Wes? When the fuck did he lose the T?
Cami’s gaze flitted between West and Tiffani, hoping he wasn’t buying the fake sympathy this woman was spewing.
West pried her out of his arms while Chief Thompson explained. “Your mother gave me a call after finding out about the slide. She called in a couple favors and guilted more than a few of our crews into clearing enough of the snow so we could get you both out of here in time for Christmas. We weren’t sure we were going to be able to pull it off, which is why no one told you ahead of time. We didn’t want to get your hopes up.”
Hopes up? No, the hope was that he’d be forced to stay with her forever in her cabin. That no one could get them out until spring and she could convince him to be with her for the rest of their lives. It was their turn at forever. That was the plan. Right?
Right?
“Tiffani here showed up at the station this morning and demanded I take her with me when I came up.” Chief Thompson continued, but it all seemed to blur together. “She tried giving you a call to let you know the crew finished this morning and we were on the way.”
To anyone else this would be a downright Christmas miracle. To Cami, it was her worst nightmare.
Fuck. If West had only answered that phone call this morning, she wouldn’t be standing here in nothing but her robe, watching his ex-wife and mother of his child run her hands up and down his naked chest. The same chest she’d been wrapped up against just moments ago.
“So, the road is clear?” There was a little too much hope in West’s voice for Cami’s liking. Did he want to leave? She didn’t get that impression when he’d been about to impale her on his cock that morning, but maybe she read the signs wrong.
Or worse, maybe he was giving her the wrong signs.
He kept shrugging Tiffani off of him, but did nothing to put her in her place. Nothing to assure Cami of her role in his life.
“Yes, sir. Looks like you’ll get to enjoy Christmas with your mama and Tiffani after all.”
West’s jaw ticked, and he nodded in response. He didn’t deny it. Didn’t correct Chief Thompson that Tiffani would not be spending the holidays with them.
This was it. He was leaving. She thought they had more time. Believed that maybe they could figure out a way to make it work.
That was before brunette Barbie showed up on her doorstep. She hadn’t even known Tiffani was still a factor in his life. A minor detail he’d left out.
Okay, it was a major detail.
Or maybe she read too much into it and West was in just as much shock as she was.
Cami tried to tamp down all of the thoughts running through her mind. Was it possible West spoke with Tiffani his entire stay? Did he know she was coming to Aspen? No. He wouldn’t have done that to her. Would he? She’d been with him the whole time, there was no possible way he could have done that without her noticing. Yet, he was still allowing her touch, doing little to dissuade her.
Ultimately, she didn’t know. She barely knew the man standing next to her. Just because he told her his story didn’t mean she meant anything to him. They had a history together. An understanding. That didn’t mean they had a future. She was foolish to believe it had.
“Thank you, Chief Thompson.” West reached out and shook the police chief’s hand. “I’m sorry my mom gave you hell, but it will be nice to see her for the holidays as planned.”
“No problem. You know that once your mom has her mind set to something, she’ll make sure it happens come hell or high water.”
“That I do.” West raked the hand Tiffani wasn’t holding through his hair.
“If you’d like, I can give you and Tiffani a ride back down the mountain,” Chief Thomas offered. “We can have a tow truck up here to get your vehicle first thing on the twenty-sixth.”
“I appreciate that, but if you could maybe take Tiffani back to the station, I’ll gather my things and have Cami give me a ride down. We have a few things to clear up.”
The hell they did. His actions with Tiffani were enough, she didn’t need him to try and mansplain them away.
Tiffani opened her mouth to complain, but Cami cut her off. “I think it would be better if you go now.”
A smug smile formed on Tiffani’s perfect lips, and she snuggled against West’s arm.
“But, Red, it’s not—”
“No, West. You should go. It was nice catching up. I’m glad we got to clear the air between us.”
His gaze hardened, and she prayed he didn’t fight her. She didn’t know if she would have the resolve to push him away again. This was how it had to be. If there needed to be a boundary set, if one of them needed to walk away, it should be her. Because even if she drove him to town, he’d still walk away from her, potentially with Tiffani. And that would be too damn much for her to handle.
“Are you sure?” He shrugged Tiffani off his arm and reached for her hand.
Cami pulled it to her chest before he could touch her. “Yes. Go have a Merry Christmas with your family.”
West paused and gave her a puzzled look. “If that’s what you want.”
She nodded, unable to speak without her emotions betraying her. Of course, it wasn’t what she wanted. But how could he not see the writing on the wall? He clearly had unfinished business with Tiffani, and she was not about to play sloppy seconds to that.
West didn’t look at her after that. He ran upstairs to gather his belongings.
Cami tugged her robe more snugly around her, trying to keep a smile on her face while they waited for West to return.
Tiffani squared up with her and plastered on a fake smile. “Thank you so much for taking care of him. I don’t know what I would have done if anything happened to him.”
Jaw clenched to the point of pain, Cami inhaled deeply. She’d much rather cuss this bitch out than play nice, but more than that, she wanted everyone out of her house so she could fall apart alone. “Of course. I’m glad he’s okay, too.”
