Song: "Try" by Mandy Harvey

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Not sure how long her meeting with Cameron would be, Olivia told her mother not to set a place for her at the table if she didn't text her by five-thirty. She didn't expect to receive approval, and as long as she didn't say anything in front of Chloe, there would be no heated words exchanged between them.

Her mother was allowed to worry, but at the same time, she needed to trust Olivia with her choices and not shovel Cameron into the dung heap with the other scumbags of society. She hadn't even met him yet.

Olivia also refused to reveal to anyone that she was actually excited about this meeting with Cameron. An anxious-excited, but excited nonetheless.

Knowing that parking was always an issue downtown, she opted to leave her car in the visitor parking lot of the apartment complex and walk the few blocks to the Italian cafe after switching out of her black heels and opting for cute black flats instead.

The sky was gray and threatened to rain, but it wasn't enough to dampen her spirits. She knew this would be the last time she'd get to see Cameron until next weekend. The very idea of not seeing him again until then made her realize the impact he had made on her in the last two weeks, even though they saw very little of each other. Especially yesterday. She couldn't stop thinking about him and how hard he was trying.

You miss him, she chided herself as she walked the few blocks to the cafe.

So, what if I do? She chewed on her thumbnail for a second, smiling to herself, before pulling her hand away and brushing back the loose strands of hair that escaped her bun.

You're thinking about him and smiling. Blushing, even, she told herself. Admit it. You're still in love with him.

That was it, wasn't it? The part that terrified her the most. Letting go of the hurt that shielded her heart and letting him back in.

She caught herself chewing on her thumbnail again and stopped as Cameron appeared out of an alley twenty-yards ahead. He stopped and looked around. Her heart picked up speed at the sight of him. As did her pace. A smile spread across her face as her eyes met his that mirrored her own.

He waited for her to catch up. Dressed in a black leather jacket and jeans, he slicked his hair back with his fingers while holding his motorcycle helmet under his arm. He looked good. So good that she wanted to rub her hands over his body.

Where did that thought come from?

A blush warmed her cheeks as she closed the distance between them.

"Hey, Gorgeous," he greeted and reached for her hand.

"Hey," she greeted back, almost shyly as he kissed her knuckles.

Releasing her hand, his smile spread wider. "I missed you."

"Did you?" she asked coyly.

"You know it."

More heat rushed to her face as they turned and walked toward the cafe. "Me too."

It was a whisper she half hoped he didn't hear.

And half hoped he did.

He cut in front of her, stopping her in her tracks and looked down at her with wide eyes that gripped her heart.

"What did you say?"

She looked at his lips as another wave of heat crashed over her. Raking her teeth over her bottom lip, she tried to look away but he caught her chin and tilted it back up. His eyes held hers.

"Don't tease me, Olivia. I can't handle it." His voice was firm with husky undertones that released a dozen butterflies within and made the hairs rise on her nape.

People cast looks at them as they passed on the sidewalk, but he didn't seem to care and neither did she.

He looked at her with the same hunger he had five years ago. The edge of his voice stirred a part of her that had been dormant ever since that night.

"Did you miss me too?" he demanded softly.

"Yes. I can't lie to myself anymore." Or to you and Chloe, she mentally added, knowing that the truth started with herself first and foremost. If she couldn't be honest with herself, who could she be honest with?

Heavy breaths blew against her face as dilating eyes held her captive.

Dammit, why did he have to be so freaking hot and look at her like that? It was looks like that that got her pregnant in the first place.

"So," he rasped, his voice becoming thicker and heavier with a timbre that reverberated within her blood, "you're ready to face the truth now?"

She swallowed, fighting against the effects his voice and touch had, and yet, she drank it in like a shot of espresso. Warm and jittery. "Yes."

"Damn you for picking a public place." He placed a lingering kiss on her cheek before drawing away. The hand that was once touching her cheek brushed down her arm and entwined her fingers with his. "Let's go, before I do something indecent," he muttered before flashing her a sinful grin.

