by Nicole Dykes
She shakes her head at my morbid joke. “No, I’m not, and no, I don’t want to talk about them.”
I nod my head deciding to let it go, although I am curious as hell about her family. I brush a finger lightly over her cheek. “Alex did a hell of a job.” My voice comes out as a harsh whisper, the close contact with Van affecting me way more than I want to admit.
She smiles, looking into my eyes. It seems like there is something she wants to say, but changes her mind. She’s always holding back, and it drives me insane. Instead, she goes with, “So what did you want to talk about?”
I drop my hand and lessen the eye contact. Back to business. “Right. When does your internship with Brooke start?”
I don’t think that’s what she was expecting me to say, but she rolls with it. “Monday. And I’m freaking out. I don’t want to let her down.”
“I don’t think that’s possible, Van. You’ll be fine.”
She cocks her head to the side. “You know how Shriller is your hero, and we all joke about how in love with him you are?”
I nod. “Yeah. And fuck, it’s no joking matter. We’re gonna run away together someday,” I laugh.
She laughs with me and says, “Exactly, well, Brooke is my Shriller. She is everything I want to be someday. She helps everyone so much.”
I smile. Vanessa’s kindness has no boundaries. “I get it. Where are you going to stay?”
“Well, Hannah thinks I’m going to stay with her and Luke while I find a place, but there’s no way I’m going to do that.”
“What’s the matter, Van. Don’t feel like listening to them fuck all summer?”
She shakes her head, smiling. “No. I’ve heard enough of that for a lifetime with her bedroom being right next to mine for three years.”
“Hot,” I say wagging my eyebrows, which gets an eye roll from Van. Then I go into my actual point. “I knew it. For someone so organized, you sure do like to procrastinate.”
She doesn’t argue. “Yep.”
“So, stay with me.”
She looks stunned, “What?”
“Luke bought a house for him and Hannah, but his townhome hasn’t sold yet, so I’m renting it for the summer. Stay with me.”
“You’re insane,” she says it like she doesn’t believe I’m serious, but I’m not joking.
I try to keep my face totally serious. “It’s not crazy, Van. It makes total sense. You need a place to stay. Luke’s place has two bedrooms. You said you want to find a way to be friends again, this is it.”
She’s still gawking at me in disbelief. “No, this is a great way to end up hating each other, Cam.”
I look her dead in eye. “Do you want to fuck, Van?”
Now her jaw is touching the ground. She’s cute when she gets all flustered. “I, um. . . No, Cam!”
I nod my head, knowing that was the answer. “Exactly. Sex is totally off the table for us. You’ve made that crystal clear. I’ll take as much of you as I can get, so I want our friendship back. Living together as roommates will do that.”
“How do you make the most ludicrous idea in the world sound like the most normal thing ever?” she asks and I know she wants to agree to my plan.
` “Just part of my charm,” I say, smirking and then huff, “Just say yes, Van. I know you want to, I can tell. For once, get out of your head. Don’t worry about the consequences or what everyone else is going to say.”
“They’ll say it’s crazy,” She cuts in.
“So, fuck them.” I grin an add, “Lovingly, of course.”
She laughs, “I was dreading looking for somewhere to live.”
There we go. “Okay. Great. I’m moving in tomorrow when everyone else is leaving. We can go at the same time if you want. Luke and Hannah bought a bunch of new furniture for their house, so his townhome is pretty much furnished.”
She holds up her right hand to halt me, “Wait. I still don’t know about this.”
“What’s holding you up?”
“Well, what about other people?”
I shrug, knowing exactly what she means, but saying, “It’s only a two bedroom, Van. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to share a room.”
She rolls her eyes. “You know what I mean. You aren’t going an entire summer without sex.”
“Probably not.”
She nods her head knowingly. “See, that’s just weird. We’re exes, Cam. And we’ve proven we don’t handle seeing each other with other people well.”
That’s for damn sure. “I know. Look, I promise to keep it respectful.”
“What does that mean?”
