by Nicole Dykes
I find Dani in the women’s tent. She’s facing a way from me, but still knows it’s me that just walked in. “Leave me alone, Cam.”
“I can’t.”
She turns to me, tears running down her face that she quickly wipes away. “You still love her.”
I can see the deep pain I’ve caused written all over her gorgeous face and take the steps forward to reach her. “She doesn’t want me.”
“That’s not what I asked,” she says coolly, but it’s not snarky.
“Yes,” I say, quietly. Another tear falls down her cheek, and I reach up with my right hand, wiping it away with my thumb. I rest my hand on her cheek and look into her brown eyes. “I really care for you, Dani.”
“Gee thanks, Cam,” she says angrily. Not that I can blame her.
“I do. You’re incredible.”
“But it’s her you want. Right? What was I, your consolation prize?”
I shake my head, adamantly. “No. I swear to you, my feelings for you have always been genuine.”
She searches my face and groans, “Fuck!” she exclaims and then says sadly, “I believe you.”
I let out a sigh of relief, even if she’s not happy about it. “I’m sorry.”
She sniffs and wipes her face, pushing my hand away subtly. “So, you gonna go for it with Van then?” she asks, probably out of morbid curiosity.
I walk over and take a seat on one of the folding chairs. I think Dani and I just broke up before we even got started.
“No.”
She sits next to me. “Why not?”
I turn my head to look at her. “You and I just broke up. And a lot of other shit.”
She looks away from me. “It’s always been her for you. I think deep down, I always knew it. I just didn’t want to believe it. Or I wanted to believe that I could somehow make you forget her. I was so fucking stupid.”
“No. This is all on me. I’m the asshole. You were just the sweet, innocent bystander.”
She laughs at that. “I don’t think anyone has ever described me that way, Cam.”
I smile. “In this scenario, it’s true, but I swear I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
Her eyes finally meet mine again. “Whatever it is with Van, I’m sure you can work it out.”
“Nah, she doesn’t trust me.”
Dani is deadly serious when she says, “Make her. Don’t let all of this be in vain.”
She stands up from the black folding chair. “I love you, Cam. I hate that I do. I didn’t want to. I did everything I could to avoid it, but you love her.”
I feel physically sick. She loves me.
“You deserve so much better. I feel terrible, and of course, you’re being cool as fuck about it,” I say.
She wipes another tear. She’s not a crier, but here she is. Because of me. “You want me to kick ya in the balls? Because I could totally do that.”
I shake my head, smiling. I love her sense of humor. “No thanks. I do feel bad though.”
She wipes a final tear. “As much as I hate Van, I saw the way you two were looking at each other during the ceremony.” Her voice lowers to a whisper, “You and I have never looked at each other like that. Maybe if she had never been in the picture, you and I would have had a shot, but I think she’s had you from day one.”
She’s right, but there’s no way I’m going to twist the knife harder. I’ve hurt her enough.
“You’re an amazing woman, Dani.”
“Don’t get all mushy on me, Cam,” she says, standing a little straighter and using her finger to wipe away the running eyeliner under her eye.
I smile at her, knowing this is how she’s going to handle it. She’s going to try to brush it off and push the feelings away. It’s exactly what I would do.
She leaves the tent, and I stay put, not sure how I got here.
Everything's a mess, and I have no idea how to fix it.
Chapter 44
Vanessa
I’m sitting alone at the large table designated for the wedding party. Dinner is over and they are getting ready to cut the cake. Most of the guests are gathered around, waiting for Cass and Hunter.
As happy as I am for Cassie and Hunter, I would rather be anywhere else right now.
My secret coming out last night has left me emotionally drained, and I can see it’s done the same to Cam.
God, I couldn’t keep my eyes off him at the ceremony. I know it was horribly inappropriate, but the emotions brought up by telling him everything, paired with the wedding have left me a wreck.
Cam’s always been my safety.