With her hand in his, she let him take the lead as they stepped up to the intersection where the cafe was on the other side. A crowd had gathered waiting for the light. They paused for a second before it changed. He glanced back at her, still grinning broadly. They wound through the incoming crowd of pedestrians and when they had crossed, he pointed to the cursive font on the sign above the door. "Here?"

"Yeah," she replied before he reached for the door and held it open for her.

The air-conditioning struck her and she realized how hot she was. While it was hot and humid outside, she knew Cameron had an effect on her as well. He always did.

He stepped close behind her as they waited to be seated.

The cafe was modern-elegant and high-taste with a black and white theme. White-wash walls with bold pieces of modern art in mostly black and white with little pops of color adorned the walls. The tables were black, the booths and chairs black with white cushions. Large cylindrical light-fixtures in white-frosted glass hung from the ceilings over the tables.

"Fancy," he whispered into her ear, drawing a shiver to dance up her spine. "You sure you don't want to go back to my place?"

She swatted him, earning a chuckle as the heated tension between them dissipated.

A young man came to seat them at a small booth in the corner next to the window overlooking the street.

The smell of freshly brewed coffee and baked bread and pastries filled the air. She inhaled the pleasing aromas as she took her seat and sighed before glancing at the menus placed before her.

"Smells good in here," he commented as if reading her mind.

She hummed in agreement as he slipped out of his leather jacket and set it down next to him.

"Do you like coffee?" he asked, making small talk as he glanced over his menus.

"Yes, I love coffee."

"And tea."

She smirked. "Yes, and tea. I'm not picky. How about you?"

"I like anything bold and rich."

"So, what will you be getting?"

"An Americano."

"Seriously?" she asked. "Out of everything on the menu, you want that?"

He nodded. "How about you?"

"I'm debating between a chai latte or a hazelnut latte."

"And to eat?"

"Well," she hesitated, glancing at the food selection on the back of the menu, "I guess that depends on how long you want to stay here and chat."

"Are you suggesting we go back to my place as soon as we're done our coffees?"

She looked over her menu at him and narrowed her eyes. "Cameron."

He grinned cheekily at her. "Yes, honey?"

"It's not going to happen today, so drop it."

"So... It's not totally out of the question, just not today is what you're saying?"

She shook her head, pressing her lips together to keep from smirking. "You're impossible."

"You've said that to me before, and yet—"

"Are we ready to order?" the waiter came and interrupted them.

"Yes, I think so," she answered and quickly made up her mind for a chai latte.

Cameron placed his order for the Americano and they were once again alone.

"So, what has made you change your mind all of a sudden?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"You admitted that you missed me and that you wanted to stop lying to yourself. I'm just wondering what's changed since yesterday. That's all."

She knew this was coming but it still terrified her. Terrified to peel back the lies and reveal the truth that risked the safety of her heart. Emotions cast a net over the swarms of butterflies in her stomach and constricted them into a tight ball.

She needed to stop treating him the way she had been, given all he had been through and all the efforts he was making to prove himself worth her investment.

Lowering her gaze, she raked her teeth over her bottom lip as she fiddled with her fingers in her lap. "The way I see it, the only thing holding me back from accepting anything is that I keep telling myself lies to protect me and I'm using Chloe as an excuse. The issue is in my head and I'm resisting anything that can change the image I have created of you. And yet," she hesitated, swallowing back the lump that grew in her throat, "the more time I spend with you, the more I see the real you and they don't match. I can't keep holding onto a lie. It's not fair to me, you, or Chloe even."

She sighed, looking out the window and watching the traffic and pedestrians pass by. "Whether things work out between us is irrelevant, but now that Chloe knows about you, I can't keep her from you. She's getting older, asking more questions... She deserves to get to know you. I'm the one who's not ready to let go of the past. Not ready to let her grow and be independent. She'll be starting JK in September."

She chewed on her lip. Where had the time gone? It seemed like only yesterday she was bringing home this tiny little person from the hospital who was more precious than she ever could have imagined. She wasn't ready for Chloe to start junior kindergarten. She wanted to hold onto her baby longer. Why did she have to grow up so fast?

