Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
S kye
“I’m so lucky that Camden agreed to push our date back by a week,” I remind myself as I apply mascara to my lashes. “If a date had asked me to postpone mere hours before the date, I’m not sure what I would have said.”
“You would have been understanding.” Elisabetta pops a piece of gum into her mouth. “It’s not your fault you had to work.”
“I know. I guess that’s what happens when you plan dates with law firm closers.” I giggle as I remember how impressed Kingston had been when I’d convinced Whittaker to sign with the firm. “I just hope that he thinks I’m worth the wait. How do I look?”
"You look absolutely stunning." Elisabetta gazes at me as I twirl in my white dress. "Beautiful Skye."
"Thank you," I say, as I run my fingers through my silky straight hair. "And thank you for helping me flat iron this. I can't believe how straight we got it."
"You look amazing. I have a feeling tonight is going to be your night. I'm so glad that you made it a dinner date."
"And he's taking me to a top-notch restaurant."
She grins at me. "Camden and Skye sitting in the tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G."
I groan as she sings.
"First comes love. Second comes marriage. Third comes the baby in the old tin carriage."
"Elisabetta, oh my gosh. This is our first date."
"Yeah, but he's taking you to a really fancy restaurant. I mean, that is a great sign."
"I guess. I just hope that he likes me and he's cute and we get along and he thinks I'm pretty."
"Girl, he's going to think you're beautiful because you are." She smiles at me. "I have a really, really good feeling about tonight. I have a feeling that Camden is going to become your new man."
"You think so?" I ask her, and she nods.
"Yeah, I do. And ask him if he's got any hottie friends for me because I'm looking."
"But what about the ball that your dad is planning for you?"
"Yeah, yeah. When that happens, I'll worry about it then, but I need to get laid. Your girl's got needs."
"Don't we all," I say, giggling. "Okay. I better go. I don't want to be late."
She steps forward and gives me a big hug and a kiss on the cheek.
"You look stunning, Skye, and you know I don't just say that. Have an amazing night. Okay?"
"Thank you," I say, grinning at her. "I am so excited." I grab my handbag and hurry to the front door. "Bye." I give her a quick wave and head out of the building.
"Camden is going to be the one," I mumble under my breath as I make my way down the street. He has to be the one. I mean, I am in need of a one.
I sigh. I feel a little bit desperate as I make my way to the restaurant and I don't really like that feeling. I don't want to be with him just because I want to be with someone. I want to be with him because he is special. I want to be with him because he makes my heart flutter. Kind of like Kingston Chase does.
Don't even think about that man.
I groan as Kingston's face pops into my mind. I can't lie, he's sexy. Really, really sexy. His blue eyes make my heart flutter and his dark hair looks so silky that I just want to run my fingers through it. I want to press his lips against mine and against my skin and in places that he would probably blush if he knew I was thinking about him kissing and touching me there. I want to do so many dirty things to you, Kingston Chase, but only because you're hot , I think to myself. Your personality sucks.
I think back to the previous evening and I feel mortified yet again. I do not like the person I am when I'm around him. I always become flustered and stupid and angry and nervous and all sorts of things that make me question if I'm absolutely losing my mind.
Focus, Skye , I lecture myself. Stop thinking about Kingston Chase. He's your boss. Nothing more, nothing less. Tonight is about Camden. Camden Camden Camden. He could be your future husband.
"Imagine if he's your future husband," I mumble to myself. “And you're thinking about your boss. How embarrassing would that be in twenty years if you had to say, ‘hey honey, you know I love you, but that first night we met, I was kind of having dirty thoughts about my boss. But I'm so glad I met you.’ That's not going to fly Skye,” I lecture myself.
I take a deep breath and try to picture Camden's photos from the dating app. He looks like he's going to be gorgeous. Really, really gorgeous. I'm excited. Maybe one of my dreams is going to come true, or maybe all of them will. Maybe Camden and I will take a trip together. Maybe he'll be interested in traveling across the world. That would be cool and then I'd write a book about our adventures. Maybe Eat, Pray, Love number two, but a happy one. One where the relationship works out. One where love conquers all. “Women want to see that,” I say to myself. I can just picture a movie being made. Who would play me? I think to myself. I try to think of red-headed actresses and my mind goes blank. Julia Roberts is too old. I guess, Emma Stone? I smile to myself. Emma Stone can play me in the movie that's made from the book I write about my adventures with Camden.
