We stop for dinner at a seafood restaurant on San Juan island and watch the orcas dance near the shoreline. It’s always so peaceful out here, with the water sloshing into the rocks and cloud cover casting the perfect haze beneath the sun. Seagulls squawk around us, and yachts pass by slowly. The ambience of it all helps to ease my mind’s fears of what’s to come. I realize nothing else really matters, not when I have Anderson.
We pay the bill and reboard the boat then head back to Camp Bexley. It’s chillier than when we left this morning, leaving me shivering in my light jacket. “Come here,” Anderson calls to where I sit on the passenger side of the boat.
I stand and go to him, eager for his warmth. He pulls me in and wraps his arm around me, planting a kiss on the side of my head when I’m safely in his arms. “Spend the night at my place?” He sounds hopeful, like there’s a possibility that I might say no.
My heart skips a beat. Anderson has no idea that I always jumped when Silver invited me to the Bexley household. It felt like a privilege to be there, especially when Anderson was around.
Smiling, I curl deeper into his side. “Only if you make me a fire.”
“Oh, I’ll do more than make you a fire.” I look up in time to catch him wiggling his eyebrows. “I think a repeat performance from last night is in our future.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
He chuckles and focuses on pulling the boat into the small marina. I’m dropping the fenders while Anderson lines up the side of the boat with the dock when I see a figure walking from the shadows into the yellow lantern light. Fear quickens my chest. My first thought is that it’s Dexter, back for another fight. But when the man gets closer, it takes a mere second to recognize him from countless photos around Camp Bexley.
I turn to find Anderson’s eyes widening in surprise at the sight of his younger brother. “Well, shit,” he mutters so only I can hear. “This can’t be good.”
Chapter Eighteen
ANDERSON
“What the hell are you doing here?” My quickened pulse turns my question into something far harsher than I intended. In my defense, it’s been seven years since he stepped foot on this land. The morning after Cayson left for the Air Force, Jamison fled without a single warning. It wasn’t until he called months later that I learned he’d been planning to leave all along. I was crushed.
Jamison wasn’t just my brother. He was my best friend. Losing him tore me up inside almost as much as losing Ty, considering Jami had a choice in the matter. I expected Benson and Cayson to leave. But Jami was my ride or die.
“Nice to see you, too, brother.” His smooth jaw ticks once then again. The angry flair in his golden eyes brings out the hint of green that always stood out in a lineup of us Bexley brothers. Jami slows to a complete standstill, his hard expression on me. “I’ve been trying to call you since yesterday.”
This news surprises me until I remember the events of the past two days. I haven’t had my phone on me since I locked it up in my office before dinner yesterday, which I’m kicking myself for now. Whatever Jami’s visit is about cannot be good. Not with the way his subdued tone matches his deep frown.
“Sorry. I’ve been caught up in some stuff.” I slip my hand into Hope’s and squeeze, not sure if it’s for me or her. “Something wrong with Dad?”
Jami’s frown deepens. “I wouldn’t know.”
“Okay. Then help me out here. I thought you said you would never step foot on this land again.”
His gaze travels from Hope to me. “I’ve been in town for a couple of days with—um—work stuff. I called to see if you wanted to meet up. When you didn’t answer, I decided to stop by and see if everything was okay.”
I tilt my head, confused. “Are you sure everything’s okay with you?”
Jami laughs like he knows this whole encounter is awkward. “I guess I just wanted to see you, brother. That okay?”
Hope squeezes my hand, and it’s the kick in the pants I need to respond. Maybe I’m shocked, or maybe I don’t believe my brother about why he says he’s in town. There’s got to be something more. At least he’s here. “Well, all right then.”
Hope takes that opportunity to step forward with a smile and an extended hand. “Hi, Jamison. I’m Hope.”
Jamison at least has the courtesy to take her hand. “Nice to meet you, Hope.”
“It’s nice to meet you, too, Jamison. I’ve heard a lot about you and your brothers from Anderson and Silver.”
Recognition dawns on Jamison’s face. “Aww, Hope. Silver’s best friend. I’m sorry we haven’t had a chance to meet until now.” Jamison looks at me like more puzzle pieces are clicking together in his brain. “I didn’t know you two were together.”
Hope darts a glance at me, and we both smile. “It’s a new thing,” she says. “Silver doesn’t even know yet.” She looks at me again. “I can give you two some time alone and head back to my cabin.”
Jamison holds up a hand. “Actually, I’m beat tonight.” His gaze settles on me. “Mind if we catch up in the morning? I was hoping I could crash here, at least for the night. Or, I don’t know…” He drags his fingers through his hair, frustration and worry written all over his face. “Maybe longer, so we can catch up.”
“Of course.” My chest tightens, and I try not to let my emotions get the better of me. “Do you want to stay in your old room or one of the cabins?”
Jamison looks toward the campground and blows out a breath. “Shit, dude. I don’t think I can stay in one of those old, dingy cabins.” He looks at me with raised brows. “The house is yours now?”
“The house belongs to all of us.”
“Nah,” he says with a wave of his hand. “It’s yours. You’re the one still holed up here.”
Hearing him talk like our home is a prison makes me sick. My dreams of bringing the family together again seems to get further and further away the longer time goes on, no matter what I do.
“The cabins are nice,” Hope chimes in, probably sensing my discomfort. “Trust me, I used to work here and I wouldn’t have recommended them before but”—she squeezes my side—“Anderson’s really fixed up the place. You should have a look around.”
Jami quirks a brow. “That right?”
There’s too much tension in my body to reply. Maybe I’m offended by his instant reaction to where we grew up, or maybe it’s the fact that he has to question me, but I’m in no mood to dole out props to myself in an effort to earn his respect. “Camp’s closed for renovations. Staff won’t start coming back until this weekend. Stay wherever you’d like. Hope and I are going to head to the house now.”
Jami looks between us again as though he’s trying to figure out what we are together or just how serious it is between us. If only he knew. “Go on. I’ll take your girl’s word for it and find a cabin.”
“Make sure you take the new North Trail down Jamison Way,” Hope tells him. “You’ll see a cluster of cabins there. They’re all unlocked.”