Chapter 5
CHAPTER 5
R un-Ins
Maribel
“Are you making friends?” my mother asks on the other end of the phone.
“A few,” I reply as I check both ways before crossing the street.
She continues to happily chew my ear off. She sounds so excited to hear from me. I didn’t realize how much I needed this call.
This morning, I needed to go for a run after all that food we ate last night. I woke up still feeling stuffed. I also had a lot on my mind I wanted to get rid of.
This neighborhood is so nice for jogging. The air was crisp this morning, doing the job I needed. Once I finished my run, I decided to make my way to the grocery store to stock the apartment up.
My cousin doesn’t care about the things I eat or use as it all goes to waste while she’s gone anyway, but I don’t want to become a leech. I’m going to replace everything we’ve eaten and get food of our own. Taylor gave me some cash before I left out.
I had asked her if she wanted to come along, but she was too busy texting with Joelle about some party next weekend and trying to find one to get into tonight. I don’t take her for much of a runner, but I thought maybe she would be open to shopping with me. I would have gone shopping first if she had come along.
However, I was happy to have the time to myself. I got to clear my mind and called my mom to talk to her for a bit. She’s been chewing my ear off for the last twenty minutes.
“Okay, Mami. I’m going to go. I’m at the store now,” I say into the phone.
She sighs on the other end. The disappointment clear through the phone. In my mind, I can see the sadness in her eyes. We’ve been trying to work on our relationship.
It’s something I wish I would have done before I left. I know I hurt her when I went looking for my father. In hindsight, I get that I didn’t understand everything about their relationship and why she felt she needed to keep me from him.
I’m trying my hardest to see past that. My mother has always been there for me. I had been a fifteen-year-old brat and I’m regretting that now.
If I could rewind time, I would smack my younger self and give my mother the biggest apology I could. I hope I have all boys because if not, I’m in for some shit. I had such a hard head.
“I love you, Mina. Be safe. Call me any time you need me. You know I’m here for you,” she says, pulling me from my thoughts.
“I know, Mami. I love you too. I’ll call you soon.”
I hang up and tuck my phone away. Then I grab a cart to get this shopping done so I can go home and shower. I run through my list in my head as I try to figure out the lay of the store, being it’s my first visit here.
Turning into the frozen food aisle, I pause when I see none other than Cam standing there just glaring forward. I think to turn and find anyplace else to be, but there’s something in his posture that makes me want to at least see if he’s okay.
I stroll closer slowly. He’s so deep in thought he doesn’t turn to acknowledge me. I take him in from head to toe, wondering what’s on his mind.
“Cam?”
He turns to me eerily slow with a hard look on his face, his blue-gray eyes clouded over. The look causes me to take a step back at first. The moment he recognizes me, a smile comes to his face and his eyes soften.
“Amina, right?”
“Yeah, hey. Everything okay?”
“Yeah, just doing a little shopping before my brother gets home.”
He says the words but immediately looks as if he said too much. He clamps his mouth shut and runs a hand through his full hair.
“Your twin, right?”
“Yeah, you checking up on me?”
His smile changes to that cocky one I know him for. It says he knows he’s gorgeous and could charm his way out of a paper bag. I don’t miss the way his gaze takes me in.
My belly drops and starts doing all sorts of weird things. It dawns on me how gross I must look. I begin to shift from foot to foot.
For the third time, I’m standing in front of this guy looking like a hot mess. He probably thinks I’m so slob. I’ve got to start coming out of the house looking better. This is insane.
“Dude, I didn’t know who you were until last night. My friend told me about you and your brother.”
“What about my brother?” he bites out.
I shrug. “You guys play baseball. Supposedly you’re both a big deal. Look, I should go. You have a good one, okay?”
“Wait, I’m sorry. That came out wrong. You have time for coffee or a quick bite?”
I war with whether coffee would be a good idea. He seems like he could use someone to talk to. I’ve been there, needed that.
However, my situation is complicated, and I don’t think hanging out with this guy is going to help with that any. Cam is … yeah, I’m not going there. This guy is a problem waiting to happen.
“Sorry, I need to get this shopping done and head home. I need to get cleaned up from my run.”
He stares at me for a moment. It’s like he’s looking through me. His blue-gray eyes are so intense. I don’t realize I’m holding my breath until he speaks.
“Some other time then,” he says. He then goes to walk by me and leans into my ear. “You know it’s meant to be. We keep running into each other. The next time, I’m not taking no for an answer.”
With that, he walks off, leaving me standing with my cheeks warm and my mouth hanging open. All kinds of butterflies are swarming in my belly. My skin tingles where his breath fanned.
I noticed last night that a tingle ran up my arm when I shook his hand. I tried to ignore it. But there is no ignoring him today. I turn to look after him and find him staring at me with a smile on his lips.
He shakes his head and turns to disappear. I stand, not having a clue why I came up this aisle in the first place. This guy has fried my brain.
“What the entire fuck?” I breathe.
I need to stay away from him. Another guy isn’t my solution to my Dez problem. I don’t want to drag anyone into my mess.
