Always Yours (19 page)

Cam hadn't said one word to me, let alone looked at me, since we sat down with Amber. When she finally reached across the table and touched his leg, I was done. I couldn't take it anymore. Excusing myself, I left them to reminisce by themselves.

I decided to find Tessa, she was the closest friend I had here and I needed to talk to someone about this messed up shit. I spotted Blake on the deck, talking to Matt and figured she would be up there so I headed that way.

About to ascend the stairs I heard a profound, gruff voice utter out, "Sucks, doesn't it?"

Right away I knew who it belonged to. "What are you talking about, Adam?" I said exasperated, following his voice around the stairs. He looked like a deranged maniac sitting in the shadows, leaning on his knees with his chin resting on his fists while the strobe light from the dance floor illuminated his eyes with each flash—it was eerily arousing.

He nodded his head in Cam and Amber's direction. "Being second place. It sucks, huh?"

I looked over my shoulder towards the two of them, Adam's words ripping a hole in my chest. He was right though, I was second place—I always was and always would be.

"You need a drink, sweetheart," he said, offering me a half empty bottle of Jack Daniels.

The realization of what was happening before my very eyes finally caught up to me and I caved.

It was over.

No—it never began—he was never mine, I was never his and it was time to move on.

My eyes stung, tears began to form, but that was as far as I let them get. I wasn't going to shed them. Not over a guy. I was done crying over men and Cam Greer
wasn't
going to be an exception.

Swiping the bottle out of Adam's hand, I took a swig. He patted the chair next to him, yielding me to take a seat, and I did.

Adam smirked at me, his sexy dimple spotting his cheek—his eyes hooded with wicked chaos. "Do you want me to kick the shit out of him? Because I'll do it, you just say the word. While we're at it, why don't you punch the blond bimbo over there and we can make it a double beating."

I couldn't contain my laughter. I never expected Adam to say that of all things. He was usually so serious and inappropriate.

"Doesn't sound like a bad idea, but I think I'll pass. Thanks though," I said, smiling at him.

"Alright, but my offer still stands." I handed him back his bottle of Jack and he took a drink. "You know what would be fun?"

"What?" I said intrigued.

"Making the game even." I looked at him like he was drunk and he probably was. "You know, making him feel the way you feel right now."

The alcohol was starting to cloud my head and the thought of giving Cam a piece of his own medicine seemed interesting. I knew I was going to be playing with fire but I didn't care, I had already been burned. Pushing my better judgment aside, I let the liquor take over. "What did you have in mind?"

Amber was here.

Cara had disappeared.

And I had fucked up royally.

I watched, frozen in place, as Amber took my phone and entered her number into my contacts.

What the fuck was I doing?

My mind was running in circles—replaying everything that had happened since the moment I saw Amber. At first, seeing her was like a goddamn dream. Memories overtook me and it was like she had never left. Then reality sunk in—Cara had seen everything and I was such a piece of shit. Cara was never good at hiding her emotions—they read on her face like a book—even when she thought she was hiding them.

I don't even know how I wound up sitting here talking to Amber. Everything was a blur, except the painful, disillusioning look in Cara's eyes. I hadn't heard more than a few words Amber had said since Cara downed her fifth shot and excused herself.

Where was she anyway?

Not that I could blame her for getting up, not after the way I reacted to this mess, but I figured she would have been back by now.

"Are you even listening to me?" I heard Amber say. Her overbearing voice pierced my ears, pulling me back from my thoughts.

"Yeah, I'm listening," I said as I scanned the crowds searching for Cara.

"I was thinking it would be nice if we met for drinks sometime." Amber was speaking again but I still wasn't really listening.

Shifting my gaze, I spotted Cara and her beautiful smile. She was sitting down in a chair next to the stairs, laughing, as she drank from what looked like a bottle of Jack Daniels. My heart began thudding erratically in my chest when I saw Adam standing in front of her. He extended his hand to her and when she willing accepted it every muscle in my body tensed.

He led her out to the dance floor, his hand at the small of her back. She looked carefree and happy as she nudged her shoulder into his, knocking his drunk ass off balance. Turning her head, she laughed as she steadied him.

"So, do you want to?" Amber asked impatiently.

"Yeah, sure," I grumbled without even knowing what I was agreeing to. I was too engulfed with what I was witnessing to even care about what Amber was saying. I just wanted Amber to shut the fuck up for two damn seconds so I could wrap my head around what was going on.

The beat to "Just A Dream" by Nelly bounced through the speakers and the first few lyrics were like a knife in my heart. I had refused to label what Cara and I were doing and as I watched Adam wrap his fucking arms around her waist the blade twisted in deeper.

