Chapter Twenty-One
Camille
I think girls’ nights should be planned for and coveted just as much as date nights are. There’s nothing like getting together with the people who know you like the back of their hand to gossip, eat, and laugh.
You can’t ask for anything better. Especially when Aurora is in town for a visit.
“I’m so sore.” Aurora sighs, shifting her body in the booth.
“Conditioning been tough?” I ask over the rim of my beer can, taking a sip. Aurora is on the USA Volleyball Team, which means her body is always being tested and challenged.
Aurora snickers, shaking her head slightly. “Yes, but that’s not why. Let’s just say Cam really missed me when I went away to San Francisco with the team.”
Jasmine jumps in, sharing her own story. “Oh, I know exactly what that’s like. Every time Elio comes back home from traveling with the hockey team, I’m very much reminded of how much he missed me. Hell, just last week he fucked me so hard my legs were still like jello in the morning.”
Don’t get me wrong, I couldn’t be happier for my friends, but I have to ignore the heavy weight of jealousy that sits on my chest because I very much want to be getting the kind of sex they both are.
The bone-chilling, earth-shattering, makes you forget your own name kind of sex. I’ve never had it before and didn’t know it truly existed until Aurora and Jasmine shared their experiences.
“The virgin no more,” Aurora teases, earning a playful shove from Jasmine and a giggle from me.
“What about you?” Aurora asks, turning her attention to me.
“Oh, I’m no virgin. I had a few hookups when I was back home, but that’s it.” I blush, but not from embarrassment. More so from the fact that I haven’t been interested in sex since the incident, and now all I want to do is fuck her almost-stepbrother.
“Get it, girl,” Aurora says with a smile.
“Agreed.” I tip my beer to her water cup, and Jasmine joins in with her glass of wine as we cheers.
I shift the conversation to Jasmine. “Are you excited for your European vacation?”
Her face lifts into pure joy. “I cannot wait, even if Elio spoils me way too much.”
“I still can’t believe he bought you a damn bakery.” Aurora swoons, hugging her water to her chest.
Jasmine blushes and rolls her eyes. “Ugh, I know. He’s turned me into a softy and I hate it.”
“That’s what happens when you’re in love.” I wink, taking a sip from my beer. “Where are Cam and Elio tonight anyway?”
“They’re at our apartment, along with Theo,” Jasmine fills in.
“Theo’s pissed we’re not there, but my girls come first.” Aurora smiles, and I can’t help but be proud of her.
I didn’t know her all that well despite my friendship with Jasmine because Aurora was that secluded when she came to school here. She went to class, studied, and played volleyball. That was it .
She reminds me of Ryker in some ways, and the thoughts carry me away to images of him on his knees for me. My core starts to ache so I cross my legs and shake my head, doing my best to refocus on the conversation going on.
“What about you, Millie?” Aurora asks.
“Uhhh, what about me?”
“What’s going on with you?” Jasmine clarifies, inspecting me closely.
I sigh. “Nothing, yet everything. Midterms drained the life out of me, and I’ve been working so hard on creating and organizing content for the baseball team.”
“No, no, it’s not that. You have this glint in your eyes, and your smile looks more… radiant.” Her eyes narrow, staring me down as if she can see through me.
“And now you’re blushing!”
I chug my beer, trying to avoid this conversation.
“All right, what’s his name? I can look him up and find out more than you probably know.” Aurora grabs her phone, far too excited to be stalking someone.
“You actually might already know him,” I mumble, slinking down in my seat.
“What?” they both shout, drawing the eyes of everyone in the bar.
Before I can respond, Jasmine being the people reader she is, calls me out, “It’s Ryker, isn’t it?” she questions, but where I expected sass, her tone is nothing but soft and sweet.
I sit back up, a smile blooming on my face despite how much I fight it. “Yes, but it’s nothing really. We’re just messing around.” There’s a ripple in my heart as I say the words, but I ignore it.
“I actually don’t know much about him. He’s locked up better than Area 51,” Aurora says, tucking her dark blonde locks over her shoulder .
I know why he is the way he is now. It breaks my heart knowing what he’s gone through, but if he hasn’t told Aurora himself, then I won’t either. It’s not my place to share his past.
Jasmine claps her hands together. “I knew it! Ever since that night in the club, I knew this would happen!”
“How did this happen? Spill the deets.” Aurora snaps her fingers, looking like a kid on Christmas morning as she and Jasmine lean in closer to me.
Aurora has no idea about my past, so I can’t get into exact details. Instead, I give them a shortened version.
“We’ve been seeing each other more since I started working with the team, so that didn’t help the crush I’ve always had on him.” I lift up my T-shirt to show them, and their eyes widen. “He even tattooed me.”
“Oh, that’s beautiful,” Jasmine marvels.
“Agreed. He’s very talented. But go on.” Aurora rolls her hands in a circular motion so as to say get on with it .
So I tell them everything. I recount how he came to the party and took me home on his bike, our flirty conversations, our baseball lessons. I tell them a bit of a white lie when I explain the whole weekend in New Mexico and say that it was just a regular nightmare he comforted me after. I explain how we opened up to each other and our little trip to the bathroom.
“Okay, that’s hot.” Jasmine takes a sip of her rosé while pretending to fan herself.
“He’s my stepbrother-to-be, so ew,” Aurora mock gags. “ But if he were a different guy, I’d agree and say that was very hot.”
“Hey, some people are into the whole stepbrother thing. There’s a whole channel on it online if you know what I mean.” Jasmine raises her brows.
I snicker at that and signal our waitress, Marcela, because I need another drink .
