Chapter Eleven
Camille
“Okay, travel safe now,” Jim said. He waved to Thomas and Liis with one hand, shielding his eyes from the bright, early morning sun with the other.
I helped him to his recliner, and then went to the kitchen to pour him a glass of sweet tea.
“It’s too bad they couldn’t stay. Taylor and Falyn will be here just in a few days,” he called to me.
“I know. It feels like they all keep missing each other. Did you tell Olive they’re coming in?”
“I did, she’ll be here after school. I know she’s been wanting to show Falyn her grade on that tri-fold project she had.”
“The one on the book Falyn suggested?” I asked, setting his glass on the small table next to his chair.
Jim chuckled. “Falyn helped her with the whole damn thing. Sent her graphics, research, talking points. Pretty cute how they’ve hit it off. As close as Olive is with Trenton, she’s Falyn’s mini me.”
“They do have the same hair and freckles.”
“And eyes,” Jim added, taking a sip.
“Well,” I perched my hands on my hips. “I have to get to work. Need anything else before I head out?”
“Nope,” Jim said, rocking back in his chair. “You’re a good egg, Cami.”
I kissed his cheek. “Call if you think of something.”
“Give Trent a hard time for me,” he said with a wink.
“Always do.”
“Now that’s just not true,” he said.
“See you tonight!”
I drove to Skin Deep, mulling over my conversation with Liis just a few nights before. We had to return to my house after that, to my husband, acting as if I didn’t know any of us could die at any moment. Trenton saw right through me, but we had the storyline of my awkward relationship with Liis to let him assume was the reason. Taylor and Tyler, and Falyn and Ellison had no idea how good they had it being so far removed from the mess Thomas and Travis had made, free of the constant facade, the lies, the worry. But they didn’t get to see Jim every day. I exhaled. That alone made it worth it.
“I’m here!” I called to the back, switching on the neon Open sign before heading to the kiosks to boot them up.
“We’ve got fuckin’ tea!” Hazel said as she appeared from the hall. Her hair was in tight Dutch boxer braids, her round, blue sunglasses somehow not impeding her lash extensions.
“Those things could be an extreme sport,” I said, pointing at her eyes.
“My sister is learning to do lashes and I’m letting her practice, ya hateful ass. Listen to this…”
“Not yet!” Trenton said, jogging from the back, with Beck and Sylvie trailing behind. He held several stapled papers in front of my face. “It’s done. Our Stalking No Contact Order was approved.”
“SNCO is what they called it. You know, if you want to sound official,” Hazel said, pointing to the front sheet.
I read over page one, bristling at the sight of our names being listed so close to Madison’s. When I got to the bottom, I gently eased the stack out of Trenton’s hand to scan over the rest.
“Say it,” Hazel said, pushing her glasses up her nose.
“Say what?” I asked.
“What we all know you’re thinking,” Sylvie answered.
I handed the papers back to Trenton. “That it’s a relief.”
Hazel wrinkled her nose. “Bishhh, that’s not what you’re thinking.”
“Please, Hazel,” I deadpanned, “tell me what I’m thinking.”
“That crazy people don’t follow rules. That girl is Full Mental Jacket. A piece of paper is not going to stop her.”
Trenton made a face. “She’s not even in town anymore. I’m trying to make Cami feel better, so quit shittin’ all over it.”
Hazel was unfazed, but this time Sylvie spoke up, “Better she shit on it than you get complacent. Maddie hasn’t yoo’d her last hoo, believe that.”
Hazel pointed at Sylvie and nodded in agreement. “She’s probably stabbing her Cami doll with pins as we speak.”
“What the hell, Hazel. Who left crumbs in your panties this morning?” Trenton said with a frown.
Hazel pulled her glasses down an inch to glare at him. “It’s not a question of who, it’s when. And you know what I’d be when it happened? Prepared for it.”
“Holy fucking yellow penguin, you’re on one today,” Trenton said, still frowning.
Hazel kissed at him.
I stared at Beck and Sylvie. “You don’t have appointments for four hours. Why are you here?”
“Hazel said there was news. We were on our way to breakfast.”
I glared at Hazel. “You have Freya in ten,” I said as I glanced at the screen, impatiently waiting for the scheduling software to load.
