We met Lincoln in middle school. The boys hit it off immediately with him. He balanced out Christian and Jamie’s bold personalities. Both Christian and Jamie are hot heads where Lincoln is the more level-headed of the three.
I lean my head against the headrest, “Whatever. The more the merrier. Just let me know. I’ll ask the girls. If the girls are up for it, then ask Lincoln.”
The car ride to our parents’ house takes a half hour tops. Living in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, was convenient for commuting to the City. Our parents still live in the house that we grew up in. Jamie’s parents, along with Morgan’s parents, still live on the same street. Christian pulls the car into the driveway and I immediately see the front door open before Christian even has a chance to hit the garage door opener.
My mom stands on the front step waving at us. You would think that she hasn’t seen me in years. I was home for Easter, six months ago. I love my job, I love being able to travel for it, and I love living in LA, but I do get homesick a lot. There’s nothing better than being home with my family and friends . . . and Jamie.
I open my door, and my mom immediately throws her arms around my neck and squeezes me close. I love my mom. She is one of my best friends. Growing up she always treated Christian and me as if we were the prince and princess of the home. We never wanted for anything, but we were never spoiled brats. Even though our parents are well-off financially, they still made us work for the things we wanted. My father is a partner at one of the largest law firms in New York City, Townsend and Wilcox, PC. My mom was a guidance counselor at the local middle school until she had Christian and me. She made the decision to be a stay-at-home mom when she found out she was having twins. Juggling twins and working full time would’ve been too difficult for my mom to do with my father’s hours at the firm.
From the moment we were outside of our mother’s womb people referred to us as the “Townsend Twins.” We both have brown hair and brown eyes, mine a little lighter than his, more hazel. Looking at us, you immediately know we are related, but you can’t tell that we’re twins. Christian is six-two, whereas I am only five-four. Thank the Lord for heels. Christian jokes around and calls me “Tink” just like Jamie. He says I’m a real life Tinkerbell fairy. That I am both sweet and sassy and loyal to all my friends. Whatever.
When I hear the hatchback of the Land Rover shut, I realize my mom still has her arms around my neck, my arms go around her waist and I place my head on her shoulder. She whispers in my ear, “Welcome home, sweetie. I’ve missed my baby girl.” My insides warm as her words make me teary-eyed. I never stopped and thought about how me living in LA affects my family. I’m looking forward to spending time with my mom over the next three months. As much as I need my Jamie and Christian time, I also need to spend quality time with my mom because I miss her every day. I make a mental note to keep an eye out for an opening in the New York office. I miss being home.
JAMIE
WATCHING CAMI’S MOM, Gwen, embrace her makes me smile. They’re my family, too. Looking around at the Townsend’s house and my childhood next door, this is home. Living in the City is convenient because of the studio and Aces, the bar that one of my best friends, Lincoln owns, but I always feel more at peace when I am here in Berkeley Heights.
Growing up with Christian and Camryn, this house is a second home to me. To be honest, more of my childhood was spent in their backyard than my own. Our parents are friends, they grew up together, so it was only natural that we would do the same. Being an only child, one would think I would be lonely, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Christian is like a brother to me. We’ve been through everything together, whether it was a fight at the playground, relationship break-ups, or career moves. The biggest event we’ve been through is that brutal day I carried my best friend off the field when he tore his ACL. The look in Christian’s eyes when he knew his dream was crushed broke me.
I was there for him every step of the way after his surgery. I took him to and from the months of therapy sessions. Christian didn’t want to see the pity or sadness in his mom’s eyes when he would endure the long therapy sessions. So I volunteered to take him after school. I would sit in a chair in the corner with my elbows on my knees, my hands dangling between my legs, as I watched Christian struggle with the exercises. Those days were torture for him and me both, but it was another fight that we battled together that bonded us closer.
Gwen steps back from Camryn, takes her hand and leads her toward the house. Leaving Christian and me to grab Camryn’s bags from the car and bring them inside. We place them by the front door, not knowing if Camryn is staying the night here or just staying for dinner and heading back to the City with us.
