Ignite Me: Shards of Glass, Part One

by Mills, L. C.

  I glanced sideways and saw him smile at me and pull out his phone.

  My phone flashed with a text and I grinned as I opened it up.

  It's gonna be a long night! I apologize if she says anything inappropriate! X CB.

  I didn’t want her to guess he was texting me so I didn’t reply I just grinned at him in the darkness of the SUV, his hand squeezed mine.

  Jones pulled the SUV up at the side of the road and Cameron lent over to speak to him. “If all goes to plan then pick us up at around 11.15pm! You know the place!”

  Jones nodded. “Sure thing, have a good night!” He grinned.

  Cameron chuckled “I am sure we will do!” He undid his seatbelt and pushed open the door and slipped out closing it behind him.

  I had gotten used to him wanting to open my door so I just undid my seatbelt and waited after a few seconds my door opened and I was greeted with a grin. “You are getting used to my ways!” He raised a brow as I hopped down. I shouldered my bag and his hand slipped over my lower back, he didn't open his sister's door instead we stood to one side as she got out.

  “Jones said I won't need my backpack! So I've just got my jacket and purse!” She shut the door and studied us. “This is so weird!”

  Cameron sighed. “I really don't think it is that weird to you! Come along, we've got a table booked!” He led us from the pavement to the door and held it open for me and Georgia to pass him.

  I grinned. “Why thank you kind sir!” I winked at him as I passed him.

  The restaurant was quite normal inside and I felt more relaxed here, it was quite busy and had a good vibe about it. Cameron joined us as we waited to be seated. A waitress not much older than myself walked over, all blonde hair and too much red lipstick.

  “Hello, have you booked a table?!” She didn't even glance at me or Georgia she was only interested in Cameron, who of course seemed oblivious to her cow eyes.

  “Yes, we have booked! Under the name of Ballard! Table for three!” His hand slipped over my lower back again, as if he was picking up what I was thinking.

  She battered over done eyelashes at him. “Of course, the table is ready, if you'd like to follow me!” She gave him a grin and turned around and started to walk away in the direction of the table.

  I shook my head as we followed her.

  She led us to a nice quiet table booth and placed three menus down, I'll be your waitress for tonight, and my name is Rita. If you need anything, just shout!” She winked at Cameron.

  Both Georgia and I breathed out of our noses in unison, she'd picked it up too.

  Oh wow, she's really after a good tip, because she sure as hell won't be getting anything else!

  Cameron turned to me and indicted for me to sit down. “Darling, if you sit next to me, then Georgia can talk to us across the table.” He grinned at me as he moved so I could slide in.

  As I slid along the seat I deliberately brushed him with my backside.

  “I'll leave you to look at the menus.” She walked off with a sour look on her face, leaving us to look at the menus.

  Ha, yeah, he’s mine! Keep walking!

  Cameron slid his jacket off as he sat down and Georgia sat down opposite. “Well, she was thirsty for a tip!” She shook her head.

  I laughed. “Yeah, just a little!” I grinned.

  Cameron placed his right hand over my left knee under the table. “So what are we all having?! I quite fancy the Angus steak burger!” He glanced down at the menu.

  “Hmm, I dunno, I'm starving even though we ate not lot long ago! Always hungry!” I pulled a face as I studied the menu. They had so much to choose from I didn't know what to have.

  “A bagel is hardly a meal! Not after that workout!” His fingers brushed up my leg, tantalizingly close to my sensitive spot.

  I took a steadying breath. “Oh well, yes, very good workout! Was very good for the core!” I tried not to laugh.

  “Well, if you say so darling!” He pointed to a burger on my menu. “That one is good, I've had that one before and I can recommend it!”

  I glanced at the menu. “Oh, that sounds good, I'll have that then!” It was a beef burger with sweat cured bacon topping, it made my mouth water just thinking about it. “Might even get the sweet potato fries too! Oh wow they do onions rings!” I was pretty much drawling over the varied menu. “Does anyone wanna share the onion rings?! Cause they always give you like 10!” I glanced up to see Georgia stare at me open mouthed.

  “You actually eat all that?! But you’re so slim!”

