Chapter 20
Cam
Watching Bowen in front of the mirror, I’m trying to wrestle my feelings.
He hasn’t really talked to me since Sunday when I came home super drunk.
Most of the time he pretends to be busy working on music, or with Noah.
I still need to thank Amira for getting me home safe.
I’m so embarrassed. I keep fucking up. “You look really good.” Bowen’s eyes scrunch in a scowl at me through the mirror. “What’s wrong?”
He sighs, shaking his head. “It’s nothing. Just nerves. That’s all.”
“Have you met this guy yet?” Ew, that tastes terrible. I don’t know why I’m so messed up about this right now. I want Bo to be happy, and this could be the path to that. After everything he’s been through with me he deserves this.
A knock sounds on his door. “Can you get that?”
Getting up, I walk to the door expecting just Noah—who is there—but what I don’t expect is the beautiful woman standing awkwardly with him. Opening the door, I smile at Amira. “Hey.”
“Hey.” She looks down at Noah, who is not-so-subtly glaring at her.
“Uh, sorry, don’t want to intrude, I just wanted to give this back to you.
” She hands me my sweatshirt. Not quite sure when I took it off, but I know how this looks.
Noah’s glare swings to me as I take it from her.
“I wanted to give you a few days to recover some of your dignity.”
I bark out a laugh then feel heat on the back of my neck, and turn to see Bowen subtly rolling his eyes. Okay, nothing fucking happened between us at all. Well, besides me getting absolutely ass-faced drunk. My head just stopped throbbing like an hour ago.
“Here, come in. They’re just about to leave.
” I let them both in—Noah, who storms past me to Bo, and Amira who does this awkward little rocking motion on her heels, not really knowing where she stands and why my best friend’s new friend is glaring at her.
Now that I think of it, why was he glaring at her?
“Sorry about the other night,” I say quietly.
She’s dressed in a pretty black dress that hugs her curves, and a jade necklace hangs around her neck. Her thick black hair is pulled up into a messy bun with her curtain bangs falling around her face.
She’s fucking stunning.
I look behind me and catch Bowen’s eyes on me in the mirror before they quickly look away.
“Oh, not the first drunken disaster I’ve experienced.” She laughs. Even her voice is pretty. “What’s going on?”
“We’re having a friend night at my house,” Noah answers. “Bo here has a hot date.” He glares at me. What the hell did I do?
“Ooh. Nice, Bowen! Good for you!” Amira smiles. “You look amazing. He’s a lucky guy.”
Yeah . . . so lucky.
“Why don’t you two come with us?” Noah smiles.
“What?” Bo and I say in unison.
“You sure?” I ask.
“Amira, with a dress that pretty and a figure that gorgeous you look like you need to be seen. And Cam, you look . . .”
“They’re probably busy,” Bo says softly.
“I’m not. I don’t have many friends here anyway. I’d love to if it’s okay with you two?” Amira asks us.
“Uh, I’m fine with it.”
“Me too,” Bowen says tightly.
“More the merrier.” Noah leans in saying something to Bo, who then rolls his eyes but shrugs. “Oh, and Amira! The six-foot-tall, broad-as-hell tattooed man with the gorgeous resting bitch face is mine. So hands off!” Noah says quickly. “Very taken. No fluttering those gorgeous brown eyes at him.”
Amira laughs, shaking her head. “I’ll do my best. What do you say, Cam?”
“Oh, Noah doesn’t have to worry, I don’t think I’m Jamie’s type.” I force a smile.
You know what, fuck it. Maybe Bo has the right idea. We both need to move on, and this is perfect. Amira is perfect. “That sounds great.”
So, so great.
Walking into Noah’s house, I follow them and take my shoes off at the door.
In the living room, Jamie’s sitting on a plush gray chair and drawing.
“Oh, hey.” He lifts his head up, kissing Noah as he walks by, and sees us.
Then his eyes land on Amira. “Oh, uh . . .” He stands, straightening out the red T-shirt he’s wearing.
“Uh-uh, no preening for the pretty woman!” Noah glares. “Your boob days are over!”
Jamie sighs, walking over to me. “Hey, Cam.” He shakes my hand. “Bo . . . Sawyer and Hunter should be here soon.”
“And Mark,” Noah reminds him.
“Yes, and Mark.” Jamie blinks. “So excited,” he says flatly. “It’s nice to meet you . . . ? I’d tell you to run, but you’ve already crossed into the danger zone.” He reaches for Amira’s hand, giving it a soft shake.
She laughs. “Amira.”
“She owns a gallery downtown,” I say.
“Bo says you’re quite the artist.”
“He’s incredible,” Noah confirms. “And taken. Did I mention taken?”
“Are you drawing? I’d love to see some of your work?” Amira smiles.
