About Last Night
ABOUT LAST NIGHT
CAM
Steam wafted out when Rachel emerged from the bathroom in a robe. She gaped at me as I rose from the sofa in the small living room of the suite. I had ordered a selection of late-night snacks from room service plus a few bottles of water since Rachel was going to have to pop some Benadryl. A hotel attendant had helped me make two homemade ice packs, and I had a bottle of cortisol cream and some cotton balls ready to go.
“You are amazing,” she said. “You’re amazing!”
“How are the bites?”
“Bigger and still itchy, unfortunately,” she said, glancing at her legs.
“Sit down,” I said, getting a cotton ball ready with lotion. I handed her some water and the Benadryl, which she gladly accepted.
She sat down on the chaise part of the sofa and pulled her knees up. “Thank you for getting some chow. I’m starving.”
“Yeah, leave it to Britt to take you out before we even had a chance to eat.”
“What did you get?”
I lifted the silver lid from a room service dish, revealing its contents. “Potatoes in many forms. I felt like this situation called for a festival of carbs.”
She threw her head back and laughed. “Sign me up then.”
I handed her a plate of fries. “You okay if I put lotion on your bites?”
“Yes, thank you.” Her eyes met mine. “I mean, I could do it, but I like making you work.”
“I’m really trying to get a promotion here. Trying to show you I can go the extra mile.”
“Oh really? What are you trying to get promoted to?”
“Chief operation namer.”
“I’ll take that under advisement.” She offered me a french fry, and I opened my mouth since my hands were busy. “I’m really sorry that you had to cut the evening short. I wanted to revel in you smiling at a wedding a little longer.”
“Although I wish you weren’t covered in welts, I’m not sad we left the party.”
Rachel made a muffled sound and pointed to the truffle tater tots sitting on the coffee table. “I have a question for you,” she said after swallowing several bites.
“Yeah? Go.” I opened my mouth again, and she tossed a couple of tater tots at me, which I caught in midair.
“Since you kind of enjoyed yourself at this wedding, do you think you’ll ever head to the altar again?”
“Nope,” I said, gently patting Rachel’s welts.
“So quick to answer? Not even, ‘Oh, only if I find the right person, or yes, but not right now?’ Just no ?”
“Pretty much. Can you lift up your leg for me?”
She slid her hands under her, closing the robe around her leg. “So no kids either?”
“Don’t think so,” I said with a shrug.
“So your plan is to stay single forever?”
“Like I said …” I patted a patch of bites by her ankle. “It’s easier.”
Though her legs were covered in tiny red welts, it still took every fiber of my being to concentrate on what Rachel was actually saying. Her superpower was maintaining her sexiness despite being dunked in the ocean with makeup on, and being attacked by fire ants. Scientists should study her.
She eyed me as I switched to the other leg. “Since when is easy any fun?”
“If easy is boring, but doesn’t ruin my life, I’ll take it.”
“Okay, the only thing you’re going to get promoted to is CEO of the worst attitude ever.”
“Come here,” I said, leaning in. “You’ve got a bite on your face right here.” I smeared a glob of lotion on the tip of her nose.
She giggled and wiped it off. “So rude.”
“And you,” I started, dabbing more lotion on a cotton ball.”You’re telling me after everything you’ve been through with Andrew, you still believe in love and marriage and that happily-ever-after nonsense?”
“You know …” Rachel glanced up at the ceiling for a moment, then back at me. “I do, and it’s not nonsense. I worry about trusting myself to not pick the wrong person, and yet I don’t want to be single forever.”
“Then I’m happy for you. I think I got them all,” I said, checking her over. “Feeling any better?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Tater me.” I opened my mouth and caught two in a row. I finished chewing and got up to wash my hands. When I returned to the sofa, Rachel was scrolling through the movie options. “You know, I’m pretty impressed at how you’ve handled all of this. If I were you, I’d be plotting my revenge on Britt this very moment.”
“It was tempting to grab her by the hair and drag her down the beach, but in the end, I still win.”
I plopped down next to her. “How’s that?”
“If I had flipped out on her, I would’ve shown her that she really got under my skin. Her actions show that she is really struggling with you looking like you’ve moved on and are happy. We are under her skin. She reacted out of jealousy and unhappiness. The cracks are showing. There’s hope to rescue your brother yet.”
“Rescue him? He made his choice,” I asserted.
“Yes, but who knows how Britt manipulated him into that decision. There’s a lot more to unpack here,” she said with a yawn. “I’m going to slip into my pajamas. Are you … are you hanging out?”
