CHAPTERTHREE
June considered ordering the ribs, then glanced down at the front of her dress. She could see it now—barbecue sauce splattered across the skirt. When she’d considered what to wear today, bright and summery had called to her, not something dark that would hide sauce splatters.
Oh well.
“I’m going to live dangerously. Half a rack of ribs, coleslaw and smoked mac and cheese.” She glanced at Cameron.
He grinned. “Dangerously?”
She jabbed him in the side with her elbow. “Order, and while we eat, I’ll tell you all about the dinner before my senior prom.”
Cameron ordered the same and added two bottles of beer.
She carried the drinks, while he took the tray of food, along with plenty of napkins, to a table in the beer garden.
Once seated, she inhaled the heady aroma of the sweet, smoky sauce. “Ahh, there’s nothing like barbecue sauce.”
As picking up ribs with her hands might be tempting fate, June cut off a piece and took her first bite of heaven.
She closed her eyes and let the onions, sweet molasses and red pepper flakes come together in her mouth in an explosion of flavor. A tiny moan escaped her lips as she chewed, then swallowed.
When she finally opened her eyes, she saw Cameron watching her.
“What?” She brought her fingers to her cheek and made a face. “Don’t tell me I already got sauce on my face.”
He shook his head, his lips quirking upward. “I’ve just never seen anyone who enjoyed their barbecue like you.”
“Yes, well, it’s one of life’s simpler pleasures. This sauce is amazing.” She gestured with a fork toward his plate. “Give it a try.”
Cameron used a knife and fork on the meat. No picking up the messy ribs with his hands like the guy at the next table. He chewed thoughtfully, then swallowed. “You’re right. Excellent flavor.”
“When I was in high school, two friends and I would head downtown to Porky’s Smokehouse to pig out on barbecue every Friday night.” June smiled nostalgically at the memory. “Beef brisket, smoked mac and cheese and brussels sprouts.”
Seeing the face Cameron made, June laughed. “They aren’t my favorite vegetable either, but Porky’s does ’em up right.”
“If you say so.” Cameron took a sip of beer.
June kept her tone casual as she slid her fork into the mac and cheese. “What did your Friday nights look like back then?”
Cameron paused, considered, then shrugged. “Hanging out, school events, parties, the normal stuff.”
Parties. The single word struck her, and everything in June went on high alert. Not wanting to spook him by jumping too fast out of the gate, she offered him a teasing smile. “No barbecue?”
It appeared to have been the right call. He grinned. “Our tastes ran more to pizza. Not a brussels sprout or brisket in sight.”
Laughing, June took a bite of the mac and cheese, then set down her fork. “Did your parents let you have parties at your house?”
Cameron broke out laughing. “Ah, that would be a big no. My mom and dad did a lot of entertaining back then, still do for that matter, but parties at our house were for adults, not kids.”
“These parties you and your friends went to, what were they like?”
Cameron paused with his fork halfway to his mouth.
“I mean, were parents around to supervise?” June thought she’d kept her tone offhand, but his eyes had taken on a watchful gleam.
“Why the questions?”
“Just curious.” June lifted one shoulder and let it drop. “I never went to parties at other people’s houses. Not in high school, anyway.”