I’m just making this up as I go along, but I need to find a way to make her feel comfortable enough to move in with me. I want Van in my life and, with everyone going in different directions, I think this is a great way to do that. “I mean, I won’t fuck anyone in the kitchen or anything like that. Only behind my bedroom door and no overnight guests.”
She bites her lower lip the way she does when she’s really thinking about something. Her eyes venture out into the crowd of people at the party and land directly on Dani, who’s busy talking to Cass. “And her?”
Fuck. To be honest I’m not sure I can agree to stay away from Dani. I really do have a good time with her and, believe it or not, I’ve grown to like her with her clothes on as well as off. “What about her?”
“I’m sure she’s going to be back at her parents’ house in K.C. She will definitely be knocking at your door if you’re in the same area.”
Tread lightly. “No Dani.” I quickly add, “In the house.” So, I don’t agree to a promise I can’t keep.
She’s thinking it over intensely, that mind of hers going over every possibility, I’m sure. But she finally says, “Okay, Cam. I’ll be your roommate this summer.”
I’m pretty sure I’m grinning from ear to ear as I wrap an arm around her slender shoulders. “This is going to be great, Van.”
She doesn’t look so sure, but I know I’m right. I have to be.
Chapter 8
Dani
“You’re staring.” Cass says, and I pull my eyes off Cam to look back at her.
“No, I’m not. You’re imagining things.”
Cassie looks irritated as she takes a drink of her water. “I’m not. I know it has to be hard seeing them together, especially after last night.”
I still can’t believe that bitch attacked me, and if I’m being honest, I cannot believe how fair of a fight it was. I always thought if we threw down, I’d easily kick her ass. Surprisingly after our fight, I have claw marks and bruises all over my body.
At least I managed to get in one good punch, but my knuckles are as purple and swollen as her face is, only she covered hers with makeup.
My eyes drift back to the swing where Cam is sitting with her, his arm casually draped over her shoulder. He’s wearing dress slacks and a button-down white shirt, with the sleeves rolled up, showing off the sexy tattoos that grace his forearms. His long legs are casually stretched out in front of him as they rock and talk about God knows what.
“You’re doing it again!” I hear Cassie's voice say, and I turn to look at her.
“No, I’m not. I just don’t get what the fuck he sees in her.”
She sighs, looking at me with pity that drives me crazy. “I’m moving to Dallas tomorrow, Dani.”
“Yes, I know, Cass.”
“I’m worried about you.”
That’s clear by the way she’s looking at me. “Why? I’m fine. I mean, I’ll miss you like crazy, but it’s not the olden days. I can call you on the phone and even see your face when I’m talking to you.”
She laughs, “I know, but that fight last night was vicious, and you know the whole Cam thing worries me.”
I take a seat at one of the picnic tables outside and Cass joins me. “What Cam thing?”
She cocks her head to the side. “Dani, we’ve been friends for a while now. We tell each other everything. I know you like Cam
.”
I scoff. “You know what I like about Cam?” I don’t wait for to answer and lean in. “His big cock and his skilled tongue.”
She wrinkles her nose and smacks me in the shoulder. “Gross! I've told you a million times, I don’t want to know that stuff about Cam. It’s too weird.”
I laugh, it’s funny screwing with Cassie. I wouldn’t say she’s a prude, but she’s not nearly as wild as she once was. “Cassie, you are about to move in with, and then marry, the love of your life. You’re my best friend in the whole world, and I don’t want you worrying about me. Enjoy this time.” She looks like she’s about to cry and things feel a little too real, so I say, “You know, til Hunt gets all washed up and fat or starts his affair, landing you both in the tabloids.”
Cassie knows my sense of humor well and just laughs sarcastically. “Oh thanks, Dani.” Her eyes go to Cam and Vanessa, who are now joined by Luke, Hannah and Hunter and then addresses me, “Are you sure?”
I nod my head. “Yes. I can hold my own.”
She smiles and I notice the group breaking up, with Van and Hannah going inside and Luke and Hunter going over to grab something to eat, leaving Cam by himself.