“Copy that,” Hazel said, turning on her heels for the hall.
“She watches serial killer documentaries to relax,” Trenton grumbled, staring at the mouth of the hallway where Hazel, Beck, and Sylvie filtered out of sight.
I clicked my mouse a few times and then turned to peck his mouth. “Ignore her. And congratulations to us. It definitely makes me feel better.”
He grinned. “Good.”
“Don’t forget, your brother and Falyn are flying in tonight.”
“As if Olive would let me forget. She’s texted me like ten times this morning. Was Dad doing okay?”
“He was sad to see Thomas and Liis go. He wanted them to stay until Taylor got here.”
“I hate that I missed seeing them off. Why can’t Cal schedule these damn meetings with that stupid business guru during office hours? It’s a waste of money. You’ve already improved this place a hundred-fold.”
“Everyone understood. Don’t sweat it.”
“It’s hard to watch him tell his kids goodbye. He’s not getting any younger, ya know. He misses having everyone home at once. I do, too. It gets harder and harder every year to get everyone together.”
“It’ll cheer him up to hear the No Contact Order was approved. I think he worries more than he lets on.”
“He probably knew before we did.”
“I have no doubt. Dax will be here soon to finish his sleeve.”
“On it,” he said, kissing the back of my neck before returning to his room.
The morning crawled by at a snail’s pace, but once Trenton and I finished our iced coffee and Target lunch date, the rest of the day zipped by. I finished the nightly audit while Trenton wiped down the surfaces and Hazel swept the lobby. Beck broke down the workstations, making sure every machine was cleaned and wrapped, while Sylvie restocked the ink trays and secured the supply shelves. Before long, we were packing up, exchanging see-you-laters, and heading out the door.
Once Sylvie and Beck left, Trenton seemed to be in a rush to lock up, but he stopped to kiss me first. “I’m going to check on Dad and then get a workout in, but I’ll see you at home later. Love you.”
“Love you, too,” I lilted, closing the cash drawer. The doorbell didn’t chime, so I looked up. “Are you leaving?”
Trenton made a face as if I should know better. “Since when do I ever leave you girls here alone?”
Hazel swished by, pretending to punch him in the gut before she pushed through the door, her face twisting with disappointment when he didn’t flinch.
I jingled my keys and picked up my pace, noticing Trenton fidgeting with impatience, eager to get to Jim’s. He brushed a quick kiss on my lips before stepping outside, waiting as I twisted the jagged metal into the lock.
“See you soon, gorgeous,” he said, jogging to his truck.
Just as I reached my car, a black Cadillac SUV pulled in next to it. I tried to hurry and get into the seat so I could lock the door, but a pair of hands grabbed my side.
“Hey!” Raegan screamed from behind me.
“Jesus! Ray!” I yelped, giggling after the momentary terror subsided.
She stood with me between our vehicles, grinning. “I was trying to get here before you closed. Drinks?”
“Is Trenton invited?”
“Duh. Follow me to that new wine bar… it’s called…”
“The Hickory Vine one?”
“Yes! They have that cute patio.”
I pulled out my phone to tap out a quick text to Trenton. “He’s stopping by his dad’s, hitting the gym, and then he’ll have to shower, but I’m sure he’ll be along if we’re still there.”
“Perfect! See you there,” she said, winking at me before turning for her car.
A few minutes later, Trenton called.
“You’re meeting Ray? When did you decide this?”
I chuckled. “She ambushed me in the parking lot.” After several seconds of quiet, I spoke again. “Are you there?”
“Yeah! Yeah, was just thinking I need to start walking you to your car like I used to when you worked at The Red. It could’ve been anyone. I don’t like that.”
“Is everything okay?” I asked.
“I just didn’t like the way I felt just then. It’s all good. I’ll try to hurry and catch up to you later.”
“Don’t rush. If you make it, great, if you don’t or you don’t feel like it, I’ll just see you at home.”
“I always feel like being with you, baby doll.”
The nickname he’d given me when we first began hanging out still gave me butterflies. “You are my favorite husband.”
He laughed. “Better be your only husband. See you soon.”
I turned toward downtown, my face stuck in an involuntary grin—the kind that comes when your crush becomes your forever.
