“I really need this, Grayson. You’ve saved my day. You’re my hero. Thank you so much.” I offered a warm smile and I savored the first hot sip.
Grayson’s dimples answered my gratitude. “There’s one condition.”
I took another sip, moaning softly with my eyes closed, breathing in a deep breath. “What’s the condition?” I asked, opening my eyes.
Grayson ran his hand ever so slowly down his face. “Actually, there are two now. First, you have to watch Mission Impossible with me tonight, or tomorrow, or this weekend, as friends of course. You choose. And second”—he leaned closer to whisper in my ear—“don’t make that sound. You give me naughty thoughts, Cams. Friend or no friend, you have that kind of power over me.”
I flushed with warmth and pressed my lips together from laughing. “Okay. Since you saved my day, I’ll watch Mission Impossible with you. I’ve been wanting to watch it for some time. But I have to warn you. I get a bit jumpy at the suspenseful parts.”
Grayson twitched his lips and his eyes twinkled with amusement. “Such a baby. But don’t worry. I’ll make sure you’re safe. Besides cooking, I have a special talent. I’m good at giving comfort.”
“Are you now?” I snorted. “Good to know. Next time an alien comes to hunt me, I’ll make sure to let you know.”
His eyes lit up brighter. “You saw Independence Day?”
“Heck yeah. My family and I went on the day it came out.”
“I think I love you even more. I mean as friends,” he corrected.
A pause. The room seemed quieter. “Anyway, I should go. You’re working, and I’ve taken enough of your time. Gus keeps looking at me. He’s smiling, but I think he’s trying to tell me to get going.”
I smiled. Little did Grayson know Gus had a crush on him. “Thanks again for my coffee.” I raised the paper mug to him.
“My pleasure to take care of you, Cams.” He winked and left.
“Not only does he smell divine, girl, he’s got it bad for you.” Gus lightly bumped his hip to mine. A drop of coffee spilled on my hand. “Sorry.”
I sucked it up. “No worries. And he does not. We’re friends.”
Gus furrowed his brow. “There is no such thing as friends. A guy doesn’t just bring a friend coffee or ask her to go see a movie as friends.”
I shrugged, dismissing Gus’s words. He had no idea what went on between Grayson and me.
I nudged his shoulder. “What do you know? You just want to take him to bed.”
He gave a wicked smile. “You bet I do.”
I snorted and got back to work when a customer came by.
Caroline. Shit!
I played it cool and held my chin high, but my heart pounded hard against my rib cage. She met my eyes once and diverted her attention to something else.
“Eleven,” I said flatly.
A ten and a five landed on the counter. I took it and placed four bills on the same spot. I had no intention of our hands brushing. She cleared her throat. When I didn’t pay attention to her, she cleared her throat again. I peered under my eyelashes and finally met her eyes.
“I’m sorry.” Her index finger nervously tapped on the tray. “I was a bit tipsy. It didn’t mean anything.”
Why does everyone want to talk to me at work?
Thankfully, Gus went to the back room so I had a little time to talk. I didn’t know what to say. It felt so awkward to be confronted, and I didn’t like conflicts, but I was beyond enraged. Hurt and anger boiled inside me, stronger than before. And I had a fervent urge to say my piece.
“I don’t know what you want me to say. Did Lucas put you up to this?”
She stiffened. “No. I just want to make it clear that I’m not a slut and I’m not a boyfriend stealer.”
I crossed my arms, and with a sassy tone, I sputtered, “Don’t give yourself too much credit, you haven’t stolen him. He told me you meant nothing to him. He’s begging for me to take him back. I think I’ll make him grovel a bit more.”
Her eyes shot wide and she kept quiet for only a heartbeat. “I’m not talking to you because I’m trying to break you two up, but you don’t know Lucas well. I think you trust him way too much. You don’t know what he’s like at the social gatherings.”
I growled under my breath. How dare she tell me things I didn’t need to hear to confuse me. “I think I know my own boyfriend, whom I’ve known longer than you.”
Caroline took the change and picked up her tray. “All I’m saying is that you seem like a really nice person. He doesn’t deserve you. You really need to start asking questions about his loyalty toward you.” With that, she walked away.
My blood pressure spiked. I couldn’t breathe. Lucas went to plenty of Greek social events. I knew he drank, but I trusted him. I had to. I never questioned his faithfulness. But if he had cheated on me during the events, his brothers would never tell.
I began to wonder about the year we’d been together. If what Caroline said were true … Had I been that blind?
Maybe I had closed my eyes, not wanting to see the truth. Leah thought Lucas wasn’t good enough for me. Did she suspect, or had she actually seen things?
I shivered, noting the time. Feeling sick to my stomach at the revelation unfolding, I wanted to vomit right then and there. Five minutes until someone else would take over my shift.
The floor began to spin. No air. No air. No air. Gripping the counter, I inhaled deep breaths. Then a gentle hand rested on my shoulder. Gus’s hand.
“Cammy. Go home. You’ve had a long day.”
I agreed and went home.
“What’s wrong, Cammy?” Leah asked when I entered. She took a step into her bedroom, but she came out and sat on the sofa instead.
I slammed the door behind me, plopped next to her, and told her everything.
“Do you believe her?” she asked.
“I don’t know,” I answered softly.
“The only way you’ll know for sure is by talking to Lucas. Except I doubt he would tell you the truth.”
I leaned back into the sofa and stretched my legs on top of the coffee table. “Are we still on for girls’ night out tomorrow?”
Leah’s eyes lit up. “We sure are. It’s been so long. I can’t wait.”
“Me too.”
Leaning my head onto her shoulder, I thought about calling Lucas but decided to wait until after tomorrow. Maybe I knew it would be our last conversation and I was stalling.
Chapter Sixteen
Party With Friends
Cammy
“Here’s to us.” Tiffany raised her beer bottle, her green eyes beaming. “We’re on the last stretch to graduation.
“Four years flew by so fast. I’m going to miss our girls’ nights out.” Julie frowned, her upraised arm holding a bottle next to Tiffany’s.
“Here’s to the future,” Vanessa said.
“I’m so happy and thankful for our friendship that got us through breakups, heartaches, and everything that was terrible,” Valerie added.
“We’ve all been through ups and downs the past four years, but our friendship stayed strong,” Leah said last.