32. Kameron
32
KAMERON
I hate mornings.
I hate when the light hits your eyes for the first time and you’re not truly ready to wake up yet. It’s like a dream robber, and I was having the best dream.
It was me and Christian McCaffrey on a yacht in the middle of the Caribbean, just sipping drinks and living our best lives until Olivia showed up and was about to steal him away.
But I’m pretty sure he was going to choose me… yet again, the damn sunlight ruined it all and woke me up.
Reality crashes back into me, and I remember that I’m in the cabin with Kris. I smile, rolling to my side to face him when I realize he’s out of bed.
That’s when I hear the banging downstairs, and frown. What on Earth is he doing?
Glancing at my phone on the nightstand, it’s six in the morning. I figured we’d get up fairly early, but I didn’t think it would be at the crack of dawn.
Kris walks in the room, an unreadable expression on his face as he goes into the bathroom and grabs his toiletries. I smile, realizing how we kind of just moved into the room in the last forty-eight hours. He appears again, and I take him in.
He’s wearing black joggers with a tight Under Armour shirt and a jacket over it. His tennis shoes are already on his feet and laced, and I watch as he bends, stuffing everything into his bag.
And boy, do I enjoy the look of those sweats on his toned thighs and ass.
A sound escapes my lips, and I blush, what I’m assuming is the deepest shade of red, and Kris turns to look at me. He frowns, and I knit my brows together in confusion.
That’s odd.
Isn’t that odd?
“Good morning,” I say, my voice still full of sleep.
“Morning.” He turns back to his bag, yanking on the zipper to get it to close fully. “We should get on the road shortly, I want to get home at a decent hour. I need to get back to my dog.”
“You have a dog?” I’m frowning again. He’s never mentioned that.
I stare at him a little longer as he picks his bag up, carrying it toward the door.
“Yeah.” That’s all he says.
He’s being unusually short with me, and it’s making me uncomfortable? Is that the word I’m looking for?
Self-conscious? Did I do something?
My brain runs in reverse, thinking of last night. The way we left the wedding together, the way he treated me all night, how we fell asleep in each other’s arms. But now, that version of Kris is long gone.
And in his place is the same guy from years ago when we went our separate ways in college.
“Are you going to get ready? I really do need to get on the road soon.”
My attention snaps to him, he’s staring at me with his hands on his hips.
“Sorry,” I murmur, climbing out of bed.
Kris disappears downstairs while I begin getting ready. I take a quick shower before bagging all of my things up. Everything was folded neatly on the way here, but now it’s all shoved in my suitcase and I can barely get it shut.
“Hey, Kris!” I call, hoping he’ll be able to help me get it shut.
He steps into the room, but he doesn’t say anything. One knee comes down on top of the suitcase and he takes the zipper from me and pulls it around, securing everything inside.
“Is that it?” he asks, avoiding eye contact with me as he glances around the room.
“I think so.” I walk over to the bed, pull the covers off and leave them all wadded on the floor.
Grabbing my phone, and backpack, I sling it over my shoulder before following Kris downstairs.
The air is cooler today than it has been, which isn’t unusual this time of year in Tennessee, but it does have a different feel today. Like a cold that cuts to the bone.
I can’t figure out if it’s the actual weather making me feel this way, or if it’s the man standing beside me.
Kris locks the keys into the lockbox hanging on the doorknob before grabbing my suitcase and his bag and heading for his truck. I frown, watching him the entire way to the truck.
He tosses our bags in easily, his eyes only connecting with mine briefly before he pulls his truck door open and climbs in.
Now I’m standing in front of his truck like an idiot, unsure of what the hell is happening this morning.
It’s literally night and day compared to the man I’ve spent the last few days with.
I walk around the truck, climbing into the passenger seat, and stare at the side of Kris’ head. He avoids my gaze, and puts the truck in reverse.
As we pull away from the cabin, I can’t help but feel like it’s a goodbye to much more than Gatlinburg today.
