Page 13 of Meeting Me, Loving You (Hearts of Maple Lake #1)

“Hey!” I shout, my eyes wide from grinning. “I was, like, ten! And those were the most comfortable things I have ever worn on my feet, even to this day. And my feet were always cold! So, lay off.”

“Yeaaah, but,” he drawls, his hand cupping the back of his neck while his other hand dangles his coat by his side. He looks up at me from under his lashes, a pained expression crossing his face. “Paired with the pink unicorn bathrobe with the hood? Did they have to be worn together?”

His smile lights up the room, and I can’t help but feel a little warm on the inside. How does he remember all these things about ten-year-old me?

“I was in my own house, and I was comfortable! I always wanted to be comfy when I got home from school.” I’m smiling too, hoping I don’t come across as too nervous right now with Cam in my home.

It seems… weird to have him here, to show him this part of me. I never have guys over. Heck, I hardly even know any guys my own age in Maple Lake. Because, news flash, there are none.

Okay, there are a couple. But they’re either married, have terrible hygiene, or are on the list of the few, but very terrible, exes I have.

I step toward Cam with my hands outstretched to take his coat. He hands it to me, saying “thank you” with a warm smile, and I place it in the closet next to mine. It looks oddly right at home, his giant coat hanging next to my little one.

I blink that sudden thought away and step back toward him. Dax sits patiently, waiting for someone to move so he can follow.

I head past the couch toward the kitchen that sits in the back of my apartment, Dax close on my heels. Cam trails behind us slowly, still looking around him at the details of the living room.

It’s a cozy room—the small couch a warm cream color, while the throw blankets and pillows are soft shades of green, reflecting the beautiful mountain foliage that surrounds our town.

I have potted snake plants in every corner, some reaching as tall as four feet and desperately needing to be repotted into something bigger.

The TV hangs from the wall, a task my brother helped me with when I first moved in because there is no way on earth I could do that by myself.

Pictures of my small and not-so-interesting life hang in frames around the room, sunlight flooding through the two bay windows that face the town’s main street.

It all looks dwarfed in comparison to his tall muscular body standing there, the ceilings looking lower than normal.

With Cam standing in the midst of my home, I’m relieved that I tidied up this morning. Everything is in its designated space.

When Cam brings his attention back to me and comes to stand in the kitchen, I’m already pulling two clean mugs out of the dishwasher. I’ve already placed a small pot of milk on the stove to heat for our hot cocoa.

Turning to him, I ask, “so, do you like teaching at Maple Lake High? Is it weird working where you went to school?”

He raises his brows with a smile. “Actually, I love it. It’s a little weird being coworkers with my old teachers, but it’s been a lot of fun. The classrooms have been updated, so things look different, which is really nice. Did you ever have Mrs. Simons for art?”

“Yeah, I did! She was great. I really liked her.”

“She’s something else,” he laughs deeply.

I place the mugs on the counter, and he sits his large frame in one of the bar chairs at the opposite side of the small kitchen island.

“There are a few teachers around my age, but honestly, they’re mostly in their fifties or sixties.

Which is great, don’t get me wrong, but it can be a little harder to make friends when they’re not your age, you know?

” As he speaks, I dump heaping spoonfuls of cocoa mix into the cups.

“I completely understand. A lot of the nurses at the hospital are seasoned and have been there for years, but I’m so new that I feel embarrassed to ask them questions, let alone get together outside of work. And the doctors are intimidating, especially the younger ones.” I shrug.

“Why are they intimidating?”

It’s a loaded question with a loaded answer, but it’s innocent enough.

“I just feel like I should be doing more than what I’m doing if I want to be a nurse practitioner.

It seems like the young doctors at the hospital have known exactly what they’ve wanted to do since they were children, and, of course, to be a doctor, you have to go to all the right schools.

I love that I’m able to study online and do the practicums nearby, but…

what I’m trying to say is, I guess the younger doctors are intimidating because they seem to have it all figured out and have already gotten past all the hurdles.

” I release a nervous laugh, trying to escape from my rambling.

“Anyway, I love working at the hospital, but I’m so busy that I don’t really take the time to make friends there. ”

At the sound of the milk on the stove beginning to boil, I turn and pull the pot away from the hot ring, bringing it back to the counter to fill the mugs.

Cam watches as I prepare the cocoa. “Since you’re always so busy and don’t make friends at work, what do you like to do when you have free time? I know you said you’re an avid hiker.”

I hand one of the full mugs to Cam and round the kitchen island to sit in the chair next to his. Dax sits at my feet. The drinks are steaming, and I wrap my fingers around my cup, warming my cold hands on its glorious heat .

“Dax and I hike quite a bit, but not usually when it’s cold. My best friend, Aliana, is really into crafting, so when we hang out, we usually do something crafty and watch a movie.”

“Sounds relaxing.”

“It is. I’m not the most exciting person to be around, but that’s what I like to do. Life is busy and fast paced, so I enjoy slowing it down when I can.”

Cam smiles into his mug. “I like that,” he says quietly. “Slowing down time. Maybe one of these days, we could get together for a movie night, unless that would be taking away from your time with Aliana.”

I giggle, pleased he would be so thoughtful. “I would love that, actually. She likes to watch chick flicks, which is totally great, and I love them. But sometimes I’m in the mood for an action-packed adventure. You seem like someone who likes action movies. Am I right?”

He lets out a puff of air. “Guilty. The more action, the better.”

“That’s what I thought. What about thrillers or horror movies?”

“Oh, heck no!” Cam waves his hands, warding off the idea. “Are you kidding me? I’m a baby when it comes to creepy stuff, I’d be hiding under the blankets the entire movie.”

I shake my head as my cheeks rise into a full grin, laughing at his dramatics.

“Then you’re in good company. Things like that give me the heebie-jeebies…

Hey, if you’ve been back for six months, why do you think we’ve never seen each other until now?

Or, at least, I thought I would have heard it from someone. ”

Cam shoves his hand into the back of his hair. “I’ve just been keeping quiet, working, and staying to myself. My cabin is up the mountain road, so I’m not really in town unless I’m at the gym or the grocery store. Or work, of course. ”

“But I go to Le Fou every Saturday, and I’ve never seen you there.”

“I never go there,” he laughs. “I was simply out of coffee at home that morning, and I needed caffeine before my workout. I promise, I wasn’t hiding from you or anything.”

“Hm,” I hum, taking a sip of hot cocoa. “Still doesn’t explain why all the gossipers in Maple Lake weren’t gossiping about you to me.”

His deep rumbling laugh makes my stomach flutter. I’ve never had this kind of feeling before, and I’m not sure what to do.

“We should do this again,” he says. “It’s been really great getting to see you after all these years. Hopefully I’ll get to see Tyler one of these days too.”

“I’d like that! This was really nice.” With my cheeks flushed, my stomach flips, and my heart pounds so loud I’m sure he can hear it.

The next hour is spent laughing over tales of high school and college. When it’s time for Cam to leave, even Dax’s company can’t keep my apartment from suddenly feeling quiet and empty.