Collecting Secrets

by PE Kavanagh

  Camille wanted something to take his mind from the minutes ticking by. “We’re a pretty unusual couple, don’t you think?”

  “By design, love. I’m not interested in what’s normal or expected or regular. And I love that you’ve been with me every step of the way. Even when we were just friends, we broke all the rules.”

  “I’m not sure any platonic friends ever talked about sex as much as we did.”

  “But look at how well that’s worked out.” He gave her a wink and a smile.

  “Even though you do drive me crazy when you Dr. King me, I love how straight and open we are. I mean, for goodness sake, you are the only person who knows all the details of my losing my virginity, and wasn’t there.”

  “I love that about us, too, Cam.”

  “Did you ever wish it was you?”

  He glanced over at her. “Your first time, you mean?”

  “Yes.”

  “Hmmmm… That’s a tricky question.”

  “How so?”

  “I wanted it to be wonderful for you, because I cared so much about you. But I don’t know that I necessarily wanted to do the deed myself. I know nobody cares about that stuff anymore, but I think it’s a big deal. Especially for a woman. It’s hard not to get emotionally tangled.”

  “So, that’s a no then?”

  “It’s not a no. Yes, I was attracted to you. I wanted you. But it wasn’t worth the consequence.”

  “Which was?”

  “I don’t think we could have created the relationship we did if we had started sleeping together back then. And that’s not a price I’d be willing to pay, no matter how delightful your sweet little cherry must have been.” He took her hand. “And I much prefer Camille the insatiable sex goddess to Camille the virgin.”

  Chapter 9

  One year earlier

  Jackson sat on the edge of the bed and checked his watch one more time. This was ridiculous. “Babe, we really have to go.”

  The gorgeous woman standing in front of the full-length mirror moved her hair from her left shoulder to her right shoulder, followed by a tilt of her head and a pucker.

  “Okay, okay.” Left. Right. Tilt. Pucker.

  “Hon, this isn’t a Hollywood party. You can’t just show up whenever you want. Please, we need to go.”

  She turned around with her hands on her tiny waist. “Jackson King, this is an important night. The first time I’m meeting your family and friends. Please don’t rush me. I need to look perfect.”

  “But you always look perfect.” That wasn’t a lie.

  Left. Right. Tilt. Pucker.

  He stood up. “Listen, it’s going to be very awkward when we walk in there and everyone else is halfway through dinner. Or worse, starving because they’ve had to wait for us.”

  She sighed. “Fine.”

  He followed her ass as she strutted out of the room. It had been in his hands mere moments before. Nothing wrong with that ass, but more exciting in that instant was its movement toward the door.

  He drove a bit too fast and a bit too aggressively, but arrived in front of the house with the realization that the last place he wanted to be was inside. He dropped his forehead onto the cool leather of the steering wheel.

  “Are you okay, Jackie? Are you having one of your headaches again?”

  That word snapped him back up. Again. There’d been too many headaches recently. He could rationalize it was all those hours in front of the computer finishing up his latest book. But he knew the truth. The charade had become nearly unbearable. After too many years, he was still having to conceal the biggest lie of his life and his body was rebelling.

  “Come on sweetie, let’s go inside. You can get some water and take a pain pill.”

  He turned his head toward the stunning blonde in his passenger seat, giving him that wide-eyed stare that had landed her on stacks of magazine covers. She really was gorgeous.

  He stepped out of the car and opened her door. She took his arm and they walked down the garden path to the small, sweet house.

  It was time to let go of Camille. Jenna had said this new boyfriend was getting serious. Might even be the one. Despite how little he wanted to witness that with his own eyes, it might be the cure he needed. So he could finally let go of the impossible fantasy.

  The door swung open as he raised his knuckles to knock. And there she was, beaming at him with the face that was… everything.

  “You guys made it!” She jumped into his arms for a quick hug, then extended her arm. “You must be Katrina. Hi, I’m Camille.”