Shaking my head clear, I get back to my shopping. Cameron Perry is the last thing I need on my mind. What I need is to keep my focus.
I snort at that thought as I have to move on to start my shopping in another aisle until I can remember what I need from this one. My phone rings, startling me from my thoughts. I pull it out to see it’s my dad.
Rolling my eyes, I ignore the call and continue with my shopping. I’m not in the mood for any of the drama back home. Once the phone stops ringing, it begins to buzz.
This time, when I glance at the screen, I see it’s a text from Taylor. She’s inviting me out to a party tonight with Joelle and her brother Joey.
Joey is her twin, which makes me think of Cam. I wonder why he became so defensive when I mentioned his brother. I probably could have found out if I had taken him up on his offer for coffee.
I sigh at my wayward thoughts before texting Taylor that I’m in. A few hours of dancing and forgetting about everything else might be fun. Lord knows I need to unwind.
I have some reading to do for class next week, but a few hours to let my hair down isn’t going to hurt. Heck, if I don’t figure something out, I’m going to be a wife in four years. I might as well have some fun now.
But you’re not getting married. Don’t even entertain the thought.
Cameron
How does a girl I’ve never seen in more than workout gear or loungewear have my mind in such a chokehold? I haven’t been able to get her off my mind since seeing her this morning.
“God knows I’ve tried,” I mumble to myself under my breath.
My thoughts of her are so strong I have to speak out loud before my brain explodes. I could tell she was uncomfortable as she fidgeted, but why? She was adorable in her running gear.
That messy bun is cute on her and shows off her face and neck. I’ve never seen a girl look so enticing with no makeup and running clothes. She smelled amazing even through the light scent of sweat.
Had she accepted my offer to coffee, I would have made it my business to make sure we kissed before parting. Her lips are mesmerizing. I bet they would feel amazing against mine.
“What’s that?” Dakota asks, looking up from her seat on the floor. She’s been down there with notes, textbooks, and her syllabus surrounding her for the last hour.
“Nothing, I’m talking to myself.”
We have always been close with our cousin Dakota. We’re only a few months apart and since Uncle Rusty and Aunt Judy have been such a big part of our lives, so has she. If you find us somewhere, Dakota is usually right there with us.
We never asked her to come to college with us. She sort of told us she was coming. I thought she would move in with us, but she opted to go into the dorms.
It’s her college experience too, so I can’t be mad at that. She’s been here helping us to make the place a home as much as she can. My brother has a great support system outside of my mama. Daddy has gotten better over the years, running interference with Mama like I do with everyone else.
My phone pings with another text from my teammates. They’ve been group texting about going to a party tonight. Caleb has already begged off, but he wants me to go.
I don’t want to leave him here alone. Yeah, I need to lay the groundwork with our team members, but I want to make sure Caleb is fine on his first night home.
My mind wanders back to Amina. I wonder if she has friends on campus. Will she be at some party tonight?
I clench my fists at the thought. I’m sure all the guys will be tripping over themselves to talk to her. She’s superhot.
Those long, toned legs, her cute, full ass, those plump, full breasts, and her gorgeous face—a total ten. I had asked her out before I gave myself time to think about it. Something about her keeps drawing me in.
Last night, when Kay said we should take a break, I was hesitant. I thought that would only complicate things more. When I didn’t agree right away, she took that as a no and initiated sex.
I knew I should have stopped things, but I wanted to forget the drowning feeling that came over me. I also love sex. Kay knows just what I like.
However, this morning, she was gone, and there was a note. She said she thought it best to give it a few weeks. That our friendship was the most important thing.
I have mixed feelings about that. Seeing Amina stirred something within me. I’ve started to wonder all the more if Kay and I even belong together.
If our friendship is the most important thing, shouldn’t we protect that by remaining friends? Amina made me think about the options I could have. The concern in her eyes spoke to me. For once, someone cared about how I felt.
“Cam, you should go to the party with the guys. I’ll be okay,” Caleb says from his spot wrapped up in a blanket on the couch.
He’s been there all day since Daddy bought him home. I made him a sandwich and his favorite snack. We’re eighteen. It doesn’t take much to please us.
I know my brother is happy sitting here watching movies all night. He won’t miss going out to some party. Although, I can go to feel the guys out and figure out who Caleb will be able to vibe with—if anyone.
It will allow me to know who I can bridge relationships with for him. I can always weed out the assholes. To pull this off for the next four years, I need to be strategic.
“You sure?” I ask, still not convinced.
“Yeah, I’ll be fine.”
“I’ll be here with him,” Dakota says.
I drag a hand down my face, still not persuaded that I should go. To be honest, I wouldn’t mind staying in to get some much-needed sleep.
Thomas comes out of the bathroom and sits down next to me. This guy has been my best friend for as long as I can remember. He’s more like a brother than a friend.
I never have to ask him for anything because before I open my mouth, it’s already done. I can always count on Thomas. That’s never been a question.
He looks around, seeming to read the room. I’m sure he heard some of the conversation through these thin-ass walls. Either way, I’m sure he’ll be down to do whatever I decide.
“So we’re going?”
I snort. “I guess so.”