Where There's Hope_A Well Paired Novel

by Marianne Rice

  He didn’t hear her shouting after he’d left in the police cruiser, or see her chasing him down the road, collapsing on her knees in the snow. The man was too stubborn to hear her side, to believe in her, to trust what they had.

  Well, she’d show him. She’d ride out his patience, call his bluff on this whole our relationship is over shit. He needed time to cool down. His pride was hurt. She’d give him a few more days to realize he was being an over-sensitive ass, and then she’d run into his arms and kiss the hell out of him.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

  A FEW DAYS TURNED INTO two weeks. Hope couldn’t stand it any longer. Mia sat across from her at the Sunrise Diner sharing an apple fritter topped with vanilla bean ice cream. It was Mia’s idea, to have some alone time and load up on carbs and calories before book night.

  Not that there wouldn’t be plenty of carbs and calories there.

  They’d had to reschedule the December meeting three times. She’d wanted to cancel again tonight, but the girls were adamant they shuffle their schedules around to make it work.

  “Delaney seems to have adjusted well.” Mia tore apart a piece of fritter and popped it in her mouth.

  “Better than me, that’s for sure.”

  “Your pissy mood about her or Cam?”

  “I’m not pissy.”

  “The hell you say.” Mia laughed. “What you two need is a come to Jesus moment.”

  “Tried that. He didn’t want to talk. I told you already, he has trust issues. He thinks I broke that.”

  “He’s looking pretty shitty these days too.”

  “How do you know?” Hope shoveled a spoonful of ice cream intoher mouth. “You been hanging out with him?”

  “Nope.” Mia grinned, and Hope lowered her eyes at her. “Just look at him. Looks like he needs a good shave. And a haircut.” She laughed again.

  Hope spun around in her seat and watched Cameron walk through the door to the diner. He did look like hell. But screw it. He had plenty of time to brood. If he truly thought their relationship was over, he needed to say it to her face.

  Pushing back her chair, she stomped over to him, meeting him at the counter. Priscilla stood behind the register, all smiles and mischief.

  Cameron leaped back in surprise, and Hope took that moment to lay into him. Poking her finger into the bulk of his coat, she furrowed her brows and practically growled. How dare he come in here making her feel things when he didn’t feel the same.

  “You.” She took a deep breath, not even thinking about the words as they flew out of her mouth. “How dare you accuse me of not being honest when you’re the one lying. Lying to yourself. You won’t even listen to what I have to say because you’re afraid it will prove you wrong.”

  Hope planted her feet and poked him again.

  “Did you look back even once when those police officers took you away? Once? Even a glance at what you were leaving behind?” She shook her head. “No. No you didn’t or you would’ve seen me chasing after you, yelling foul and inappropriate things to those officers for thinking you could’ve had anything to do with Delaney’s disappearance.”

  “I—”

  “No.” She held up her hand. “You had your time to speak. This is mine. I chewed out anyone who even questioned your innocence.”

  “True story,” Mia said from across the near-empty dining room. “I almost got throat punched for playing devil’s advocate.”

  Hope forgot about that. “Sorry,” she said over her shoulder.

  “No probs.”

  “See what happened here? Mia and I are friends. We trust each other. Believe in each other. We know if one is having a bad day that words may come out wrong, body language may say the wrong thing, but at the end of it all, we’re best friends. I thought you and I had that.”

  “Hope—”

  “Shut it.” She ignored Mia’s chuckle from behind and focused on the brown eyes that had once shown her true love. That had opened up to her and brought new meaning to the word love. That had cared for her, cried with her, comforted her, and touched her to her core.

  “The problem here is with you. You’re so caught up in the world not believing in you that you can’t trust anyone. Not even me.” She sniffed back tears and dropped her finger from his chest. “I never, not once, doubted your love for me or your innocence in Delaney’s disappearance. Was I mad at you for letting her out of your sight? For her disappearing on your watch? Of course I was. What mother wouldn’t be? But I never, ever thought you were guilty of some conspiracy.”

