Chapter 25
CHAPTER 25
W ho Is She?
Kayleen
My stomach is twisted in knots. I sit deep in my feelings as the game is in full swing. I try to cheer and look like a good girlfriend, but her words have been ringing in my ears.
Oh, so nice to meet you. I’m Maribel, Cameron’s future wife.
I don’t know if it’s jealousy on my part or the ring of confidence she had in her tone. She is beautiful in that exotic way black women have about them. I believed her more when she said she was Cam’s future wife than I did when she said she was far from his type. The girl I stole him from looked more like her than me.
“You okay?” Dakota asks as she places a hand on my arm.
“Mm-hm. I’m fine.”
“I’m sure she was only teasing. Don’t look so upset.”
“I’m not,” I say harsher than I mean to.
“Oh my God, yes, Cam. Let’s fucking go,” Maribel screams, cutting off my next words to Kota.
I focus on the field. Cameron has hit a home run, and the crowd is going crazy. However, it’s Maribel’s voice I hear the most, not because she’s in my row or because she’s louder than everyone else, but because, for once, I’m not confident that what’s mine is safe.
Who is the girl?
Cameron
“Oh my God, why do I keep running to the bathroom?” Joelle groans as she jumps up.
“Maybe because you’ve been drinking up all their damn beer like you don’t have any home training,” Maribel calls after her. “Or you’re doing some weird shit in their bathroom like smelling their towels or some shit.”
“I’m going with option number two,” Taylor giggles.
I snort a laugh and shake my head. I switched to water a while ago. I may smoke and drink more than I used to, but I never overdo it.
Besides, the tension in this place could be cut with a knife. I could have strangled Kota when she invited Nicole and all her friends over to my place after the game. I’ll admit, Amina is on one tonight.
However, I don’t think she’s joking to be mean—that’s not her vibe. I know her well enough to know it’s one of her quirks. Not to mention, she’s dialing it down when it comes to Kay.
I’m starting to see it as more of a nervous mechanism. This shit is uncomfortable for her and her way of coping is her sarcasm.
I’ll be honest, I’m not helping. I’ve been matching her energy all night. It’s hard not to.
“Oh my God, you’re like the female version of Cam,” Kota laughs, shaking her head.
“That all depends. When’s your birthday, Perry? If I’m older, he’s a male version of me. I would be the original.”
I smirk because she already knows my birthday and that I’m older. Besides, she was skipped a year. I have a full year and change on her, given that her birthday is in October.
“We were born in April,” Cal answers before I can.
He’s been trying to stay involved in the conversation all night. Although he’s been distracted by Nicole, and Maribel’s sarcasm has given him a challenge, I haven’t missed Nicole helping him.
Nicky has fast turned into one of my favorite people. She’s replacing me as one of the most important people on his team. I had thought I would be jealous if this day ever came.
However, now that it’s here, I’m grateful. Not because she’s taking my place but because she’s giving my brother things I never could. There’s no question that he loves her. He talks about her all the time when she’s not around.
His biggest worry is that she’s not falling for him the same. My brother can’t read the looks like I can. The way Nicole looks at him tells me all I need to know.
She’s in love with him all right. All my initial worries have been put to rest. Cal’s heart is safe with her.
Joelle returns and Kay excuses herself to head to the bathroom this time. My thoughts shift to how unwelcoming she’s been all night. I get it. Most of the time, we’ve all been talking about classes and who’s graduating at the end of the semester, but that’s no reason for her behavior.
Amina stands to head into the kitchen for another beer. I can’t help myself. I end up following her. I’ve kept my distance all night, but I can’t any longer.
“Hey,” I say quietly as I grab a bag of chips from the cabinet then lean against the counter.
“Hey,” she says back, turning to look around at everyone.
“This is interesting.”
“Yeah, who knew one of my best friends would end up falling for your brother?”
“You see it too?”
“Oh, she’s a goner. He’s crazy about her too. Nice guys are bred in your family. Your brother is sweet. I like him.”
“Thanks. I think he likes you too.”
“Oh please, he would have to look away from Nicole for more than two seconds to get to know the rest of us. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind. I would have loved having a guy obsessed with me like that.”
