Just Like This Read online

  Just Like This

  Rebecca Gallo

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by Rebecca Gallo

  Just Like This

  Copyright © 2018 Rebecca Gallo

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission of the author.

  Just Like This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Cover design by Amy Queau, Q Design

  Editing by Laura Hull, Red Pen Princess (@IndiesInk)

  Proofreading by Jenny Sims, Editing 4 Indies

  Interior Formatting: T.E. Black Designs; www.teblackdesigns.com

  To Netflix, because why not?

  “If there’s a book that you want to read, but it hasn’t been written yet, then you must write it”

  Toni Morrison

  Chapter One

  Cami

  The afternoon nurse was late, and my father wasn’t happy. Alex Sorenson was a schedule man, always had his day planned out to the minute, and didn’t tolerate tardiness in anyone. To him, being on time meant being late. I looked up from my book when I heard him sigh impatiently.

  “Do you want me to go and see if there’s a problem or something?” I asked because my father also liked action. If there was a problem, he didn’t stand around waiting for someone to help. I knew it was killing him that he couldn’t just get out of bed, march down to the nurse’s station himself, and give them a dressing down over their tardiness.

  “No, Cami. She’s only ten minutes late with my medication. I’m not her only patient,” he replied. Cancer was teaching my dad patience.

  “Okay,” I responded with a quirk of my brow.

  “Isn’t Palmer’s party tonight?”

  “Shoot.” I looked at my watch. If I didn’t leave right away, I wouldn’t make it home in time to get ready. After eight years enlisted in the Army, my best friend was finally coming home for good. “It is. I’m sorry, Daddy, but I have to go.”

  “Don’t worry about it. Tell him I’m glad he’s home.”

  I quickly packed my stuff and hurried over to my father. Leaning across the bed, I kissed his cheek. I whispered my love in his ear and then left.

  On my way to the elevator, I stopped at the nurses’ station. A middle-aged woman with a perma-frown stared up at me with tired eyes.

  “Hi,” I said, giving her my best smile. “My dad is in room 121. The nurse hasn’t come by with his medication, and he’s getting a little antsy.”

  “Okay, I’ll take care of it,” she replied without the enthusiasm that assured me she would handle this issue.

  “Listen, I know you’re busy and tired. I get it. But my dad has a thing about being punctual. This disease has taken everything from him, including some of his dignity. Could you just make sure the nurses are on time? He’s too proud to say anything himself.”

  The nurse rolled her eyes, but at least, I had said my piece. Cancer is a bitch; it forced my dad to take an unplanned hiatus. As his daughter, the least I could do was advocate on his behalf.

  “Thank you,” I said sweetly when the nurse just kept staring at me with an expectant look in her eye. I quickly walked away before my mouth got me into trouble. My sister, Valerie, was the even-tempered, logical daughter, and I was the emotional train wreck with my heart permanently affixed to my sleeve.

  Two years ago, I moved out of the luxury condo that I owned in a slick downtown Seattle high-rise to move back to Gig Harbor and help Valerie take care of our father. And despite being two grown adults, we both lived in the house where we grew up—a sprawling white brick rambler right on Wollochet Bay.

  When I got home, Valerie was finishing getting dressed. I glanced down at the watch on my wrist and frowned. There wasn’t much time, but if I rushed and Valerie helped, I could make it.

  “How is he?” she asked me when she realized I was home.

  I stripped out of my clothes and tossed them in the laundry basket. “Antsy,” I answered, walking into the bathroom and turning on the shower full blast. “The nurse was late with his medicine.”

  “I bet he hated that,” Valerie commented as I stepped under the spray. “Hurry up. I told Mrs. Grayson that we would help out before everyone gets there.”

  I rolled my eyes and groaned silently. Lucinda Grayson, my best friend Palmer’s mother, was an overbearing woman, which only worsened when Dad got sick. Even though Valerie and I were adults, she took it upon herself to act as a surrogate mother. She provided us with a constant and almost unnecessary stream of food. However, my love for Palmer outweighed any annoyance I felt toward his mother and her overbearing behavior because secretly, it felt good to have a mother again. But tonight was all about Palmer and celebrating his achievements. It felt good to smile again and to be excited about something.

  I finished my shower quickly and stepped out, wrapping myself in a fluffy towel. I padded through my bedroom to the giant walk-in closet that dominated one end. I started rifling through my clothes, searching for the perfect outfit. Even though I had rarely seen Palmer since he traded high school for boot camp, I wanted to look nice. There was also the chance that Palmer would have some friends from his unit traveling with him. He frequently mentioned his best friends Jackson and Garrett, and selfishly, I hoped they would be joining him. I knew practically every guy in Gig Harbor, and none of them piqued my curiosity in the slightest.

