Llama Pajamas
LLAMA PAJAMAS
RACHEL
When I’m sad, I either eat too many kettle chips or call my friends. When I’m white-hot flaming mad, that’s when I cry. My mother was never big on nurturing or validating my emotions, so they often emerge in inappropriate ways. I wish I had more of a filter, but I tend to say exactly what I’m feeling and thinking right when I have the feels. It’s gotten me in trouble more times than I can count.
Today, my mother single-handedly nuked the sanctity of my workplace by inviting Andrew there. My work has always been a huge part of my life, and when I saw Andrew standing in that space …such a violation.
I tried to keep it together as I got in my car and drove home. When I got in the door, I texted my mother and told her I was extending my absence for the entire week.
When I was settled in the sanctuary of my house, the angry, ugly tears stung my eyes. A dam had burst, and it wasn’t the one Emily was referring to. All the tears I refused to waste on Andrew before came rushing out, followed by the anger I held toward myself. Why the hell did my twenty-something self get involved with him in the first place?
My pajama shorts with a menagerie of llamas in party hats on them, favorite cozy sweater and comfy socks did little to ease my pain. I needed a friend to talk this out with, and with Emily and Matt at a party, I texted Laura.
Um, so what are you up to?
Laura
Hangin’ with Foss. Why?
Oh nothing my mother ambushed me at the store by inviting Andrew to coffee and he was waiting for me there along with Cameron Nash.
She texted back a GIF of a woman spitting out her wine.
Laura
WTF???
Also I accidentally on purpose kissed Cam in an act of revenge against Andrew.
Laura
Accidentally on purpose??? Get the hell over here now.
I arrived twenty minutes later in my pajamas with an overnight bag in case the rosé overtook us. Laura and Foster lived in the Omni apartment complex off Camelback Road. If I hadn’t bought my house in Rosewood Heights, I would have moved in next door. Each apartment balcony was framed with live plants that cascaded over the railing, which helped to take the edge off living in a busy city. The common area was colorful, sleek, and modern. It truly was an oasis in the middle of the desert.
I didn’t have to ring the doorbell; Laura must have seen me on the camera. She opened the door and yanked me inside.
“Seriously? How did all this happen?” she said, guiding me to their sofa.
“I think it comes down to the fact that I should have complete adult supervision at all times.”
“Hey, Rache,” Foster said, coming from the kitchen with all my favorite salty snacks. Lots of people crave something sweet when they’re down, but not me. Give me all the white cheddar popcorn, kettle chips, and roasted mixed nuts. That’s exactly what filled the bowls on the tray Foster carried.
“Oh goodness, thank you, Foster. And honestly, if I’m interrupting some romantic evening—” I started.
Laura brought a hand up in protest. “We were going to have leftover Thai and watch Reacher season two.”
“Even if there was going to be romance involved in our evening, you’re worth postponing it,” Foster said, grabbing a box of tissues and handing it to me. “I’ll get some wine.”
This is why I adored Foster. Most guys would run from girl talk, but he settles right in, unless we ask him for some alone time. And he usually has the best advice from a guy’s point of view. He’s like the brother I never had, and Laura excelled at filling the role of a sister. Even though I was an only child, my friends created the family I always wanted.
“Okay, snacks served, wine poured, tissues ready,” Laura said, curling up on the sofa next to me. “Now, dish.”
Foster leaned over from the chair he was sitting in and rubbed my arm. And then I let it all out. Telling them about my mother, Andrew, and then finally what transpired with Cam and the challenge to find his mother the perfect gift. Not surprisingly, Foster and Laura zeroed in on what happened with Cam first.
“So how was it?” Laura asked.
I grabbed a handful of popcorn. “How was what?”
Foster raised a dark eyebrow. “The kiss.”
A warm sensation spiraled up from my toes and filled my entire body. Cam’s lips holding mine. His arm moving around my waist. Him pressing against me. My mind had gone blank from getting lost in him for that brief electric moment.
“Never mind, your face says it all,” Laura said, gently nudging me.
“It was amazing, although I don’t think Cam thought so,” I said.
Foster took a sip of his whiskey. “Oh, I’m sure he’s still thinking about it.”
“This is so great! Foster and I have been dreaming of getting you two together.”
“No, no way. I can’t read him at all. Cam was willing to play along and took me to a cute place, but when I asked him to be my plus one for Carol’s daughter’s wedding, he said, ‘I’ll think about it.’” I rubbed my face.
“It’s not you,” Foster offered. “I’m sure he likes you. He just hates weddings.”
“I don’t know. I can always get a sense of people, and with him … he turns my brain into scrambled eggs.”
“That’s a really good thing, honey,” Laura said.
“I prefer my eggs over easy, thank you,” I said.