Maybe Elisabetta is right. Maybe everything really is falling into place and I don't have to worry about dealing with Kingston on Monday morning. Maybe Camden and I will hit it off and he'll turn out to be a secret billionaire and he'll offer to take me on an all-expenses-paid trip around the world and pay my rent while I’m gone. That would be amazing , I think to myself. Though, highly unlikely. Get a grip.
I take a breath. My phone rings and I look down. I'm about to press end to send it to voicemail when I see it’s Zara.
"Hey, Zara," I say. "How's it going?"
"Good. Just checking to see how you're doing."
"I'm good. What's going on?"
"I have Lila on the other line. I'm going to connect her. Okay?"
"Okay." I nod. I continue walking as I wait, then I hear a click.
"Hey, are we all connected?" Zara says.
"Hi, I'm here," Lila says.
"Hey, girls. What's going on?"
"We were just calling to see how you're doing," Zara says, and Lila starts giggling.
"What's so funny?"
"What happened with you and Kingston the other night?" she asks. "I heard through the grapevine that?—"
"Uh-huh. Through the grapevine," I say. "Like your man is now the grapevine?"
She shrugs and winks, her eyes laughing. "You got me. Well, anyway, I heard that the other night was interesting."
“Interesting? What else did Max tell you?"
"Well, he said that you and Kingston had a little bit of back and forth at the bar and you were trying to pretend that you were not interested by hooking up with some gay guy or something."
"That is not exactly what happened. I was chatting with this guy at the bar who I thought was interested. Remember? I told you about him."
"Vaguely," Zara says. “The guy you told me about that you thought really wanted you, but actually wasn’t?”
"Yeah, let's just say he was not interested in me in that way and it all came out in the open when that douche bag Kingston was there, and of course he thought it was hilarious while he was there with his supermodel date or whoever she was."
"He's not dating anyone," Lila says. "And from what Max says, he's as single as can be. He does not do relationships."
"That does not surprise me," I say. "Because who would really want to be in a relationship with that douche bag?"
"Oh no, you can't stand him, huh?" Lila says as she gives me a knowing look that makes me think she’s reading my mind.
"More than that. Anyway, I'm about to get to the restaurant where I'm meeting my date, Camden. Can I talk to you girls later?"
"Oh, yeah. I forgot that was tonight," Lila says. "Have fun."
"Have so much fun," Zara says. "I hope it works out."
"Thanks girls."
I hang up and smooth down my hair. I’m pissed all over again. What the hell is Kingston telling people about me and him and our relationship and everything that went down? I don't want people thinking that I’m into his sorry ass and that I’m doing stuff because I’m being reactionary to him saying he isn't interested in me.
I stop outside the restaurant and take a deep breath, lick my lips, and step inside.
"Stop thinking about that jackass," I mumble to myself.
"Holy shit, Batman. Is that you, Skye?"
I blink and look to my right. There's a very tall, very skinny guy with a lot of acne and a huge Adam's apple staring at me.
I look around and shrug slightly. Is this Camden?
"Hi. Are you Camden?" I say softly, as I take a step closer to him and narrow my eyes. This guy does not look anything like the photos.
"Hey. Yeah, it's me. Nice to meet you, Skye." He looks me up and down and whistles. "I like that dress. Though, it's a bit presumptuous, don't you think?"
"Sorry, what are you talking about?" I ask him, slightly confused.
"White? Are you trying to make me think of you in a wedding dress? This is our first date, girl. I'm not about to propose just yet." He throws his head back and starts laughing like he told the most funny joke in the world.
"Oh, funny. No, it's just a dress that I like." I look him up and down. He's wearing black jeans and a white shirt. "So you look a little bit different," I say, staring into his eyes.
I try to ignore the big pimple on the end of his nose. What the fuck is going on here? He does not look anything like the Camden in the photos.
"Hey, you need to stop checking me out. You look like you just want to get me into your bed," he says, grinning as he steps forward to give me a hug. "I mean, I'm down for that, but I'm more than just a piece of meat." He chuckles and blows into my ear.
I want to recoil, but I don't. "I was just thinking you look very different from your photos."
"Better, huh?" He grins. "I've heard that."
"You just looked kind of different." I don't want to say he looked more handsome, more built. That he didn't have acne.
"Yeah, I used those AI filters." He shrugs. "I wanted people to see me from all different perspectives."
"Huh?" I say, gazing at him in confusion.
"I mean, don't they say show your ugliest pictures online so when people meet you they're impressed?" He grins and I try to ignore his yellow teeth.
"Yeah, I guess, but don't AI pictures generally make you look better? Kind of like filters?"