His gaze softened as he reached across the table for her hand. She stared at it for a second before holding her breath and accepted it. He held it on the table, stroking her knuckles with his thumbs. "You're right that she's growing up too fast. You're lucky that you got to be there in her life. I missed it. I'm still missing out on it. But I'm glad you'll let me be a part of her life if she wants that."

"She does," she admitted, hanging her head. "She's so curious now. I don't want to discourage her from asking questions because they make me uncomfortable. That's why I want to spend more time with you one-on-one. I feel..." She scrunched up her nose, trying to make sense of her emotions and put them into words. "I feel so disconnected. Ever since we met..."

"Disconnected? How? Since when? A few weeks ago or five years ago?"

She nodded. "Five years ago. Everything changed. Everything. I didn't feel like the same person when I woke up that morning. And I couldn't go back to living my life the way I had."

He was nodding his head in silent understanding. Pain etched across his features.

She tried to shrug it off. "I'm sure you can imagine what it was like, so I don't really need to say more about it."

"Tell me anyway," he said. "I think you need to let it out in order to let go. And I deserve to bear the brunt of it."

"Do you, though? I mean, it's not your fault that you got amnesia. Things would be different now if the accident never happened, right? I can't keep blaming you for something you had no control over."

He gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. "I know, but I could have told others about you before it happened. I don't know why I didn't. That's the part that kills me the most, Olivia. All of this could have been avoided if I had told someone."

She sighed, squirming in her seat. "Well, we only spent one day and night together. That was it. How were we to know it would have become something more? It was too early in the relationship."

"I knew it was meant to be something more," he said softly when the waiter returned with their drinks.

He asked if they would like to order any entrees or desserts but they both declined for now.

A small pitcher of cream and jar of sugar was placed between them with little silver spoons, but neither one of them reached for them.

"How do you know when you don't remember?" she asked, returning to their conversation before the interruption.

"I told you. You're my soulmate. That's how I know. I never would have given you up. And that's what infuriates me. I should have told someone. Soulmates are very important to us. We would die for our soulmates."

Her breath caught in her throat. Was he crazy? "What?"

"It's true," he said. "I would die if it meant you could live."

"Let's not get too extreme here." The ball of butterflies tumbled within her.

"That's how deep my feelings go. I can't deny that and you should know it."

His eyes bore into hers—deep, exotic pools of spine-tingling wonder.

Breaking eye contact, she took a deep breath as she looked down at her chai latte. "You have mentioned soulmates before..." she uttered tentatively. "Is that part of your religion or something?"

"You could say that."

She shook her head. "Don't be so direct one minute and dance around the subject the next."

His Adam's apple bobbed up and down. "Very well, yes. Soulmates are part of my culture and religion. I will tell you more about that another time. For now, you only need to know that you are all I see. No one will come before you and no one will come after you. If you were to die tomorrow, a part of me would die with you. My life would be forever changed. I will love no other. My soul is linked with yours in this life and the next. Does this sound familiar to you the moment you woke up and I wasn't beside you five years ago?"

When he put it that way, as crazy as it sounded, he was right. Nothing was the same after that night. And nothing she did eliminated the pain that encased her heart.

She nodded, uttering a breathless, "Yes," as he leaned forward and brought the back of her hand briefly to his lips.

"So you see, Olivia," he whispered. "I understand you better than you think."

They continued to chat, sipping at their steaming hot drinks with one hand reaching across the table and holding the other.

For the first time since reconnecting with Cameron, Olivia felt comfortable and at ease with him. Her inhibitions melted away and even with the occasional sexual innuendo, he managed to smooth it all over with a brush of his thumb over her knuckles and the crinkle in the corners of his eyes as he flashed her that smile that made her heart dance.

It was like that day five years ago. They talked and flirted, ordered food to eat, and continued to chat for hours until Olivia realized it was getting late and she had to go pick up Chloe.

She didn't want to part, but she had a responsibility to her daughter that took priority over her own pleasure.

They would meet again soon. She had no doubt about it.

And she couldn't wait to see him again.

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Dedicated to HeartStone Packmate: Firefly58 

Copyright Jo Lee Hunt ( Joflower ) 2018