My cheeks flushed. “Do you want me to hang out?”
“I do. I mean, maybe we could watch a movie?”
“Sure, I guess I’ll go change as well. Should we make another pillow barrier so you’re not tempted to touch me?”
“Well, you blew up the last one to cuddle, so I don’t see the good it does.”
I laughed as I exited Rachel’s room, knocking on her door again five minutes later in my glasses, gym shorts, and a white T-shirt.
“Oh, hey,” she said, opening the door wide.
“Wait,” I said, pointing at her. Once again, her pajamas immediately caught my attention. “Are those bulldogs riding skateboards on your shorts?”
“The best.” She closed the door behind me.
We continued talking and laughing through most of a forgettable movie, until Rachel eventually yawned again and rested her head on my shoulder. “I think the Benadryl is finally kicking in. Adrenaline held it off for a while.”
“Makes sense.” I checked my phone. “It’s midnight. I better go.”
“You could stay if you want,” she said through another yawn. “I promise I’ll keep my hands to myself.”
I chuckled, and the tug of war between my better and my poorer judgment began in my mind. Rachel tilted her head up at me, her giant hazel eyes attempting to tear down every wall I’d built around my heart. Every part of my body wanted to stay and hold her all night.
But better judgment prevailed. “I really want to stay …”
A soft smile played on her lips.
“And that’s why I’m going to go.” I pushed myself up from the sofa, clearing the room service plates so I could set them out in the hall.
She sighed, opening the door for me. “Probably for the best.”
The next morning, Rachel encouraged me to head down to breakfast without her. She wanted another few minutes to get showered and packed. I didn’t mind at all. I had the absolute joy of watching her walk out into the outdoor seating area where I had been sitting with Jill and the rest of our family. The hot pink jumpsuit she donned hugged her curves in such a way that Jill jabbed me in the ribs to rouse me from my trance.
Several people stopped Rachel to hug her goodbye, which warmed my heart in many ways. My entire family had never gushed over Britt this way. That should have been my first sign that she wasn’t the woman for me.
“You got it bad, Romeo,” Jill said, taking a sip of coffee as we watched Rachel making the rounds.
I scowled at her. “What? I don’t have anything bad. Rachel is my friend, and we had a great trip despite Britt trying her best to spoil things. That’s it.”
“Uh-huh,” Trent said, winking at Jill.
Jill snatched my hand. “Promise me you’ll bring Rachel out to visit Trent and I.”
“Jill—”
“Promise!”
“All right, all right. If Rachel’s up for it, I would love to bring my friend out to visit you two.”
“Up for what?” Rachel said, hugging her way around our table.
“For a visit with Cam to see Trent and I in Miami.”
“I would love that!” Rachel said cheerfully.
My belly flopped and flipped when she sat down next to me and our arms grazed each other’s. We all laughed at breakfast until my sides hurt, and then it was time for Rachel and me to head to the airport.
Jill pulled me into a long hug before we left. “I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you came. I know it wasn’t easy.”
I squeezed her back. “It was easier with Rachel by my side.”
“I’m thinking having Rachel with you from now on might make the rest of your life easier.”
I rolled my eyes and released her.
“Just think about it,” she said, rubbing my arm.
And I did think about it. I thought about that statement all the way home during the rare moments of silence that passed between Rachel and me. The flights back to Phoenix were smooth and uneventful. Rachel still struggled with any turbulence, but holding her hand during takeoff and landings became a duty I happily accepted. I loved that my touch helped to calm her down every time.
When we arrived back at Rachel’s house, I helped haul her bags in, and after a few awkward smiles, we finally said goodbye.
“Thank you for being so great. For everything. I had a wonderful time.” She said, releasing me. “And I’m really proud of us. We could have easily taken a mulligan last night, and we stuck to the rules.”
“Yeah. That was fun and we did well.” I shoved my hands in my pockets. “I guess I’ll see … you around? Wait, you said there was a horrible cocktail party you wanted me to accompany you to?”
She laughed and looked at me for what felt like a really long time. “You know, I’m good. There’s no need to put you through that.”
My heart sank. “You sure?”
“Oh, yes. Laura texted and she and Emily are going now, so I’ll have lots of girl power for this one.”
I raked my hand through my hair. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
We exchanged another round of hugs and smiles before I finally closed her door and walked back to my car. The scent of her perfume lingered inside the Jeep, and I couldn’t help but glance at the empty seat next to me, missing her already.