Sweet Cheeks (11 page)

I rub over my belly and smile wide at Cam. “Hey, there. How's the head?”

Cam chuckles. “Yeah, still got a bit of a headache. I forgot what that's like, haven't exactly lost it in a while.”

I love the way we can talk like this. We've shared a lot in the past two years. I move closer and lean over to see what he's cooking. My stomach grumbles. Tanning and I never got to eat anything and I'm a little hungry. It looks good. A stir fry of chicken and vegetables.

“You eaten?” Cam asks, watching me salivate at the food.

“Um ... no.”

“I thought Tanning was taking you to that nice place out on Rochester Road?”

I give him a small frown, not sure how Cam knew that. Cam winks. “He text me, to ask where he could take you.”

“And you told him that place.”

“Yeah. Well you were always going on about it. Thought it might be nice for your first date.”

Date? Huh? That smarts. I only went on about it to Cam, because I wanted him to take me there. You know when we were going to get married.  Ah, well, that fantasy is now completely dead in the water.  After the way I've been feeling about Tanning I don’t think I'll be able to feel that way about anyone for a while. Least of all Cam.

“Yeah. We decided not to go, I was feeling a little off, but thanks,” I say with a fake smile which Cam doesn't question. He never questions it.

Cam starts to serve out the stir fry onto two plates. “You okay?” he asks.

No. I'm far from it. “Yeah, I'm feeling better now. Thought I'd get an early night. “

Cam smiles and gestures with his hand to the remnants left in the pan. “Sure, you don't want some?”

“Nah ... I don't want to interrupt anything. “

“You won’t be, Bailey and I are all good. Come join us.”

I bite my lip, just predicting the sour expression Bailey will give me, but I'm really hungry. I can just stay for a few minutes.

“Okay. Looks great.”

Cam gives me a big goofy grin and pulls out another plate then dishes up the rest of the stir fry.

I help him take the plates into the back living room where Bailey is sitting all propped up on pile of pillows, resting her foot. Oh that's right. I forgot she hurt herself. Probably the best thing she could have done. Kind of made her set things right with Cam.

I give her a small smile and she smiles back. Well that's a first.

“Hey, Bailey, how's the foot?” I ask.

“Hurts a bit, but it's okay.”

“You'll probably need to change the bandages before you go to bed,” I say as I take a seat across from her. I did a bit of a stint in the hospital as a nurse’s assistant, and helped out when the nurses changed dressings, so I learnt a thing or two. It wasn't for me, though, so I didn't stick at it for very long.

Cam bends to give her a quick peck on the lips, then passes her the plate of food and sits next to her. “I told you,” he says.

Bailey screws up her nose. “I'm sure it'll be fine. The glass wasn't in that deep.”

“You're being a baby,” Cam says in between mouthfuls of food.

Bailey narrows her eyes at him, but it's a playful scowl, her love for Cam, written all over her face.  Wow, I suddenly wonder if I'll ever look at someone like that. I never really noticed it before. I was too busy hating her to see the way she looks at Cam. I mean I acknowledged the way he looks at her, but didn't really want to accept it. Now, it's like someone has taken my blindfold off and I can see it in full colour.

I blink and fork a mouthful of food then chew and swallow. Bailey looks over at me. “So, how was your date with Tanning?”

Oh great so Cam and Bailey think we're dating. Terrific.

“Um ... I wasn't feeling well, so he dropped me home.”

Bailey tilts her head and sucks her lower lip into her mouth, but doesn't say any more.

Cam finishes shovelling the last of his food into his mouth, puts the plate on the coffee table, then pats his stomach.  “That was star class.”

Bailey rolls her eyes, and I laugh. “Think much of yourself, Master Chef,” I say.

“Well, it isn't quite as good as your cookies, but it's a close second,” he says while eying the pile of food still on Bailey's plate.

She shakes her head, then fills her fork and feeds him another mouthful. I should be gagging right now, but it's actually nice to see them so happy. The dark cloud over their relationship has obviously been lifted. Amazing how secrets can cause so much damage. I'm kind of glad they worked it out. Cam is one of the good ones and he deserves to be happy. If Bailey does that for him, I should be happy. And I think I can be.

