Chapter 13 #2
Rachel bursts into laughter, and even Raven giggles, shaking her head. Cam’s good at spinning stories like he’s been rehearsing them all his life.
Then Raven says something in a quiet voice. “I was raised by my grandparents, too.”
Looking over at her, there’s something different in her voice, something softer. I’ve seen the sass, the sharp wit, and the fire in her. But this? This is something else entirely.
Cam gives her a thoughtful nod. “Really? Guess we have that in common, then.”
The girls exchange a quick glance, and I can see their curiosity practically radiating off them, but they hold back. Cam must pick up on it, too, because he keeps going, smoothly easing back into the story.
I already know this story, I was there for most of it. We grew up together, raising hell.
“Anyway,” Cam waves a hand dismissively, grinning, “that stuff is boring. Let’s skip to the important part.”
“NO!”
They say at the exact same time, their voices overlapping in perfect sync.
Cam raises an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this way too much. I almost laugh, but somehow manage to keep a straight face. Barely.
“We want to hear all of it,” Rachel insists, crossing her arms like she’s daring him to try cutting the story short.
He pauses for a second before sighing dramatically. “Alright, I'll give you the quick-ish version.”
I shake my head, knowing full well the quick-ish is still a long-ass story. But there’s no stopping him now.
“So, where was I? Ah, yes.” He clears his throat.
“When the dogs wouldn’t eat my cooking, we’d pull out the fancy china and set the table like it was some five-star dining experience.
We'd serve my granddad instead. Granny and I would hide in the kitchen, trying not to laugh as we took bets on how long he’d last. He’d put on a good show and act like it was the best meal of his life.
But then, after a few bites, he’d set down his fork, clear his throat, and announce that he was full and needed to retire for the evening. ”
Cam shakes his head, grinning. “She always made him a proper plate while I helped her clean up.”
Raven’s smile softens, and for a second, she looks… distant. Like the story hits closer to home than she expected.
Rachel, oblivious to her friends distance, bursts into laughter. “Poor granddad! The lengths men will go to, so they don’t piss off a woman in the kitchen. That’s actually adorable.”
Cam winks. “Exactly. He was a smart man.”
His eyes light up as he keeps going. “Fast forward about ten years. My favorite restaurant was going out of business, and I thought, why not? Bought the place, fixed it up, tweaked the menu, and the rest is history.” He claps his hands together just as we reach the clearing.
“Ahhh, here we are… the infamous forest.”
I inhale the familiar crispness of pine and earth as it fills my lungs. No matter how many times I’ve been here, it never gets old.
I hear Raven gasp as it cuts through the quiet, all talk of restaurants forgotten.
Before I can say a damn word, she bolts into the trees.
“Oh. My. God,” She spins in a slow circle with her arms stretched out, taking in everything at once.
She looks like she belongs here, untouched by the world outside. The way her lips part in awe nearly knocks the breath from my lungs. Fuck me. That look alone makes me want to hand her the whole damn forest.
“Is there a certain time we need to be out of here, or can we stay a while?” She asks, turning to me, her excitement crackling in the air between us.
If it were up to me, I’d let her stay here as long as she wanted.
Cam chuckles behind me, but I keep my voice even. “I don’t think the trees are going anywhere anytime soon. But we did plan on taking you guys to dinner at some point.” I glance at Raven, who’s already looking way too hopeful. “Totally up to you.”
Her face lights up. “Wait… what time does this place close? And can we go to your place for dinner, Cam?”
He just laughs, shaking his head. “We’ll head out around five so we can make it to dinner, unless you had something else in mind?”
Rachel practically bounces in place. “Nope! That sounds perfect. A private dinner at your restaurant? What more could a girl ask for?”
I look at Raven, expecting some type of reaction, but she’s already back to touching trees, brushing her fingers over the rough bark like she’s memorizing the way it feels.
We spend another hour wandering through the woods, throwing out bits of history about the estate and answering their endless stream of questions. Their excitement is contagious, and for the first time in a long time, I catch myself seeing this place the way they do.
Cam and Rachel walk ahead, locked in a heated debate over who’s the better poker player.
I can hear their laughter echoing through the trees.
Meanwhile, Raven strolls beside me, her steps slow and thoughtful.
The way her head tilts back with her eyes fixed on the sky makes it feel like she’s seeing something the rest of us can’t.
It keeps me rooted in place, caught between admiration and temptation.
She’s lost in her own world, and I can’t decide if that’s what makes her so damn captivating or so damn dangerous to me.