The Hickory Vine was one of the newer spots in town, its exterior painted a crisp, modern white with sleek black trim that gave it a fresh, inviting feel. The patio was a charming mix of rustic and chic, draped with strings of Edison bulbs that cast a warm glow as dusk approached. Ferns lined the perimeter, their vibrant green adding a cozy, natural touch.
At the entrance, we were greeted with a friendly smile, the hostess wasting no time as she guided us to a metal table outside. The table’s black finish gleamed under the soft patio lights, and the chairs, though minimalist in design, had just enough padding to make you forget they were meant for style over comfort. It was the kind of place that felt effortless, but it was obvious that every detail had been carefully chosen to make patrons want to linger.
“I haven’t been here yet.” I scanned the patio. “It’s beautiful. How’s Wesley?”
“He prefers Wes, and he’s amazing as always.”
“You prefer Wes.”
She smirked. “So? I’m going to bring him here the next time he can come back with me. He’d love this place. My parents were telling me about it, so I wanted to check it out with you. We never came to places like this when we were roomies.”
I grinned. “We couldn’t afford it.”
“But they were still good times, ya know? I mean, there was drama, but the fun kind.”
“It wasn’t so fun when you were crying yourself to sleep every night over Brazil.”
Her face screwed into disgust. “Why do you insist on reminding me that I was ever in love with that dumpster fire? Did I tell you that when he got engaged, I kept waiting for it to hurt? It just… never did. Not even when I heard they’d ran out and had some weird hillbilly beach wedding just a couple of months later.”
“I didn’t know that you knew. I wasn’t going to tell you.”
“I found out from Lacey.”
I rolled my eyes. “Lacey never misses a chance to stir the pot.”
“They’d barely been together a year when he popped the question. Crazy, huh? Jason Can’t Commit is married.”
I smirked. “You know exactly why.”
“Her parents’ money, their country club membership at the most prestigious course in town, or he got tired of living in that hovel?”
“All three. Remember when you had to pay his way every time you went on a trip? Then he’d take pictures without you in them and post random beach photos to his social media as if he could afford a solo trip. Ew. He’s such a mooch. He surrounds himself with men who’ve actually done the work to make a name for themselves, taking pictures of himself riding in their private planes, impressing every conquest with a ride in their helicopters and weekends at their lake homes. He did it with every single one. He’s so unoriginal. It legitimately makes me cringe every time I see it.”
“I never told you, but around the time they started dating, Jason had started calling me again.”
“What?” I barked.
“I didn’t know… that they were dating. He made it sound like they were just friends. He’d found out I’d moved. For two months, he tried to meet up with me, wanting to know my address and pissed I wouldn’t tell him. He offered to drive out and meet up for drinks, for dinner, anything to see me.”
“All this time and you’ve never said a word! And you call yourself my best friend!”
“Because I don’t like thinking about him, much less talking about him. He was drunk every time he’d call, and he was calling me every night.”
“For two months? I’m surprised you didn’t block him.”
She shrugged. “It was entertaining, listening to him pout, whine, and beg.”
“Bullshit,” I said without hesitation. “That’s why you didn’t tell me, because you didn’t want to hear what you already knew.”
“Fine. You’re right. Some part of me hoped he’d changed, while also knowing he hadn’t.”
“But… you didn’t ask to work things out. I bet that bruised that gigantic ego of his. I’m proud of you.”
She waved me away. “Save it. I ran into him his birthday weekend.”
“Ran into him where? Here?”
“Yes, because if you’ll remember, his birthday is the day after—”
“Your mom’s! So, you were in town! Oh my God! Where was I?
“You were with Trent and Jim that night because Jim was sick.”
“You ran into Brazil that night? No wonder you didn’t tell me. We ended up taking the poor guy to the ER.”
“Focus, Cami. This is the part you’re going to lose all respect for me.”
“You didn’t.”
“I did,” she said, closing her eyes. “And during… you know… he whispered in my ear that he loved me.”
“Of course he did.”
“He begged me not to leave. He wanted me to spend the night, and I wish could say it was my idea, but Lacey had to get back. She was bored, stuck playing on her phone in the living area, so I left.”