West returned dressed in the clothes he’d been wearing when he first walked into her shop Friday afternoon. Cami took a moment to memorize every last detail as he walked toward them.
His eyes met hers, silently trying to communicate something, but she was too closed off to figure out what.
It didn’t matter. This was for the best. That’s what she’d keep telling herself.
She allowed herself to become too wrapped up in him again. It felt right. She felt like she’d always belonged with him. He said as much, too. But the snow had been cleared, soon the holidays would be over, and he’d be on a plane back to Los Angeles.
Apparently, back to Tiffani.
He paused in front of her. “I’m sorry, Red,” he whispered before walking out the door
“It’s Cami,” she snapped.
Then, he walked into the snow, sliding into the back of the SUV with her. West’s eyes found Cami’s, and she almost believed the remorse she saw within them. As much as she wished she knew what he was thinking, she didn’t think she could handle knowing. Reluctantly, he shut the door, effectively ending their whirlwind romance.
Cami kept it together until that moment. A sob wracked her, and she quickly closed the door so West wouldn’t see her fall apart again. Hiding behind the curtained window, she watched through burry tears as Weston James drove away from her for the second time.
Chapter Eleven
He’d fucked up.
Royally.
The look on Cami’s face before she’d shut the door burned into his memory. It was worse than the first time he’d left. At least then he had a good reason for leaving. This time, the only thing he’d done was break her heart.
He dragged himself into his mom’s kitchen and slid onto a barstool at the island, dropping his face in his hands. Just because he knew he needed to do something, didn’t mean he knew how to.
Tiffani ruined everything. Well, to be fair, he hadn’t exactly helped either. When Cami opened the door this morning, and Chief Thompson was there with
her, time froze along with his brain. He didn’t react like he should’ve, but his only thought was protecting Cami from his bitch of an ex-wife.
Tiffani was a loose cannon and just crazy enough to do some real damage if he’d let her stay there another minute. He hadn’t wanted her arms draped around him, but the bigger threat was setting her off. West knew what she was capable of with the number of times she’d keyed his truck, vandalized his home or stalked him in her manic attempt to win him back. Usually the violence came after he rejected her. He worried if he’d done so at Cami’s, even Sheriff Thompson wouldn’t have been able to stop the crazy bitch.
Cami was safe, that’s what mattered. Even if she hated him as a result.
West raked his hands through his hair and rubbed out the tense muscles in his neck.
What a clusterfuck.
The shitty part was it could’ve been avoided. If he’d pushed harder for the restraining order a couple months ago, maybe Tiffani wouldn’t have shown up. Unfortunately, she was just smart enough to cover her tracks and make things look like a kid in the neighborhood was the perpetrator. When it went before a judge, he didn’t have evidence to place a permanent order against her.
He’d get his order now, though.
His mom’s shrill voice startled him. “What the hell happened to your face?”
West hadn’t heard her walk into the kitchen, but she stood before him, her eyes widened in concern. She tugged his chin in her hands like she had when he was a boy.
West pulled his chin from her grasp and huffed. “Tiffani.”
His mom pursed her lips in anger. “That bitch. If I ever see her again, I’ll do ten times worse to her face.”
He pulled his mom in for a hug, as much for her comfort as his own. He loved that she always protected what was hers. “As much as I’d love to see that, she’s not worth it. And she won’t be returning to our lives any time soon.”
Pulling away, she searched his face with a cocked brow. “Did she finally get the memo that you’ve moved on.”
“No. But she did get slapped with assault charges for the nice gash she left across my face, courtesy of the ring I bought her all those years ago.”
“Well, this calls for a celebration!” She clapped her hands together and turned to move about the kitchen.
“I suppose so. Chief Thompson assured me he’d make sure the restraining order went through this time. I guess it worked out in my favor having her show up in Aspen where local law enforcement knows me.”
She gave him a knowing smile, one only a mother could perfect. “Did it work out in your favor, though?”
He knew it was her roundabout way of fishing for information about Cami. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
“But you need to.” She reached into the fridge, pulled out a beer, and slid it across the island. “That’s all you get. Now spill. What happened with Cami?”
“I’m going to need more than one of these to tell you all my secrets.” He popped the top and took a long swig. It was his favorite brand, but it didn’t satisfy him the way it usually did.
“Well, that’s all you’re getting because you can’t be drunk and drive up the mountain.”
He gave an exasperated chuckle, shaking his head. “I’m not going anywhere tonight.”
“The hell you aren’t. I don’t care how late it is. You know the rule. Don’t put off to tomorrow what you’re capable of fixing tonight.”
West hung his head in defeat. “She asked me to leave. You also taught me to respect a woman’s wishes.”
“And you’re going to listen to false wishes? Do you honestly think she wanted to watch you drive away again? And with Tiffani, no less. Please don’t let that bitch fuck up the last good thing in your life.”
“That’s not true, Mom. I still have you.” He looked up with the shit eating grin he knew his mother hated.
“Kissing my ass isn’t going to get me off yours. I won’t be here forever, West. You deserve the love of a good woman. The last time you had one was before you left Aspen.”