“That's a really great way to trip and fall on your ass,” I tease, keeping my tone light, hoping to break the spell she’s under or maybe it’s the one I’m under.
She lowers her eyes to the ground, looking around. “Is that your professional opinion?”
“Absolutely. Maybe you should hold my hand?” I extend my hand with a smirk. “I’d hate for you to fall, although I will have to charge you a rescue fee.”
She lets out a scoff, and her lips twitch at the corners. “Oh really? And what’s the fee for a forest rescue?”
“Priceless, I’m afraid.”
I lean in, unable to help myself as I tuck a curl behind her ear. Her cheeks flush and fuck if it doesn’t make my fingers twitch with the need to touch her again. But instead, I shove my hands into my pockets, hoping it’ll keep them in check.
She tilts her head, giving me a slow once-over, then grins like she’s figured something out. “You would assume that I’d trip. Or is this just your terrible attempt at getting me to hold your hand?”
I chuckle, stepping a little closer. “If I wanted to hold your hand, Princess, I wouldn’t ask.” My voice drops just enough to let the implication hang between us.
Her lips part and I can see the fire spark in her eyes. I know she’s about to fire back something that’ll go straight to my dick and make me regret teasing her in the first place. But before she can speak, a yelp echoes through the trees, cutting through the moment like a blade.
We both whip our heads toward the sound just in time to see Rachel go flying. Her arms flail as she hits the ground with a loud thud. She’s sprawled out on the forest floor, laughing hysterically despite falling on her ass.
“Rachel!”
Raven rushes over, but Cam is already kneeling beside her, scanning her legs for damage. “Jesus, are you okay?”
Rachel waves him off, still giggling. “I’m fine! I just… forgot how to walk for a second.”
I shake my head. “Shocking.”
Cam sighs, but there’s something about the way he shakes his head before scooping her up effortlessly.
“Oh my God, put me down! It’s just a scrape. My leg isn’t broken!” Rachel protests, squirming in his arms. “I’m not bleeding to death either, it just needs to be cleaned up a bit.”
Raven crosses her arms, watching him with a grin. “See? That’s how you rescue someone. No fees required.”
I smirk, tilting my head toward her. “I don’t know, Princess. I think you’d enjoy owing me.”
She sucks in a breath, but recovers quickly, narrowing her eyes. “In your dreams, Mr. I-Don’t-Ask-To-Hold-Hands.”
I grin. “More often than you’d think.”
Her lips part slightly and her eyes widen for just a second before she catches herself. And just like that I know I’ve won.
Rachel groans. “I cannot believe I just tripped, but at least I made it look graceful!”
Cam snorts. “Sure, if cartwheeling mid-air counts as graceful.”
Despite her protests, he doesn't put her down. I have to admit, it’s pretty damn entertaining. If it were Raven, I’d be doing the same thing, ignoring every demand to be put down. Something tells me she’d be even more stubborn than Rachel, which would only make it more fun.
We make our way back to the estate and through the back entrance, stepping into the mudroom. Playful banter still fills the air and laughter bounces off the walls as I grab the first aid kit.
“Alright, hold still,” Cam says, crouching in front of her. “Wouldn’t want you to lose a leg over this.”
He grins. “You might end up with a sick scar though.”
Rachel scoffs. “That’s the least of my problems.”
Something about the way she says it makes my stomach tighten. It’s offhanded, casual even, but there’s something under it. I look up at her, debating whether to push, but she quickly covers it with a bright smile.
Raven is already bouncing on her heels, completely oblivious to the shift in Rachel’s tone. “Okay, now what?”
Tossing the bandages back into the kit, arching a brow at her enthusiasm. “What do you mean now? Didn’t we just spend an hour in the woods? I thought you’d be ready to sit down, catch your breath…”
She gasps like I just said something offensive. “Absolutely not. We haven’t even seen the castle yet.”
Cam chuckles. “Technically, we are in the castle.”
“Okay, smartass, you know what I mean,” Raven huffs, crossing her arms. “I want the full experience! I want to see the throne. Is there a throne? Can I sit on it? Are there secret rooms? Hidden passageways? Wait! Are there any ghosts?”
I blink at the onslaught of questions, barely holding back a grin. “I’m sorry, am I supposed to answer those in real time, or—”
She waves a hand dismissively. “I expect you to answer all of them eventually. And if I think of more, I’ll be adding to the list.”
Rachel hums in agreement, hopping off the counter with a grin. “I also want to know about the ghosts.”