We’re over halfway into the trip home when we finally stop to grab something to eat and use the bathroom. Neither of us have spoken a word the entire drive, and the tension is much worse than when we left this morning.
I’m agitated, I’m cranky from being stuck in a stuffy truck with him, and I’m sleepy.
Kris pulls the truck to a stop next to a gas pump, and I sling the door open without waiting to hear what he has to say… if he will say anything at all that is.
He’s kept his damn mouth shut for the last four hours, he might as well keep it zipped for the next two.
Heat radiates through my cheeks as I practically stomp into the gas station. I make a beeline for the bathroom, and I’m thrilled when it’s more than one stall and no one is waiting.
Silently cussing Kris, I make quick work and use the restroom and wash my hands before I stop and stare at myself in the mirror.
Something is different about me, but I can’t quite put a finger on it. I roll my eyes at myself, because how ridiculous do I sound?
You spent four days on a mountain with your ex and had mind blowing sex and you look different?
Shoot me now. I’m not giving that jackass the credit for this. Whatever this is.
Stepping back into the gas station, I move toward the drink section and fill a styrofoam cup with Coke Zero before grabbing a candy bar and a bag of chips. The hot dogs on the rotisserie don’t look very appetizing, but I can’t go wrong with a bag of Doritos.
The door chimes, and I impulsively look over. Even though I knew it was going to be Kris because I could feel him.
Our eyes connect briefly, sadness fills his while I’m sure the anger I’m feeling radiates through mine. He opens his mouth, still frozen in the doorway despite people having to step around him to walk outside, but before he can even say whatever he’s wanting to say, I turn away.
He’s had four hours to speak. We’re not going to start in a random gas station along the interstate.
Screw him.
I pay for my things, and turn for the exit when Kris appears next to me with his hand held out. I pause, looking down at his open hand and realize he’s giving me his truck keys.
“I locked it, and I don’t want you sitting outside alone,” he tells me, and I roll my eyes, snatching the keys from his fingers.
He says my name, but I ignore him. I shove the door open, probably with more force than what was necessary and head for the truck he’s parked a few spots away from the main entrance.
Once I’m inside, I sit my bag on the floorboard and pull my phone out.
Me
I’m about two hours from home. I need margaritas and lots of salsa tonight.
Cora
Oh, no. That doesn’t sound good.
Me
It’s awful. This weekend was a mistake.
Cora
Sis. I’m sorry. What happened?
Me
He’s a jackass. That’s what happened. The same ole Kris as always. He got what he wanted, and now we haven’t spoken since last night.
Cora
Wait, what? How have you two been in a car together and not talked at all?
Me
You tell me. I hate him, Cora. I really, really hate him.
Cora
Kam, I’m sorry.
Me
I just don’t know what I did to deserve to be completely shut out like this, or for him to just become a stone of ice. I know we agreed to a weekend of a friends with benefits type thing, but to just wake up and decide to be a dick and ignore me all day?
Cora
How much longer until you’re home?
The driver door opens and Kris climbs in. As expected, he doesn’t speak, he just turns the truck on and shifts into reverse. I might as well not even exist in this scenario right now.
It’s like the entire weekend was made up in my head.
And to be honest, I don’t even really know why it bothers me so badly?
I’ve been just fine without talking to him for years, and one weekend he comes into the picture and flips my life back upside down?
Well, I mean, that is dramatic, but it’s basically the truth.
I regret ever asking him for a favor, and I hate him for cashing in on said favor and practically forcing me to attend the wedding this week.
God, I’m so stupid. This all could have been avoided if I’d just told him no or figured something else out for the Bazaar.
I glance back down at my phone, I miss my best friend, and I’m really having a hard time holding all of my emotions in right now.
Me
I should be home in the next two hours, and that two hours might as well feel like eternity at the silence in here.
Cora
Just take a nap, ignore him just like he’s ignoring you.
Easier said than done. I glance over at Kris once more before I let my head lean against the headrest and stare out the window.
At least Tennessee has gorgeous views.
Sure beats having to stare at his damn face the rest of this trip.