Never Say Never (23 page)

KAT

“I’m not wearing it and that’s final,” I tell Rebecca.

“But, it looks so beautiful on you. Please for me?”

My head goes straight down because I don’t want her to see my face, “I just can’t wear my prom dress. It reminds me of Cameron.”

She reaches over, rubbing my arm up and down, “I’m sorry, I wasn’t thinking.”

“That’s okay, how about this one?” I ask, holding up a sexy black dress.

“You’re not wearing black to the wedding. Find something else,” She says, sitting down on the red velvet chair wedged in the corner of the store. She looks up, “How about blue? Blue would look amazing on you.”

I bite down on my lip, trying to hide my smile, “Blue works for me.”

After I try on ten shades of blue, we finally find the right shade.

“There, was that so hard?”

“It was horrible,” I tease.

Truth is Rebecca has grown on me. She hasn’t given up on the idea of me and Cameron, even though I have. Not that I didn’t want him in my life, I did. I feel like I’m barely able to breathe when I think of him. I think I would completely fall apart if I saw him again. I do everything I can to avoid my usual spots, for that very reason.

I hear her say, “So the wedding is only two weeks away, is there anyone in particular you’d like to invite?”

“Nope. I’m coming solo. Unless you’re counting Jess as my date.”

She keeps pressing. “Are you sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Cameron would love you in that dress.”

“Rebecca, I know you’re not that old, but really if you want to act like my good stepmother than you’re not doing a bang up job with it. Stop acting like a girlfriend.”

She just laughs.

We’re just about home, from our “girl day” when she says,

“Would you mind running in and getting me a latte?”

I turn looking at her, “I know what you’re doing?”

Both her shoulders go up, “What, I need some coffee.”

“We have coffee at home.”

“It’s not the same,” she says almost pushing me out of the car.

I’m not paying attention as I walk toward the coffee shop. I look up, hearing the sound of a skateboard ahead. He’s already spotted me, so it’s too late to turn and run. He looks a little hesitant when he looks at me, but he walks slowly toward me.

“Hey, Kat. It’s good to see you.”

“You too,” I mumble.

I start to walk around him, when he grabs my arm.

“Wait. How have you been? It’s been awhile.”

“Better thanks. Of all people, Rebecca has somehow managed to help me.”

He smiles half heartedly. “I’m happy for you.”

I feel his eyes, they have me almost hypnotized as I stare into them. Before I can say anything else, he says, “I miss you, y’know?”

I don’t answer, I just smile. I look back in Rebecca’s direction, she pretty much has a permanent grin on her face. Apparently her little plan worked. I decide to take the risk, because I don’t know how much longer I can fight it.

“Cameron?” I say nervously.

“Yeah?”

“Would you like to go out to dinner with us tonight?”

His eyes stare into mine. “What? With who?”

I bite down on my lip before I say the word I didn’t think possible. “My family.”

He smirks, but stands farther away from me.

“Kat,I want to. Really I do. I just don’t know if it would be smart of me to do this all over. I’m not sure I can go through it again,” he says, fiddling with the wheels on his board.

“I understand if you can’t. I just thought maybe...I don’t know maybe we could start over.”

“I thought you were going to Savannah?”

“I was, but with the wedding and everything else. I just decided to stay here.”

“I don’t know, Kat,” he says shaking his head this time. I think for a moment that he might say yes, but he doesn’t.

“I gotta get going,” Cameron says.

“If you gotta go...go.”

I know I sounded mean when I said it, but his voice and words upset me. I know I totally screwed this up. What was I thinking? Why the hell would he come back to me with open arms? He obviously hasn’t forgiven me.

“I hope you’re happy,” I say to Rebecca when I get back into her car.

She throws her arm over my headrest. “What happened?”

“He’s still upset with me, I think. I don’t know. I invited him out with us tonight, but he didn’t say yes.”

“Well, what did he say?”

“He said he wasn’t sure.”

“I’m sorry. I saw him at the corner and I just thought that maybe if he saw you...” I cut her off.

“It’s okay. I’m fine.”

“You’re not fine. Your hands are shaking.”

Damn, she noticed.

“I’m too late,” I mumble, pulling the sunglasses out of my bag, covering my eyes.

She doesn’t push any further, which surprises me. I kept waiting for the next comment to fly out of her mouth. It didn’t for the rest of the night.

We were eating at The Rosebud, one of my dad’s favorites. I admit, one of mine too. Not because of the food...which is good, but because it reminds me of Cameron. They don’t know anything about that night...well maybe a little. My memories of that night rush through my head. Things like: chocolate frosting, gnocchi, movies, his lips, his hands, his bare chest. Wondering what it would be like if he said yes and came to dinner. But, he didn’t. I was hurt when he didn’t call me to give me a definite answer, but I understood.

“Kat...do you want desert or not? The poor guy is still waiting for an answer,” My dad says.

I look up to the waiter,“No thanks.” I feel hot all of a sudden so I pull the water glass up to my lips. Swigging it back in one huge gulp.

CAMERON

I’m staring at my phone, not really believing what I’m seeing. A text from Kat inviting me to her father’s wedding.

Cameron,

As you know my father is getting married, and I would love for you to meet me there. It’s at the Ritz, downtown at six p.m. on July 1. If you decide to come...I promise everything will work out. Love, Kat

What am I going to do? I don’t know if I can bring myself to go. Even after reading the promise, the signing of her name..the word love next to her name. She still loves me. God, knows I still love her, but to see her again would kill me if she wasn’t serious.