I shook my head in disbelief. “After months of fending him off… I’m not disappointed in you. I’m disappointed for you. Wow, Ray. I didn’t think I could hate him more than I already did.”
“Yeah, well… the life changing moment for me was the engagement and wedding. I just… I can’t explain it. … I was just relieved that it wasn’t me.”
“And then you met Wes.”
She grinned, peace and pure contentment washing over her face. “And then I met Wes.”
I grinned back. She deserved someone like Wes after surviving the worst heartbreak of her life. Wes was her reward for not giving up over a man who never deserved her in the first place… and knew it. Raegan had given so much of herself to Brazil, without getting much back. They had their problems, but Raegan’s worst crime was asking to be treated well, for him to stop talking to other girls, to stop making her question his loyalty, and wondering if he was truly invested.
Brazil gave up on Raegan because he knew she’d never allow him to get away with his bullshit, and although that never stopped him from stringing her along, all while making her look crazy to his friends and family, he ultimately settled down with a woman who expected less. “People talk. You were too much for him, so he went out and found himself less.”
“Testify,” Raegan said, waving one arm high above her.
Wes had no issue with being challenged to be his best self. He didn’t feel criticized or nagged; he saw Raegan’s encouragement as belief in him, not an annoyance. He respected her for recognizing his potential. Wes understood what Raegan had been through with both Brazil and Kody, so from the very start, he was transparent and patient, knowing that when loved the right way, Raegan was nothing short of wife material. Their marriage was admired by everyone around them, with Wes’s friends constantly reminding him how lucky he was. Wes brought Raegan happiness, and it showed—she radiated confidence and joy. People couldn’t help but notice, and that admiration naturally reflected on Wes as a man.
Sure, Wes had been quite the player on and off Wrigley Field, but he knew what he had when he met Raegan. When she shared with him the story about Kody, she repeated her new favorite mantra, my future husband would never . Wes never forgot it. He knew she’d walked away from men she loved not just once, but twice, and he made sure he didn’t put himself in the position to lose her.
“What’s that look on your face?” Raegan asked, mirroring my smile.
“I’m just happy for you, Ray. Look at us. We once begged to be treated right, and somehow, we both ended up with a man who would rather cut off his own arm than make us cry.”
Her smile grew wider. “So,” she glanced at the menu, “what’s new? Have I missed anything?”
“Other than our stalker, nothing, really. Life has been pretty mundane, which is exactly how I like it.” I couldn’t mention the mess with Thomas and Travis, so there was no point in adding it to the average.
“How’s your mom?”
“Also good. Did Wesley get that promotion?”
She made a face. “Wes. He did, which is perfect timing. He talks about baseball all the time, but to watch him do it on television is going to be so weird. I’m so happy for him, though! It’s not unlike when he played. It’s a dream job, getting paid for doing what he already loves to do—not that he’d turn down that kind of money even if it wasn’t.”
I frowned, confused. “Perfect timing for what?”
The waitress brought us waters and silverware rolled in white cloth napkins. “Good afternoon, ladies! Have you been here before?”
We both shook our heads no.
She went into a spiel she’d said a hundred times before, going over their most popular appetizers, their signature drinks, and then waited for us to choose. “The red blend sounds amazing. I’ll go with that.”
She looked to Raegan, who didn’t take her eyes off me.
“I’ll just stick with water, thank you. Oh,” she finally looked up at her, “and go ahead and bring us the burrata plate, please.”
“You got it,” she said. “I’ll leave the menus in case you’d like to add to it.”
“Thanks.” I watched her leave, then narrowed my eyes at Raegan. “Perfect timing, and you don’t order wine?”
Her eyes immediately filled with tears. “That’s why I came home. I couldn’t just tell you over the phone.”
“You’re pregnant?”
She nodded, a tear escaping from one eye and falling down her cheek.
“Why are you crying? That’s amazing news!” I exclaimed, standing.
She stood, too, and we squeezed each other tight. “I just… I didn’t want to hurt you,” she said quietly. “You’ve been trying so hard, and…”
I leaned back. “Ray…” I shook my head. “This is exciting! There’s nothing hurtful about it! I’m so happy for you!”