  Valerie saved me when she pushed me out of the way and started rummaging through my clothes. I gave her outfit a once-over; she was gorgeous in a body-hugging, striped red and white dress and blue chambray shirt that she knotted underneath her chest.

  “Wear this,” she commanded, handing me a sheer navy blue blouse with white polka dots. Then she handed me a pair of white shorts that were just a tad too short. “And these too.” Hesitantly, I accepted them from her.

  Valerie had impeccable taste, so I didn’t question her choices. Truthfully, if I spent any more time in my closet, I’d arrive at Palmer’s party in an oversized T-shirt and leggings. Despite Valerie’s warning from earlier that we had to leave soon, I took my time getting ready. I dried and tamed my wild curls into big, bouncy waves and slathered my body in my favorite jasmine-scented lotion.

  “Getting all dressed up to welcome home your man from the war,” Valerie teased.

  “Hardly. Besides, you picked my outfit.” I scoffed. “And Palmer certainly isn’t my man.”

  “Keep telling yourself that, Cami. You and Palmer are destined to marry each other
.”

  Practically everyone we knew felt the same way; they believed Palmer and I were destined to be together forever. I was fairly certain that his mother had our entire wedding planned out, which was a terrifying idea. Palmer was handsome, smart, and about to take over a fairly successful company; he was the total package. But when I thought about him romantically, there was no magic, no spark, no flame. I didn’t see him as anything beyond my best friend, the kid I went clam digging with during every Christmas break.

  “Palmer can’t offer what I want.”

  “And what’s that?”

  I shrugged my shoulders. Palmer’s return was permanent, and I knew he’d want to settle into his new career working alongside his father and his new life. But I didn’t want to remain in Gig Harbor for the rest of my life, and Palmer was a small town kind of guy. I wanted someone who could offer me a world beyond this small town by the bay. But if I told her all of that, my honesty might feel like a slap in the face to her. Valerie hadn’t left Gig Harbor, and she probably never would. Her fiancé, Dominic, was stationed at Fort Lewis and was also a Tacoma native. I held my wanderlust in check for both of our sakes.

  “Never mind, Val,” I said, with a final swipe of red lipstick. “Let’s just go and have a good time, okay?”

  I loaded Val’s car with the cupcakes I had baked at Lucinda’s request. Baking was my religion, my Zen, my everything. I visually inspected each box as I placed them in the car. They all looked amazing with their patriotic colors and decorations. When we arrived at the Graysons’, Lucinda put Valerie and me right to work. It was hard to escape the long looks and knowing winks she sent my way. Or the fact that she just happened to hum the wedding march every time she passed me.

  Jesus, take the wheel, I thought to myself as I arranged the cupcakes on a table.

  I heard loud voices coming from the front of the house and knew that Palmer and his friends must have finally made their appearance at the party. I set one last cupcake down on a stand and walked over to the doorway where I could get my first glimpse. Instead of seeing Palmer, my eyes were drawn to a tall, handsome stranger with dark hair and a hint of beard covering his cheeks. He was so breathtaking that butterflies sprang to life inside my belly.

  “Cami!” I felt like I’d been caught doing something naughty. I turned to face Lucinda, who had more jobs for me to complete.

  Chapter Two

  Garrett

  “Palmer, you drive like my grandmother,” I complained from the back seat. Almost two weeks ago, I was in the stifling heat of the desert, and after hours cramped in an airplane, three days drunk on a beach, and a week spent in reintegration training, the last thing I wanted was to spend another forty-five minutes in the back of Palmer’s SUV. The only comfort came from rolling down the window and letting the fresh cool air wash over my face. Such a relief, I thought to myself.

  I craved the silence and the stillness of being back stateside. My life in the Army was spent in constant motion; I was always going or doing something with no time to think. And I needed the silence to be able to hear my own thoughts, which grew increasingly louder the closer I got to home. It’s decision time, I told myself.

  “Shut up, asshole. We’re almost there,” Palmer replied with a flick of his middle finger. As we crossed the Narrows Bridge, I sighed with relief. It felt good to be home and back in familiar territory. When I looked out the window, I didn't have to worry about whether something was buried in the dirt that would blow me to kingdom come.

  “Can we stop at a Starbucks?” Jackson pleaded. “I’d kill for a caramel macchiato.”

  “Nope. Maybe tomorrow,” Palmer answered as he navigated the streets familiar to him.

  Jackson was the youngest among us and missed the creature comforts of home the most. Since we’d been back stateside, he had attempted to visit almost every fast food chain restaurant. No doubt, as we drove through Gig Harbor, he was already cataloging and mapping his options. I watched as the scenery transformed from the touristy downtown scene to a residential neighborhood filled with sprawling waterfront homes.