  * * *

  Dinner was perfect. Jenna and her new guy Edward, Jackson and Katrina, and Camille and Charlie crowded around her slightly-too-small table. But it didn’t matter. Camille had cooked a brilliant meal and the house looked beautiful. The only problem was that Jackson’s head throbbed all through the meal. He refused to take anything. It was going to be a constant reminder of the ridiculous situation he’d created. And the need for change.

  They all convened to the living room after dessert. Jackson was thankful to get up from the table, hopefully far enough away from the others that he didn’t have to keep watching Charlie stare at Katrina. That wasn’t the only thing that rubbed him the wrong way about that guy, either. Something a little too… entitled… about him. Perhaps the staring was to be expected, though. Katrina’s life’s work was to make people look at her. And she was very good at it.

  Personally, he couldn’t take his eyes off Camille. This new level of domesticity was a shock for him to witness. But it seemed to suit her. She looked happy. Despite his early impressions, maybe this was the guy who would do right by her. Maybe they’d get married and live long, happy lives together. He escaped to the kitchen to take a breath, bolts of pain pummeling his forehead. He dropped his head into his palm.

  “Hey, Jackson, are you alright? Another one of those headaches?”

  The sound of her voice was enough to ease the tension. The fingers on the back of his neck felt like magic.

  He lifted his head to give her a grateful smile. “Yeah. It’s okay.”

  She gave him a look that indicated she knew it wasn’t. “Want to lay down or something?”

  With you. “No.” He looked around the room. “Dinner was amazing, fry. Your new nickname might have to be Martha. As in Stewart.”

  She gave him a playful slap on the arm. “Yes, I know who Martha Stewart is, dummy. And please no more nicknames.”

  “So, it was nice to finally meet Charlie. He seems like a good guy.” What was one more lie?

  “Yeah… he’s been… great. This whole thing was his idea, actually. He was getting mad that I hadn’t introduced him to all the people I kept talking about.”

  Interesting. “Why do you think that is?”

  She squinted at him. “Don’t go doctor king-ing me right now. No deep psychological meaning under there. I just wanted to make sure the relationship was stable enough before I brought him in.”

  “Is it?”

  She furrowed her brow.

  “Stable enough?” he clarified.

  “He’s been using the L-word a lot lately. Thankfully, he hasn’t been pressuring me to use it.”

  She hadn’t actually answered his question. A smile began to replace Jackson’s previously pained expression. “Why is that?”

  “Ughhhh, Jackson, can you please stop with the analysis? You know me. I’m not an I-love-you right off the bat kind of girl. It doesn’t mean I don’t. It just means that I’m not ready to say it.”

  His smile broke into a wide grin. “That’s okay, Cam. Sometimes we can’t help who we love. Or who we don’t.”

  She frowned at him. “You’re doing that thing I hate. I’m going to bring out another bottle of champagne. Can you try being a little less you while I’m gone?” She laughed as she walked away.

  Jackson strutted back out into the gathering with renewed energy, and sat next to Charlie, who was making his way over to Katrina, one inch at a time. Jacks
on surprised him with a vigorous slap on the back.

  “Hey, there, Charlie! What’s up, man?”

  Charlie coughed and took a moment to wipe the shocked expression off his face. “Nothing much, Jackson. How about you?”

  Jackson sat up taller. He was going to win this pissing match. “Oh, just happy to be here with all my favorite people. And glad I finally got to meet you. We were starting to think Cam had made you up.”

  The shift in Charlie’s body language signaled that the challenge had been accepted. “Oh, no worries. I’m definitely real. But Cammy and I have been really busy. Together.”

  “Good to hear. Good to hear. So, what keeps you busy? What do you do?”

  Charlie leaned back into the couch. “I run my family’s jewelry business. We’re headquartered here, but we’ve got stores all over the world.”

  “Wow, man. That’s awesome. And we know diamonds are a girl’s best friend.” He winked, which left the other man with an odd frown.

  “And you, Jackson? What do you do?”

  “Oh, I-”

  “Are you kidding? You don’t know who Jackson King is?”

  Everyone turned to Katrina, who had momentarily paused her preening to voice her indignation.

