Chapter 27
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Cam
I roll over and stare at a sleeping Fletcher. A weekend turned into two weeks. Drew has asked me repeatedly when I plan on coming home or if we’re heading out to Las Vegas to get married at a chapel with a singing Elvis impersonator.
I get up and grab my phone. Heading to Fletcher’s kitchen to make coffee in his professional-grade machine. I can’t believe he has the same one I have at the café in his freaking kitchen.
It’s three forty-five in the morning. I set my alarm extra early so I can text Max back. I set my phone on the island while I wait for the coffee machine to do its thing.
I look down and see my apartment group chat has been busy since I last checked.
Hutch: I had Kasen double-check the video I got. It might be a person, but it also might be a deer ass. I can’t tell. Kasen’s sending it out to some friends to see if they can make it less grainy.
Bray: For the love of all things, can you just let it go?
Hutch: NEVER!
Carly: Mr. Wilkins down at one-oh-one, says he heard that someone saw Mr. Kennison out by the bench before sunrise.
Roxy: Well, I heard from Mrs. Gansely that Mrs. Hubbins saw Mr. Totley walking by there with Mrs. Garrison. But that was like at ten something yesterday morning.
Gray: I’m on Team For the Love of All Things. Seriously, why do we care?
Hutch: Because we need answers.
Gray: (eye-rolling emoji)
Bray: (forehead-slapping emoji)
Drew: The real question is why none of Hutch’s motion-sensor cameras are working properly. Like, dude, seriously, send that shit back.
Al: You kids crack me up.
Margie: They really do. It’s so sweet. But I also really want to know.
Cornelia: Have we ever considered the person doesn’t live around here?
Hutch: Yep. That’s theory number twelve.
Jessa: We have a theory numbered list?
Troy: Jess – did you miss that happy hour?
Jessa: I guess so.
I giggle and then slap a hand over my mouth, trying to be quiet.
I hear the coffee machine start and I get out milk to froth. I glance down and see a missed text from Kasen. I frown. Kasen doesn’t text that often. I click on it and go through some encryption app and read.
Kasen: My friend Jack came through. I’m sending you an encrypted text chain between the McDowell brothers now.
I will say the text chain discussions about you end abruptly a few days ago.
They were looking for ways to get information from you and close the café.
That was part of why Fletcher was at the competition. Tread carefully, Cam.
What?
I click on a link from Kasen and go through another encryption app and then finally see a string of text messages. I read and read, and I feel myself growing angrier by the minute. What the fuck?
He’s correct. All discussions about me stop right after the competition ended. Does that mean he got what he needed? Is he leading me on? What the hell?
Memories of all the sweet things he’s done for me over the past two weeks flood my mind like a tsunami. Was any of this real?
I see one last missed message. Max. We’ve been texting off and on over the past two weeks. He keeps telling me that Fletcher sounds like the one. Usually Max is right.
Max: I’m serious, E. I know you two had a rocky start, but give him a chance. It sounds like he’s trying to figure out a way you both can succeed in your businesses and stay together. That’s not an easy feat. I still think you should give him a chance. People change, E.
I roll my eyes. Right. People change. I’m an idiot.
I dump my half-drunk coffee into the sink and place the mug in the dishwasher. Part of me, the immature part, wants to leave it all out. He does have staff that clean.
I tiptoe into the bedroom and grab my bag from Fletcher’s closet.
I’m done playing games. Why wouldn’t he have just told me this?
If he’s hiding it from me, he must still be trying to get information from me.
I mean, I was trying to get information from him too, but that was before the competition.
He was still texting during the competition.
I frown as I consider this, but in the end, I decide I can’t trust him.
I take my clothes off hangers and out of the one drawer I’ve been using these last two weeks.
I grab my toiletries from the bathroom, and I take one final look at the sleeping Fletcher McDowell.
He’s on his back, his perfect abs on full display. I hate that he’s so gorgeous.
I turn on my heels and head out the door and away from this man who I clearly can’t trust. A small part of me feels a pang of guilt.
Maybe I should have spoken with him. No, I did teasingly tell him last week that I was trying to find a way to rebrand myself differently than him; so I didn’t lie about looking into his company.
Now, I did leave out that little detail about Kasen searching them up, but that’s a small detail.
The memory of last week comes back to me.
“So, how were you planning to leave my business in ruins?” he asks as we lie in bed, facing each other.
I blush. I feel like an idiot. “I was snooping around trying to figure out how you were going to brand, so I could do something different,” I admit.
“Oh, did you figure that out?” he asks, taking a strand of my hair and wrapping it around his finger.
“No, but don’t think I won’t keep trying,” I tease as I poke his chest. He tugs on my hair, and I scoot closer to him.
“We aren’t going to have to worry about that anymore,” he assures me.
“No?” I ask as I press my lips to his.
“No, Tanner. There’s no more competition between us, except in how well we can please each other in bed,” he replies with a laugh and tickles me. “Come here, Hollywood.”