I swallow my last mouthful of food quickly, time for me to leave. I mean, I think it's nice and all, but I can't stomach a night full of sappy, happy moments. It will take time for me to turn that corner. And I possibly never will. I'm still Jennifer Jaimeson. I won't lose that title easily.

I get up and take my plate ready to say my goodnights to the two love birds, when Bailey says, “Um ... Jen.”

Wow, not sure she's ever called me that before. It's usually Jenny, or Jennifer, or other assortment of names I'm not supposed to hear.

I smile. “Yeah.”

“Um ... I just wanted to say, thanks. Thanks for last night. Staying with me, and looking after me.”

Oh. Right. Did not expect her to say that.

I shrug. “Sure. No problem.” I have never had a nice genuine moment with Bailey, or any other girl for that matter, and I'm not sure how to act.

“And, well, ... Cam and I wondered if you want to come out with us to dinner next week. Maybe Friday. “

Dinner with these two. Crap. I really don't want to. But she's obviously trying to be nice. Put in an effort.

“Oh, um ... yeah, that sounds great. It's a date,” I say, as I make my way out of the room smiling like I think it's the best idea ever.

I don't want to be the third wheel. I just hope they don't plan to make me a pet sympathy project or something. Asking me to go out with them all the time. Ick, that would be the worst.

I make my way to bed and cuddle up under the covers. I sigh in relief, this is the one place that feels right and normal when everything else in my life is completely off the rails.

THiRTeeN

_________________________

It's been four days since I've seen Tanning. So much for
really
wanting to see me. And it's not like I'm counting or anything. Or that every single minute of the day has dragged and I'm not really into my baking like normal. I can't stop thinking about him. It’s so frustrating. I thought a bit of distance was what I needed to get him out of my head, but it’s way worse. I keep re-living every single moment we were together, every conversation we had. And that kiss keeps haunting my dreams. Well, not exactly haunting, more like turning into the best dream ever, especially when it doesn't end with that kiss. Sigh. Its only haunting when I wake up and realize I’m dreaming and I literally kick myself. I am so pathetic and I hate it. Really hate it.

I'm on my morning break at my favorite spot. The department store on Williams Rd. I'm staring at the beautiful crib I want to buy for Treasure Pot. It’s so pretty. All white wood with a fancy carved headboard featuring Winnie the Pooh and Tigger. I love that story and I already have my old copy packed carefully away to read to Treasure Pot one day. My mom used to read it to me every night when I was little, and it is still a nice memory. One I do treasure, despite all that has passed between us over the last few years. The crib costs nearly a thousand dollars, and I'm so close to having enough money to buy it. I mean I do have a little more saved, but I can't touch that money. I'll need it when I move out of Cam's house after Treasure Pot is born. I know Cam's mom won't expect me to leave, but now I've come to terms with him and Bailey being a permanent thing, I know its not really appropriate for me to stay there. They have both been so good to me, but I can't expect it to last.

I sigh, and trail my fingers over the smooth wood and tinkle with the matching Winnie the Pooh mobile that spins over the top. Thinking, I’ll probably save for that as well.

I'm just about to leave to get a vitamin drink when I hear a familiar voice. My head snaps in that direction, like I'm being charmed by his tone. Tanning. Oh, I'm not sure I want to see him here. I check over my old denim skirt and black strappy tank top. Not exactly my best attire, but I was so tired this morning I didn't have the energy to put in my usual effort. I've also decided my Jimmy Choo heels are way too uncomfortable, so I'm wearing my flat ballet shoes. They're cute, but certainly not sexy.
Damn it!

Thinking I can escape without him seeing me, I duck down and pretend to be browsing the lower racks of baby clothes, praying he'll walk by. I hear him getting closer, he's laughing now and I hear another laugh, well more of a giggle. A girlie giggle. Crappy crap. He's with a girl. Oh, god I don't want to see that. But I have to. I have to see who he's with. Maybe it's his little sister. Yeah, that would be okay. I could cope with that.

I crouch down further and scuttle across the floor, which is not easy with my swollen belly. There's a gap in the racks of clothes and I can see the wooden floorboard path which trails around to each department. Then Tanning comes into view. He's got a black t-shirt and army print cargo shorts, showing off his muscular tanned legs. I swallow and gulp down the lust that erupts, sending shivers all over me. There's another giggle, and my eyes divert to land on the giggler.

