Chip nods and retreats toward his apartment. “So, you’re moving?”
“Being evicted. My dad just cut me off.”
His eyes light up because he scored some gossip. Whatever. If the town stays talking about me and not Chevelle, then I’m happy.
I wave goodbye to Chip and walk into my apartment. Sure enough, half my shit is in boxes. I should be furious, but honestly, I don’t even care at this point.
“Got out, huh?” my dad says.
“Cam did the right thing, Mr. Baker,” Fisher says.
My dad doesn’t really see Fisher as the sheriff of our small town because he’s the guy who initiated our senior prank of putting a petting zoo in our gym. Not to mention he was the planner of most of our bonfire parties. Let’s just say Fisher and I weren’t exactly excelling in academics and the sheriff at the time always came to us first when something happened around town.
“It’s good now that his sidekick is the sheriff, you can get him off instead of me having to step in.” My dad pushes a rolling suitcase my way. “Here are your clothes. There are two more suitcases in the bedroom. Everything else is going into storage.”
I shake my head over my dad doing this over me sticking up for a woman.
“With all due respect,” Fisher says, but my dad puts up his hand, not wanting to hear another excuse for my behavior.
“No, Fisher.”
“He did it because that asswipe hit my sister.”
My dad sighs and looks at me. “I heard, and it’s admirable. I’m glad it wasn’t a bar brawl, but if you’re going to run the marina, you can’t be popping off like that. You have to keep your emotions in check. It might not seem like it now, but I’m doing this for your own good. I should’ve done it when you came back from college.”
“It’s fine.” I shrug, not wanting my dad to see my true irritation.
“Fisher, give us a minute.”
Fisher bends down and pets Gunner. “Come on, boy. Let’s make sure they didn’t pack away all your snacks.”
They leave in the direction of the kitchen.
“Listen, Cameron, I understand why you did it. I know you’ve had a…” He looks in the direction Fisher went. “Thing for the Greene girl, but you can’t go around assaulting people. Since the situation wasn’t what I thought initially, I’m gonna give you an opportunity—run the fishing boat, get it going, make it a success, and you’re back in the fold. You can have your place back, the car, your trust fund, and the marina.”
He leaves me no choice but to do what he says. All the money I had in savings is tied up so I can’t even use that. Wait until Chevelle finds out I’m starting up a competing business. No way she’ll let me stay at her place then. A million scenarios run through my head, other options for a future, but at this juncture, I have no choice if I want to stay in my dad’s good graces. And right now, I don’t have another option. Not one I know I can count on anyway. I like working at the marina and feeling like part of the community there. I just wish I didn’t have to run it the way my dad does.
“Fine, I’ll do it.” Somehow I manage to keep my voice even.
He gives me the smile I hate, the smug one that signifies he got his way. “I’ll meet you first thing tomorrow morning to go over logistics. The locks to your office have been changed, so meet me at my office.” He walks toward the door. “And call your mother. She’s worried.”
Once he leaves and shuts the door, I plop down on my chair and throw my head in my hands. I still need him and this opportunity. I just hope Chevelle understands.
Fisher comes back into the room. “Allie called and I gotta stop and get diapers and drop them off at the house. Supposedly, I opened the last box and never told her.” He rolls his eyes, although he probably did. “I packed Gunner’s stuff for you.” He holds out a garbage bag.
I mumble thanks as I take the bag, and we leave my apartment that’s now full of boxes. In the sheriff’s truck, Gunner sandwiches himself on my lap, panting at the window, so I roll it down and he sticks his head out.
Fisher stops at the driveway of where all the Greene girl siblings have lived at one time or another. It’s directly across the street from their parents, who look down over town from their house on the big hill.
“I gotta go before Allie blows up my phone again.” He takes two of the suitcases, puts them on the doorstep, then shakes my hand and pats me on the back.
“Thanks for getting me off.”
He winks. “It’s what best friends do.”
After he pulls away, I knock on the door.
No answer.
I frown and ring the doorbell.
Gunner sits next to me, his tongue hanging out, waiting patiently for the door to open. He loves Chevelle and has probably picked up her scent already.
I pat his head. “I know. I feel it too.” My heart thumps, and there’s this weird fluttery feeling in my chest, as if my heart has grown wings. Am I really going to live with Chevelle Greene?
I’m about to ring the doorbell again when the door springs open and Chevelle is standing there with only a towel wrapped around her body.
Fuck me. My dick twitches in my pants.
“Honey, I’m home,” I say, trying to get my reaction under control and trying not to think of what she looks like underneath that towel.
She narrows her eyes. “Of course you pick the worst possible time.”
My jaw clenches when I clock the bruise on her face again.
Gunner hops up at her and his paws get stuck on the top of her towel.
“Shit.” I step forward to help her, but she gets him down without needing me.
“Jeez, your dog is just as horny as you.” She turns down the hallway. Jesus, that towel couldn’t be any shorter.
Gunner looks up at me. I pet his head.
“I know, the dog park has nothing on her,” I mumble and bring my bags into my new place.
God help us all. I already feel the blue balls starting.
8
“WELCOME TO THE FAMILY.”
Chevelle
That was a mistake. I should have put on a robe or something. Or maybe I should’ve waited to have a shower until after Cam showed up. But I needed to burn off some anxious energy, so I decided to work out and I hated the thought of him showing up and finding me gross and sweat soaked. Still, it shouldn’t matter—he’s Fisher’s best friend and not at all right for me. I’m playing games with Cam that will only end in disaster.
Now, as I throw on a pair of leggings and a T-shirt and wrap my hair in a towel, I mentally steel myself before I head downstairs.
He’s putting out food and water for Gunner. As soon as I land on the bottom step of the stairs, Gunner barrels toward me, his tail wagging nonstop.
“Hey, boy,” I say. “Behaving yourself?”
“If you mean has he gotten anyone else knocked up, no. But we were banned from the dog park for humping too many poodles. He’s got something for the poodles.” Cam leans his big shoulder along the doorframe of the kitchen.
“Just like his dad. Did you train him when he was younger?” I walk past him into the kitchen to grab a water bottle.