“Why Hollywood?” I question with a grin.
“You’re going to be famous with the show airing. You were a natural behind the camera,” he explains.
I laugh and he rolls me underneath me.
Was his statement about not competing anymore because they have a plan to put me out of business? I scowl at my own stupidity. I shouldn’t have trusted him.
* * *
I leave Adriana to close. She’s showing my new employee, Julie, the ropes. I can’t believe I hired another employee.
I wave bye and walk across the street with my bag slung on my shoulder. I look down and see a dozen missed texts from Fletcher.
Fletcher: Where’s your stuff?
Fletcher: You know you can use my washer and dryer.
Fletcher: Cam. What’s going on?
Missed call from Fletcher.
Fletcher: Answer me!
Fletcher: I’m so pissed right now. You better answer me!
Fletcher: Cam, please answer!
Fletcher: ???
Another missed call from Fletcher.
Fletcher: I’m texting Drew.
Fletcher: Can you at least text Drew?
Missed call from Drew.
Drew: Uh, what the fuck is up? I’m at work. Guess it’s a lime in the coconut night.
Fletcher: Hollywood, please call me.
Fletcher: Cam, please call me.
Another missed call from Fletcher.
Fletcher: Damn it, Cam. I have a meeting I can’t miss. I’ll meet you after you close.
I sigh and shove my phone back in my pocket as I walk up to my apartment. I sling my overnight bag over my shoulder and contemplate what to do next.
I don’t even get my key in the lock before Drew has the door open. He’s holding a margarita with a lime wedge and salt on the rim.
“I think you need this,” he states as he takes my bag from me. I walk inside and am greeted by Carly, Piper, Roxy, Margie, Jessa, Jocelyn, and Cornelia.
I’m so tired that instead of being happy to see all my friends, I just burst into tears.
“Oh shit, I told you this was a bad idea,” Cornelia says as Carly pulls me into a hug.
“N-no,” I stammer as I sob. “I’m j-just tired and…why’d h-he have to be so g-great.”
Carly pats my back. I pull away and wipe my eyes. I hate crying and I really hate crying in front of people.
“Sit down. It’s therapy cocktail hour. Lay it on us, kid,” Margie insists as she pats the sofa next to her.
I sit down and sip my margarita, letting myself take a few deep breaths. I suppose if I can’t tell these ladies, and Drew, about what’s happening, then who can I tell?
“Kasen found texts between Fletch and his brothers. Fletch told them he would join me at the competition, so he could spy on me and get dirt that would help them take customers from me,” I explain.
“Did Kasen get any dirt on their branding plans?” Drew asks, inquiring about my original ask of Kasen.
I shake my head. “No. And you know what, I did sort of tell Fletcher that I was looking into his company, but he never once mentioned spying on me. If he had been upfront, then maybe I wouldn’t have cared so much, but this…
it just felt like…I couldn’t trust him anymore.
” I sigh. “I’ve worked so hard to get the café up and running how I want it.
I really wanted to show Winston and my parents how far I’ve come and that I can do this.
Then, I was going to focus on dating once I had the business set.
But like an idiot, I jump in bed with the first guy I’ve connected with in over a year. ” I groan at my stupidity.
Margie pats my shoulder. “Well, at least you figured it out now and not on your wedding night, dear.”
I glance over at her. “Uh, sure.”
“I found out my husband had been the town whore on our wedding night. That was eye-opening,” she says with a sigh.
“Oh, don’t listen to Margie. She was a big prude back then. Maybe Fletcher was going to tell you. Men are slow sometimes. You could give him a chance to explain himself,” Cornelia suggests.
I shake my head and drink more margarita. “I need some time to think about all of this.”
Jocelyn peers out the window. “Uh, I think your time is up. Fletcher just got out of a car and is walking up to the café.”
Shit. “Can we move this party to someone else’s place?” I ask. The last thing I need is to create a big scene in front of them all when Fletcher inevitably shows up at my door.
“Come on,” Margie says, standing and holding out her hand for me. I take it and we all walk to her and Cornelia’s apartment.
Drew stays at the door and I look back at him. “I’ll talk to him. I’ll be up shortly,” he assures me.
“Thank you,” I say as I hug him. He hugs my back.
“I’d do anything for you, kid,” he whispers.
I feel tears threaten again because I wish it was Fletcher saying those words.
I’m so pissed off at him. I was beginning to trust him, really trust him.
And then Kasen had to show me those text messages.
I’ve had boyfriends cheat on me in the past, and somehow, this feels the same if not worse.
It hits me like a ton of bricks as I pull away.
The reason I’m so upset over a relationship that is only a month old is that I have fallen for Fletcher.
That’s why I’m so upset. Damn it! I can’t believe I gave my heart away so easily.
Never again. I’m about to go on a man-hiatus. No more men. No more Fletcher.