This chapter will go behind a spoiler tag, too.
22. Everyone I know is paired up
It was far too nice a day to stay inside.
Angie Reynolds had the day off, and she decided to begin it with a run. Fitness was a habit Angie had formed while she was at university, and she continued to enjoy it as a young physician. Running, in particular, helped her relax. And she liked what she saw in the mirror.
https://i.imgur.com/bKq1k8y.png
This morning, rather than run one of her usual loops around her Foundry Cove neighborhood, she decided to make her way to Brindleton Bay and explore a new route through Sable Square. Her route led past the Ross residence, and this was undoubtedly no coincidence.
Angie didn’t see Cameron, but her run was a pleasant one nonetheless. She went back home, took a shower, ate a quick meal, and pondered what she might do next.
I’ll go see what Carrie is up to, she decided. Carrie Carson wasn’t the kind of friend she needed to call in advance; the two of them dropped in on each other regularly.
Angie walked across the street to Carrie’s house, where she found Bowtie lounging on the sidewalk. She leaned over to give the adorable kitty some love. Bowtie purred happily and nuzzled Angie’s hand.
https://i.imgur.com/iJ5d7el.png
Angie tapped on Carrie’s door and heard her friend’s voice inviting her to come in. She opened the door and was surprised to see that Carrie wasn’t alone. Seated at Carrie’s dining room table was a slender young man with dark hair. Angie tried to place him; she knew she’d seen him before, but she couldn’t remember where. The young man seemed very comfortable there, tapping at the keys of Carrie’s computer.
Carrie noticed her friend’s quizzical look and smiled. “Hi, Angie. I’d like you to meet James Michael Swann. James Michael, meet my best friend forever, Dr. Angie Reynolds.”
https://i.imgur.com/vxXtCfO.jpg
Angie noticed Carrie didn’t specify what kind of relationship she had with James Michael. This only made her more curious. He sure seems to feel at home, she said to herself. And Bowtie is sauntering around the room like there’s nothing different going on. He is often shy around strange people, so this dude is someone he already knows.
The three young people talked amiably for a while. Angie learned that James Michael worked as a Public Relations Coordinator. He liked music, especially Jazz and Electronica, and he adored animals. He seemed like a really nice, laid-back guy.
“James Michael is also a fan of my cooking,” Carrie added, with a playful smile.
“I am,” he agreed. “Carrie’s a really good cook…even when I’m trying my best to distract her.” This playful remark was accompanied by an unabashedly flirtatious look. And, as Angie watched, Carrie most definitely flirted back!
https://i.imgur.com/agSajty.jpg
Whoa, Angie thought, as she tried to suppress a giggle. This looks like…something!
A few minutes later, James Michael excused himself. “It was really nice hanging out with you, Angie,” he said.
“Likewise, James Michael.”
“You can call me JM if you like. It might be easier.”
“Sounds good, JM.”
He turned to Carrie. “I’ll call you later, Car.”
Carrie beamed at him. “Can’t wait.”
When James Michael had gone, Angie turned to her friend. Her eyes were bright, and so was her smile. “OK, ‘Car.’ What’s the story here?”
Carrie led her friend outside. “Let’s talk out here.” The two young women held hands, the way they did as five-year-olds. Bowtie decided to delay a visit to his litter box long enough to accompany them into the backyard.
https://i.imgur.com/sJR2UmE.jpg
Carrie explained how she and James Michael had met. “I was out for a walk around the neighborhood one evening. He was fishing in the Canal, and when I walked by, he smiled and said hello.”
“And now…?”
“And now we’re dating!” Carrie blushed and smiled adorably.
https://i.imgur.com/IEQWAxq.jpg
“Oh, that’s wonderful!” Angie was sincerely happy for her friend. Carrie’s one real boyfriend–a guy she dated in college–had proven to be a loser. James Michael didn’t seem to be that kind of guy at all.
Then, Angie paused. Carrie could see the wheels in her friend’s mind turning. “So…when we had that conversation at the Spa, and Kait said something about all of us being single…”
Carrie blushed again. “I was still officially single then.”
“Whatever, Carrie.” The two friends laughed and shared a warm hug.
Everyone I know is paired up, Angie thought.
When Angie Reynolds ran past his front door, Cameron Ross was at work. Later that day, Cameron gave in to the urge to hit the neighborhood food stand. As he was finishing his Haddock Sandwich, he heard a noise which sounded a bit like the first bars of "You Need Right Away." The singer was certainly not Drew Boles.
Cameron smiled. It’s Disco time...
