Camden nodded like any of that made sense.
“How does punching neighbor Henry factor into this?” I asked Addy when no explanation was forthcoming from the adults. And to top it all off, they were all acting like it was perfectly natural for me to be standing outside inonlya robe—though I was sure no one else knew that but me—near a pond, at barely past the asscrack of dawn.
“Tooth fairy. She gives money for teeth. I need the good luck because I’ve never knocked a tooth out. I want to do it right.” She shrugged.
Camden snorted and somehow managed to keep a straight face.
Olivia sighed. “So, how long have you two been dating?” she asked slyly and stepped away to eye up Camden’s back while giving me a low-down thumbs-up. My entire body flushed solar-meltdown hot with mortification.
“We’re not,” I mumbled. “I should go.”
Addy stooped and lifted the turtle with two steady hands. The poor thing’s feet waved, but other than that it didn’t appear overly distressed. “You should kiss Wayland for luck first. He’s having a good day.”
I laughed in spite of myself and checked the belt of the robe again to make sure it was secure. I had not planned for a G-rated audience. “How can you tell?”
“He’s smiling, see?” She held the turtle higher.
“Oh, yes. I do.”
Addy bent her little head, and before I could tell what she was up to, Olivia was groaning.
“No, don’t… and there it is.” Addy plopped a kiss on the turtle’s head before it could pull back into its shell. “You’re going to get good-luck salmonella. I said no kissing.”
“How else am I gonna get the luck?” Addy demanded and jumped up and down.
Camden waved his hand at Olivia. “She’s fine.”
“Oh, I’m with Olivia on that.” I winced and stepped back as Addy settled the turtle onto the ground again. “Kissing turtles doesn’t seem like a great idea.”
Camden slapped the banana he’d been holding into my palm, and I stared at it in confusion. The other little girl, Eloise, stood near the pond, so good and quiet I hadn’t noticed her at all. But even as I thought about how she must be the one they didn’t have to worry about, she slipped and fell into the water near Addy, drenching her. Olivia laughed while Addy howled in rage and Eloise squealed in delight.
With a shrug, I peeled the banana because my stomach gave a growl. It had been forever since I’d eaten anything. I shoved half the banana into my mouth at once and had trouble chewing. The sugar hit my taste buds and I nearly died of delight.
“Oh, I see why Cam likes you,” Olivia said, once she’d caught her breath from laughing at the kids, but then she started right back up again as I glared at her. In my anger I tried to swallow the food so I could snap back with something, hopefully clever, but my airway was blocked. Then I spent a good minute coughing, and it took a whack on my back from Camden before I didn’t feel like I was dying anymore.
Addy stood woefully dripping dirty pond water and shook her head at me. “That wouldn’t have happened if you’d kissed Wayland.”
I dropped the rest of the banana on the ground and tucked the edges of the robe tight to my body. “You know, I need to go. You have a very sweet family, and I am clearly interrupting your weekend.” I crept toward the side of the house, seriously considering fleeing. Except for the day Ross was arrested, I’d never been more embarrassed, and maybe not even then. Because this was different. This was personal. Sometime between the first and fourth orgasm last night, I’d begun to think maybe this whole Camden thing was worth giving a fair shot, if he wanted to see me again.
Obviously I had Stockholm syndrome or something.
“Wait,” Camden said. Olivia started after me. I turned around, and in spite of my state of undress, I headed off around the side lawn in the direction of the front of the house. Maybe Olivia and Camden weren’t married anymore, but they were clearly still close—and what did I care? They could be bestest buddies all day long. I wouldn’t be here to see it. It wasn’t like he’d been trying to sweep me off my feet last night. He’d purchased me, for God’s sake. We’d fucked, it was hot, the end.
Now it was done.
I stepped on something that burned my instep and groaned. I lifted my foot and found a honeybee stinger stuck in the center of my sole. I flicked it away and growled. Maybe I should have fucking kissed Wayland after all.
“Wait! I didn’t mean to chase you off!” Olivia was still letting out short bursts of laughter as she caught up with me, and I stopped near the front corner of the white house. The perfect house for raising a family. A hateful part of me wanted to ask why she wasn’t living here anymore, but even for someone who’d annoyed me this much, I couldn’t bring myself to be outright mean, especially not in such a waspish way.
She rested a hand on my arm and gave it a pat. “Cam and I are friends. He must like you. He doesn’t usually bring people here because I pop in and out with the kids.” She smiled, and I flushed under her keen interest.
“I really doubt that.”
A man came around the side of the house, very close to us, and it took me a moment to recognize him as the big security guy from the Courtesan who’d been backstage. Dirt smudged his jeans today, unlike last night, and he had on a black leather jacket in spite of the heat. His long dark beard gleamed in the sunshine as if he took some care with it. Fear tore through me while he stomped along on cowboy boots. Was he here to force me back? He glanced at Olivia, and though I didn’t necessarily like her, I didn’t want her to get caught up in this, either. With shaking knees, I planted myself in front of her.
“I’m not going back.” I had absolutely nothing to use to defend myself, so I raised my fists.
“Hey, what do you want?” Camden called, jogging up from behind us.