“It’s not too late for that.”
She scoffs. “You know better. I have the obsession part. It’s just from a psycho I don’t want.”
I pop a handful of chips into my mouth to keep from saying things I shouldn’t. I’m becoming more bitter toward this topic the closer I get to losing my friend forever. I know that asshole is going to make her cut me out of her life.
“She’s nice,” Amina says, changing the subject.
I look her in the eyes and purse my lips. She’s full of shit, Kay has been a bitch to everyone except Nicole, but she’s been a super bitch to Amina. Amina bursts into laughter.
“Okay, okay. A bit on the self-centered side, but she’s gorgeous?” her voice raises at the end making her statement come out more like a question.
“I’m sorry about how she’s been treating you. I don’t know what’s gotten into her. It’s like we’re back in high school.”
“It’s my fault. I may have said something I shouldn’t have. Seeing her in the flesh, her saying she was your girlfriend, I got nervous and blurted out the first thing that popped into my head,” she says and begins to chew on her lip.
“Well, what did you say?”
“And I quote, ‘Oh, so nice to meet you. I’m Maribel, Cameron’s future wife.’”
She says the words with such a straight face I know that’s exactly how she delivered them. I don’t know if I want to groan or laugh. I end up laughing.
“You’re a fucking troublemaker,” I say through my laughter.
“A menace indeed. But, seriously, I’m sorry for any trouble I’ve caused. I wasn’t trying to be a bitch. I just freaked out.”
“That was nothing. You did more damage with the bracelet you left in my car.”
“Huh?”
“I’ve been meaning to give it back. I had it fixed for you. I think you popped it, and it fell off in my car.”
She reaches for her wrist with a gasp. “The bracelet my grandmother gave me. I thought I lost it forever. You’ve had it all this time?”
The look of relief in her eyes makes me happy I’ve had the piece of jewelry fixed for her. I know from our conversations how important her grandmother was to her.
“Yeah, sorry. She was driving me crazy about it and I forgot to give it back when I got it out of the shop. We argued for about a week or two over her finding it,” I say in a low tone.
“Wow, I’m so sorry. Does she know it was mine?”
“No.” I shake my head. “Only that it belongs to a friend. Nothing to be sorry about. The whole thing was weird but not your fault.”
“I have that class during the Tuesday sessions. I’ll get you my notes and you can see if that helps. Can’t have one of our stars flunking out,” Amina says, causing me to look at her like she’s crazy.
Just then, Kay walks up and wraps her arms around my waist. I get this odd feeling in my chest. Not guilt for talking to Amina behind Kay’s back, but as if I’m cheating on Amina or something.
Which is crazy because we’re nothing more than friends. Kay is my girlfriend and from the way my mama has been hounding me, she might be my wife someday. Yet there’s something in Amina’s eyes.
Hurt, shame, longing … I can’t place it all, but I know I don’t like this feeling I have. I’m starting to feel incomplete. Kay snuggles into my chest, and I wrap my arms around her.
“Nice talking to you, Perry. I’ll see you around campus,” Amina says and turns to walk away.
My heart sinks when she begins to say her goodbyes to the group as she gathers her things. I’m not ready for her to go. I don’t want any of them to leave, but it’s clear the party is over.
“Let’s get ready for bed,” Kay purrs up at me.
“You go ahead. I’m going to help Cal clean up. You know he’s not going to go to bed until this place is spotless and put back to the exact way it was before they all came over.”
“You’re right about that. I’ll help out too. I think Nicole is spending the night.” She wiggles her brows at me.
“Then he needs the help. I’m sure his brain is already overstimulated.”
“I have something I want to overstimulate,” she purrs and cups my junk.
“You’re staying over?” I lift a brow.
She hasn’t been staying over as much lately, so I’m taken by surprise. She bites her lip and gives me a seductive smile as she bobs her head. Running her hands up my chest she lifts to her toes to kiss me.
I go with it, but something feels off. It’s never been like this before. I can’t help wondering what has changed.
Not just tonight. Something has been different for a while. I’ve just been overlooking it and focused on other things in my life.
Why doesn’t this feel natural?