Close to You (Fusion 2)

“Do you say that to all the guys?” Jake says, then ducks out of her way when she throws a punch at him. “Go enjoy your friends, Mia. I got this.”

“They’ve kicked me out of my own kitchen on Sundays,” she says mournfully. “And now you’re kicking me out too?”

“We are villains for making her take one day off a week,” Addie says, and shakes her head when Kat offers her a glass of wine. “You’re going to kill yourself if you keep going at this insane pace, Mia.”

“Hello, pot, I’m kettle,” Mia says. “I’ll whip the potatoes.”

“Fine,” Jake says, shaking his head. “Landon, want to help me with the grill?”

“Why does he get to help?” Mia cries.

“He’s a guy,” Jake says, and laughs when Mia just glares daggers at him.

“Addie, you married a sexist pig.”

“Hi, everyone!” We all turn our heads as a pretty blonde walks into the room. “Sorry I’m late. My children are demons.”

“Cici!” Cami jumps up and gives the woman a hug. “I’m so happy you came.”

“I’m just happy that I had a reason to leave my house and enjoy some girl time.” Cici smiles and looks around. “Or, sort-of girl time.”

“This is Landon,” Cami says as I shake Cici’s hand. “I don’t think you’ve met.”

“No, but I’ve heard all about you,” Cici says with a smile. “Welcome home. I’m glad you’re here safely.”

“Thank you.” I turn to Jake. “Let’s give them some girl time, whatever that means, and go tackle the grill.”

“Sexist pigs,” Mia mutters again, making us laugh as we step outside.

“Has she always been this bossy?” Jake asks me as he opens the already lit grill.

“She’s mellowed out with age,” I reply, and chuckle. “Mia has always been headstrong. It might be the Italian in her. Or maybe it’s just her.”

“She’s awesome,” Jake says with honest affection in his voice. “But man, can she be intimidating.”

“I like to think of her as badass,” I reply. “But don’t tell her I said that. We’ll never be able to live with her.”

“Your secret is safe with me, man.” He sets the steaks on the grill. “I’ll add the salmon when the steaks are half-done. It cooks faster.”

“Was that also a Mia instruction?”

“I think she said it about six hundred times.”

I shake my head and lean against a cement pillar, looking out over the pool that’s covered for the winter.

“How are things with Addie?” I ask.

He closes the grill and pulls two beers out of a small fridge next to the grill, hands me one. “I don’t remember my life without her now.”

“In case you need a refresher, you were an international rock star and you’ve won Grammys for your songs, Jake. FYI.”

“I know it sounds dumb,” he says with a shrug. “I don’t care if I’m sappy or whatever. In less than a year, she became the center of my universe. Of course I work, and she works, and we have lives to run, but at the heart of it, it all comes back to her. And I didn’t think that I’d ever say that about anyone.”

I nod, thinking about Cami and how much she’s come to mean to me in less than a month’s time.

“What’s going on with you and Cami?”

I raise a brow.

“Come on, you knew that question was coming.”

“What’s going on? We’re seeing each other.” I take a sip of my beer. “I’ve known Cami for a long time.”

“As a friend,” Jake says reasonably. “That’s not the same thing.”

“That’s what I’m learning,” I reply. “I thought I knew her so well, but she’s proving that to be wrong every day.”

“Cami’s sweet.” Jake turns the steaks, then laughs when he sees Mia with her nose practically pressed to the window watching him. “Go away!”

“You should put the salmon on now!” she yells, but Jake shoos her away and turns his back on her.

“I’m going to wait an extra two minutes to put the salmon on now.”

“I knew I liked you,” I reply with a smile. “And yes, Cami’s sweet. Are you going to warn me too?”

“‘Too’?”

“Mia and Kat have already pretty much said they’ll cut my balls off if I hurt her.”

“Nah. I’m not going to do that. You’re both adults, and you know what’s what. Besides, they all warned me off of Addie. I’ll never divorce her just to preserve my manhood.”

“If you hurt Blondie,” I reply, perfectly serious, “you won’t have to worry about your manhood. I’ll simply kill you and make it look like an accident.”

“Point taken.” Jake laughs and pulls the meat off the grill. “Come on, let’s listen to Mia tell me all about how I did this wrong.”

“I just don’t want any wine,” Addie says, and looks to Jake for help when we step inside. “Seriously, babe, they won’t leave me alone.”

“You know, peer pressure is bad,” I say slowly. “Just in case you forgot from when you were teenagers.”

“Addie loves wine,” Kat insists, but Cami’s watching with a thoughtful gaze. She’s rubbing her lips with her fingertip. She glances over at me and gives a slight nod, and I know what she’s thinking.