I love when Camryn stays with me or Christian. It feels like old times . . . when we were inseparable. When she is here, I feel complete. Christian and I live in the same apartment building in SoHo. We were lucky to find our places, the rent was affordable and it’s close to the studio. Christ knows, rent in the City will bleed you dry.
I’m a partner in the studio with Christian. He and I attended college together, and studied the same majors. We recently opened the studio and called it Townsend and Banks, LLC. Our parents are investors, which worked out well, so we didn’t have to use all of our savings.
The sound of laughter echoes into the foyer, drawing my attention to the kitchen. Walking down the hallway, the French doors to the kitchen are open, allowing me to see Camryn and her mom sitting at the island. Gwen is on the telephone, and I hear her say, “Come on over. Have dinner with us.”
Having no clue who she is speaking to, I look at Camryn as she shrugs her shoulders and sips on her cup of coffee. “Don’t be silly, your son is here.” Ah . . . she’s on the phone with my mom. She laughs, “You know how it is, Michelle, wherever Camryn is, Jamie is close by.”
My eyebrows shoot up in the air. Hello, I am right here. Do you mind not talking about me while I’m standing less than ten feet away? Turning my attention to Camryn, she tries to hold back her laughter. Her hand covers her mouth and her eyes shine as if to think, what?
I walk over and stand behind her, gently moving her hair away from her neck, whispering in her ear, “What’s so funny. You never seem to mind when I’m around, now do you?” The locket around her neck catches my attention. I exhale a long sigh of contentment, my girl still wears it after all these years.
A gasp slips from her mouth. She turns around to look at me, trying to seem as if I’ve offended her, but I’m the wiser. This is what Camryn and I do. These are the games that we play with each other. My relationship with Camryn is different than any relationship I have with my other friends. There’s nothing hidden between the two of us. She knows all of my dirty little secrets; she accepts me and loves me with all of my flaws.
Standing here in the middle of the Townsend’s kitchen with their mom, I am flooded with tons of memories from our childhood as I glance over at a picture that was taken the night of the Homecoming dance, a silly photo that my mom took of the three of us, arms wrapped around each other’s waist before we left for the dance. The bestest of friends sharing and making high school memories that we’d cherish forever. Some of the strongest bonds we formed happened here in this kitchen.
Camryn had softball practice, so she wouldn’t be home for a while. I stood on the Townsend’s front step, repeatedly pressing the doorbell. Mrs. Townsend answered the door, while she dried her hands off on the towel.
“Come in, sweetie, I’m just getting dinner ready.” I followed her into the kitchen and she pulled the stool out next to me to sit down. “Mrs. Townsend, I need to ask you something.”
“What have I told you? There is no need to call me Mrs. Townsend. We have been over this before. You are like a son to me. I see that handsome face of yours every day. Call me Gwen, please.”
Looking away from her, I remember that she told me this all the time, but I felt funny. My parents had always told me to call my elders by Mr. or Mrs. Why sh
ould Mrs. Townsend be any different?
Shaking my head, I said, “Yes, ma’am. I’ll call you Gwen, but I have to ask my mom if that’s okay.”
Clearly happy with my response she replied, “So, what’s on your mind?”
Nervously, I tried to find the words that I wanted to say. My fingers tapped frantically on the countertop of the island. “Um . . . would it be okay, um . . .”
Gwen continued to look at me, which only made me more nervous. Clearing my throat, “Um . . . would it be okay with you and Mr. Townsend if I ask Camryn to Homecoming?” I asked Christian earlier in school if he cared if I asked Camryn to go with me. He gave me the go ahead saying he wouldn’t want her to miss out on a good time.
A smile appeared on her face and she drew me into a hug. She squeezed me, before pulling me back to look at my face. “It’s Mark, sweetheart. You can call us both by our first names. And, of course, Jamie, you have our permission to ask Camryn to Homecoming. I’m sure she would be thrilled to have you as her date. You know, she wasn’t going to go with everything that happened with Todd. Morgan and Lindsey told her to go by herself. But you know Camryn, she refused. I’m not sure if she didn’t want to go because she may see Todd there with someone or she just felt uncomfortable going by herself.”
