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“Ancient, mysterious,” Tuck helped.
“Exactly.”
We finished making dinner, and I couldn’t help glancing out the window now and then as we did, looking for Cam. But his house was dark and he didn’t appear. I wondered what he was thinking, if he was twisting what happened between us into something bad to fit his narrative of the doomed man. I hoped not. As Tuck and I sat, I decided to ask him a question.
“So you knew Cam before he got married, didn’t you?’
Tuck grinned. “I did. We used to get into a lot of trouble together before he went and fell head over heels in love. Jess was a great girl, though.” He took another bite and chewed thoughtfully. “Which isn’t to say you’re not, of course.”
I laughed. “I don’t mind hearing about Jess.”
“But you are into my buddy over there, yeah?”
Did I want to confirm that for Tuck? Would it be wrong to allow him to think there was something going on between Cam and me? There was, of course, but Cam’s quiet nature made me wonder if I was violating his privacy in some way to talk about it. And I wondered too, if Cam thought there was something going on, or if he believed what had happened had been a one time thing. I hoped not. “I am,” I said slowly.
“And he’d be crazy not to go for you, if you don’t mind my saying so.” It could have been weird to hear that from a man who was going to be my roommate for the foreseeable future, but Tuck’s manner was so laid back, it wasn’t.
“Thanks,” I said. “I’m not sure where he’s coming from on the whole thing, though. He’s got a lot going on in his head, I think.”
“Makes sense, right?” Tuck lifted his fork, pointing it at me as he spoke. “Can’t be an easy thing, getting past a death like that.”
“He thinks he’s doomed.” I took a sip of water and Tuck’s eyebrows lowered.
“What?”
“That anyone he cares about will die.”
“Ridiculous. I feel fantastic and Cam adores me.” He puffed his chest out and put on a self-important attitude.
“He’s never mentioned you until a day or two ago.”
Tuck dropped the act and laughed. “All the same, I think we’re both safe from the Turner curse. We’ve gotta get the guy out of his own head.”
“Easier said than done.” I pushed my plate away, my feelings a mix of excitement over what had happened between Cam and me, and worry that he was going to pretend it was nothing.
“Leave it to me,” he said. “You can just sit back and relax. I’ll take care of Cam.”
His calm attitude and easygoing smile were contagious, and I thought my yoga teacher would have approved of this influence on my usually frenetic world. “I’ll try,” I said, taking a deep breath.
* * *
Work was busy Monday, and it felt like time accelerated from there. Mornings were a bustle around the kitchen, Tuck and I both eating breakfast and slurping down coffee before we each stepped out the door. He’d proved himself a very easy roommate, and his presence filled the spaces in the house, calming me and making it easier for me to sleep and relax.
As I’d feared, Cam all but avoided me after Tuck arrived, though we saw each other plenty. I’d stopped by to say hello a couple times, visited with the puppies and Matilda, and tried to talk to him, but he kept me at arm’s length, never acknowledging what happened between us. I knew we needed to talk, but there was enough going on at work that finding time became nearly impossible, and when I did have a moment, Tuck was usually there.
The three of us sat out around the fire pit a couple times after work, but Cam was quiet, and he dodged my attempts at meaningful talk for a solid two weeks. One night Tuck went inside before me, and I was determined to talk to Cam, to see if that connection was still there, or if I’d imagined something that didn’t exist.
We sat in silence for a few minutes, the fire filling the space between us. Finally, Cam spoke. “Things going well for you at work?”
“They are,” I said. “I wasn’t sure I’d be a good fit, but I love working with Mike, and it’s fun being at the Inn. There’s so much going on.”
“Seems like it would be a good fit,” he said.
“It does?”
“Yeah,” he nodded, agreeing with himself. “You’re one of those go-getter types.”
“You know me so well all of a sudden?” I pulled my legs up beneath me in the big chair, turning to face him.