Oh Shit.

That definitely isn't his little sister. God, this one looks like she just stepped out of the pages of a vogue magazine. Crap. I can usually measure up against the best of them, but with this one, not even I'd have a chance. She is off the scale gorgeous. Ugh. I want to scream and jump up and down at the unfairness of it all. An image appears in my brain of Tanning and this one sitting in my corner at my restaurant, his hand in hers, putting a ring on her finger.

I suddenly feel fuzzy, I need to sit down, but I'm in a department store and I can't just sit on the floor. Now I really have to get out of here. There's no chance in hell I'm meeting his girlfriend. No way. I couldn't keep it together.

I'm praying for a miracle here. I'm stuck and Tanning and the supermodel have stopped and are looking at dinner sets. Then she puts her hand on his arm and smiles at him. Double ugh. Maybe they're moving in together. Oh, holy hell. I can't think about that. That is way too much for my racing heart to cope with.

I close my eyes and breathe deep, I need to keep calm. Yeah, that's it. Calm.

“What are you doing down there?” A voice says loudly.

Oh my god.
No way. No. It can't be. I don't want to open my eyes.

Then I feel a presence beside me. “J.J. What the hell are you doing down there?”

“Shhhh,” I spit out. He's so loud and overbearing.

I open my eyes, and his dark brown ones are at the same level as mine, boring into me, making me nauseous.

Travis.

Holy crap. This is turning out to be the worst day of my life. And considering I've had quite a few of those, that
is
some statement.

“Why are you shushing me?” he bellows out again.

Man, he needs to learn some social etiquette.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I whisper, not budging from my hiding place.

“I came looking for you.”

Great.
Why now? Why here?

“Your boss lady, said you always come here.” He looks up and around at the baby stuff and screws up his nose in a sneer.

Typical.

“What do you want?” I whisper again.

He stands and puts out his hand. “Why are you being all weird?”

It's then I hear another set of footsteps coming closer. Oh no. Please no. 

“Jen? Are you alright?”

It's Tanning.

Crap, crap, and crappy, crap, crap. I really want to run screaming out of here. This is my worst nightmare.

I have no choice, I grab onto Travis's outstretched hand and let him pull me up. I spread my hands over my skirt, like that'll make a difference, I'm a complete mess.

I glance at Tanning who is frowning at me and giving Travis suspicious glances.

“Oh hi, Tanning. Yeah, I just dropped something.”

Travis arches his brow and crosses his arms over his chest covering a dirt stain on his red chequered shirt. He shoots Tanning a wary look, saying, “Who are you?”

Tanning rubs his chin looking uncomfortable then offers out his hand. “Tanning. You must be Travis.”

Travis gives a smug grin. “Heard of me, have you? JJ probably hasn't shut up talking about me.”

Then Travis pulls me close and drapes his arm across my shoulder. Ew! If Tanning wasn't here with his super model girlfriend, I would be shoving Travis’s sorry ass the hell away from me. Instead I grit my teeth and don't move, even though it’s nearly killing me.

Tanning gives him a small nod, gives me a forced smile, then turns to walk away. Back to her I assume.

As soon as he's out of sight, I step out of Travis's hold, like he's scorching me with a hot iron rod. I take two steps back and glare at him. “What do you want? I never expected to see you again.”

“I had business in town, thought I'd look you up. See if you wanted to, you know... “

O.M.G. is he for real?

I pat my stomach and glare harder. “Yeah, can't really think of a reason why not. I mean, not like you're a lying ass, who knocked me up and then ditched me. Yeah, think I'd just love to hook up with you again.”

Travis smirks, his pearly white teeth gleaming through his two day growth. Once I thought that was hot. Now I just see him for the sly devil that he is.

“Come on JJ, you knew the score with me.” He leans in close and whispers, “And you loved it, as I recall. I can still remember your screams when you...”

I storm away. I can't listen to his crass talk. It's disgusting, and I feel like he's tainting Treasure Pot just by his mere presence. God, I need a hot shower and to scrub every inch of my body right now.

I have to go back to work. Mrs Winters is relying on me to finish off another batch of cupcakes for a little kids birthday party this afternoon.