“I’m gonna ask her tomorrow at her game. It has to be something big though. I want it to be special for her. Do you think you can run me to the store to grab a few things that I need?”
“Okay. Let me finish getting dinner ready, then we’ll head out.”
When Gwen finished, she walked toward the garage door and grabbed her car keys. “Come on. We need to get going if we’re going to make it to the store and back before she gets home from practice.”
I jumped off of the stool and quickly followed after her. After we got what I needed at the store, Mrs. Townsend helped me with my project.
I didn’t sleep a wink that night after we had everything ready for the game. I played it over and over in my head, how I was going to pop the big question. It had to be perfect, Camryn deserved nothing less than perfection.
After the National Anthem, Camryn took her place on the pitcher’s mound, looking relaxed as she always did. Christian helped me out by having the announcers let me have the mic for a few seconds. Standing by the announcer’s booth, mic in hand, I said a silent prayer that I didn’t make an ass out of myself in front of all these people. “Excuse me, ladies and gentlemen. I have something special I would like to ask Camryn Townsend.”
Camryn’s eyes lit up as she looked around the ball field. She frantically searched the bleachers for me until her eyes met mine by the announcer’s booth. I was standing there holding my sign over my head. On the poster board it read, You STRIKE me as the girl I want to take to Homecoming. What do you say? Did I STRIKE out, or did I hit a HOMERUN?
Her eyes widened and a smile appeared instantly. The look on her face was priceless. She immediately nodded her head up and down. I saw her mouth moving, but everyone in the bleachers was cheering, so I couldn’t hear what she was saying.
That night, my Cami pitched her first no-hitter . . . I’d like to think that I had a little something to do with that.
After the game, Camryn came out of the locker room freshly showered and threw her arms around me. “I can’t believe you did that.” With her eyebrows cocked, “You know, if you wanted me to go to Homecoming with you, all you had to do was ask.”
“I did ask.” I smirked.
“I mean you didn’t have to go to all that trouble just for me.” She peeked up at me through her long lashes.
Laughing, I pulled her away so I could see her whole face, leave it to Camryn to feel unworthy of that attention. “Well, I wasn’t going to allow you to miss out on a Jamie Banks Special. I couldn’t think of any other girl to go to all that trouble for.”
Christian nudges me, bringing me out of my daydream. “You got plans tonight?”
“Nah, I figured once we finished up with dinner, maybe we could all head to Aces. I can text Lincoln to see if he’ll be around tonight. Cami can text the girls and have them meet us there if she’s coming back to the City with us.”
Christian nods his head in agreement. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll see if Cami wants to pack a bag and stay with one of us in the City tonight. This way, we can just hang out tomorrow rather than coming back here to grab her.”
I pull the stool out that’s next to Camryn and sit down. Her mom finally hangs up with mine after laughing at God knows what. She announces that my parents are going to join us for dinner and that we’ll be eating at six o’clock when our fathers get home from the office.
Bringing my attention back to Camryn, I nudge her with my elbow, “Hey, I was thinking maybe you could give the girls a call and see if they want to meet up at Aces for a few drinks. Sort of like a welcome home party.”
She raises her eyebrows. “It’s Friday night! Mr. Banks doesn’t have a hot date?”
A laugh escapes my throat, holding my hands over my heart, I pretend I’m offended by her comment. “I do have a hot date tonight. I intend to spend the evening with a beautiful brunette, who has the most amazing hazel eyes. When she walks into the room, every man stops and stares at her. So I’ll have to keep her close to me tonight. You know, to keep the vultures away.” I wiggle my eyebrows up and down at her.
Her eyes widen and she tilts her head to hold my gaze. Without giving her time to respond, I swing my arm around her shoulder and pull her in to me, whispering in her ear, “You’re my HOT DATE tonight, Camryn Townsend. I plan on spending my Friday night right where I want to be . . . by your side.”
My lips touch her ear lightly. We are so close I can feel the heat from her body.
