots of clapping and gushing about this and that, she offered to show me around town.

It makes me feel like a newcomer, like I didn’t grow up here, and I struggle to untangle the messy memories and my mixed emotions about my past, both the good and the bad.

But of two things I am absolutely certain.

First, I missed my hometown, and second, I have never felt an immediate spark this strong with anyone before.

There’s more than simply physical attraction running through my veins, although she is so naturally beautiful.

She was approached during lunch by multiple townsfolk about various things, most of them asking about her parents or looking for advice on a medical issue.

Although Jules urged each one to see their primary care doctors, she did what she could to make them feel heard, leaving them with a smile on their face and a parting word of encouragement.

She even insisted on leaving the tip for our meal.

Although I tried my best to talk her out of it, she would not be persuaded.

Apart from being beautiful, she genuinely cares about people.

Juliet’s face is a wave of excitement as she tugs me along, her hand occasionally pulling me by my coat or resting on my arm as she points out the new buildings around town. I’m happily following along, glad to hear anything she has to say about the town’s updates and how it’s grown over the years.

Just as we’re making our way to the path that loops around the lake, we’re approached by an older woman with short graying brown hair, her body enveloped in a long puffy jacket and a scarf wrapped up around her neck and chin.

She spots us and squints against the sunshine before a smile spreads across her wrinkled face.

Once she’s close enough, she stretches thin pale hands toward Jules.

“Juliet,” she says with a soft voice, “it’s so good to see you.” She takes Jules’ hands in hers, stopping in front of her.

“Hi, Paula,” Jules glows in the afternoon sun, smiling brightly at the woman. “What are you doing out by the lake? It’s so cold.”

“Oh, I have to keep this old body moving somehow. An old gal can’t look like this and have the heart of a thirty-year-old by sitting around.” I’m surprised when she looks up at me and winks.

That’s a first for me. I fight the urge to laugh, covering my mouth with my fist instead to hide the smile.

“I like to walk the trail out here before I meet the girls at the diner.” She continues, pulling at her sleeve to look at her watch. “I’m on my way back home to freshen up first. By the way, how are your parents? It’s been a while since they’ve visited us.”

I look on with interest at the two women and can’t help noticing how Jules’ eyes drop at the mention of her parents. But she quickly covers her emotions with a smile, Paula still holding her hand.

“It’s been a few months, but they’re doing really well! I talked to them last week and they’re in Alabama. They’re on their way to Florida, I think. And as always, they said to tell everyone back home ‘hello’ for them.”

Paula sucks air through her teeth, making a tsk -ing sound. “I so wish you were able to go with them, I just know a whole lot of sunshine would do you good.”

As Jules forces a chuckle, her cheeks turn a shade of red. “I’m sure I’ll get to visit them somewhere warm soon, it’s just difficult to get away from work.”

“And school,” Paula adds. “You work yourself to the bone, Juliet.” They drop their hands from each others’ grasp. “But you know you have the whole town here to support you. If you need anything, anything at all, you just let us know.”

Paula pats Jules on the shoulder with a warm smile, then she sends an accusatory look at me and points a boney finger my way. “You be gentle with this one.”

“Uh, sure. I will.” I say with a nod.

Paula grins up at me as she walks by us, patting the side of my arm as she passes. And then we’re alone again.

I turn to Jules. “What did she mean by that?”

“I don’t know, the old people here are always worrying about me. She’s just being a grandma.”

“Why?”

“Why is she a grandma?” She frowns.

“No, I mean why are they always worrying about you? ”

She begins walking, and I’m forced to follow. “That’s just how they are, they’re old and they’re… people. Old people worry.”

“Right.” I frown at her evasive answer, but I ignore it.

We’re at the edge of town and on the path leading to the lake when I see her shiver. She rubs her hands together and wraps her arms around herself.

“Are you cold?” I say, fishing through my coat pockets.

“A little. I forgot my gloves.”

“Well, lucky for you,” I pause for effect as I pull out a pair of gloves and hold them in the air like I just caught a prize-winning fish. “I brought these.”

“Are you sure you don’t want to wear them,” she asks while simultaneously grabbing them from my outstretched hand. She very quickly begins shoving her small hands into them. Clearly, she’s not going to wait for my answer.

I chuckle, because that is so Jules. She’s always had a way about her that cuts right to the chase, no beating around the bush.

If she wants something, she goes for it.

Even at ten years old, she was assertive.

I can admire her for that mentality. I’ve never been good at expressing what I want or what I need, which has caused problems in my past relationships, and is still a struggle with my parents.

Jules’ hands are absolutely swimming in my extra large snow gloves, and my chest warms at the sight.

While a huge grin covers her face and her nose scrunches up in a laugh, she raises her hands, flopping them around, the glove fingers bouncing and bending where her tiny fingers don’t reach.

She looks so cute, I want to boop her nose.

But, thankfully, I have enough sense to refrain from doing so.