by Lyssa Layne
I smile and lean up, kissing his cheek. “Thank you,” I whisper and I know that he’s speaking the truth.
Chapter 20
Camila
“The view is amazing! Evan, you can see the stadium from here.” It’s the first time I’ve been in his new penthouse apartment with him. My schedule has been insane, but every opportunity he has to fly out to California, he has. Luckily, this week’s work trip includes checking on my clients in Chicago and scouting a few new players at University of Illinois.
He slides his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin on my shoulder. “I know, whoever bought this place has excellent taste.”
I laugh as he hasn’t changed a thing since I first decorated it, before he even knew he was moving here. My hand slides up his neck and over his scruffy beard that he refuses to shave due to superstitious reasons. “I did add one piece of decor,” he mumbles around my ear in his mouth.
I close my eyes, enjoying the tiny sensations his tongue sends through my body when it flicks my ear. “Mmm, you did? What’s that?”
Evan takes my hand in his and leads us to his bedroom. A smile toys on my lips as I imagine this is just a ploy to get me in bed, not that he needs one. I take a seat on the king size forest green bedspread and lean back as I kick off my heels. Evan continues to the nightstand and hands me two frames.
I laugh, completely surprised that he wasn’t kidding. “Babe! This picture is horrible.” It’s a selfie he took of us after our surfing lesson, my hair is wet and matted down. I look like a raccoon from my running mascara, but we’re both sporting the biggest grins. I don’t know about him, but I think that was the moment I knew I wanted more with him.
He takes it from me, inspecting the picture himself and shrugs. “I love it. It’s you, naturally and the first time I actually saw your real smile.”
I take his hands, kissing his knuckles. Looking at the other picture, I narrow my eyebrows. “Where did you get this one?”
“From Blake’s fridge. You have no idea how many times I stared at that, wondering if I’d ever get to know that woman in the picture.” Evan takes it from me and sets it back on the nightstand. He crawls on top of me, forcing me back on the bed. “Ever since Super Bowl weekend, I wanted you and now you’re mine, all mine.” He almost growls that last part and my stomach flutters as he does.
“Yes, I am. Now, what are you going to do with me…?”
Evan looks up, staring into my eyes and I wiggle beneath him in anticipation as he runs his fingers down both of my arms. Our fingers linked together, he rubs himself against me and I close my eyes, moaning.
“Mmm, Cami. How bad do you want me?”
I nod, thrusting my hips into his. “Bad. I need you, Evan,” I whisper.
There’s one small click and then another. When I open my eyes, Evan’s got a mischievous grin on his face and I’m handcuffed to his headboard. Evan’s eyes twinkle and I lean up to kiss him.
“You’ve just been waiting to use these ever since you found them in my guestroom, haven’t you?”
With that gleam in his eyes, Evan nods and pulls off his shirt. “Tonight you’re mine, Camila. No distractions, just me having my way with you, doing whatever I want.”
His hands move to the zipper of my jeans and I lift up my hips. “Sounds like the perfect night.” And with that, Evan peels off my pants and the fun begins.
Evan
It’s three in the morning and I’m finally drifting off to sleep. I can’t believe we spent almost six hours in the bedroom doing absolutely nothing other than teasing, tempting, and tickling each other. Camila taught me how to bring her to the verge then slowly let her down without orgasming. Then she took her turn doing the same to me. I wasn’t keen on the idea, figuring I’d end up with a massive case of blue balls at the end of the night. But that definitely wasn’t the case. No, instead, it led up to an unbelievable bout of lovemaking followed by the most mind-blowing orgasm I’ve ever experienced.
I tighten my arm around her once more, not quite asleep and wanting to make sure it wasn’t a dream. I’m already head over heels about this woman and while I’ve never been in love before, I think this might be what it feels like. My eyes can barely stay open as I brush my lips across her bare shoulders, but I don’t want to miss a single moment when she’s with me, even if she is asleep. My fingers leisurely glide across her body, learning and memorizing every inch.