“I know,” she said, using her sleeve to wipe her cheek and dab her nose. “I know you are, but still…”
I hugged her again. “Don’t you dare feel anything but absolute joy. Do you hear me?”
She nodded.
I was. I was so incredibly happy for her, but she knew as well as I did that every time someone close to me announced a pregnancy, there was an unavoidable pang deep in my heart. I wanted to make that announcement; I wanted my friends to be able to tell me they were expecting without worrying how it would make me feel. And then the anxiety and the overthinking about my expressions, worried the genuine smile I felt would seem forced. Was I trying too hard? I was, but I didn’t know how not to. It was a necessary-unnecessary act, and it never got easier. Too many conflicting emotions, all at once, each time, and Raegan of all people knew exactly what I was feeling in that moment. We’d talked about it too many times to count.
Of all the conversations we’d had, Raegan wasn’t the one announcing a pregnancy. She’d reassure me the soon-to-be-mom’s joy wouldn’t be affected. And there she was, her beautiful eyes glossed over, because it hurt her to hurt me. Neither of us wanted me to feel that way, and it was ninety-nine percent happy and one percent longing. But it was one interaction I could never get quite right, and that only added to the never-ending shame of infertility.
“Don’t overthink it,” she said as we both returned to our seats.
“Ray, I’m fine. Please don’t make this about me.”
“You don’t have to smile the entire happy hour. I know you’re happy for me. I also know you’re processing a million things right now.”
I took a deep breath and relaxed. She had no idea how comforting her words were.
“So, tell me all the details, and don’t leave anything out.”
“Three months in. Wes is over the moon. He’s such a softy.”
“How long do you think Kody will cry when he hears the news?”
Raegan leaned in. “He should’ve thought about that before he gambled away our savings account. I loved him, but my future husband would never .”
I shook my head. “I’d have killed Trenton. Just think, if you hadn’t broken up with him and taken that job in Lake Forest, you would’ve never been in that coffee shop to meet Wes.”
“He’s six foot six, with all the charm of a professional athlete and that smile? Couldn’t miss him.”
“You could if you still lived in Eakins. The Chicago Cubs don’t frequent here.”
“True.” She looked down the street, lost in her thoughts.
“And now look at you, a happily married suburban housewife and mother, all because you made space to get what you deserve.”
She smiled at me. “We both did pretty well for two bartenders getting yelled at by obnoxious college kids every weekend.”
“We sure did.”
We munched on the burrata and giggled about stories, old and new, watching people be seated, enjoy their time on the patio, and then pay their checks and leave, their tables cleared and new people seated to start the process over. The hanging lights seemed to glow brighter as the sun set, and just as the conversation in our little corner began to wind down, my husband rushed over and grabbed a chair from a neighboring empty table, sitting with a huff and a smile. He smelled freshly showered, wearing a clean sage-colored T-shirt and his favorite jeans.
“You made it!” Raegan said, standing to hug him.
He stood quickly and then sat down again, leaning over to kiss my cheek. “What’d I miss?”
“Everything,” Raegan said, grinning. “Tell him,” she said, knowing it would be easier coming from me.
“Ray’s knocked up,” I blurted out.
His eyes danced between us, checking my expression more than once. Raegan had planned it perfectly. I’d had time to process so Trenton didn’t have to worry how best to comfort me. “No way, really? That’s awesome. Congrats, Ray!”
“And one more thing that I wanted to say when you got here… Wes and I want you two to be his or her godparents.”
My eyes welled with tears, and no matter how hard I tried to hold them back, they cascaded down my cheeks. I hugged myself, leaning into Trenton who squeezed me against his side. “Oh, my God, Ray. Really?”
“Yes, really.”
Trenton looked at me and I nodded, and he returned his attention to Raegan. “Hell yeah. I mean, of course. We’re honored, Raegan.”
She grabbed each of our hands. “Thank you. Wes wanted to be here, but he just couldn’t get away and I couldn’t wait.”
“ Agh !” I stood.
Trenton and Raegan did, too, and the three of us hugged. “Who else would we ask but my best friend and a Maddox brother? No baby will be as loved or protected as this one.”
“Truth,” I said as she released me. I wiped the happy tears from my cheeks.
Trenton was still holding me to his side, all smiles.