West winced and hung his head in defeat. He hated that his mom was right. Just like how he hated how he left things with Cami. “I know. I just. I hurt her, Mom. Again. Maybe it’s better if I stay away, at least for now. It’s not like I know for sure I’m staying in Aspen yet.”
“Does it matter? You would follow her to the ends of the earth if it made her happy. Don’t you think you should give her the same opportunity this time?”
“I hate it when you’re right.”
She gave her hands a twirl and grinned. “It’s a gift.”
His mom was right, none of the superficial things mattered. As long as he had Cami in his life, he could make anything work. She was it for him and he’d hurt her. He needed to fix it. And he knew from experience that waiting until after the holidays to confront her would only infuriate his little fawn more.
West slid his half-finished beer across the island. Placing his hands flat on the top, West stood with purpose. “Don’t wait up for me.”
“That’s my boy.” She walked around the island and patted him on the arm. “The Jeep keys are by the door.”
Walking out into the cold Aspen night, he was thankful the snow hadn’t started to fall quite yet. His heart raced when he thought of seeing Cami again. But his mom was right. She was worth it, and he’d be an idiot to make the same mistake twice, leaving her without a choice. He wouldn’t let it happen again.
Right before he closed the Jeep door, he heard a holler from the porch, “I’ll set another place for Christmas dinner.”
West shook his head and smiled. Come hell or high water, he was bringing Cami home for Christmas.
Chapter Twelve
The cabin never felt lonely before.
Until West left.
Bear huddled close to her on the couch as Cami poured her third glass of wine. Or maybe it was her fourth. They were small glasses so maybe in theory it was her second normal size glass. Fuck. She really didn’t care. She had the start of a nice buzz going, which meant it was getting the job done. That’s all that mattered.
At least the tears had stopped. She had a good sob fest after West left. Right there in the entryway, she’d slid to the ground, wrapped her arms around Bear and full on ugly cried into him. And God bless that saint of a dog, he let her. Even licked away her tears. He’d probably need a bath tomorrow after the amount of snot she’d lost into his soft coat.
The rest of the day, she’d pretended she was okay, only to start crying again each time something reminded her of West. Walking into the living room after her shower and seeing the tree, half strung with tinsel where they left it last night, nearly broke her. Bear received another snot filled hug after that cry.
Phone calls started around noon. She guessed West’s mom had given her family a heads up. First Cami’s mother called. Then her brother and sister. Even her father attempted to reach her. Each tried to give West the benefit of the doubt and to convince her to come down the mountain for Christmas Eve. Maybe even give West a chance to explain.
Why the hell would she do that? He broke her heart. Again. And on Christmas Eve of all days.
Her family was only trying to help, she knew that. Usually she would have no problem plastering on a fake smile and pretending she was okay. But not this time. Not where West was concerned. They weren’t there. They didn’t have the displeasure of seeing his hands all over her. They’d always been on team West and Cami, though.
Well, that train had left the station. He played her like a fucking fiddle. Left her standing there like a fool, choosing to go with Tiffani after getting his rocks off for the weekend with her.
Every time she thought of it, she became sick to her stomach.
Maybe if he hadn’t bared his soul to her. Told her about Shelby. Maybe then she wouldn’t hurt so much. If only it had been a one-night stand and they both understood what the stakes were. Kept it casual, no feelings, no backstory.
But they ha
dn’t.
She’d allowed him to worm his way back into her heart. Believed him when he told her she was his home. Held onto the hope this time they’d get it right.
A soft knock at the door behind her pulled her from her wine induced spiral. She could see how the alcohol both made things better and made them infinitely more miserable. It fueled the downfall, but numbed the pain, even if just slightly.
She pulled herself up and wrapped a blanket around her. Bear naturally followed her to the door, the only protector she needed. Not even bothering to look to see who it was, she swung the door open.
“Were you not going to ask who it was? Or check in the peep hole. I could be a murderer.” West’s lips twisted in a scowl, but she honestly didn’t give a damn what he thought.
Cami raised a brow at him. “But you’re not, are you? Glad we cleared that up. You can go now.”
She moved to slam the door in his face when he caught the edge. “Please let me talk.”
He stepped out of the shadow of the house and Cami noticed for the first time the large gash that now marred his left cheek. “What the hell happened to your face?” The words were out of her mouth before her brain could stop her from sounding like she cared.
A smirk tugged at his lips. “Would you believe me if I told you it was Mom’s cat?”
“Fred? Not a chance in hell. That fat cat is the sweetest old man ever.”
“Alright. The truth then. When I told Tiffani she needed to go back to Los Angeles alone, she assaulted me in the hotel. The police got involved and now there’s a restraining order and she’ll be spending Christmas in jail until her flight home tomorrow night.”
Her mouth fell open. “Holy shit.”
“Yeah.” He looked down and kicked the snow on her front porch. “Listen, Cami. I’m sorry. I should have told you about Tiffani.”
“Ya think?”
His eyes narrowed on her. “Let me finish, before you rip me a new asshole.”
She’d do more than that, but she nodded, encouraging him to continue.
“We aren’t together anymore. We haven’t been since she left me after Shelby died.”
Stocking Stuffers: A Five Story Christmas Anthology Page 8