I’m just about to give in to the Sandman when someone pounds on my door and I hear yelling on the other side. Quickly, I jump up, ready to defend whoever it may be. I pull on a pair of boxers, take one last glance at Cami, and then walk to the foyer. Taking a look through the peephole, I see my brother on the side.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I ask, opening the door wide and he stumbles in.
“Aw, don’t be so excited to see me, little bro,” Blake says, slurring his words. Great, another night taking care of one of my drunk family members. I push him toward the sofa and he plops down, falling back on the cushions.
He takes in the apartment, mumbling about how he likes it, betting Camila decorated it, and a bunch of other jibberish I can’t understand. I go to the kitchen and fix him a tall glass of ice water. When I bring it back to the living room, he’s staring over the city.
“Guess Chicago hasn’t been that bad, has it?” Blake comments, taking a drink from the glass I handed him.
I shrug and take a seat behind him on the audiman. “I guess not. What are you doing in town?”
Blake stares out the window for the longest time before he answers. “Getting my heart broke.”
I sit up, wondering what he’s talking about, but judging from his body language, he’s not going to say anymore. Blake sets the water on the coffee table. “Mind if I crash here tonight?”
Well, yeah, I kind of do. I typically only get to see Camila every couple weeks and she’s finally in Chicago so I really don’t want to share her with Blake. But he’s my brother so of course I’m not going to turn him away.
“Yeah, that’s fine.”
“Cool.” He lies back down on the couch. “I’ll just stay here if that’s alright.”
“Fine by me,” I say, standing up and tossing him a blanket from the closet. “Camila’s here so keep it down if you watch T.V.”
Blake sits back up. “So you two are for real?”
“Not sure what you mean by that, but yeah, we’re really together.” The irritation in my voice is evident and Blake grins at it, only pissing me off more.
“Look, bro, I’m happy for you, just shocked that’s all.”
I ball up my fists. “Why’s that? You didn’t think I could get a girl like her?”
Blake laughs, shaking his head. “No, man. I’m just surprised she broke her rule and fell for a Purser again.”
“Again?” I question, my pulse beating in my ears.
“Yeah. She not tell you about us?” Blake smirks and I want to punch the smile off his face.
“Um, no, neither of you did. You both vehemently denied you’re anything more than friends.”
Blake scoffs. “Yeah, now, little brother. How could you not think we haven’t slept together?”
In one movement, I’m standing over Blake, pulling him up by his shirt. “When?”
Blake’s cocky grin doesn’t disappear. “It was awhile ago, right when we both got in the industry. Then she created her dumbass rule and said we couldn’t see each other anymore. So we quit fucking, but our feelings never went away. She’s only using you to get back at me, Evan. Don’t kid yourself.”
I shove him toward the door. “Get the fuck out, Blake.”
He stumbles toward it, a sneer on his face and I slam the door behind him. Camila and Blake, I was right all along. I should’ve known better. Fuck, I’m an idiot! Thank god Blake just walked out that door or I would’ve had him laid out across my living room floor, beating his sorry ass. Heading back to the bedroom, I swat at the ugly vase sitting on the hall ta
ble. When the crack of the breaking pieces hit the ground, I finally start to relax.
Chapter 21
Evan
I’ve haven’t gone to sleep yet. It’s seven and I know Camila will be up any minute, but I don’t know what I’m going to say. I believe Blake, anyone who heard him would believe him. I asked Camila so many times, why wouldn’t she have just told me the truth at some point? Sitting on the couch, my leg bounces from my nerves and I continue to clench and unclench my fists. The bedroom door creaks open and I hear her footsteps coming down the hallway.
“Mmm, morning, baby,” Camila greets me, kissing my cheek before heading to the kitchen.
She moves around the kitchen without asking questions where anything is since she’s the one that set everything up. She starts the coffee brewing then takes a seat beside me on the couch. One arm wraps around my shoulder, while she nibbles on my neck and I think I might be sick.
“I missed you in bed last night,” she purrs into my ear.
