Chapter Eight
Cameron
Being in love with your straight best friend really fucking blows.
“Remind me why I’m here again,” I mutter as we walk up the front steps to the restaurant where we’re meeting Austen’s and Savannah’s family.
“Because you’re my best friend and you love me.”More than you know.“And you’re the best man, so you need to know the plan.”
“I trust you to tell me the plan.”
He frowns at me as he pulls the door open.
“Please don’t make me do this alone. You know Savannah’s family doesn’t like me.”
“Which is just another reason not to marry her.” His frown deepens and I see the hurt in his eyes. “Sorry,” I apologize. “That was mean.”
He’s aware I don’t agree with his marriage to Savannah. It has nothing to do with my secret feelings and everything to do with her not being right for him. If he can’t be with me, he should at least be with someone who is good for him, and especially goodtohim. She is neither. Never has been. Honestly, I don’t know what he sees in her at all. I can’t even say it’s her good looks and willingness to fuck, because he’s not into that shit.
I step inside and he walks in after me, making his way to the podium to give the hostess his name so she can lead us to where the rest of the party is.
Everyone else is already here, it seems, and there is only one open chair, right beside Savannah.
“You didn’t tell them I was coming,” I growl from the corner of my mouth as everyone around the table stares at me like I’ve got an arm sprouting from the top of my head.
“Uh, no…” he says sheepishly, giving a little shrug.
“I really hate you sometimes.”
“Cameron, I didn’t know you’d be here,” Austen’s mother says, carefully running her fingers over her hair to make sure it’s still in place. There’s enough product in it that it would withstand a nuclear bomb.
“Surprise,” I say with a wide grin, ignoring the scowl his father is throwing my way.
They don’t like me because they think my family is trashy and I’m only friends with Austen for charity. That I refuse everything he gives me isn’t proof enough that I’m not. But they’re one of those people that will never be satisfied no matter what, so I try to ignore them. Had I known they didn’t know I would be here, I wouldn’t have come. It’s best if they have ample time to processbeforehand. They don’t do surprises, especially in the form of me.
“Whyareyou here, Cameron?” Savannah asks, batting her lashes as Austen sits down beside her.
“He’s the best man, babe. He should know the plans for the wedding.”
“And you could have relayed them.”
I said the same thing.
I want to say it out loud to give Austen shit, but I don’t want anyone to know that Savannah and I have anything in common, even if it’s something as simple as an obvious thought.
“Excuse me, can we have another chair and table setting brought, please?” Austen says to a waiter as they walk by.
“Certainly, sir.”
A few moments later, I’m shoved at the corner of the table between Savannah and her father, who is sitting at the head of the table. Austen is on her side, while his father is at the other head.
The waiter returns, taking our drink and food orders with a promise to be back shortly.
“Cameron, will you be paying for yourself this evening, or is my son covering it for you?” Austen’s mother asks in that hoity-toity tone of hers.
Kill me now.
“Never again, Austen. Never fucking again,” I grumble as I slam the car door closed.