  Hope held her head high and stepped away from him. “You have trust issues. That’s to be expected. But I’m not your mother and I’m not your father. If you’re going to doubt my love for you, then I guess we really are over. Man up or get the hell out of my life.”

  She stomped back to the table, grabbed her coat and purse, and said calmly to Priscilla, “You can put that on my tab. I’m sorry for causing a disturbance.”

  “You’re gonna have one helluva night when he comes to his senses,” Priscilla teased.

  “If that will ever happen.” She purposely bumped against Cameron’s arm as she stormed past him, pretending she didn’t feel the burn from the contact.

  Hope shoved open the door to the diner and prayed he didn’t see through her lie and call her on her bluff.

  There was no way she could survive if he walked out of her life.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

  “WOWZERS.” PRISCILLA wiped her hand across her brow and whistled. “The aura surrounding you two is mighty intense. There’s gonna be some explosive fireworks happening soon. I can sense it.”

  Cameron didn’t know how to reply. Better to keep his mouth shut. Hope had just blasted him six ways to Sunday, and he needed time to digest her words. All along he thought she’d wronged him. What if she was right? Had he been so caught up in his self-pity that he interpreted any disapproving look or odd gesture as distrust?

  He hated himself for being so weak he couldn’t face her these past weeks. Part of it was denial. If she truly doubted his innocence, their relationship would be over. It was the last thing he wanted to happen so he ignored her.

  Stupid fool. As if ignoring her would keep their relationship at status quo. Just because she hadn’t come out and officially dumped him didn’t mean they were still together. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew that.

  But she was right. The insecurity in him ran deep and it was wrong of him to clump Hope in the same category as his parents. Avoidance wasn’t the answer. They needed to talk. Privately.

  “Here’s your order, sugar.”

  “Uh, thanks.” He dug out his wallet and handed Priscilla a twenty then reached for his sandwich that was both a late lunch and dinner. He’d been pulling all the overtime hours Dwayne would give him as a way to occupy his mind. And his free time.

  “Ten dollars says you’ll be the hot topic at tonight’s book club.”

  “Book club?”

  “Mmhm. Hope and her lady friends meet up in Books by the Ocean once a month. Talk about the book of the month, have a few drinks, some food. Gossip. Your name is bound to come up tonight, if it hasn’t already.” She held out his change for him with a smile.

  “Is that so?” An idea percolated, and he clicked his tongue at Priscilla. “Thanks for the tip. Keep the change.”

  The cold wind on his face didn’t bother him. Instead, it helped clear his mind, refocused him, and gave him newfound hope.

  Hope. She wanted, no she needed, to believe in him again, and he needed to prove to her that their love was strong enough to make it through this rough patch. He hurried back to the boatyard and scarfed down his turkey sandwich while brainstorming a way to get her attention.

  When he had the new electrical lines he installed working, he put away his tools and washed up. After making one quick stop, he pulled around behind the bookstore and checked his reflection in the mirror to make sure he didn’t have any grease stains on his face or spinach stuc
k in his teeth. Deeming himself as good as he was going to get, he hopped out of the truck and rounded the building to the front.

  The lights were on, but the sign on the door was flipped to Closed. Trying his luck, he pushed on the door and it opened. The chatter from the back of the room was loud, Mia’s voice the most clear.

  “I’m sure you’ll all be hearing about it by morning. Priscilla was glowing. You’d have thought she was watching them have se—” Mia paused, her mouth turning into a shit-eating grin. “Hey, Cam. We were just talking about you.”

  Hope hopped up from the couch and spun around. “What are you doing here?”

  “It’s book club night.”

  “You’re not invited.”

  “The sign on the door said it was open to the public.” He didn’t notice a sign, but maybe there was one.