As always, my body reacts to her kisses and all the blood rushes between my legs. I close my eyes, trying to concentrate on what I know and not what she’s doing. Her hands move to my shoulders and she begins rubbing them.
“Your shoulders are so tense—”
“Why didn’t you tell me you fucked Blake?” There I said it. I turn to see her reaction, or lack there of, as she falls back on the couch, not saying a word. I raise my eyebrows. “Why? I asked you more than once, why didn’t you just tell the truth?”
Camila reaches out and takes my hand. “Evan, it was a long time ago, you were probably still in high school.”
“So you’ve never slept with him since you’ve been working as a sports agent?”
“Not recently, maybe when we first started, but it was before I knew better.”
My jaw clamps tightly. “Then why not tell me?”
Her thumb rubs over the back of my hand, calming me although I don’t want it to. “It doesn’t affect our relationship, Evan. There was no need to mention it.”
“He’s my brother, Camila. I’d say sleeping with him does affect our relationship.”
She sighs and pulls my hand to her lips. “Evan, please don’t make this into something it’s not.”
“Do you love him?” I move my head so that I can watch her closely.
Her jaw opens and closes twice before she speaks. “Not like you think. You know Blake and I are good friends.”
I shake my head. “No, not like friends. Did you ever love him as more? Want him to be your boyfriend? Your lover?”
She doesn’t say no right away, she hesitates and I have my answer. Yanking my hand out of her grasp, I rise and walk across the room. When I turn around, I point to the door. “Get out,” I order.
Wearing one of my old tshirts, she jumps up and runs to me. “Come on, Evan. It’s not like that, you’re the one I want now.”
I scoff. “Yeah, now, but maybe you’ll drop Blake when his contract with you is up. Then you two can pick up where you left off. I’m not going to be your fuckin’ pawn, Camila. Get the fuck out of my place and out of my life.”
“Evan—”
“Now.”
I walk into my bedroom, throw her clothes in her suitcase and toss the bag in the hallway. Slamming the door behind me, I lock the door so Camila Lemos won’t see the damage she’s done to me.
Camila
Dressed in skinny jeans, red heels, and a burnout white t-shirt, I pull my suitcase on it’s wheels behind me. I’m fighting the tears that are threatening to fall as I walk the streets of Chicago and wait for Molly to pick up her phone.
“Hello?” a voice on the other end of the line says.
“Molly! Hey, it’s Camila. Sorry to call so early, is Blake with you?”
She pauses before answering. “We had a fight last night and he left. If I had to guess, he’s staying—”
“At the Ritz,” we both say at the same time.
“Thanks, Moll and I’m really sorry about the fight. I’m sure you two will patch it up soon.”
She scoffs. “Yeah, we’ll see. Later, Cam.”
I hang up and hail a cab, telling the driver to take me to the Ritz Carlton. Things make a little bit more sense now. Blake loves that woman more than life itself, but their relationship is a bit of a Romeo & Juliet story. Forbidden, star-crossed lovers with no hope of being together unless someone sacrifices. Anytime the two of them fight, Blake goes on a drinking binge and usually calls me trying to reminisce about our old relationship. He does this because he’s afraid he’s going to be alone forever when Molly tells him they’re done so he runs to me.
The cabbie drops me off at the hotel and I don’t even ask for his room number. Instead, I take the elevator heading to the very top of the building and his usual room. When I arrive, I bang on his door, knowing he’s probably still passed out from the night before. Sure enough, he answers the door in a pair of boxers and a crazy mess of bedhead. Without saying a word, he lets me in and walks back to bed.
I’m not in the mood to play nice. Picking up one of his tennis shoes, I hurl it at him. He jumps when I make contact and he throws back the sheets, sitting up and glaring at me. “What the hell, Cam? Leave me alone, I’m hungover and feel like shit.”
“Good because you totally screwed me over with your brother. What the hell were you thinking?”
Blake blinks his eyes while I stand with my hands on my hips. Finally, he lies back on the pillow. “I just told him the truth, he deserved to know.”