I look at Cass. “Go hang with your family. I’m totally fine. I promise.”
“I’m gonna miss you, you know?”
“I’ll miss you too.”
She smiles as she stands up and walks over to stand next to her fiancé, who’s standing in line to get food with Brooke and Alex.
I wait a beat and then walk over to where Cam is still sitting by himself. “Hey.”
He grins up at me, “Hey Dani, how are you?”
Last night, after my fight with Vanessa, he went straight to his room, so this is the first time I’ve seen him “I’m good. You?”
“Good. College grad,” he says, although I don’t think he really cares about the degree he earned.
“Nice. Wanna go swimming?” I ask, looking back at the lake behind us.
He grins, but looks unsure. “I’m not sure.”
“What? Don’t tell me you didn’t bring trunks,” I say, turning up my flirtatious tone.
“I have some in my bag in Hunt's truck,” he answers.
“Good. Let’s get wet then,” I say, with a sultry tone, the look in my eyes turned up to smolderingly hot. I undo the clasp at the neck of my black halter top dress and I can see a look of concern and intrigue come over Cam's face. I chuckle at his expression and then pull the dress down revealing the black bikini I have on under the dress and step out of it completely.
His eyebrows raise, and I know I’ve piqued his interest. “I have to talk to you,” he says. I don’t like the sound of that.
I turn toward the water, giving him a better view of my ass in the tiny bikini bottoms. “You know where I’ll be,” I say, hoping I’ve tempted him.
I walk off to the beach part of the lake and wade in the water, not looking back until it reaches my waist. I smile when I see him walking to Hunter’s truck.
It doesn’t take long before he’s in nothing but a pair of swim trunks and is wading out into the water to join me. “Fuck! That’s cold!” he nearly screams.
I laugh. “It’s not that bad. Grow a pair.”
He splashes me with water, and I jump back squealing from the cold water on my chest. “Asshole!” I say laughing, already enjoying having him to myself out here with everyone else eating up on dry land. He moves closer to me, but not nearly as close as I want him. “So, what did you need to talk to me about, Cam?”
He rubs the back of his neck with one hand, the muscles in his arms flexing tightly. “You know I’m going to be interning in K.C. this summer, right?”
I nod, not sure where he’s going with this. “Yeah, you told me.”
“And you are going home this summer. Back in Kansas City.”
I nod again and move close to him in the water. It comes up to my chest and right to his belly button. I place my hands on the hem of his trunks, just using them as a handle. “Yep. Can’t wait to be back under mommy and daddy’s roof,” I say sarcastically.
His eyes dart to the party, probably looking for Vanessa, which is not the reaction I was hoping for. His hand is still gripping his neck, and I wonder why he’s so damn nervous.
“What’s wrong, Cam?” I lean in and whisper harshly in his ear, my fingers in his waistband against his toned stomach.
He looks down at me. “I’m going to live with Vanessa this summer in Luke's old townhome.”
I hope I don’t look nearly as surprised as I feel. He’s living with her? “Oh.”
He nods as we’re both left frozen still in the water. “Yeah. Just as roommates, but I thought you should know.”
A sense of relief washes over me, but then dread sets in. They may be saying it’s just as friends or roommates, but at the end of the day, two exes can’t live together without there being some sexual tension. I try like hell to play it cool. I don’t want to be that girl. I won’t be. “Wow. Sucks for you.”
He shakes his head, smiling at me. “I want her friendship back, Dani. It’s important to me.”
“Why are you telling me this Cam?”
His eyes go back to the party, before he finally drops his hand from his neck and looks at me. He’s going to end this. “I promised her that you and I wouldn’t hook up at the townhome.”
I look over at Ms. Perfect, who is now sitting next to Hannah and then eye Cam. “Wow. So, you just do everything she wants these days huh?”
“It was my idea.” That stings more than I want to admit. “I want to be her friend again. And I don’t want what happened last night to ever happen again.”
