14. Kameron
14
KAMERON
I don’t know what to wear.
Is it dressy? Is it casual? I don’t know these people, with the exception of Kris’ brother, so how do I know what to wear?
And why is it so hard for women? Like guys can just throw a shirt on with some jeans and look put together. But for us, we have to do our hair, our makeup, and wearing a t-shirt isn’t as easy for us as it is for the guys.
Which is another reason Kris’ presence just annoyed me when he walked out of the bathroom and pulled on his dark wash jeans and a black t-shirt that hugged his biceps.
Stupid biceps. Stupid jeans that make his ass look good. Stupid hair that makes me want to run my fingers through it. Stupid Kris.
I blow out a breath, and my hair falls in my face from the action.
“Just wear whatever you want, Kam. No one is going to give a damn what you look like.”
My jaw drops open as I slowly turn my head to look at him. No one is going to give a damn what I look like? Well, what if I meet someone tonight?
Although, I’m not sure how or if I could even pull something like that off.
“Stop.” He rolls his eyes, stopping what he’s doing to step closer to me. “I didn’t mean it like that. I meant no one will care if you’re dressed up or dressed down. You’re beautiful either way.” His eyes soften, and for a second, I can feel the pull between us. The pull that’s always there, that always has this effect on me.
His phone chimes in his hand, and he glances at it. “They’re coming up the mountain.”
I sigh, grabbing a pair of jeans and a flowy black shirt. It’s one of my favorites, and still shows off my girls quite nicely.
Despite Kris being in the room, I reach behind me and unhook my bra, letting my arms fall through the loops before pulling my shirt over my head. I quickly get my jeans pulled on, and grab my black booties and slide my feet into them.
I rush in the bathroom, brushing my teeth and taming my hair, which thankfully looks okay considering the day of travel we’ve had. Adding a little blush to my cheeks, pink to my lips, and mascara, I consider myself put together enough since I’m out of time.
When I step back inside the bedroom, Kris is standing in the same spot he was when I got dressed, just staring at me.
“What?” I ask, frowning and looking around the room.
“Don’t do that again,” he says, stepping closer to me. His eyes are wild as he says it.
I frown at him this time, completely confused on what he’s referring to.
“I’m already hanging on by a fucking thread.”
Huh? I blink, and he takes two more steps until we’re chest to chest.
My bare breasts rub against the fabric of my shirt against his, my breathing halts and I suck air into my lungs. The small touch sends sparks through my body.
He leans forward, and I think he’s about to kiss me when he whispers in my ear, “If I see you without your shirt on again, I won’t be able to refrain from touching you.” His lips brush against the shell of my ear, and goosebumps break out along my skin. “And I don’t think you’d stop me.” He pulls away slightly, pressing his lips to my temple before slapping my ass and heading down the stairs with the announcement that his brother is here.
What the fuck just happened?
And why am I so turned on right now by it?
And disappointed that we’re having to leave now?
Because I still very much can’t stand my ex-boyfriend.
The drive to wherever we’re going is fun.
The party bus driving us tonight is stocked with drinks, music is playing, and everyone is having a good time.
As soon as I saw Kaleb, he stood and gave me a hug, hoping his brother wasn’t being too much of a dick… but you know, the jury is still out on that one at least.
He introduced me to his fiancee, Ruby, and she’s beautiful. Long blonde hair, a perfect girl next door vibe to her, and the two of them are completely and madly in love with one another. It’s almost sickening, but the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen at the same time.
The entire wedding party is here, which is why they called for Kris to come out also.
“Kameron, right?” one of the bridesmaids that I’m sitting next to asks me.
Kris is at the front of the bus, talking to his brother, Ruby, and another guy I’m assuming he’s friends with.
“Yes.” I smile at her.
“It’s nice to meet you. I didn’t know Kris had a girlfriend.” She glances over to where he’s sitting.
“Oh, no. We aren’t together.” I laugh, awkwardly taking a drink from whatever is mixed in this cup that was thrust into my hand when I climbed on.
“Good to know.” She looks at me, smiles, then stands and walks from the back of the bus to the front, holding onto the railing at the top.
I watch her approach Kris, and something inside me prickles. My teeth clench when her hand lands on his arm, and my lips press into a flat line when he leans in to listen to whatever she’s saying.
“Careful,” a deep voice says beside me. “You’re going to lose a tooth if you keep biting down like that.” The guy chuckles.
I look over at the guy who has stopped in front of the seat the bridesmaid, who didn’t even give me her name, was just occupying.
“I’m Davidson.” He smiles at me, and his teeth are damn near perfect. Bright white, straight as can be.
“Kameron,” I say, reaching out to shake his hand. My eyes briefly flick back to the bridesmaid and Kris, who are both chatting away, so I focus on Davidson, pretending that what’s happening at the front of the bus isn’t bothering me.
Because, let’s face it, I can’t be jealous of Kris and another woman.
There’s nothing going on between us.
At all. Nothing at all.
“Are you a groomsman?” I ask, taking a sip from my cup.
“I am, and you’re?”
“Just here as a favor to Kris,” I explain.
“Ah, so you’ll be at all the festivities this weekend?”
“That I will.” I smile, trying my best to fight the desire to glance over at Kris and the… nope, calm down, Kam. No need to refer to her as a bride’s whore. That’s just being a mean girl.
“That’ll give us plenty of time to get to know one another.”
I frown, seems a bit forward, but friendly, I guess.
His eyes drop to the empty seat beside me. “Mind if I…?” He trails off.
I nod, giving him permission to sit beside me.
He turns so that his entire body is facing me as he leans in. My instinct is to lean back, he’s definitely in my personal space, more than someone I’ve just met should be.
“So, tell me, where are you from? What do you do?” he asks, taking a drink of his beer.
“I live in Birchwood, a little town by the river. I work for the Chamber there, organizing events for the community, things like that.” I smile, thinking about my job.
“That’s fun. Tell me about your events?”
With that small question, my eyes light up. I love talking about my job and what we have planned for the year, and how it involves the community more.
We spend the rest of the ride chatting about Davidson, and all that he does. My talk of my work was short lived, and extinguished pretty quickly when he didn’t like my ideas for the Christmas Bazaar. I’m relieved when we pull up outside the bar we’re all going to.
I’m about to stand when a hand appears in front of my face to help me up. I know it isn’t Davidson, because he’s still sitting next to me, looking up at Kris, whose eyes are hardened on Davidson beside me.
“Thank you,” I say, taking his hand and letting him help me up, even though I’m more than capable. I catch a glimpse of the bridesmaid as I stand, and she looks like someone just kicked her puppy when she glances between us before Ruby ushers her off the bus.
Kris doesn’t drop my hand as he heads to the front of the bus where the door is, pulling me behind him, and leaving Davidson to trail up the back.
The second my foot hits the pavement, Kris has me pulled around the front of the bus, and pressed against the opposite side so no one can see us.
“What the fuck are you doing?” he asks, stepping in close to me and caging me with his arms beside my head. “Are you trying to drive me insane?”
“Me? How?” I ask.
“Davidson.”
“You’re jealous.” I don’t state it as a question, because I can see in his eyes that me talking to Davidson bothered him.
“You’re damn right I am. I don’t fucking like it.”
“Well, that’s too damn bad, Kris.” I push away from the bus, expecting him to move, but all it does is bring me closer to him because he’s not budging from his spot. The tips of our noses brush as I look up at him. “You didn’t want anything more from me, remember?”
With that, I duck under his arm and around the bus to head inside.
Stupid jerk.
Stupid hot and sexy as fuck jerk.