“Yeah, sure. Uh, yeah. Sorry. I’m a little embarrassed. I haven’t painted for like five years and I’m a bit rusty. Trying to get back into it, really. Follow me.” Amira follows Jamie down the hall.
“Leave the door open!” Noah yells out. “Cam, your hot date better not steal my man. I just got a boyfriend and I am holding on with both hands.” He shakes his head. “My book boyfriends and girlfriends will not cut it after this. That man has ruined fantasy for me.”
A knock sounds at the door and Noah turns to grab it, letting Hunter and Mark inside.
An Asian man follows them in. He looks a bit shorter than I am, but under his dress shirt I see defined muscles, and his black hair is neatly styled.
He’s chewing on his full bottom lip. He looks like he wants to be literally anywhere else.
He’s handsome. Very, very handsome. “Hey, Bakery Booty.”
“Hi, Noah.” He slowly closes his eyes, shaking his head and taking a patient breath.
“Jamie made lasagna, and once he’s done with the beautiful woman in his room we can eat.”
The man’s brow cocks. “I’m not even going to ask.” His eyes flick to me, then to Bo.
Noah smiles, looping an arm through his. “Sawyer, this is Cam.” I hold my hand out, subtly noting the way his arm flexes under the shirt. “And this is Bowen.”
“Uh, hi.” Timidly, Bowen reaches out a hand. Something soft spreads across Sawyer’s lips, a delicate smile just for my friend, and I don’t like it one damn bit.
“Hi, Bo. Excuse me, I’m a bit nervous. It’s been a while since I’ve been on a date.”
“Oh, me too, like uh, ever.” He cringes. “Not that I wanted to admit I’ve never been on a date. Wow. Uh, and I’m still shaking your hand.” He pulls it back as Sawyer chuckles.
“Isn’t he adorable?” Noah sighs. “I am the perfect matchmaker.” Jamie walks in with Amira, both of them talking and looking at something on Jamie’s phone.
“He’s very talented.” Amira smiles at Noah.
“In multiple ways.”
“Okay Noah, that’s enough.” Jamie shakes his head, tugging Noah against his body and leaning down for a kiss. “How about we let our guests get into the house before we start to make them uncomfortable.”
“I was uncomfortable pulling into your driveway,” Hunter says.
“Really?” Mark asks Hunter. “I felt it when we turned down the street.”
“Remember when I threw up on your pillow in college? I’ve been uncomfortable pretty much nonstop since then,” Sawyer adds.
This is going to be an interesting night.
“So, Bowen. What do you do for work?”
“I’m a musician. I play piano for a couple of restaurants. It’s not glamorous or anything, but I like it. I just like playing for people.”
“Wow, that’s incredible. I’d love to hear you play.”
“He’s amazing. His voice will put you right to sleep.” I look up, realizing what I said. “Not that it’s boring. I mean . . . I meant that it’s comforting. He sings to me a lot.” Oh my god, stop talking. “I’m . . . I’m going to shut up now.”
Bowen shakes his head, but I see a slight smile. “He’s right, though. There was a—” His eyes meet mine. “I mean, like, when we were in high school, there was a time where he wasn’t sleeping. I had to literally sing him to sleep.”
What he means to say is that my father went to jail and I was in this weird spot of missing him and hating him at the same time. I’ve yet to balance the two. “I was going through some shit,” I say.
“What happened?” Noah asks, then catches Jamie’s eyes before rolling his own. “Only if you want to share. I always forget that part.”
“Uh, well, my father went to prison, and I had to stay with Bowen’s family,” I say quietly.
“I love Bowen’s parents and sister, but it was an adjustment.
” I’d spent days angry with myself. If I hadn’t freaked out and run to the Zhao’s, they never would have called the cops.
I couldn’t help it. The guilt ate away at me.
It had been two days since he’d broken my arm and it was starting to swell.
I looked online to see what I could do at home, but that led me down a tunnel of doom—infections, blood clots, if it could go wrong and lead to my demise I read about it.
Then I ran to their house and told them I broke my arm.
The thing that’s crazy now, looking back, is that I didn’t realize how it was going to go.
I was so used to the abuse that I thought I was going to go to the hospital, get checked out, and I’d just go home to my dad.
Up until then I didn’t really understand that what he’d been doing was abuse.
I thought that’s just how it was. Who he was. How most families were.
Bo’s mom took me to the hospital, and that’s when everything came out.
The X-rays not only showed my broken arm, but the years of hidden abuse I’d suffered.
My father was called in for questioning and didn’t even deny it.
Part of me wonders if he just wanted it to end, that he wanted to get help.
“You okay?” I hear Noah ask, but he’s looking at Jamie who’s watching me.
“Oh, yeah. Sorry. Got spacey there.” He tries on a smile.
“So, Bowen is your personal white-noise machine, then.” Amira smiles, but the gesture is off as she attempts to cut the tension. “That’s cute.”