“You were put in my path to save me.” The words from Cassie’s vows ring in my ears. My eyes darted to Cam when she spoke those beautiful words. He felt it too.
The absolute connection between us.
Dani walks into the tent and over to the table, pulling me from my thoughts of her boyfriend.
They disappeared right after the food was served, but there’s no sign of Cam. It’s obvious to me, as I look at Dani, that she’s been crying.
I take a deep breath and ask timidly, “Are you, okay?”
I expect a sarcastic quip, but instead she says, “I’m fine. Where’s Cass?”
“I think she and Hunter snuck away for a minute to themselves.”
She laughs, but it’s almost sad. “They’re so fucking cute together.”
I smile, this is surreal. Talking to Dani in a civilized manner. “Yeah, they really are.”
She plops down in one of the chairs and groans, “God, I want to hate you.”
“Okay . . .” I’m unsure what to say to that.
Her eyes lock on mine, “But I don’t. I mean, you aren’t my favorite person.” I shrug, feeling’s mutual, but I’m not sure where she’s going with this. “He truly loves you, you know?”
I look at her stunned and speechless. Is she talking about Cam? “Um . . .”
She just shakes her head and stands up, not saying anything more as she joins Alex and Brooke at the beautifully decorated table in the front.
Not long after, Cassie and Hunter make their way back into the tent and cut the cake. There’s still no sign of Cam.
I do see Chris standing with Dylan deep in conversation. I think I’ll keep my distance.
No more humiliating myself at family events.
When they announce its time for the bride and groom’s first dance, that’s when Cam enters.
He’s removed his jacket and tie, leaving him in tight black tuxedo pants and his white button-down with the top few buttons undone.
I force myself to pry my eyes away from ogling my hot as all hell ex-boyfriend and watch as Hunter and Cass whirl around on the dance floor.
After their dance ends, the wedding party joins them. Each woman, partnering with the person that escorted them. For me that’s Michael Monroe, who is seriously a near clone of Dylan.
Except he may actually end up being a little taller. He doesn’t look sixteen. He holds his hand out for me with that signature Monroe smirk. He certainly doesn’t act sixteen either.
I take his hand and walk with him out to the dance floor. Our interlocked hands up, my other hand on his shoulder, he wraps his other hand on my waist pulling me in, but leaving distance between us. I smile at him as we dance. “Who taught you to dance?”
I can smell a hint of alcohol on his breath masked by something minty as his deep, sad voice answers, “My mom. Well, she tried. A couple months before she died, there was a dance at school.” He smiles. “She spent every evening for two weeks trying to teach my scrawny ass how to dance.”
My heart hurts for him, and for Gabby, Cassie, Luke, and Dylan. It’s not fair. I have shitty parents, so do Cam and Hannah. Hunter’s aren’t great, but they all lived to torture us. Sylvia Monroe, from all accounts, was a perfect mother who truly loved and cherished her kids, and she was taken away from them. Michael was just ten, almost eleven, when he lost his parents.
At least she left them with happy
memories. “I’d say it stuck.”
He grins. “Yeah some of its just natural.” He winks at me, and I roll my eyes, laughing.
I see Dani and Cam dancing together next to us, but something is different.
I’m not sure what’s going on with them.
The song ends, and I thank Michael and go back to my spot at the table. He quickly finds a girl who looks about his age and takes her for a spin on the dance floor. He holds her close and I watch, shaking my head as he whispers something in her ear and she giggles. Yeah, that kid is trouble.
A couple of hours later, Hannah is dancing with Hunter, and Cam is dancing with Cassie. I smile when I see Luke heading my way, “Hunt stole my girl.”
I laugh. “I see that. And Cam took your sister.”
He shakes his head and holds out his hand for me. “Let’s go.”
I’m reluctant. I’ve been trying to find a time to sneak away. “I’m not really in the mood.”
His hand stays outstretched in the air. “Let’s go, anyway.”
I stand up, knowing he won’t let it go. I join him in a dance and say, “So, we getting a proposal tonight?”