  I glanced sideways at Cameron he wasn't giving anything away. I was clearly left to deal with this alone. “Um, well yeah! I like food! I work out a lot too! Also, I have nervous energy so I guess that helps! It's not like I eat this kinda stuff every day!” I smiled.

  Cameron chuckled. “See, and you thought all celebrities females half-starved themselves! What are you having?!”

  The waitress with the cow eyes came back over and loitered. “Can I get any drinks while you look at the menus?!” She asked the whole table at large.

  “Three cokes please!” Cameron ordered for us all without even asking. I raised a brow as I looked at the menu. I didn't mind that he'd assumed we all wanted the same thing it was more that he hadn't asked. I’d rather of had diet but I knew he liked his sister to have normal things so I put up with the non-diet soda.

  “Okay, three cokes and are you ready to order?! Or would you like extra time?!” She sounded like she wanted to know now, they never liked giving you extra time, and it meant the table was occupied for too long.

  “I think we are ready, I'll have the steak burger, with sweet potato fries, my girlfriend will have the quarter pounder with cured bacon and sweet potato fries and can we have onion rings to share?! Georgia what do you want to eat?!” He glanced up.

  I melted at being referred to as his girlfriend and Georgia was staring at him in shock, it really was all new to her.

  “Uh oh, just a cheeseburger and normal fries, thanks.” She smiled.

  The waitress made herself busy jotting down the orders and shot me a dirty look as I smiled sweetly at her. “If that's all I'll be off to get these sorted for you.” She didn't as much as look at Cameron again.

  “That will be all!” Cameron turned his head away. “Evan, why don't you tell Georgie about your handmade patches and badges? I'm sure you two have a lot in common! I'm just gonna go make a phone call! I will be right back!” He leant over and kissed my cheek and then got up before I could even protest at being left alone with his sister.

  There was an awkward silence for a few seconds before my brain kicked in. “So Cameron was saying that you have a vast collection of band merch! You got any shirts for the support band?!” I grinned.

  She was silent for a while, and I panicked, maybe she didn't like to say, or maybe she thought I was boasting.

  “Yeah, my mother is always moaning at me for having a personality! I love music, it kinda saved me a few times! I wish I had some of their merch but I just couldn't find any but I'm totes getting some tonight!” She grinned widely.

  I smiled at the waiter who bought our drinks over, his eyes went wide as he saw me. “Hi! Sorry to pester you, but could I get a photo with you?!” He grinned widely at me.

  This was normal for me, I didn't bat an eyelid, I smiled at Georgia.

  “Uh, sure! Just very quickly though, I don't wanna offend my friend!” I slipped out of my seat and stood up.

  “I can take the photo if you like! I'm her boyfriend’s sister!” She sprung up from her seat and held her hand out for his phone. “I'm a whiz at all types of photos!” She grinned excitedly.

  “Thank you, names Tom by the way and thanks for taking the photo!” He grinned at her and she blushed.

  I did my normal pose, not to pouty not too moody and hoped for the best. Georgia took a couple photos for him and then handed the phone back.

  “Thanks again Evan, so much! Li
terally made my day!” He grinned and walked away looking at his phone as we sat back down. I stirred my coke with my straw. “Sorry about that! I hate saying no, makes me feel horrible! However, sometimes you just have to!”

  She grinned. “It's so cool and he was kinda cute!” She sipped her drink and lent over the table. “So have you and Cam had sex yet?! Was he a virgin cause he's never had a girlfriend before?”

  I coughed on my mouthful of drink.

  Oh my god. As if she just asked me that! A virgin he was not! His family clearly couldn’t have known about his kinky sex partners! The drink caught at the back of my throat and I couldn't stop coughing.

  A hand patted my back firmly. “Just try and breathe.” Cameron had come back, and in the nick of time too.

  I took a few deep breaths and found the coughing stopped. “Oh wow.” I used one of the napkins to dry my face and hand.

  “What happened?!” His voice was laced with suspicion.

  I glanced at Georgia, her face had gone pale.

  “It's okay, I was just taking a drink when it went down the wrong hole!” I gave him a bright smile.

