Chapter Nine
Untitled
Skye
“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 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. Then comes marriage. Then comes the baby in the baby 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 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, 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, stupid, angry, 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 picture a movie being made. Who would play me?
I try to think of redheaded 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 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. 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. 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, and then I hear a click.
"Hey, are we all connected?" Zara asks.
"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 last night was interesting."
"You were there, so you know it was 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 in 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 douchebag 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 douchebag?"
"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 him and me 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, 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 gasp 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. Is this Camden?
"Hi. Are you Camden?" I ask softly, as I take a step closer to him and narrow my eyes. This guy does not look anything like the photos on the dating app.
"Hey. Yeah, it's me. Nice to meet you, Skye." He whistles while his eyes rove over my body. "I like that dress. Though, it's a bit presumptuous, don't you think?"
"Sorry, what are you talking about?" I ask him, 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 funniest joke in the world.
"Oh, funny. No, it's just a dress that I like." He's wearing black jeans and a white shirt. "So, you look a little bit different than what I was expecting," 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 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 leans his head to mine 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.