8. Kameron
8
KAMERON
It took forever for the haunted house to get cleared out.
And even longer to get all the chairs and tables on our end of the event broken down.
Thankfully, most of the fire department has offered to help us load everything to get us out of here quicker. Based on the way Cora is tossing chairs into the trailer, she’s ready to be out of here too.
“Hi.”
I freeze for only a moment before spinning to face Damon. “Hi,” I repeat. “About earlier.”
“No need to explain.” He holds a hand up between us. “You’re taken, and I’d honestly expect nothing less of someone as beautiful as you.”
“That’s the thing.” I look into his eyes. “I’m not taken.”
His face changes, confusion clouding his eyes.
“The wedding he was referring to is his brother’s. Kris is…” I pause, wondering how I should word this. We were in a relationship, yes. But, could you really even call it that back then? And we haven’t talked in years. “We were friends in college.”
Realization dawns on Damon, and the smile that slips from his lips is breathtaking. He’s gorgeous, in a manly way. Even with all the blood covering him from the haunted house tonight.
“He’s actually doing me a favor by helping with the Christmas Bazaar, so I’m going to his brother’s wedding as his date, but non-date.” I laugh, brushing the hair out of my face that has fallen throughout the day. “If that makes any sense at all.”
“It does.” He takes the few chairs from my hands and carries them to the trailer while I grab another few and do the same.
He helps me inside, taking the ones in my arms and stacking them neatly before following me back out.
Cora meets me just outside the trailer with a smile as she glances behind me and sees Damon.
“Why don’t you head on out? You’ve done a lot today,” she tells me.
“You’re my ride home,” I remind her.
“Oh.” She places her palm against her forehead. “Duh. Sorry, um, I guess you could take my car?”
I frown at her, trying to figure out what angle she’s playing. She knows she’s my ride home, and never forgets that.
“I can give you a ride,” Damon offers, stepping up beside me.
“Oh.” Cora drops her hand as her smile widens.
And now it makes sense.
My best friend just set me up.
“That’s a great idea, actually. Have you eaten?” Cora asks me.
“Cora, it’s after midnight.”
Her face pales. “Shoot, you’re right. Okay, well you both get on out of here. I’ll finish up and be home shortly.” She steps around me but winks before she disappears.
“Is it okay if I give you a ride?” he asks.
“Sure.” I smile, moving to grab my things I brought with me.
Which isn’t a lot, just my purse, cell phone, and my emotional support cup that has to go everywhere with me.
A lot of people make fun of girls and their Stanley’s, but listen, Stanley is the only man that doesn’t let me down each day.
“I’m parked this way.” He points to one of the open lots where there are just a few cars scattered throughout. I’m assuming the green truck we’re walking toward is his, but he surprises me when he shifts direction and walks toward an old cherry red mustang.
I don’t know a lot about cars, but I know enough to know this gorgeous car is a classic. And it’s been well taken care of.
“Gorgeous car.” I smile at him, he already has the passenger door open, giving me space to climb in.
“Thanks.” He smiles down at me before shutting the door and rounding the hood to the driver’s side.
While he climbs in, I take time to look over the car. The dark leather interior is so much different than cars today. The feel, the softness, the stitching. Everything today is for looks, and the same can be said back then but times were just different. Cars were different.
“My grandpa passed this down to me when I turned sixteen.” He pats the steering wheel, his smile growing wider. “I’ve had it ever since.”
“Sixteen year old you with a car like this…” I whistle, making him laugh in response.
“I can’t say I didn’t use it to my advantage.” He looks over at me, trying to gauge my reaction to that. “Where am I heading? You hungry?”
“I live just a few streets over, Willow Way,” I tell him, figuring he knows where that is considering his job. “There’s nothing open at this hour in Birchwood.”
Which is fine. I’m not much on late eating, and I did have a funnel cake earlier that has more carbs than I care to admit.
“Yeah, I could take you to my place though.” He looks over at me, and it’s then that I realize this isn’t what I originally had planned out in my head. “Throw something on the grill.”
“You want to grill at twelve thirty in the morning?” I joke, hoping I’m wrong about the entire situation.
“I mean, and other things.” He flushes slightly, and I feel the gate drop for me.
“Maybe another time. I’m exhausted from this long day, I bet you are too,” I point out, he’s probably been working just as long as I have today.
“Yeah, sure.” The disappointment is obvious in his tone.
We sit in silence as he drives me the short distance to my house. Once he pulls in the driveway, he comments on our house and I think he’s going to get out and open my door, but he shocks me when he turns in his seat and stares at me instead.
I clear my throat, suddenly feeling awkward. “Thank you for the ride.” I reach for the handle.
“Anytime.” He smiles, but it doesn’t quite meet his eyes. “I’ll see you around, and maybe we could grab dinner soon.”
“Sounds good.” I pull on the handle and climb out.
Damon waits until I’m halfway up the drive before he backs out and heads in the direction he had just came from.
Maybe I read him completely wrong. There’s nothing wrong with a one night stand or a random booty call, I just wasn’t expecting that tonight from him.
I’m barely in the house before my phone rings. I answer it, thinking it’s Cora.
“Hey, are you almost here? I need to tell you about the disaster that is Damon driving me home, and everything with Kris.” I say, turning the lock on the door and dropping my purse to the small table we keep in the entry way that’s become a catch all.
“Glad to know you still gossip about me to your bestie.” Kris’ deep voice vibrates against my cheek through the phone, and my stomach drops.
I yank the phone away from my ear, looking at the screen and sure enough, it is indeed Kris.
“Although, I am interested in the details of that tool driving you home.”
“He’s not a tool,” I say, trying to defend him. Honestly though, I’ve got nothing. He was kinda acting like a tool.
Kris isn’t going to get that satisfaction from me though.
“What happened? He wanted in your pants and you weren’t ready for that?”
Jackass.
“And I thought our run in went great, do you not?”
“No, Kris. You ambushed me then pretended like we were going to a wedding,” I snap.
“Newsflash, babe. We are going to a wedding.”
I shake my head at his words, frustration building in me just like every other time I ever talk to this man.
“Not your babe,” I toss out quickly. “And you made it sound like it was our wedding.”
“Oh, did I? My bad.” He chuckles, and I wish I could punch him through the phone. “Anyways, I was calling to make sure you made it home safely.” His voice sounds sincere and I lose a little of my fight I had. I move into the bathroom, turning the water on for the shower before answering him. I’m more than ready to wash this day off of me and call it a night.
“Why were you worried if I made it home safe?” I bite my bottom lip, actually liking the idea that he cares.
Even though this is so, so dangerous to care.
“You might hate me, Red. But I don’t hate you.” He pauses. “And I wanted to tell you to dress sexy Thursday. I’ll be at your place by eight that morning.”
“Jerk,” I mutter just as he disconnects the call.
I should have seen that one coming a mile away. Kris was never able to be serious, and it’s part of the reason he and I struggled so much together.
I’m pulling my hair up on top of my head and stepping in the shower when Cora walks through the front door.
We spend the next thirty minutes in the bathroom talking about the wild change of events that have happened throughout the day.
The closer I get to going away with Kris for the weekend, the more I’m worried it’s all going to blow up in my face.