  Jackson patted her knee. “It’s okay, baby. I just wrote a few books. They’re not for everybody.”

  Charlie sat forward in his seat again. His relaxed demeanor had vanished.

  “Oh, yeah? Books? What kind of books?”

  Jackson waved his hand. “Super boring. Nothing you’d be interested in. I’d love to know more about the jewelry business, though.” He slid the sleeve of his shirt above his left wrist. “Check this out, man.”

  Charlie’s eyes popped open as he recognized the rare watch. “Wow, that’s quite a timepiece.”

  “I know, right? Best gift I’ve ever gotten. From Camille, of course.” Jackson took a sip of his drink and relaxed back into his seat. Match - won.

  “Jackson!” Jenna popped up out of her seat. “Can you give me a hand in the kitchen? I need to reach… something… on a shelf.”

  He gave Charlie a pat on the shoulder, much more gently than the first time, as he stood up and followed his sister into the kitchen.

  They proceeded past Camille, who was leaning against the sink, and out the back door onto the small patio. Jackson didn’t like the look on Cam’s face, but didn’t have time to investigate while following his sister’s brisk pace.

  “What the fuck are you up to? What you’re doing in there is nine layers of uncool. Do you hear me, Jackson?”

  “Whoa, calm down, Jen. What are you talking about?”

  She sighed in exasperation. “Don’t be an asshole. You’re trying to intimidate Charlie. It’s obvious to everyone in that room. As if you had some kind of claim over Cammy. Until you grow a set, dear brother, that’s never going to happen.”

  There were few people on the planet that Jackson loved more than his baby sister. But at that moment all her sweet, golden goodness was lost on him. He saw red.

  “How dare y-”

  “Nope. You’re not going to do your psychobabble manipulation. You have no leg to stand on here. Or have you forgotten that you are at this party with your bimbo-du-jour? What? Are you going to ask Katrina to step away while you profess your undying love to Camille? Is that your master plan?”

  It felt as if someone was inserting a railroad spike between his eyes. He reached out to a table to catch his balance.

  “Jack! What’s going on? Are you alright?”

  He slowed his breathing and focused on the slate pavers. He looked up at his sister when the intensity diminished. “I don’t want to fight with you, Jenna. I’m not sure why you’re so heated up about this - it has nothing to do with you - but I want you to know that I’ve heard your concerns.”

  “Fuck you, Jackson. Don’t dismiss this.”

  He slammed his hand down on the table. “What, exactly, do you want me to do? Hmmm? You’re the only person in that room who knows what’s going on. So would you please, just give me a goddamn break?”

  The rage that had brought a flush to her cheeks began to pass. “I’m not trying to attack you, Jackson. I’m just frustrated. With both of you. It should just be easy.”

  “I’m not sure things like this are ever easy, sweetheart.”

  “Attacking her new boyfriend is not the way to her heart. Doctor Jackson King is much smarter than that.” She touched his temple. “Sorry you’re not feeling well. Can I do anything?”

  “No. I have to take care of this situation myself.”

  Jenna wrapped herself around her big brother. He kissed the top of her head, with a growing gratitude for the reality check she’d just given him. The back door swung open, startling both of them out of their lingering hug.

  “Hey, you guys! What’s going on out here? Party’s still going on inside.”

  Camille’s words floated over him as he watched her wipe her hand on her skirt, then tuck a stray hair behind her ear. Her smile brightened the encroaching darkness of the night.

  “Sure, fry. We’ll be right in. Love you.”

  “Love you too, Jackson.”

  His sister put her palm on his chest and shook her head.

  * * *

  Camille stepped back into the living room. Her dinner party had gone terribly wrong. Both Charlie and Edward had given up trying to pretend not to blatantly stare at Katrina, who hardly looked up from her phone. Jenna and Jack were outside doing God knows what. She hoped they weren’t fighting, but they both looked upset.

  She cleared her throat to confirm her presence in the room. Everyone jumped.

  Charlie smiled awkwardly. “Hey, babe. Everything alright?”