“Hi,” she says, attempting to smile, but it doesn’t reach her eyes. “What can I get you?” Her voice wobbles, instantly raising alarm bells. Marcela has always been on the shyer side, even though she’s a waitress, but this is different.
“Marcela, are you okay?” Aurora is the first to ask, since she was her old coworker for a few months.
“Oh, yeah, just great.” She tries to smile again while a tear escapes the corner of her eye. “Shit,” she curses, swiping at it quickly.
“Sit, please.” I pat the open spot beside me in the booth, my eyes pleading with hers. I don’t know anything about her, but girls support girls. Always.
Marcela looks around her, but Aurora is quick to jump in. “My brother owns the place, and it’s slow in here. Don’t worry.”
Her resolve crumbles and she slides into the spot next to me, her hand slightly shaking.
“What’s going on? How can we help?” I offer softly, my fingers itching to offer her comfort, but we’re not exactly friends yet.
“I-I don’t know why I want to tell a bunch of strangers everything, but I do.”
“We’re technically not strangers. You and I used to work together,” Aurora reminds her.
“Yeah, but it’s not like we talked outside of work. I don’t really know you,” Marcela says quietly.
Aurora nods, knowing she’s not wrong.
“We’re still here for you if you’d like to talk,” Jasmine chimes in, giving her a sweet smile, but I can see the worry in her eyes. Jasmine’s always been the protective one, and right now she wants to go into protection mode.
“I’ve only had one close friend, but she transferred schools this semester.” Marcela’s voice tightens, her throat bobbing as she swallows .
“That’s hard to deal with. You know Cami and I are on campus for the next few months. We’d love to hang out with you if you’re feeling lonely,” Jasmine offers, and I nod in agreement.
Marcela smiles while a tear strolls down her cheek. “I appreciate that, but that’s not why I’m upset.”
She takes a moment, then releases a breath. “I’m upset because said friend moved to the same school as the boyfriend I’ve had since sophomore year in high school, and I just received a video of them making out.”
My jaw drops open while my heart breaks for her. I could never imagine dealing with the sort of betrayal she is right now.
No one says a word because I think we’re all a little in shock.
Marcela chuckles, but it lacks any humor. “You know what the worst part is? It was someone who was supposed to be my best friend. Getting cheated on hurts, but with my best friend ? It’s like getting screwed two times over.”
“I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this,” I say, whispering screw it in my head as I pull her into a hug.
Marcela’s body slumps in my arms as she starts crying. I rub my hand on her back, trying to soothe her while I let her get it all out. Jasmine and Aurora look equally as heartbroken as I am for her.
A few moments later, once she quiets down and we break apart, Marcela wipes at her eyes and says, “I’m so sorry I dumped all of that on you guys and had a meltdown like that.” She cringes, as if embarrassed.
“Nope, none of that,” Aurora remarks. “Don’t ever apologize for having a feeling other than happiness. It’s what makes you human.”
“Can I say something a little blunt?” Jasmine presses her arms against the table, slightly leaning forward.
“She’s sensitive right now, Minnie,” I warn, not that Jasmine is ever rude, but I don’t know if what she’s about to say is what Marcela needs to hear right now.
“No, it’s okay, say it,” Marcela replies, giving her the go-ahead.
“I’m not saying you can’t be upset, because you have every right to be. I just want to say, fuck both of them. You don’t need a friend like that, and as for Hunter, I hope he—”
“Wait, how did you know that was my boyfriend’s name?”
Jasmine’s lips form an O. “Well, you see…”
“Theo has a big mouth, okay?” Aurora explains. I mean, he was the reason Jasmine’s dad even found out about her and Elio.
Marcela shakes her head, but I don’t miss the small smile his name brought on her face. “I know in time I’ll realize I’m better off, but I found out a few minutes ago and it just hurts so much,” she sniffles.
“Jasmine’s offer still stands. Actually, no. From here on out, you just gained three new besties.” I pretend to slam a gavel for the full effect.
“I’m not in town much anymore, but I’ll give you my number,” Aurora adds.
Marcela looks overwhelmed, her honey-brown eyes pooling with appreciation. “Why are you all being so nice to me? I don’t get it.”
“Because girls have to have each other’s backs. I’m sorry you’ve maybe grown up not believing that, but in this friend group, we’d go to the ends of the earth for each other. And now you’re included in that.” I nudge her shoulder with mine, earning myself a small smile.
“Thank you all so much.” She blows out a breath. “My mind feels like such a mess.”
“Understandable. You’ve been through a lot in the last few minutes. Do you want to get out of here? We’re all going back to my apartment, and we have an extra room if you want to spend the night,” Jasmine says.
“Oh no, that’s okay,” she begins to protest, but Aurora is having none of that.
“You don’t need to sleep over, but I refuse to let you go back to work in this state of mind. I’ll go talk to the manager tonight, which so happens to be my brother, and you’ll be good to go.”
That’s how we all end up piling into Aurora’s car, heading toward the luxurious apartment building Jasmine and I call home. But it’s funny because even as we say hello to the doorman, Colin, and enter the elevator, it still doesn’t feel like home.
It’s not until we enter Jasmine’s place and my eyes lock with dark blue ones that I feel it. He may not be where I’m from, but he’s the only thing that’s felt like home in a long time. And that right there is a big freaking issue when all we’re supposed to be is fuck buddies… who have yet to even have sex.
Despite knowing that, my soul recognizes his for whatever reason, categorizing him as my safe place, even though I’m almost certain he’s going to break my heart when all of this is over.