28. Elias
Chapter Twenty-Eight
ELIAS
“Thank you,” Sandra said through the phone line.
“It was really no problem,” I replied, pausing to stuff my jacket in my backpack as I got ready to leave the plane hangar for the evening.
“I know you aren’t the father, and I’ll call as soon as we have the official results.”
“I hope this helps resolve the problems with Greg’s family.”
“It should.” There was a pause, and Sandra cleared her throat. “I know it’s been a while, and I can’t change the past, but I want you to know I’m sorry again.”
“Apology accepted,” I replied, meaning it. I had let go of what happened with Sandra, and perhaps I would always be a little bitter about my old friend’s involvement, but we all do stupid shit.
“Now, I hope you won’t let that hold you back from finding the right girl. Are you serious about that woman I saw you with?” she asked.
I thought about Cammi—her blue eyes, the way she somehow carried the subtle scent of flowers, her toughness underneath her sweetness, and the way it felt to hold her in my arms. “Yeah, I am.”
“Well then, I know you’re a good man, so take good care of her.”
With that, we ended the call, and I headed over to yoga class. When I drove by Misty Mountain Café and saw Cammi’s SUV, I resisted the urge to turn in and see how things were going. It had only been a few days, and I knew she needed space, so fucking dammit, I was going to give it to her.
The other afternoon, I’d gone to get another massage, consciously hoping that maybe, just maybe, Cammi would be there again. She wasn’t. The man who gave me the massage did a great job, but he was no Cammi. I was on my way to yoga now because Flynn asked us to go again. I didn’t mind, but it was fucking hysterical that Daphne had persuaded him to keep going to yoga classes.
Once again, I couldn’t help but be hopeful that perhaps Cammi would be there. No such luck. The yoga class was good, and I got to enjoy the sideshow of Diego struggling not to ogle the yoga teacher.
“Dude,” I whispered where I stood beside him. “She said to look forward.”
“Fuck you,” he muttered under his breath.
“I don’t think that’s very fitting right now,” I countered.
“Everything okay over here?” Gemma asked when she paused beside Diego.
“Yeah, Diego just had a question about the posture,” I offered. I couldn’t resist giving him a little hell.
Actually, maybe it was a favor. Because then Gemma helped him adjust into the posture in question. After class, we all headed back to the resort. It was a card night. Perhaps that wasn’t the best fit after yoga, but it was always good to chill out with my friends.
After a dinner that involved some kind of coconut Thai curry that Daphne whipped up, we decamped to the private apartment Flynn shared with Daphne and Cat.
“Where’s Cat?” I asked as I flopped down on one side of their sectional sofa.
“She’s spending the night with a friend,” Daphne called over. Diego sat down at an angle near me and Gabriel on the other end of the sectional. We were all beat this evening. It had been a busy few days of flying.
Flynn walked into the kitchen area, stopping beside Daphne to drop a kiss on the side of her neck. She smiled up at him. “I made you guys fresh brownies.”
“Sweet!” Diego called as he pumped his fist in the air.
“Please tell me there’s vanilla ice cream to go with them,” Tucker said as he sat down.
“Absolutely.”
“Did you make that too?” Tucker added dryly.
Daphne crossed over to rest her hands on her hips as she surveyed us where she stood by the coffee table. “I could, but I didn’t have time.”
“Where are you headed?” Flynn asked as she stepped into her clogs by the door.
Daphne glanced back. “Y’all are having your boys’ card night, so I’m going over to Nora’s cabin. We’re gonna have a girls’ night. We need more girls.”
“My sister’s coming next summer,” Tucker called.
“Awesome. That’ll make three of us, and there’s still six of you,” she said just as Grant stepped through the door.
“Six of who?” he asked.
“Boys who call themselves men,” Daphne teased. “All right, I’m outta here. Have fun.” She slipped through the door with a wave at the room in general.
Not much later, the entire pan of brownies and the entire gallon of ice cream were gone. In our defense, there were six full-grown men.
I leaned back in the corner of the sectional, resting my leg on it and experimentally rotating my foot.
“How’s it feel?” Diego asked from my side.
“Decent. I’ll take it. I don’t think I’ll ever be one hundred percent. When I get old, I’ll probably be able to gauge whether or not it’s gonna rain by this ankle, but it works.”
Diego chuckled as he set down his cards. “Any word?” he asked
“Word about what?” Grant chimed in from where he sat organizing his hand of cards.
I sighed. “You haven’t heard yet?”
“Heard what? I’ve been up in Anchorage for the last four days.”
“My ex showed up, and I had to do a paternity test. Don’t worry, there’s no chance I’m the father. It’s not official yet though,” I added when Grant’s eyes went comically wide.
“Not to sound stupid, but if there’s no chance you’re the father, why the hell did you have to do a paternity test? And what are you actually talking about?”
Flynn chuckled from where he sat beside Grant. Grant didn’t even know me when I’d been seeing Sandra.
“It’s old news. I needed to do the paternity test because the actual father died, but his family is disputing paternity because they don’t want her to get his survivor benefits. They claim I’m the father, and I’m not.”
Grant only looked more confused. I felt compelled to explain further. “It’s complicated. She was screwing around on me, I broke up with her, but she was already pregnant with the other guy’s kid when all that went down. That’s all.”
Grant took a long drag from his beer. He let out a sigh and shook his head. “Dude, you’re doing her a solid. After she screwed around on you, I don’t know if I could’ve done that.”
I shrugged. “Maybe. Shit happens. It’s not my kid, but I think it’s bullshit to keep the kid from getting survivor benefits. That only hurts the innocent party in all this.”
“When will you know?” Tucker piped up.
“Violet at the lab said probably five days. She told me it could be sooner but she didn’t want to make any promises because they have to send the samples up to the lab in Anchorage. I’m hoping to hear soon.”
“How is Cammi?” Flynn asked, his assessing gaze holding mine.
Gabriel played a winning hand before I answered. Flynn started to shuffle, because apparently that was his permanent job these days, before he prompted me again. “About Cammi?”
“We’re on pause. I guess,” I replied.
“Did she freak out about Sandra showing up like that?” Gabriel asked.
“Sorta. I think she understands the details now, but she said she needed a little space, so I’m trying to give it to her.”
The game moved along, and other conversations picked up. Diego looked over at one point and offered, “You’re not asking, but I’m not sure if you let Cammi know how you feel.”
“What do you mean?” A little hum of anxiety churned in my gut.
Diego gave me a long look. “Dude, it’s obvious to me you’re falling for her in a big way. I guess she asked for a break, and I think it’s good to give her a little breathing room. You tend to play your cards seriously close to your chest. Evidence for how often you win when you’re in the mood. But, now is not the time to play things cool.”
If there was a heartbeat in our tight group of friends, it was Diego. He was the emotional core of our group and intensely loyal. I didn’t doubt that if and when he ever fell for anyone, it would be like a ton of bricks falling from the sky.
“I’m not playing it cool. I told her I thought we had something,” I insisted.
Diego rolled his eyes, and Flynn must’ve heard the end of that. “Dude, saying you “have something” is the kind of thing people say when they’re fishing around for dates on those apps. You’re about to go up in flames with Cammi whenever you’re near her. I think you need to do a little bit more than say you think you have “something”.” He emphasized his point with air quotes around something.
Diego chuckled, lifting his chin toward Flynn in acknowledgment. “My point exactly.”