He shakes his head, laughing. “Jesus, Van. You don’t give up do you?”
“Hell no. Not when it comes to you two.”
“I’m not doing it at a wedding reception. That’s cheesy as hell.”
“At this point, I don’t think she would care.”
He glances at Hannah, who is having a great time dancing with the groom. “It has to be perfect, after I’ve made her wait this long.”
“That’s probably true. So what, gonna take her to a baseball game and propose via jumbotron?”
He chuckles at that. “Yeah, because that’s not cheesy.” He smirks at me and sighs, “Look, I have a trip to Manhattan planned in a few weeks, okay? Hannah has a short break between summer classes and fall.”
“Manhattan?”
“Yeah.” He smiles, dreamily. “You know the hill there that spells out Manhattan?” I nod. “Well, we have some history there.”
The music changes again, and I squeeze his shoulders. “That’s perfect!”
He gives me a wink and hugs me. “Don’t tell her, okay?”
“I’d never spoil the surprise.”
“You okay, Van?” he asks seriously.
I nod. “I’m fine.”
He gives me a sad smile, not believing me. “For the record, I’m still team, Van. And I’m not usually wrong.”
I laugh, shaking my head at him. I’m so thankful for this group of friends I would never have met if it wasn’t for Cam. “I think you may have to come to terms with it, Luke. Throw in the towel.”
“Never,” he says and nods his head behind me, letting me go.
I turn and see Cam standing there. “Can I cut in?”
“Be my guest, buddy,” Luke says smacking his shoulder and walking over to join Shriller and Jax at the table.
The guests are dwindling down and he looks unsure as he holds out a hand for me, which I take.
Of course I do, I cannot resist this man, no matter how hard I try.
Chapter 45
Cam
I hold Van’s small, soft hand in mine and guide it up to my shoulder, leaving it there as I drop mine to her hip. Placing my other hand on the other side, she takes my cue. Her other hand lifts up, clasping together around my neck.
She’s keeping a decent-sized gap between us, and I don’t push it.
We start to dance to the slow song. A song I requested because it’s the first song we danced to at Brooke and Dylan's wedding. The same song during which I whispered, “I love you” into Van’s ear. The song that was playing as my heart thundered in my chest until she looked into my eyes and said it back to me.
It was the first time I had ever said those words, and although I hadn’t planned to say them at the time, I meant them.
Recognition shows in her eyes as she hears the song, and then it suddenly cuts off.
Fuck!
Everyone turns to face the band as the lead singer makes an announcement. This better be fucking good. “All right, ladies and gentlemen, the bride and groom have a flight to catch, so it’s time to say goodbye. They’re changing, so let’s line up outside and wish them a happy honeymoon! Afterwards though, the party will go on for about another hour, so no need to rush off!”
Fuck my life.
Van drops her hands from my neck and steps back. “Guess we better go say goodbye.”
I nod my head reluctantly and follow the crowd outside to form a line on both sides, leading to the car.
Hunter and Cass are going on some island honeymoon and will be gone for a couple of weeks. Then he starts training camp.
They appear at the front of the group and make their way down the line as we all blow the hot pink bubbles that were handed out earlier for this occasion. They stop for a few hugs, including a fist bump from Hunt to me, and then they are gone.
I see Dani climbing into a car with Michael, it’s his car, but she’s driving. I’m assuming she’s taking him home to sleep it off since I’ve seen him sneaking drinks not so subtly all night.
She gives me a small smile and a wave and I nod, smiling as I hear her say, “Do not fucking puke,” as she climbs behind the wheel.
We all make our way back inside and thankfully the band picks up where they left off. I’m relieved as I take Van's hand again. “Let’s try this again.”
She smiles and joins me without argument. This time I pull her in a little closer. “Nice wedding, huh?” I ask lamely.
“It was beautiful and Cassie's vows. Wow.”
I nod. “Yeah, that girl should be a writer.”