His eyes narrow as he looks me up and down. "I was about to say, I was wondering if you had a filter in your photos. Don't get me wrong, I love big boobs and a big ass, but I thought you were going to be a little bit slimmer."
My jaw drops as I stare at him. There was no way in hell he was saying this to me. "Well, I actually thought that you were?—"
"Is that you Skye?" A familiar deep voice sounds from behind me and I freeze.
"Oh my gosh," I mumble under my breath as I turn around.
There is Kingston, standing there with a beautiful blonde bombshell. His eyes from me over to Camden and back. He's grinning.
"Wow. Don't you clean up nicely."
"Thank you," I say.
"Who's this?"
Kingston takes a step toward us. I notice that the blonde is clinging to his arm and she's not looking particularly happy to see me.
"This is my date, Camden," I say, trying not to groan.
"Yo, what's up dude?" Camden says. "Whoa, you are hot ." He looks at the blonde. "Yeah, girl, I like what you're working with." He stares at her cleavage, which is practically busting out of her dress. We can all see her nipples poking through as well. "I definitely appreciate when my girl wears no bra," Camden says as he looks back at me in my dress.
I definitely have a bra on me and I'm glad that I do at this point. Kingston's eyes narrow and he frowns slightly.
"Are you guys dating? Like boyfriend-girlfriend or..."
"Nah, this is our first date," Camden says with a chuckle. "To be honest, I'm only on the app to hit it and quit it, but..." He grins. "You never know what could happen, right, Skyeus?"
I press my lips together. I have no idea why he's calling me Skyeus and I vow to tell him to shut the fuck up, but I don't want to let Kingston know how pissed off I am.
"Oh, I see." Kingston stares at Camden and then at me. "So this is date number one?"
"It's our first date," I mumble, trying not to flinch. "We were just about to go in for dinner."
"I see," Kingston says, looking at his date, then looking at me, then looking at Camden.
Camden slips his arms around my waist and I feel his hand reaching down to my ass and he squeezes. "Hey, plumpity plump plump." He grins. "You want to know something, Skyeus?"
"No," I say, as I take a step forward.
"I like big butts and I cannot lie." He grins and I stifle a groan. "I know you didn't ask me this, but I figured we'd talk about it tonight, but I like to hit it from behind. That's my favorite position."
Kingston's eyes widen and I see him staring at me before he looks back at Camden, narrowing them.
"You think that's really appropriate for a first date?" he asks Camden in a gruff voice and I shiver at his tone. He reminds me of a lion right before he roars.
"What? I believe in honesty."
"Do you though?" I ask him. "That's why you used AI photos on your profile?"
"What are you trying to say? You've brought that up several times." He looks annoyed. "Wait. Are you trying to say I don't look as good as my photos or something? I mean, I wasn't going to say that you looked like you were 110 pounds in your photos and in person you're looking like you're 200."
"Excuse me?" My jaw drops. "I am not 200 pounds, thank you very much."
"Okay, I'm just saying. With that badonkadonk on you."
This man is going to see my right hook in T minus five seconds. If he says one more word, I will show him that Mike Tyson has a redheaded daughter that doesn’t play.
"Shall we share a table?" Kingston asks me as if he’s unsure as to my answer. I’m surprised to hear something other than confidence in his tone.
I stare at him for a couple of seconds, blinking. Is he crazy? Does he really think I want to stay? "I think that I'm just going to go home," I say, shaking my head. "I don't know that this is going to work for me, Camden."
He holds his hands up in the air. "Hey, man. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was just nervous because I saw you in that white dress and you had me thinking that you were thinking we're going to get married when all I'm thinking about is getting some. But I'm not trying to be rude or crude or make you feel uncomfortable and please, let me buy you dinner. I mean, we had such great conversation and?—"
"Come on Skye," Kingston says. "Why don't you let the nice man buy you dinner?” His lips twitch and I can tell he’s deliberately being a jerk. We both know there is nothing nice about this twat.
I stare at him through narrowed eyes. "Because."
"Because what? You got better plans tonight? I think it will be quite enjoyable for the four of us. Don't you think so, Angelica?"
She frowns slightly, her very red lips pouting. "But I thought tonight was going to be about us getting reacquainted, my darling Kingston. It's been so long."
"And we will get reacquainted," he says with a slight nod. Then he looks back at me with an S.O.S. in his eyes. "I think a double date would be quite fun."
"Okay," I say, nodding slightly.
Maybe Kingston isn't doing this just to help me. Maybe he wants me to help him as well.