“Cam’s always been more reserved than any of us, but he’s even more closed off since he separated from his ex, Britt,” Foster said, grabbing some chips. “He’s different now. He rarely comes out much. And he used to be the life of the party in college. Now, if we get a smile out of him, we’re lucky.”
“What happened to him?” I asked.
Foster’s expression wilted. He sat back in his chair, peering into the last sip of whiskey in his glass before slugging it and setting his glass down.
“Even I don’t know this entire story,” Laura said. “Spill the beans, Foss.”
“Cam did say I should ask you about it and spare him from having to retell it,” I said, unsure of what to make of Foster’s hesitation.
“Yeah, that’s sounds like Cam. All right, here goes.” Foster slapped his hands together and poured more whiskey into his glass. “Cam met Britt when we all worked at Fidelity five years ago. Since Cam is the equivalent of a GQ model, all the ladies were after him, but when he met Britt, he fell hard. And back then Britt wasn’t as ruthless. They were happy … for a while.
“Then rumors started to fly that Britt was sleeping around, but Cam didn’t want to believe it. Britt only sees men as conquests, and once she scores one, she’s onto the next, especially if they have money.”
“I hate her,” Laura said.
“I second that,” I said.
“Oh, I haven’t even gotten to the worst part. Every time Cam would get the courage to confront her, she knew how to grovel and be sweet to get Cam to back down. They had a good stretch after he threatened to move out. She calmed down for a while, and she then convinced him that they should get engaged after they got back together.”
My eyes widened. “He was engaged?”
“Engaged and almost married. I was a groomsman at the wedding. Britt fucking broke the bank on that one. She was such a Bridezilla, four of her bridesmaids threatened to walk out, but as I said, when she’s about to lose things, she puts on her nice act to get what she wants. Anyway, so it’s day of the wedding …”
I clung to Foster’s every word while stuffing my face with popcorn.
He huffed out a quick breath. “Britt wanted this super traditional wedding and so the minister gets to the part where he asks, ‘Does anyone have any reason this man and woman should not be joined?’ and before he can go on, Cam’s own brother, his best man, raises his hand.”
Hearing that made my insides twist. In all the weddings I’ve been to, I’ve never seen anything happen like that. Poor Cam, I couldn’t imagine trying to recover after that kind of sucker punch.
Laura gasped. “That’s insane.”
“Yeah, Cam’s brother, Roman, actually said he was in love with Britt right there on the fucking steps of the church!”
“What did she do?” I asked.
“Ran to Roman and they left the ceremony together.”
“Shit.” I gulped my rosé. “I can’t imagine. That’s so awful.”
“Then, his entire family blew up. His dad, John Nash …”
“Wait.” I leaned forward and put up my hand. “That wouldn’t be the same as former Senator of Arizona, John Nash, would it?”
“The same.”
“Whoa,” I said.
“Anyway,” Foster continued. “What Roman did caused major problems between Cam’s parents. Cam’s mom was livid and thought the fam should support Cam while his dad sided with Roman. Cam’s mom and dad divorced last year, and Cam doesn’t speak to his dad or Roman now.”
I set my wineglass down, still trying to process what I just heard.
Foster’s phone rang from the kitchen, and I about jumped out of my skin. He answered, “Hey!” and then walked into the bedroom.
Laura looked as dazed as I did as she poured herself more wine. “Oh Cam. Ugh, my heart hurts for him.”
“This definitely explains why he’s the Grumpy Groomsman,” I said.
“Are you okay though? We haven’t even unpacked all that happened with your mom and Andrew. What are you going to do with that mess?”
“I took a week off work. I’m going to take a breath and talk to my mother when the time is right. If she does anything like this again, I’m going to quit or something. I don’t know.”
Laura reached out for my hand and squeezed. “Hey, Rache …”
“Yeah?” Her expression changed so dramatically. The little divot had appeared in the middle of her forehead, which meant she was about to tell me something important.
She shook her head. “Nothing, nothing, uh, yeah, so what are you going to do about Cam?”
“Well, I was going to send him a special gift.”
“Oh? What?”
I pulled it up on Amazon and handed her my phone. She threw her head back, releasing her deep, throaty laugh.
Foster rejoined us. “What are you looking at?”
Laura handed him my phone. “She wants to send this to Cam.”
Foster laughed. “That’s hilarious.”
“Only I can’t now, can I, after hearing his tragic backstory.”
“Yes you can! It will make his day.” Laura snatched her phone off the coffee table. “I’ll text you his address.”
“Uh,” I pushed my thick-rimmed glasses up my nose. “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. The man just rejected me. I kind of hope I never see him again.”
“Famous last words,” Foster said.
“No, I’m serious.”
“I’m serious too,” Foster said with a wide grin. He should be here any second.”
I glared at him. “What?”
And that’s when the doorbell rang.