Van looks at me uncertainly. “Are you and Dani okay?”
“Did she say something?” I ask her, looking down at her pretty face.
“Not really. You just seemed distant.”
I nod. “Yeah. We kinda broke up.” I admit and let one of my hands travel to lay flat against her back. She looks up at me in total shock, “Because of me? Of what I told you last night?”
I shake my head. “No.” But then change my answer. “Well, not entirely. We just realized something wasn’t right.”
Our song plays in the background, and I hold her tightly to me, swaying to the music. Her large, beautiful eyes bore into me. “Cam, you guys were pretty perfect for one another.”
I shake my head, leaning in closer. I want to be sure she hears me. “No. The truth is, Vanessa, I was taken a long time ago.”
“Cam . . . . . .” She opens her mouth, knowing her, to argue, but I don’t let her. My lips find hers. I don’t rush it, instead I slowly use my lips to plead with her to give in.
She doesn’t fight it and opens her mouth for me, embracing the kiss entirely. Her hands travel to my hair and she holds on, letting out a soft sigh. My hands pull her even closer to me, wrapping fully around her waist. So many unspoken words coming out in one kiss.
Van's the first one to pull away. If it were up to me, we would never stop. She’s breathless as she looks into my eyes. “I’ve got to stop kissing people in front of everyone at these things.”
A small laugh escapes my mouth, and then my lips travel to her ear and I downright growl, “You’re right. Let’s get out of here.”
I pull back to look at her. There’s an uncertainty there, but it’s definitely being combatted by overwhelming lust.
I take the lead and take her hand, guiding her toward the exit. Again, she doesn’t put up a fight and quickly follows behind me, out of the tent and to my car.
Neither one of us wastes any more time. We climb in, and I take off, the silence and anticipation killing me, but neither one of us says a word.
Just the sounds of heavy, labored breaths fill my car as I merge onto the interstate and gun it toward home.
As soon as I park the car in the driveway, I turn to look at Van, who turns her head slowly to face me. “God you’re beautiful,” I whisper in the dark, silent
car.
She grins, doesn’t say a word and climbs out of the car. I eagerly follow her inside.
We don’t get past closing the front door before she wraps her long arms around my neck and pulls me into a kiss that makes the one from earlier seem like an innocent peck.
Her fingers are busy unbuttoning my shirt, as her tongue explores my mouth hungrily. My hands grasp her hair as I suck her pouty bottom lip into my mouth and nibble before releasing it. My shirt is fully unbuttoned now, and her fingers explore my bare chest.
I feel her hands slide up, her mouth still not leaving mine as she uses both hands to push the shirt off my shoulders and onto the wood floor of the foyer.
Maybe we’re moving too fast.
Her soft lips trail along my jaw, making it really fucking hard to think. My cock is already hard as hell, pressing against my tuxedo pants.
“Van, we don’t have to so this. We can talk if you want,” I breathe out.
I can feel her lips quirk up in a smile against my neck and she whispers, “What’d you want to talk about, Cam?” Her voice is smooth and sensual, she doesn’t stop kissing and nipping at my neck and jaw as she speaks.
Fuck. Form words, asshole. “I don’t want you to think you have to do this.”
That makes her stop, looking into my eyes with a smoldering heat. “I don’t do anything I don’t want to, anymore.” She nips at my bottom lip, “I want this, Cam, or I wouldn’t be here.”
Her lips mash against mine, and she wraps her arms around my neck again, pulling my body flush with hers with intense need.
Well fuck, I can’t argue with that.
“But we can talk if you want,” she says between kisses, against my lips.
“I do have one question,” I say, as my right hand finds the zipper of her bridesmaid dress.
“Anything,” she says hoarsely and kisses my lips again.
I take my time lowering the zipper and kissing her full lips before asking, “Did you date anyone before we met? You said you didn’t allow yourself to get close to anyone until you met me.”
I push her dress down, leaving her in only in a lacey pale pink strapless bra and a matching thong.