  Hope crossed her arms and stuck out her hip in what she probably assumed was an intimidating stance. Only it turned him on. Just a little bit. “You haven’t even read the book we’re discussing.”

  “I might have. I’m an avid reader.”

  “Read a lot in the slammer, did ya?” Mia asked from behind.

  Always stirring the pot, that one. But Cameron appreciated her humor. “Sure did. Even a few romances. I told Hope about some of them.”

  “Oh, do tell,” Mia said, sitting on the arm of the couch. The other women, one he recognized from the hair salon, Lily, inched to the edge of their seats as well. Alexis, the woman who owned the winery, bounced a baby on her knee.

  He opened his mouth to respond, but Hope cut him off. “We’re reading a Christmas book. A new release. I’m sure you haven’t heard of it.”

  “Maybe not. But I have a recommendation for next month.” He slid out a book from inside his coat.

  “It looks old.” Hope scowled at him.

  “The binding is, but the story is relatively new and not yet finished.”

  “I’m intrigued,” Alexis said.

  “I’m not. If we’re not discussing our December book, I’m going home to Delaney.” Hope gathered up her things from the table, and Cameron took a seat in an empty chair.

  “The story began thirteen years ago and involved a case of...mistaken identities.” He wrangled out of his coat and continued. “You see, the man knew who she was, but she thought he was someone else. The twin brother, in fact.”

  Hope dropped the plate of brownies she’d held and gasped. Cameron ignored her and flipped through the blank pages of the book in his lap.

  “They spent a glorious day in New York getting to know each other and...falling in love.”

  “We decided on a serial killer book for next month, so you can take your story and shove it. Besides, no one believes in these kind of books anyway.”

  “I do,” the artsy woman said quite innocently.

  “Either you go or I go, but I’m not listening to this.”

  He ignored her and focused his attention on the other women. “Unfortunately, tragedy struck and the two young lovers never saw each other again. Not for nearly thirteen years.”

  “Oh, I get it,” the artsy woman said with a heavy, romantic sigh.

  “Their reuniting wasn’t an easy one. The woman was quite headstrong.”

  “He was obtuse,” Hope said from behind him.

  “She could be mouthy at times.”

  “And he’s an idiot.”

  “She liked to take things fast.”

  “And he took forever to get to first base.”

  “What chapter can I find the sex scenes? I bet they’re hot and heavy.” Mia rubbed her hands together, and Cameron held in his laugh.

  “They managed to work through their misunderstandings and fell in love again. Until he screwed up. Again.”

  “She doesn’t have the patience for this kind of thing,” Hope said from behind him. He couldn’t see her, but her tone wasn’t as harsh. She was softening. And she was still here.

  “True, he has the patience of Job.”

  “Who?” Mia sipped her drink and scrunched her nose in confusion.

  “It’s from the Bible.” Hope stirred behind him. “When you’re in prison you have plenty of time to read, as Cameron has said.”

  He liked that she caught on to the reference. “The man was known for his patience, the woman, however, not so much.”

  She snorted, and he resisted the temptation to turn around. Her voice was closer, not hovering by the door, as she was earlier.

  “But the man had learned a lot from his past mistakes, and there were some things he didn’t have the patience for.”

  “Like what?” Alexis asked.

  This part of his story he hadn’t planned out yet. He thought they’d be alone, that Hope would be more interested in hearing it than her friends. But if he couldn’t get her alone, maybe opening up in front of her best friends was the only way for her to hear him. To believe him.

  “He’d spent many years alone with only the memory of her in his heart. Those memories got him through the toughest times in his life and helped shape him into that patient man she pretends to scoff.” Cameron rubbed his thumb down the edge of the old book he’d picked up at the antique shop down the road. “When they were reunited, it was as if the world had been black and white his entire life and had suddenly turned to color. High-definition color. His future was bright, only because she was in it. He hoped.”

  “Oh,” Lily sniffed.

