He leans forward, his hands going to my waist, and he tries to kiss me before I dodge out of the way.
“Cam,” I warn.
“I know. I know we shouldn’t after everything, but I can’t stop thinking about you. It’s why I came here, to see you.”
I barely have time to think about how Joss was right, and how I should have listened to her, because we have an audience.
“Just need to get by you, man,” Ben says to Cameron who is obliviously blocking the entire hallway.
My heart stops, and I look up at him, hoping he knows this is a one-sided conversation. His eyes meet mine for the briefest of moments, a flicker of irritation disappears almost immediately before he heads into the bathroom. My heart jumps to my throat, and I just want to run after him, but I’ve never been on this side of things with him. So I have no idea how he’ll react if I do.
“Cam. We should talk sometime when we’re you know, not drinking and not at a party. Okay? We can discuss things, but tonight is not a good night.”
Hurt flickers over his features as he stares at me but he eventually nods and heads back to the party. I slide into my room and close the door behind me, grabbing my phone out of my pocket firing off a text.
That was all Cameron. I am not encouraging it. I’m sorry he’s here. I should have listened to Joss
Ben
It’s fine. My friend Chels is spending the night btw. Hope that’s okay
My heart bottoms out as I stare at the message. Tears pricking my eyes and I’m just thankful that I’m alone in my room when I read it. But I can’t say anything other than okay. I told Cameron he can stay. Ben doesn’t belong to me. And I have to try to act like an adult about all of this.
Okay
I hit send and then I go back to the party, wrapping my arm around Joss’s and giving her a look that lets her know I need her.
“More punch then?” she asks, a half frown on her face.
“More punch,” I agree.
“I got you.” She smiles and I’m just thankful that in these moments I have her.
SEVENTEEN
Violet
I wakeup on the couch, a crick in my neck and my body feeling like it’s been through a blender. I blink a few times at the sun pouring in and then remember that Cameron has another round of conferences this morning.
I stumble up and try to straighten my clothes as I walk toward my closed bedroom door. I’d managed to stay away from Cameron for most of the evening and had fallen asleep on the couch with Joss. I was dreading having to talk to him this morning and hoping we could revisit the idea of a hotel for tonight.
My eyes can’t help but travel to Ben’s room as I approach mine, and I see that his door is still shut too. I let myself wonder for a split second if he still has her in there with him before I decide I can only handle one problem at a time.
When I open the door, I see that Cameron’s already up and getting dressed. His back is to me, his shirt and pants already on and his collar flipped up as he works on his tie.
“Morning,” I say softly, heading for my dresser where I can get a fresh set of clothes.
“The sheets smell like him.” His voice is sharp, heavy with accusation.
I come up short, looking back over my shoulder to see that the bed has been made and the jersey I’d tried to shove under it is now laying on top. It’s turned over with “Lawton” clearly visible over the 87. I wince and close my eyes, feeling guilty for half a second before I remember that he has zero grounds to be angry with me.
“You didn’t exactly give me time to change them when you showed up unannounced.”
“Didn’t realize you were fucking someone. Were you going to tell me?”
I stare at his back because he refuses to turn around.
“When I had a chance.”