"Shall we go and check the tables?" Kingston offers, grabbing my arm. "Angelica, why don't you and Camden stay here for a few moments and Skye and I will check the reservation."
"Okay," she says, looking annoyed.
Kingston guides me towards the ma?tre d'.
"So you and Camden, huh?"
"You and Angelica, huh?"
"At least she didn't lie about her appearance."
"Yeah." I make a face. "Can you believe that jackass said I was 200 pounds?"
"Nope, you don't look an ounce over 100."
I giggle slightly as I shake my head. "That's not true. I'm definitely not 100 pounds, but I'm not 200. I'm like, 150. Okay, maybe 160.” Why am I talking about my weight? I’ve seriously lost the plot.
"Nothing wrong with that," he says with a smile. "You also didn't have to tell me, but just in case you were interested, I lift 350 pounds so I got you, anytime you need me to get you.”
“Uhm, thanks. I'm just offended, and my ass is not even that big."
He looks me up and down in the dress. "I mean you don't have a flat ass," he smirks. "Which is good."
"Thanks, I guess."
"You look very beautiful, Skye," he says softly, almost like he’s dumbfounded. "And your hair, it looks different.”
"I straightened it out for the day. I cannot believe I wasted my time doing that.” I don’t know why I feel so self-conscious about my hair. Or why my heart is racing like I’m about to be crowned Ms. America.
"I like it curly, but it looks really nice straight." He stares into my eyes and the intensity of his gaze warms my insides. "Chin up. It's not like you were going to marry the man," he says, chuckling slightly.
"That's not even funny. He's such a douchebag. Why do I always meet douchebags?"
"I don't know." He shrugs. "Maybe because you haven't met a man like me yet."
I raise a single eyebrow. "No comment. Anyway," I say. "Why do you want to have a double date when you're with someone like Angelica?"
"To be honest? she is a lot more needy than I remember. Besides, I just wanted to have a fun thing and she's already talking about diamond rings from Tiffany's."
"What?" I say, grinning. "She's your girlfriend or…?"
"No." He shakes his head. "She's someone I went on a couple of getaways with a couple of years ago and I just gave her a call to see if she wanted to hang out."
"I see." My mind is wondering when he says a couple of dates a couple of years ago, did they just go to dinner, or did they do more? I bite down on my lip.
"What is it?" he asks.
"Nothing," I say, shaking my head quickly. "I just..."
"You just what?"
"I was just wondering something."
"Wondering what?"
"You know, if you guys..." I open my eyes wide and he bursts out laughing.
"Oh, Skye, you know I'm a man, right?"
I feel jealousy surge through me. So he and Angelica have slept together and now they're on another date. Were they going to sleep together tonight? I try not to think about it. I don't want to think about it. I don't want to picture him with another woman, which is crazy because he's my boss and it's not like he's my man.
"I mean, good for you. She’s very beautiful." I nod.
"I don't think I'm going to go down that road with her again though," he says, smirking. "Not that that's any of your business."
"Not that I wanted to know anyway," I say.
"Sure you didn't," he says. "So, we combining the reservations?"
I stare at him for a couple of seconds before I nod slightly.
He grins. "So we have a little bit of a truce?"
"For tonight," I say. "I'm still mad at you."
"As you should be." He grins. "But I am sure you are quite happy that I was here to save you from your horrible date tonight."
"I didn't need saving. I was about to leave, but I am hungry, so I'll take a free meal and some drinks and enjoy the night as best as I can."
"So is that all this night is about for you then? A free meal and free drinks?"
"I mean, obviously that's not what I was hoping for when the night started, but..." I sigh. "It is what it is. I guess Elisabetta was wrong once again."
"Oh? Why? What did she say?"
"She said she had a feeling that tonight was going to be my night and that he was going to be the one." I roll my eyes. "He's definitely not the one."
"So you're looking for the one, huh?" Kingston says softly, looking me up and down. "You're looking for your mister forever?"
"I don't know about that," I say, shrugging, looking away from him. I don't want to confess everything about my life to this man who is still quite an asshole. Just because he's being nice to me today doesn't mean much.
"Fine," he says, holding up his hands. "You don't have to tell me. But if you are looking for the one, then I suggest you don't set up dates with people like Camden."
"I didn't know he was going to be that much of a douche bag. I didn't know he lied about his photos and I did not know that—" I sigh. "Why does it matter? I just don't have good luck with guys."
"Well, maybe your luck will change."
"Maybe," I say, shrugging. "Anyway. Let's get some drinks and let's get this party started because tonight, all I want to do is get fucked up.”
I’ll start my unofficial photography business on another night.