“Maybe he did, but not from you.”
Blake shrugs. “Too bad. Besides, you’re out of his league, Camila. You two will never last.”
Rage like I’ve never felt before floods my body and my blood pressure spikes. “It’s not your decision, Blake, but you’re right, we won’t last because you ruined it.”
I spin on my heel and walk back across the room. Blake scrambles out of bed, stepping in front of me and blocking my exit. “Come on, Cam. Evan will get over it, you two will be fine.”
The tears I’d been holding in are let loose and my shoulders shake as they do. “You’re wrong, Blake. You pulled him away from me and now I’m alone, all alone… again.”
Quickly, I step around him, running to the lobby and jumping in a car, debating between going back to Evan’s or the airport. In less than an hour, I’ve severed both my relationships with the Purser brothers and I’m more alone than ever.
Chapter 22
Evan
“Honey, can you bring me a Diet Coke?”
Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard and it takes everything in me to not dump the soda over her head. Instead, I hand the can to her and give the bubbly blonde her drink.
“Oh, sug, can you open it for me? I don’t want to ruin my manicure.”
Gritting my teeth, I nod. “Of course, Jamie.”
I pop the tab and hand it to her one more time. She kisses my cheek and mumbles thanks. She’s watching some Real Housewives marathon so I sneak into the bedroom and close the door. I reach in the nightstand and pull out the framed picture of Camila and me.
The morning she left, I decided to visit Navy Pier where I met Jamie. Her fake double Ds drew me in and after she blew me on the ferris wheel, I decided to invite her back to my place…and she hasn’t left since. That was a month ago.
Staring at the picture, the ache in my heart that’s taken up residence gets stronger. Jamie is pretty much the opposite of everything Camila. She’s needy, clingy, and the sex isn’t even that great, but I need a distraction. I refuse to get sucked into the game Camila and Blake enjoy playing. I’ve written them both off and plan on keeping it that way. Jamie’s cackle floats in from the other room and my stomach curdles.
It only takes a few minutes, but for the second time since I’ve lived in this apartment, I pack up my girlfriend’s shit and carry it to the living room.
“Sweetie?” I call in a mocking tone.
“Yeah, sug?” Jamie answers, not even loo
king at me.
“It’s time for you to leave.”
She mutes her show and stands up to face me. “What do you mean?”
“I mean get the fuck out.”
Immediately, big, fat crocodile tears appear and she gives a whole spiel about why we’re meant to be together. Luckily, it’s only a few steps to the front door. I open it for her, placing her suitcase in the hallway.
“You’re fun, but I’m not looking for anything serious.”
The tears disappear, Jamie sticks up her middle finger, and screams, “Fuck you!” as I shut the door in her face. Finally, peace and quiet.
Walking back to my room, the picture of Camila catches my eye and I sigh. Jamie might be gone, but thoughts of Camila will never cease in my mind.
Camila
I can hear Colie and Mia whispering behind me, but I don’t turn around. I lift my wine glass in their direction. “I can hear you two so stop whispering and bring more Twinkies.”
A very pregnant Colie drops onto the couch beside me while Mia refills my wine glass and sets an unopened box of Twinkies in front of me.
Mia pats my leg. “We’re worried about you, Cam. You haven’t been yourself since…”
“Since Evan found out I slept with his brother and wrote me off causing me to lose both my lover and my best friend?”
Colie lifts her shoulders up and down. “Well…yeah.”
Tearing the wrapper off a Twinkie, I laugh and take a bite before washing it down with wine. “Well, I haven’t been myself, because it really sucks.” I wipe the tear trying to get out of my eye and whisper, “I miss Evan.”
“Have you called him? Did you tell him that?” Colie interrogates.
I shake my head. “It’s no use. I tried calling, even went back to his apartment after I talked to Blake, but he won’t answer or see me.”
Mia slides her arm around my shoulder. “It’s okay, Camila. I’m sure he feels the same way, just give it time and he’ll come around.”