Her body trembles and she bites her lip, “Jamieson Banks, if I didn’t know better, I would say you’re flirting with me?” She laughs and pushes away from me.
Holding my hands up to surrender, “Hey, I can’t help but flirt with a beautiful woman when I have the chance.”
“Wow! That’s the second time I’ve heard that line today.”
“Who else told you that you were beautiful today?” I ask. She was on a freaking plane for the past six hours. Was someone trying to put the moves on her while she was in the air? Did the guy think he was going to become a member of the mile high club by flirting it up with my girl?
“It’s not important who told me I was pretty.” Camryn waves her hand in front of her, dismissing my question.
Christian clears his throat from across the kitchen island. “Are the two of you done with this little back and forth bullshit? The way the two of you act, it’s no wonder everyone who sees you thinks you’re a couple.”
Before I have a chance to respond, Camryn turns her attention to her brother, “I don’t care what anyone thinks about our relationship, you ought to know that by now. People have been talking for years, I don’t pay any attention to it.”
Christian knows I’m in love with Camryn. I think he has known for years. I got drunk a while back and professed my love for her to him. Of course, the next day I didn’t recall a damn thing about that night, but he felt the need to enlighten me. He’s given me his approval to go after her. He said that he would rather her be with me than some other douche. Christian knows that I can make her happy. I’m sure he isn’t thrilled about the idea of me sleeping with his sister, but he knows I would never hurt her.
Christian told me to tell Camryn how I felt. But I don’t think he understands, if I tell her how I feel, and she doesn’t feel the same way, it could potentially ruin our friendship. Christian has never told Camryn about our conversation. He said it wasn’t his story to share and that it was up to me to come clean to her.
“I know you don’t pay any attention to it. Trust me, I know,” he says with a glance in my direction. “Anyway, let’s talk about our plans for tonight. Do you want to head to Aces when we’re done here and stay in the City with one of us, or do you plan on spending the night catching up wi
th Mom and Dad?”
“Let me see if Mom has anything planned. I feel bad just getting home, then heading to the City.”
“You know Mom. She won’t care,” Christian says.
“Mom, do you mind if I head to the City with the boys tonight? They want to head to Aces to hang out with everyone.” She bats her eyes in her mom’s direction.
“Don’t be silly, sweetheart. Go spend time with the girls. You haven’t seen them in months. How about I pick you up on Monday morning? We can go to the spa and get a mani and pedi before you have to start work next week.”
Camryn nods her head. “Okay, that sounds good. After dinner, I’ll grab some things and throw them in an overnight bag. What is on the agenda for tomorrow? I need to know what kind of clothes to pack.”
Jamie replies, “Whenever we get up, we can head to the gym, or for a run in Central Park. Whatever you want to do. I figured, we’d spend the day together, grab a show and dinner or something,”
“I’d like that. I’ve been dying to see Lion King, and who better to take me than you.”
“Anything for you, Tink. After all, I’ve never been able to deny you anything before so no sense starting now.” I grin as I say this, hoping she reads into my unspoken innuendo.
“Awe, Jamie, you’re such a sweet talker,” Camryn says as she pats my cheeks with her warm hands.
I’m looking forward to spending as much time as possible with Camryn while she’s home. I may never get this opportunity again to tell her how I feel and I’m really hoping that we stop denying ourselves of what we both know is happening between us.
JAMIE
ONCE WE FINISH dinner, we say our goodbyes and Cami’s father, Mark, drops us off in the City. We had plenty of time to get ready before the girls were meeting us at Aces at ten o’clock. I texted Lincoln to see what club he would be at tonight. Aces is located in Chelsea, not too far from where Lincoln’s apartment is. It’s a laid-back bar with old rock and roll nostalgia on the walls, a stage, and a few pool tables. Aces isn’t anything elaborate, just a great place to hang out, see some bands play, and eat some surprisingly tasty bar food. Christian and I spend almost every weekend here. He is always scoping for possible new clients, and my band, Side Effects, plays there every other Friday night.
Unspoken Words (Unspoken #1) Page 3