With her back to his chest, I watched them, my fists clenched at my sides as his hands gripped low on her hips moving them side to side. She ran her fingers through her hair, tilting her neck to the side as Adam buried his face in her neck. My blood was boiling now. I shot up from my chair just as Adam looked up at me. He shot me a malicious smirk just as his tongue darted out from his mouth, licking Cara from her ear down to her collarbone. Cara's eyes rolled into the back of her head and the sexy grin that played on her face fucking infuriated me.

What the fuck was she doing with him? Did she want me to go to jail?

I stalked towards them, every nerve in my body ready to fight when Blake came blazing past me. He was just as pissed as I was, if not more, and when I looked in front of him I saw Tessa pushing some guy out of the way as Blake's fist wrenched backwards. Tessa jumped in front of the punch, taking a direct hit to her temple, and falling lifelessly to the ground.

Cara's hands flew to her mouth and the music stopped as everyone at the party fell silent. The only sound you could hear was the painful echo of Blake's cries as he tried to wake up Tess.

Everything was dark. The pungent smell of antiseptic stung my senses as I inhaled and I winced in response. The only sound I could hear was a low methodical beep coming from beside me. My eyes fluttered open slowly. My blurry vision and the bright light made it practically impossible to see. Blinking a few times, my eyes finally adjusted and the first thing I saw was my mother.

Why is she in my room?

Her head was down, her eyes closed, and her cheeks were stained with black streaks as she stood at the end of my bed. Her shoulders were shaking as soft sobs evaded her chest. She was crying, but it wasn't just a sad cry, it was the type of hysterics you have when you lose someone you love. I would know, I felt that same pain when Lance left.

Did something happen to Royce?

I needed to be with her, I need to comfort her. I opened my mouth to speak but nothing came out. My throat was raw and trying to swallow felt like sand paper on an open wound. Raising my hand to my neck to ease some of the pain I noticed an IV, and that's when I took in my surroundings.

White stark walls and strange machines overtook the room. I was in a hospital bed.

The accident.

Everything came rushing back, knocking the wind straight out of me and I panicked.

I tried to sit up but I couldn't. The pain was too much. My legs felt like lead, my stomach like fire. I was too weak, too fragile and too tired. Crashing back down onto the bed, my mother was at my side.

"Care-bear, just relax, breathe, Cara, it's alright," she said as she stroked my hair.

Tears spilled out of my eyes. "Is...Is she okay?" I choked out, grabbing for my stomach, I knew something wasn't right. My stomach felt different.

The downturned corners of her mouth and the lifeless look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know.

She didn't make it.

My baby was gone.

I jolted awake as my nightmare came to an end. Sitting up entirely too fast, my head pounded like a hooker on payday. Rubbing my temples with my fingers, I let out a muffled moan and fell back down onto my pillow, pulling the covers over my face. Only it wasn't my pillow or my covers. Snippets from the night before came back to me and the more I remembered the more my head hurt.

Cam and Amber....Lots of shots....Jack Daniels....Dancing.....and Adam. Fuck! Adam!

Peeking out from behind the sheet, I prayed I hadn't made a huge mistake. As soon as I opened my eyes I noticed I was in Cam's bed—alone.

Thank God!

Throwing the covers off me, I sat up and reached for my phone. Swiping the screen I checked my text messages. There was one from Cam and five from Shay. I opened Shay's first. There were four from last night and one from this morning.

Sorry Chica. :( I'll be there soon

I'm here. Come outside.

Where are you?

I'm going to kill Cam.

WTF? R U alright? What happened last night? Call me ASAP

I couldn't recall all of the details from last night. One minute I was pissed at Cam for the whole Amber situation, and the next, I was grinding my ass into Adam.

I'm such an idiot.

I remember Blake hitting Tessa but the memories after that were too fuzzy to make out.

I couldn't talk to Shay right now but I needed to let her know I was okay.

I'm fine...I think. Call U in a bit.

I opened Cam's text next.

I'm sorry...For everything. Plz don't leave. Went for a run. Be back soon.

As I read his words, recollections of the rest of the night came back to me.

"What the fuck, Cara?" he said as we walked to the car.

"Really, Cam, you're really going to start this conversation like this?" I asked, walking faster, my arms folded over my chest.

"Yeah, I am." He sped up so he was next to me again. "What the hell were you doing with Adam? He was all over you." He tried to cover up the envious tone in his voice with fits of anger.

"At least someone was," I mumbled, opening my car door. I got in the passenger side, pissed off that I wouldn't be able to drive.

He got in the car and slammed his door shut. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, Cam. Can you please just get to your place so I can go home?" I didn't want to fight, not right now.

"You're not going home tonight. You're fucking hammered. There's no way I'm letting you drive," he said, his jaw tight.

I exhaled a deep breath. I just wanted to go home. "You can't tell me what to do. If I want to go home I fucking will." I knew I shouldn't drive and I knew it would be impossible to get the keys away from Cam, but that didn't mean I couldn't call Shay to come pick me up.