  “Ah, I see!” He raised a brow at me, he knew it wasn't the truth, but he wasn't going to push it.

  “Our drinks arrived, while you were outside and the guy was kinda cute and he asked Evan for a photo! I took it, I volunteered myself!” She smiled proudly.

  I cringed mentally, why did she have to go and tell him for?! I knew he wouldn't like it.

  He turned his head towards me and raised an eyebrow. “Really! Hmm, I missed all the fun!” His hand slipped under the table and over my leg again, his fingers slipping through the frayed areas of my jeans, pressing them into the soft skin of my thigh, his hands were cold from being outside and I sucked a breath in, suppressing a yelp, it felt good in an odd sort of way. This way his not so subtle way of reminding me I was his, not that I needed reminding. So I placed my hand over his, warming his hand up.

  “Yeah, he was sweet, if you go for teenagers! I didn't see the harm! I was thinking I might even ask Georgia to take a photo of us! Beats a selfie!” I grinned.

  His face split into a smile. “I think that's a good idea!” He pulled his phone from his pocket and unlocked it bringing up the camera app and handing it over to his sister.

  “I'll direct you!” She grinned at us both as I snuggled up to Cameron and hung my left arm around his neck and smiled.

  Georgia was quick with the camera and her instructions. “Now if you kiss her on the cheek, it’ll be really cute!”

  Cameron turned his head and kissed my cheek, he played along for a few photos.

  “That's enough now! The food will be here soon!” He didn't look away from me, instead he did something I hadn't expected, he placed both his hands either side of my face, holding my head in position and kissed me hard on the mouth. Possessing me, his fingers splayed out behind my ears.

  I melted into him. He had this way of making me come undone. I let a shaky breath go as he pulled away. “Only I get to do that!” His voice was barely above a whisper, as his lips brushed my ear as held his hand out for his phone.

  I blushed slightly, I couldn't even say anything with Georgia, starring at us both. “You just snogged the face off her in front of me! I'm kinda grossed out!” She handed him his phone. “But I still took photos! You should totally upload those and credit me for them!”

  Cameron laughed. “Well, I don't care if you’re grossed out! If I wish to kiss the girl I love I shall!” His hand hung around my shoulder, his thumb stroking my neck.

  I stared at him open mouthed. This was a stark contrast to a few moments ago. I was confused, he was normally so private about this kinda thing that it took me by surprise that he had been so open by kissing me like that, it wasn't just cause he was marking his territory or was it?! Maybe he felt threatened by the men that asked me for photos. I didn't know, but I would talk to him about it when I had the chance. I studied him as he looked at the photos. I wasn't going to sour the mood right now, though, it could wait.

  “No complaints from me.” I was enjoying this carefree Cameron. I hoped he stayed for a while.

  He smiled lopsidedly as he studied the photos. “I'll send these to you when we get in.” He slipped the phone back into his pocket and took hold of my hand, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles.

  I smiled at him. “I'll look forward to that! Right after you prove me wrong about the cake!” I winked at him.

  He arched his eyebrows at me. “The challenge is well and truly on Watson!” He winked at me, as a smirk played across his lips.

  I laughed. “Well, Mr. Ballard I shall look forward to assisting you in finding out the truth!” I was flirting with him and I liked it.

  “Oh my god, you know that this is kinda odd! I mean cake that's like code right?! Also, it's kinda making me feel sick! All this flirting!” She rolled her eyes.

  I laughed. “Ah, but is it code?! Also I got something for you that might make things a little sweeter!” I pulled my bag over to my lap and dug out the band shirt.

  “One year I was their merch girl! So I kinda have loads of stuff! I figured you'd like this, it's yours to keep!” I handed her the shirt.

  Her eyes went wide and her face dropped. “Fucking hell! Thank you so much!” She grinned from ear to ear as she studied the shirt.

  “Language please!” Cameron cut over us both. He didn't sound too pleased she'd sworn.

  “Look at that later! Our food is on its way over!”

  She dropped her gaze. “Sorry, I got carried away!” She did what he said and placed the shirt down next to her.

