MRS. WEST

ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟙𝟙 #2

"Yes." I'm committed, actually. I hand the phone back.

"I'm not going to lunch alone," I say.

Rachel's brows lift slightly.

"But," I continue, glancing back at Hunter and Brody, "if you're really set on thanking someone... it wasn't just me."

Hunter perks up immediately. "Oh, now we're talking. We love food, Rachel!"

I ignore them, my eyes stay on Rachel.

"You want to do something," I say, steady. "It's with the whole crew. Group thing. That's it."

Rachel studies me for a second before grinning "Alright," she says. "Group lunch."

I nod once, stepping back. "That's the only way."

Rachel tilts her head slightly, entertained. "You're very loyal, Cameron."

"I'd like to keep it that way."

~

Brody's behind the wheel this time, one hand loose on it like he's got nowhere urgent to be, even though the faint smell of smoke still clings to all of us. Hunter's stretched out in the back again, boots tapping lightly against the floor with leftover adrenaline.

I'm in the passenger seat, phone in my hand, staring right back at an empty screen with no new notifications.

I exhale slowly, leaning back in the seat. "She still hasn't replied," I mutter, more to myself than them. But of course, they still hear it.

Brody snorts. "Who? Wifey?"

I sigh, looking out the window. "Yeah."

Hunter leans forward slightly from the back, resting his arms on the seat. "Have you tried texting her again?"

"I called. Texted. Nothing."

"Mm," Hunter hums. "She mad mad."

"No kidding." I joke.

Brody glances over at me briefly, a grin creeping onto his face. "Thought you had a backup plan though."

I frown slightly at that. "What?"

"That girl," he says, snapping his fingers like he's trying to remember. "Uh... Raquelle? Rachelle? Something like that."

Hunter immediately corrects, "Rachel."

"Yeah, her," Brody nods. "You were just getting invited to lunch, weren't you?"

My expression hardens instantly. "It's not like that."

Hunter chuckles. "It kinda looked like that."

Brody grins wider. "Man, she was feeling you. Don't even lie."

I turn my head slowly toward him. "No, stop it Brody."

"I mean," he shrugs, "I can't blame her. You save her family, look like that—"

"Finish that sentence carefully."

Hunter lets out a low laugh. "He's not wrong though."

"That doesn't matter," I snap. "I said no."

Brody raises his brows. "Then why are you still talking about it?"

"I'm not talking about it. You guys are the idiots bringing it up."

Yeah, because it's funny," he says easily. "You got a whole wife at home mad at you, and another woman trying to take you to brunch. That's a good problem to have."

"No," I say flatly. "It's not."

Hunter laughs under his breath. "Man, you act like you've never heard of cheating before."

"I know what cheating is, Hunter," I say. "I just don't do it."

He shrugs. "It's not that serious. Lunch ain't cheating."

"It is when you know why she asked."

Hunter whistles softly. "Okay, Shakespeare."

"I'm serious," I snap.

Brody glances at me again, shaking his head slightly. "You married dudes always act like saints. C'mon, Cameron. Everybody does a little something on the side. It's not like your wife's got to know."

The air in the truck changes, I can feel it. I turn my head slowly toward him. "What did you just say?"

He shrugs again, too casual. "I said it's not a big deal. All husbands-"

"Stop the truck."

Hunter's head snaps up. "Chill-"

"Stop the truck, Brody."

Brody glances at me, half amused, half confused. "Man, relax—"

"I said stop the truck." He exhales, rolling his eyes slightly as he pulls over to the side.

The second the truck stops, I turn fully toward him.

"Don't ever say that to me again."

He scoffs. "Say what? People cheat? It's reality, Cam. Grow up."

"No- it is not my reality."

"Don't talk about my wife like she's someone I'd disrespect like that," I continue, my voice is tightening now. "Don't talk about me like I'm that kind of man."

"I didn't say you were."

"Yeah you did."

Hunter raises his hands slightly. "Okay, okay, everybody breathe-"

"No," I shake my head, not breaking eye contact with Brody. "He needs to understand something."

Brody's expression hardens now too. "And what's that?"

"That I meant it when I said no."

"To lunch?" he scoffs.

"To everything!" I say, irritation slowly crawling up my spine.

Brody leans back slightly, shaking his head. "Man you're doing too much. It's not like you're actually gonna cheat. I'm just saying, you could."

"I'm telling you I wouldn't."

"Why not?" he challenges. "Your wife's already on your neck. She's not even answering you. You got someone else showing interest, so what's stopping you?"

My voice finally softens, and my shoulders drop. "Because I love her."

"I already made my choice when I married Dixie. I'm fine."

Brody looks away, out the windshield, jaw tightening slightly. "My bad." he mutters.

I rest my back against the seat, exhaling. I already know when I get home it's going to be a storm. Maybe the day after will be a rainbow.