Page 23 of Without Bound
“I already have the daughter I’ve always wanted,” Cami says, coming up behind Dagen, wrapping her arms and kissing the top of her head. “If this little one is a boy and if we have any more after and they’re all boys, I won’t feel like I’m missing a thing because I have you.”
Dagen cranes her neck back, looking up in Cami’s eyes and I just about sputter a sob with how completely precious this moment is.
“You two are the dang cutest.” I lean forward and hug Cami with one arm. “How are you feeling?”
Cami places one hand on her still flat stomach and says, “Ugh. Sick and hungry and tired all of the time.”
“Come whine to me when your little nugget is performing acrobatics all night long and demanding things like maple donuts and black cherry pie.” I hear CeCe’s voice behind me as she walks up to us.
“Mmm. Maple donuts and black cherry pie sound pretty darn good to me. You won’t find me complaining,”I tell her.
“You’d think, but he seems to want them all at two in the morning when there are no stores or bakeries open. That’s when it becomes a problem.”
We laugh and talk for a few more moments about their pregnancies and school for both Dagen and I. The conversation comes to a halt when CeCe perks up when a new woman steps inside the suite.
“Gabby,” she calls to the woman who looks at her and smiles. “This is one of my co-workers.”
“Hello mama,” Gabby says when she steps over to us.
“Gabby, these are my friends I’m always telling you about. This is Camille and her daughter Dagen. And this is Anais, Phoenix’s niece.” CeCe introduces us and we say our hello’s. “Stay here. I have someone else I want you to meet.”
CeCe strides away from us quickly and we’re left to make small talk.
“So you’re the famous niece,” Gabby says with a smile. “I think everyone in the ball club knows about Phoenix’s niece that he is so proud of. He talks about you to anyone who will listen.”
She smiles and it embarrasses me thinking of Phoenix walking around like a proud dad, bragging about his niece.
“Here I thought I’d have the cool uncle when I moved, but instead I ended up with an overprotective second dad,” I joke. “But he’s not so bad.”
Cami smiles and opens her mouth to add something but is cut short by CeCe.
“Gabby. This is Bishop. I’ve been wanting to introduce you two for so long.”
Bishop steps up next to her and smiles. “Hi Gabby. Nice to meet you. CeCe has told me so much about you.”
Gabby shakes his hand and smiles, her cheeks tinging pink. “Same.”
My teeth gnash together and I grind them with fury. She looks at him like I do, but what really bothers me is that he doesn’t look at me the way he is looking at her.
The game starts and everyone wanders between watching thegame and talking. My chest hurts as I watch them talk and laugh throughout the game. My heart tries to leap from my chest and plop itself onto the floor and crawl under my shoe. I feel a loss and also a bit of betrayal from CeCe seeing as she is obviously setting them up on a date.
Speaking of Cece.
“So what do you think?” she asks Cami.
“They seem like they’re hitting it off. But I thought you said you wanted to introduce him to Melina from accounting?”
I gulp down my anger at hearing another woman's name.
“I plan to if this doesn’t work out. Gabby has been asking about him since she saw him at last year's World Series party. Girls been sweating him ever since that night,” CeCe explains.
My nerves have had enough so I get up to get myself a soda and of course –because FML– I have to pass Bishop who stands talking with Gabby.
“I’m a huge concert junkie. I saw almost everyone who came to the rodeo this year,” Gabby tells him.
“I wish I could go to the rodeo more, but it’s right at the official start of the season, so I rarely get away from the field until at least June. Then I get a couple months rest before we’re back at it.”
“Excuse me,” I clip as I try to move past them to grab a drink.