  The food was placed down and then we were left alone again. “I see miss too much lipstick had stopped flirting with you now! Women have a habit of that, good job I'm not the jealous type!” I snuck one of his fries off his plate and bit it casually as I could.

  He looked at me confused. “I don't go for cheap, or over made up types, so her flirting with me was pointless! I go for natural, strong spirited, beautiful and mildly infuriating types!” He stole a fry back from my plate and grinned.

  So maybe he wasn’t oblivious to how woman looked at him after all.

  “Oh well, I'm glad to hear this!” I shook my head and picked up the steak knife and set about cutting my burger in half so I could manage to eat it. It was huge.

  “Let me do that... Please.” He sounded horrified as if I'd do myself an injury.

  “No, I am capable of chopping this in half!” I held it still with one hand started to cut with the other.

  “As I can see!”

  He made himself busy cutting his own in half, whereas Georgia just picked hers up and took a huge bite.

  “Just shove it in! Much easier!” She shrugged as she took another bite.

  “Trust me, it'll end up down my front if I do that! I'm uncoordinated!” I picked up half of my burger and as if to prove a point half of the salad fell out. I made myself busy shoving it back in the bun and started to eat.

  It was all quiet while the three of us made short work of the burgers. I glanced sideways at Cameron every now and again, the second time I glanced his way he smirked. I bit my lip as I made eye contact. I didn't look away, I didn't see the point, and he was my boyfriend if I wanted to look at him I would.

  “Enjoying the food?!” He addressed the table at large but was looking directly at me.

  I dipped a sweet potato fry in the ketchup and grinned. “That burger was actually really good! Didn't think the UK could match the states with food, but I'm being won over!”

  He studied me, as if he was trying to work out if there was some secret code to what I'd said. “Well, I'm glad, we, as a nation have a lot of offer!” His face was impassive.

  I breathed in. “Well, so far I've only seen London, but yanno, I will explore more one day!” I winked at him and went back to my food.

  “I will take you to explore! Knowing your luck, if I wasn't there
to look after you, you'd end up breaking your neck!” He tutted.

  “Such little faith! You trip over one time!” I laughed.

  He scoffed. “Once?! Are you kidding me?! You gave me heart palpitations Evan!”

  I rolled my eyes. “To be fair, that was a bad day for my coordination! I was somewhat overwhelmed!” It was true, I had been.

  “Yes, I think you were! And what you lack in poor eye hand coordination you make up for in abundance in other areas!” He smirked.

  I blushed, thinking back to earlier on that day. I could still hear his door slamming in its frame now.

  “So do I get to see where you live when we drop you off after the gig?! I bet your Apartment is über cool!” Georgia was back to speaking fast again, I could barely keep up with what she was saying as she picked up the napkin and wiped her face with it.

  I wasn't sure how to tell her I would be staying at her brothers the same as her.

  “Oh, uh well, I dunno about it being cool, but its okay, I guess, I've done my best with it, does have epic views of Tower Bridge!” I hedged around the whole staying over thing.

  She frowned. “Oh, so is it a penthouse or something cause my Mother thinks you live in some tiny apartment, yanno cause your young. Isn't Tower Bridge area like prime property or something?!” She shrugged.

  I sat open mouthed, I was actually shocked her mother would think I lived in some dirty little apartment living off pizza or something! Was she really that removed from reality that she didn't know what I did?! Though if I was honest with myself, it wasn't all that surprising considering she thought I was after her son’s money! I sighed.

  “Yes, it's a penthouse! I earn quite a lot of money actually, you can see it Saturday if Cameron doesn't mind!” I was short with her, because I wanted to add something acid like 'you can tell your mother that!' But instead I sat back suddenly my appetite had gone, I was kinda too annoyed to eat.

  Cameron sighed loudly. “When will you learn to not repeat what you overhear? It's actually rude to ask what you just did! Mother is quite clearly getting the wrong end of the stick, and Evan will be staying over at mine as you will be tonight, you can see her apartment Saturday morning if Evan still wants to show it to you! That said, you will not run back home and gossip about where it is to anyone!” He was cutting with her, but I wondered how he knew she had overheard it rather than having been involved in the conversation, she was home from school for the summer after all. I was intrigued by it all.