Page 48 of Without Bound
She deadpans me with a look. “Stop acting daft.”
I swallow and nod my head. “There’s nothing to talk about. It was misplaced feelings. I think I was just feeling a little lonely because of the engagement and weddings and now babies. I thought I liked her, but it was silly. She’s a child.”
“You may be able to lie to yourself but you can’t bullshit me, Bishop Michaels.”
I squint my eyes and pretend to be annoyed. “Get out of my head, girl. And tell your husband to keep his big trap shut.”
“Vaughan didn’t have to tell me a whole lot. I already had a pretty good idea of things. It’s just something I picked up on. A feeling, you know? Maybe it was my mother’s intuition kicking in already.”
I pinch the tip of her nose and she bats my hand away. “I don’t know, Cami-girl. She’s just a kid and Nix is my best friend. He’d never forgive me.”
“Are you sure about that?” She asks and I nod emphatically. “Did you sleep with her?”
“No but…,” I look away, the guilt making me sick. “I kissed her. Twice. And other stuff. But not in person. You know, it was…” I can’t find the words to explain what we did.
“You had phone sex, didn’t you?”
“Jesus, Camille. Shush your mouth.” I look around the room full of people, nervous someone heard us and put two and two together.
“Oh my gosh. You guys are so prudish. If you could be a fly on the wall during girls brunch, y’all would probably drop dead. Especially listening to Viv. That girl could make a sailor blush.”
I laugh knowing how true that is.
“It doesn’t matter. I told her we were asking for trouble and let her know it was best if she stayed away and quit calling me.”
“How many times have you almost called her?” I fold my lips between my teeth and look down. “Wow. That many, huh? Why are you punishing yourself? Talk to her. But talk to Phoenix first.”
“No. Not gonna happen. It’s done. I’m going to move on. And it’s obvious she is, too. Plus, she should be with a guy her age. Not some old man.”
“Will you shut up with the old man crap? I bet you could walk across campus and get more of those young co-eds to fall at your feet than those young boys could. You’re hot, Bish, and don’t act like you don’t know what I’m talking about. I’m pretty sure at some point, all us girls have had a crush on you.”
My face heats up, thinking about these ladies I consider sisters having thought of as anything other than a friend.
“Lie,” I tell her
“Not a lie. Truth. CeCe most of all.” She winks at me and I laugh, embarrassed. “But it wasn’t just your looks, Bish. It wasyou. You’re kind and intelligent and caring. You make people laugh and feel special without even trying. It’s no wonder that girl would fall for you. And she’s equally as amazing. Just look at how she is with Dagen.”
I look over to where Anais stands with her date along with Dagen, laughing and acting goofy with her.
“You two are like each other’s twin half. Together, you’re one.”
I think back to Vaughan when he called Cami his twin flame and without her, he’d die out.
“She’s too young, Cam. It would never work. Mainly because I’d be dead before it ever got started. Nix would run me down.”
“Stop it with the age thing. Luca is eleven years older than CeCe. You don’t see anyone making a big deal out of it.”
I counter, “I’m twelve years older, and she’s still a teenager. Big difference.”
Cami sighs, turning her attention to the game as it endswith cheers with a Wranglers win. I study her face, trying to figure out what’s going on in that head of hers. She’s a wealth of knowledge because she’s endured so much in her young life. From the breakup with Vaughan when they were so young, to losing her husband years later, and then finding out the truth behind what tore her and Vaughan apart thirteen years ago. She suffered so many heartbreaks only to come back stronger with each renewal. Now she and Vaughan are married, she and Dagen have formed a bond that no one can break, and soon their family of three will be four.
So when she speaks, I tend to listen a little bit closer than I would with others.
“I lost a lot of years with Vaughan by being so stubborn. Yes, I had an amazing life with Robbie and loved him so very much. I’m grateful for the time I had with him. But despite loving Robbiesomuch, there was always a part of me that remained with Vaughan. Don’t waste time being stubborn. Talk to Phoenix. Allow yourself the right to be happy. You deserve it, Bishop.”
Cami pops up on her toes and kisses my cheek, then walks over to where our friends are all celebrating. Joyous laughter and hugs are passed around. When I look over at Anais, she’s celebrating herself, hugging Dex and smiling. His arms are circled around her as he lifts her up and spins her around. When he places her back on her feet, he stares at her with stars in his eyes.
Seeing him touch her sends a wave of jealousy coursing through my veins. And while I want to stomp over there and rip her away from his arms, I know that letting her go is better than keeping her to myself.