  “That’s where the Sorensons live,” Palmer said, pointing at an expansive white brick rambler that sat right on the bay. “You’ll meet Cami and Valerie tonight.”

  “Are they hot?” Jackson was also the horniest member of our unit.

  I groaned and rolled my eyes. “Have you listened to a single word this asshole has said during the past four years? He talks about Cami every goddamn day. She must have a magical unicorn pussy or something.”

  Palmer reached across the console and grabbed a fistful of my T-shirt. “Shut the fuck up right now, or I’ll throw you into the bay, and you can swim home.”

  “Jesus, calm down,” I told him, removing his hand. Clearly, I’d struck a nerve, which intrigued me. Since Palmer had joined my unit, Cami and Val Sorenson were a frequent topic. Cami was his best friend, and every time he said her name or talked about her, his eyes went all glassy. He was definitely in love with this girl, whoever she was, and apparently, I was going to have the honor of finally meeting her tonight.

  I listened as Palmer chatted about the other people invited to the party. He sounded happy and relaxed because he was done with the Army; I was envious because I still had another year left on my current enlistment. I was good at being a soldier, even better at leading. I loved the brotherhood and the challenge of being in the Army, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t exhausted and ready to move on.

  “Will we at least have a few hours to relax? I haven’t had a decent shower in months.” I was looking forward to a long, hot shower and a nap before Palmer started introducing us to the entire town.

  “Of course. The party doesn’t start until eight.”

  By eight o’clock, I was feeling like a new man. Freshly showered, I was ready to take on the world, but only for a few hours because my capacity for social interaction was limited. I couldn’t stand small talk; not because I was terrible at it—which I was—but because I hated being fake.

  “Garrett, can I get you a drink?” Palmer’s mother, Lucinda, greeted me as soon as I set foot in the kitchen. Palmer had warned us she was a bit of a “mother hen,” and it was clear that since Palmer was the only son, she doted on him.

  “Unless you have a bottle of Hammond Wines, he’s not interested,” Palmer teased, walking up behind me and giving me a hearty slap on the back.

  “Don’t be rude, Palmer,” his mother scolded him slightly. She faced me and smiled sweetly. “I did order a case, though.”

  I held up a hand and shook my head. “That’s not necessary. Beer is fine.”

  Palmer reached into a cooler that sat on the floor next to a massive kitchen island and pulled out a beer. “Here you go.”

  I took it and twisted the cap, tossing it into a nearby trash can, before taking my first sip. I closed my eyes as the crisp, cold liquid hit my tongue. Damn. That’s good. Being denied good beer for almost a year was a sin. I finished off the rest of it quickly, maybe a little too quickly, since a whiff of jasmine made my knees weaken and my eyes pop open. I searched the room, looking for the source of such a heady scent.

  “CAMI!” I turned just in time to see Palmer lift a petite woman off the ground and twirl her. She hugged him tightly, and her face was lit up with so much joy it was hard not to smile.

  “Palmer!” Palmer held her against his chest for a long while, nuzzling her hair. Damn, I thought. He might as well get a room.

  Cami Sorenson was gorgeous. She was tiny with the perfect curves and a thick mass of curly brown hair that any man would want wrapped around his fist. She wore the shortest white shorts that had me turning away and reaching for another cold beer. Down boy, I scolded myself. She’s not for you.

  “Palmer, I think your parents invited the entire town,” Cami said with a laugh once Palmer set her back down. His arm was still around her, and she leaned comfortably against his body.

  “Garrett, I want you to meet Cami.” Palmer extended hi
s other hand and motioned for me to join them.

  Cautiously, I walked over to where they stood. She slipped out his grasp and surprised me with a hug.

  “It’s so good to meet you, Garrett,” she said. I closed my eyes and inhaled her scent. Jasmine. My eyes popped open, and I backed away, mentally repeating bro code, bro code, bro code.

  “I’m glad to finally meet you, Cami. Palmer talks about you all the time.” Cami’s cheeks reddened, and she hid her face behind her hands.

  “Oh my god, that’s so awful!” She playfully punched Palmer in the shoulder before turning her attention back to me. “I’m so sorry you had to listen to all of that.”

  Now that I had seen Cami in the flesh, I wasn’t sorry at all. She was absolutely stunning. Between mental reminders about the bro code, my only thoughts were mine, mine, mine. Never in my entire life had I desired what someone else had.

  For the rest of the night, I watched Palmer and Cami flirt with one another. They seemed a natural fit and were easy and comfortable with each other and around all of the guests. Why weren’t they together? I remained just out of sight, far enough away from the crowds but still close enough to be seen. I was here for my friend; my own hang-ups could wait.

  “I think I’m going to head back to my room,” I told Palmer when my anxiety started to overwhelm me.