Matty Disco saw Cameron at the same moment. His face lit up in a broad grin. “Cameron, my dude! What it is, what it is?” Matty hurried over to greet Cam.
https://i.imgur.com/0O7xz6g.png
Cameron was truly happy to see his new acquaintance.“Hey, Matty. Not a lot. I’m through with work for the day, and now I’m taking it easy.”
“Superbad. What do you do for a living?”
“I’m working as a lifeguard,” Cam replied.
“Far out! I suppose you get to hang out with a lot of foxy ladies?”
Cam laughed. “I suppose so. What brings you here, Matty? Do you live around here?”
Matty shook his head. “I’ve never been to Brindleton Bay, so I thought I’d Disco down and check out the show.”
Cameron mentally translated Matty’s statement from Disco-ese. “So what do you think?”
“It’s righteous,” Matty declared. “Of course, it’s not as boss as Britechester.”
“Britechester is nice.”
Matty corrected Cam. “Britechester is ace. Of course it is, because that’s where my lady is.”
https://i.imgur.com/oTnNork.png
Cameron hoped his surprise came across as excitement. “You have a lady, Matty?”
“I have a FINE lady,” Matty corrected him again. “Her name is Jacqueline Ledbetter.”
https://i.imgur.com/bNGfwsv.png
“That’s cool, Matty. Where did you meet her?”
“At the gym in Brite…”
Matty ended his sentence in the middle of the word. A look of utter amazement broke across his expressive face. Cam looked at him, completely nonplussed.
“Whoa…dude! I just realized something!” Mr. Disco exclaimed. “You know who I had just talked to when I met Jacqueline for the first time? YOU!”
https://i.imgur.com/PdDQ0Ju.png
“You bring me good mojo, Cam! Far out!”
Cameron had never met Jacqueline Ledbetter, but he’d heard of her. She went to UBrite, and she hung out with Chloe Coleman sometimes. Cam would have never picked a girl as…well, as normal as Jacqueline for Matty, but love was funny sometimes, wasn’t it?
Matty and Cam conversed for a while longer, during which time Cameron was introduced to several more vintage slang terms. Then, Matty bid Cam farewell, with a “catcha later,” and he was gone.
A few hours later, Cameron decided he was in the mood for a workout. There was a perfectly nice gym in Brindleton Bay, but Cam decided he’d prefer another setting for his evening exercise. So, as the last rays of a warm late Spring sun colored the sky, Cameron headed for Willow Creek. Angie Reynolds was known to frequent the Willow Fitness Center, and Cameron’s decision to train there was undoubtedly no coincidence.
Cam didn’t see Angie at the gym. He did, however, enjoy an easy run on a treadmill and a Heavy Lifting session. And, as usual, he ran into a number of his Willow Creek friends. Among them was Josh Weiss, whom Cam hadn’t seen in a while.
“What’s new, Josh?” Cameron asked him.
“I’ve been working a lot,” Josh explained. “And I’m seeing someone…”
https://i.imgur.com/JM6AzhN.png
After he caught up with the newly-coupled Josh, Cam showered, changed clothes, and went outside to enjoy a stroll through Crawdad Quarter. Just down from the Willow Creek Archives was a pleasant little pocket park, with a few benches, a food stand, and a kids’ play center in the shape of a pirate ship. This attraction was especially popular with the younger residents of the WC, one of whom was enjoying herself there as Cameron walked up.
“There’s my friend Zuzu!” Cam beamed at the little girl.
Zuzu was equally delighted to see him. “Mr. Cameron! Hiiiii!” Zuzu remembered meeting Cam on Love Day. He had given her strawberries.
https://i.imgur.com/l42G82d.png
“Have you had a fun day today, Zuzu?” Cameron asked her.
“Oh, yes. I went to the library with Mommy and got a new book to read. Then I played the piano and colored.”
“Sounds like a really great day!”
“It gets better. Miss Katie read to me and braided my hair. See?” Zuzu proudly pointed to her hair.
“Who’s Miss Katie?”
Zuzu giggled. “She’s my brother Harry’s girlfriend. They came over to my house to have dinner with all of us. Now I think they’re on a date. I don’t think I want to go on a date yet. Do you?”
Cameron smiled. A seven-year-old is actually making me blush…
“Not right this minute. I’m talking to you. That’s more fun than a date.”
The little girl giggled again. “I know who YOU should go on a date with.”
“Who?”
“Dr. Angie.” Cameron was glad it was getting too dark for Zuzu to see his blush deepen.
Cameron figured Harry Bailey’s new girlfriend had to be Katie van de Mark. Kaitlynne Blanton couldn’t stand being called “Kaitie.” Not even Zuzu would be allowed to use that name. They were the only two women Cam could think of who could conceivably be Harry’s “Miss Katie.”
Harry. Josh. Even Matty Disco.
Everybody I know is paired up, Cameron thought.