  “He thought he could wait forever, that time was on his side, but he was wrong. He was losing her, and the colors were fading. The only way to make them bright and clear again was to have her back in his life.”

  “How does the story end?” Mia asked. He’d wanted Hope to ask that question, he had it all planned out, how he’d get down on one knee and ask her to marry him. Only there were no noises coming from behind him, and he wondered if she was still there.

  “I don’t know. The next chapter is from her point of view. She may not be ready to forgive him for being a stubborn ass, for not trusting her. He might not be what she was looking for after all.”

  The room grew silent. He honestly didn’t know how the next chapter would go, or how the story would end. It was completely up to Hope.

  HER FRIENDS HAD TO be able to hear the beating of her heart. It rang so loud in her ears, blocking out all noises except the smooth canter of Cameron’s voice. She was mesmerized listening to his story.

  To their love story.

  More than ever she wanted to believe that what they had wasn’t permanently broken. That their love was strong enough to mend the cracks which had torn them both up inside. Hope pressed the heels of her hands against her eyes and took a cleansing breath.

  “Okay, girls, book night is over.” She loved her friends but needed them to leave so she and Cameron could talk.

  “No way, man. We’re getting to the good parts.” Mia picked up the wine bottle and held it over Alexis’ glass.

  “No more for me.” Alexis covered her glass with her hand. “Sophie and I need to get going anyway. She didn’t nap well today.”

  “Party pooper. You’re only leaving because you already had your love story written.”

  “Sure do.” Alexis kissed the back of Sophie’s neck and tossed her toys in the diaper bag.

  Alexis and Ben’s love story came alive during book night as well a few months ago, with Ben crashing a meeting, just like Cameron had done tonight.

  “I’d love to have a love story written like Alexis and Hope’s,” Lily said, leaning her head against Jenna’s shoulder.

  “Wouldn’t that be nice,” Jenna mirrored Lily’s wistful sigh. “But we don’t know how Hope’s is going to end, which is why we can’t leave just yet.”

  It would be nice, to have a love story, a fairytale ending. If Cameron was willing to fight for it, so was she. But she couldn’t live with him doubting her love at every turn or anytime they had a disagreement. If he didn’t believe in himself, how could she?

  Cameron hadn’t looked
at her since he sat down in the leather recliner. Instead, he’d made himself quite comfortable, even taking his coat off as if he was part of the group. And he had everyone eating out of the palm of his hands. Even her.

  She loomed over the back of Cameron’s chair, still too nervous to look at him. He hadn’t moved, only to settle deeper into the cushions.

  Part of her was scared to hear the rest, although Cameron had said the next chapter was hers to tell. She couldn’t think with her girlfriends all giddy and excited about the next chapter, and drooling over her boyfriend.

  If she could still call him that. They had a lot to talk about.

  “Fine. But we’re not waiting another month to hear how this story ends. New Year’s Eve at the winery. We’ll all be there.” Mia patted Cameron’s leg as she walked by, then gave Hope a tight squeeze. “Lock up when you’re done. And don’t forget we can see you from the windows, so if you’re going to get down and dirty, you’ll want to move to the back by the children’s section. Although that seems just as wrong.” She shivered. “Hey, Romeo. Keep your pants on until you can find somewhere more private, K?”

  At least Lily had the manners to gasp. Alexis and Jenna giggled while Cameron snorted.

  “Our clothes are staying on. I just want to talk.”

  “I’ve been there before,” Alexis said, shifting Sophie to her hip. “Call me if you need anything. I’m doubtful you will, though.”

  “See ya,” Jenna gave her a one-armed hug and followed the crew out the door.

  Hope remained behind Cameron’s chair, not sure what to do, what to say, whether to stand or sit.

  He leaned forward, setting the tattered hardcover book on the coffee table, and craned his neck up to look at her. “I won’t bite. Unless you want me to.” His lip curved into a wicked grin, and Hope did all she could to clench her thighs and tell her hormones to pipe down.