I move one hand over his junk, outside of the material of his trunks. “I thought guys were turned on by girl fights.”
His eyes travel down to what my hand is doing under the water and then back up to meet mine with a sexy smirk playing on those lips. “I mean, it was hot, but also a little terrifying.”
I start to rub him through the trunks and smile when I feel his dick wake up, wanting to play. He looks worriedly toward the party and I use a finger to turn his face back to me. “They can’t see a thing. Just keep talking to me,” I say as I reach inside of his swim trunks and grip his now totally hard cock.
“Dani.” He lets out a breathy, groan, clearly warring with himself.
I continue to stroke him and smile when his eyes shut tight with enjoyment. “So, we can’t fuck in the house? Do you just not want to hang out this summer?”
His eyes snap back open. “No. That’s not what I’m saying. I’m sure we can find somewhere.”
I grin, happy that he doesn’t just want to blow me off all summer. “Well, my parents massive house is usually empty. They love to travel.”
I add a little pressure and he leans closer. “Careful, Dani, that was almost breaking a rule.”
Shit. My hand stops moving. He’s right. My face has gone deadly serious, but he grins and then splashes me. “Lighten up.” He reaches down and pulls my wrist, taking my hand out of his pants and the water.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I ask, confused. What guy turns down the chance to get off?
“Dani, I care about our friendship too.”
I snort. “What friendship, Cam? This is just fucking.”
He’s still holding onto my hand by the wrist. “No, it’s not. I have fun talking about normal shit with you and just hanging out, even when we aren’t naked.”
Damn it. So do I. “Why are you telling me this?”
He shrugs his large shoulders and drops my hands. “I don’t want you to think you’re nothing to me because of my arrangement with Van. You matter too, Dani.”
I don’t know what to say. So, I do what I do best when I’m uncomfortable and things feel too real. “You’re really starting to sound like a chick.”
He just laughs easily, always able to brush stuff off and have a good time. “Just trying to be mature, now that I’m a college grad and all.�
�
I laugh at that and then hear Luke’s voice booming in our direction. “Pictures! Get your asses dressed!”
Saved by the asshole.
Chapter 9
Cam
After about a million pictures, I strip out of the black graduation gown and into shorts and a tee at Hunt’s truck, using it as a shield. But really, I have no shame.
I head back to the party and find my four closest friends in the world huddled around a fire pit sitting in folding chairs as Luke pours champagne into Vanessa’s red cup.
I take a seat next to her and a cup from Luke. Then nudge Van’s arm with mine, “I don’t have to worry about you, do I?” I ask, nodding my head toward her cup.
She laughs, happily. “No. It’s just champagne.”
“Yeah, because no one ever got drunk off champagne before,” I tease, as Luke takes a seat in between Hunt and Hannah, wrapping an arm around his girl.
“Where’s Cass?” I ask Hunter.
“Watching a movie with Dani inside. Those two are going to miss the hell out of each other,” Hunt answers.
“Ah, don’t worry, I’m sure Cam will gladly comfort Dani all summer,” Luke says, obviously implying something sexual, which is normally my job.
I feel Van, shrink back into her chair beside me. She’s changed into a pair of jean shorts and a K-State t-shirt since the pictures. She brings her long legs up on the chair with her, wrapping her arm around them.
Hunter always being the peacemaker raises his cup. “Here’s to our last night before official adulthood.”
We all raise our cups in the air. “And to Hunter and Cassie. I can’t wait for the wedding,” Hannah says.
“To Cam, not catching a STD this summer,” Monroe says as he tips his cup at me.
Asshole. “To Luke finally biting the fucking bullet and popping the question,” I say and tip mine back.
Hannah brushes it off, and Luke just hugs her to him tighter. Van’s turn. “Here’s to friendship. May we never lose what we have in this circle.”
She smiles at me, and I smile back, feeling a sense of hope that my plan to, at the very least, keep her as a friend is going to work.
“To one hell of a summer!” Luke says, and we all touch our cups together and take a drink, completing our toast.