I don’t respond to the message. It takes me the two full weeks to muster up the nerve to go and be her date for the wedding. She seemed much happier the last time that I saw her, but I know she can probably use a friend tonight.

It’s hot outside, more than usual. My mom was more than happy to help me get ready. Apparently I’ve been a complete pain in the ass the last month.

“You look handsome as always,” my mom tells me.

“I don’t know why, but I’m so nervous,” I admit fussing with my tie. Only I do know why. Even though her message was positive, my heart had a hard time believing it. I tug at my tie, it feels like it’s strangling me.

She leans in, kissing my cheek.

“Go...have fun Cameron.”

I smile, but don’t say anything else.

***

I pull into the valet at The Ritz, sweating bullets even though my air conditioning has been blowing in my face full force the whole way. I make my way over to the concierge, asking for the Harper wedding. He directs me to the ballroom on the lobby level. I’m running a little late, traffic was bumper to bumper on the expressway.

I walk in just as the ceremony starts. I sit down way in the back, not wanting to disturb anything. I see her standing, her body faced toward her father. I close my eyes, after I take her in. I still can get up and leave. She probably assumes I’m not coming anyway. I don’t. I can’t help but wonder if she really is willing to try. That question alone keeps me sitting, not moving one muscle in my body. I’m looking forward to whatever it is that she wants to throw my way. Even if we part at the end of summer, I’m willing to open myself back up. If it were anyone else, I would have walked along time ago.

As soon as the ceremony is complete, they make their way down the white crepe paper aisle. I see Kat lean over to speak to a girl in the second row of seats, whispering in ear, while smiling. It stops my heart for a brief second, realizing it won’t be long until she sees me waiting for her. I keep my eyes focused on her, not only because she looks absolutely stunning, but because she’s the only one here that I am interested in.

They continue to walk, stopping every few seconds to smile at the guests clapping in their seats. It’s only a matter of seconds until we’ll be eye to eye. I look away, staring at her father and Rebecca, who seems overly pleased to see me here. She smiles, wholeheartedly when she does. I smile back, but the smile starts to fade when I notice Kat’s expression. I can’t for the life of me figure out why she looks almost surprised to see me. Her brows crease in the center, meeting in the middle of her forehead.

They’re all starting to make their way out of the room, when she twists her body, facing mine and says, mouthing softly, “What are you doing here?” She asks, but her father pulls her along and outside the huge doors.

Why is she so surprised? She’s the one that asked me meet her. I know I didn’t confirm, but her response definitely threw me into a small tizzy.

I watch as the girl from the second row, sprints to her side. I still have no clue who she is. In a matter of seconds I see two things happen at once. Kat talking to Rebecca, her face looks angry, and this girl I don’t know, is now staring me down.

I’m feeling a little uncomfortable as the minutes tick by, so in a minute decision I stand to leave. I’m obviously not wanted here, and I need to get out of here pronto. Just as I’m about to, Kat starts to walk toward me. My body tenses up waiting for the words to come out of her mouth. God, why does she look so beautiful? I can’t bear to look away, as she approaches.

“Cameron, I don’t know what to say.”

“What kind of game are you playing? Because I think I’m at my breaking point,” I say trying to hold back my emotions.

She makes a funny face, “I’m really sorry, but I didn’t send that text to you. It was Rebecca,” she winces.

I force a sarcastic laugh. “Great.”

I feel her hand grab mine. “For what it’s worth, I’m glad she did.”

I’m freaking out because I’m not even sure what she’s saying as she keeps spewing her little speech from her lips.

I hear her say, “I’m so glad you’re here, really. Now you can meet Jessica and well if you stay, you can be my date for the night...”

“Wait a minute,” I manage to say. “You didn’t ask me here?”

She looks back down, dropping my hand, “No, but I would have if I’d known you’d come.”

I lift her chin, “Kat, you know that I will always come, whenever you want me. You just need to have a little more faith is all.”

Her eyes start to swell with tears, “But you didn’t come to dinner, so...I thought it was over for sure this time.”

“Kat, you’re right I didn’t, but only because it scared the shit out of me. You messed my head up pretty bad.”

My eyes are completely focused on hers, “Why weren’t you scared to come tonight?”

I shake my head slightly, smiling, “Because I decided in the end, you’re worth fighting for.”

Before I can say anything else, she flings her arms over my shoulders, gripping me tighter than ever.

“I love you,” she says whispering in my ear.

I don’t answer. I bury my face in her hair, remembering the reason I came here.

KAT

I pull back, I guess I expected him to tell me he loved me too, but right now I don’t care. He’s here, and he’s here for me, so that says enough.

“I have somebody, I want you to meet,” I say pulling him along by his hand.

I don’t think I could be any happier than right now. My best friend and the guy I’m head over heels for are in the same room.

“Cameron, this is Jessica. My best friend from Savannah. Do you remember?”

“Of course, I remember. It’s great to meet you Jessica. Kat’s told me so much about you.”

Jessica has her hand loosely around my waist. She reaches her hand out, “Likewise,” she says grinning back to me.

Two-seconds later, Rebecca (my new stepmother) and my father come strolling up, deliriously happy, holding hands. I can’t help, but notice how beautiful she looks tonight.

Rebecca walks around me, pulling Cameron into a big bear hug, “I’m so glad you came, everything is perfect now,” she says pulling away, and squeezing my hand.