  “Yes. Sorry I took so long in the kitchen. Anybody need anything?”

  No one answered. Large, warm hands wrapped around her waist, causing her own silent shock.

  “Why don’t we play a game?” said Jackson from behind her, perching his chin on her shoulder.

  Eyes opened wide, mouths stayed closed.

  Jenna entered the room. “That’s a great idea!”

  Camille really wanted Jackson to move his hands and body off her. She took a big step forward. “What should we play?”

  “How about Truth or Dare?” Charlie finally spoke up, but what came out of his mouth was certainly suboptimal.

  Katrina made a face as if she’d smelled something bad. “Isn’t that a bit juvenile?”

  “Oh, come on, Kat. It’ll be fun. And a great way to get to know each other.” At Jackson’s comment, Katrina batted her voluminous eyelashes and smiled.

  Jackson picked up his glass of water from the coffee table. “I think we should do teams. Couples. No actual couples or siblings. Which leaves me with… Camille.”

  Her eyes flitted between Jackson, who grinned, and Charlie, who glowered.

  “I pick Katrina.” Edward spoke up.

  “I guess it’s you and me, Charlie.” Even Jenna couldn’t muster excitement for that.

  “Uh… how do you play Truth or Dare with teams?”

  “Good question, Charlie. Let me explain.”

  Something about the way Jackson spoke to Charlie made Camille’s stomach turn. She wished she knew what was going on with him. Did he have something against her new boyfriend? Is that what he and Jenna were arguing about?

  It wasn’t like Jackson to be so rude. Or passive aggressive. Camille swore under her breath, wondering how her closest friends had turned her lovely dinner party into an awkward collection of pained expressions. “Why don’t I get a few more bottles first?”

  “I’ll help you!” Jenna moved faster than Camille had ever seen and led them both into the kitchen. She went straight to the fridge and pulled out two more bottles of champagne.

  “Hey, Jen, what’s going on with everyone? Especially Jackson?”

  Jenna didn’t stop unwrapping the foil covering the cork. “Nothing to worry about, Cam.”

  “Hmm… Are you
guys fighting?”

  Jenna spun around to face her friend. “No, hon, we’re not fighting. He’s just… you know… he’s so protective of you. It’s new for him to see you this… close… to someone. Please don’t worry about it. Your party is perfection. Seriously.” She handed Camille a glass of champagne filled to the brim. “Nothing that a bit of bubbly can’t fix.”

  Awkward silence greeted the two women as they returned. Camille swallowed a pervasive sense of defeat.

  Jackson accepted his glass from Jenna. “Great. So here’s how it works. One partner will choose truth or dare and the other will provide the question or situation. If the truth isn’t told, or the dare isn’t completed, another couple has the chance to steal, using the same questions asked. So, we’ve got six rounds. The couple with the most points wins. Got it?”

  Katrina opened her mouth, then snapped it shut. She emptied her glass.

  Jackson continued. “I think it should be ladies first. Agreed?”

  Silence.

  “Okay, I’ll go first. And I choose dare.” Thank God for Jenna. Always game.

  Charlie looked at her as if she had grown an additional nose or breast. He stared, unspeaking.

  “Hey, Charlie, there’s an app that has great Truth or Dare questions if you can’t think of any.” Jenna tried to encourage him with a forced smile. “Maybe we should all take a look.”

  Four hands simultaneously reached for four phones. Camille didn’t shift her attention from Jackson. “You already know what you’re going to ask?”

  “I do. And you?”

  “I’ll wing it.”

  His laugh brought all the scattered attention back to him. And to them. There wasn’t enough champagne to make that feeling of dread go away. This was a bad idea.

  Charlie rubbed his hands together. “I’m ready now. I’ve got a dare for you, Jenna.”

  She sat forward in her seat. “Go ahead.”

  “I dare you to kiss Camille. On the mouth.”

  Jenna’s lip curled in the clearest display of disdain Camille had ever seen on her sweet face. She might have even rolled her eyes. “Oh, I see. We’re playing that kind of game. Okay.”