Heartbreaker (15 page)

SeVeN
TeeN

______________________________________

So I decided I’m making chocolate cookies for our lunch today. Petty? Yeah, maybe. But the way Cam looked at me before gives me a small glimmer of hope. So I’m giving myself a fighting chance, that maybe, just maybe, I can get him back. And that is one fight worth having. I would never forgive myself if I didn’t at least try. I know with certainty he is it for me. I owed it to my mom to try and live life on my own terms, and I did for a while. But that wasn’t what I wanted. It never was. It was her dream. And not mine. Hard, life lesson learnt, Bailey Ryan.

I’m at
the Mr Hellier’s refurbished grocery store, and it’s impressive. He’s certainly done a great job designing the wider aisles, and the wall of freezers along the back are pure genius.

Perusing the cooking aisle, I'm looking for top quality chocolate chips. I spy the brand I like and reach u
p on tippy toes, when another hand beats me too it and takes the packet off the top shelf.
Huh?

“We meet again, lovely legs,” a hushed voice whispers directly behind me.

I recognize that voice. Travis.

I lower my heels and turn to look up at the boot scooting cowboy. He’s dressed in light jeans and a pale blue
check shirt. He looks freshly showered, his dirty blond hair slicked back, a days growth covering his chin and cheeks. He doesn’t move so we stand closer than I’d like, but I have nowhere to go with the shelf rubbing against my back.

He continues to tower over me, keeping a good hold on the choc chips. I eye them and wonder how long he’s going to keep this up. I’m pretty good at stand offs, so he better be ready for a fight.

“You doin’ some baking, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart! Oh please.

“Sure am,
honey bunch
,” I answer back, with a tight smile.

He grins wider and inches a bit closer. I can smell his minty breath, and the
musky cologne smells like the one Cam was wearing. Weird. Not sure why they’d be sharing the same cologne?

“Need some help? I’m real good in the kitchen. And other places ...”

I arch a brow. “Yeah. Well thanks for the offer, but I’ve got all the help I need.”

He scoffs, “So I heard.”

Huh? Heard what? And who from?

I frown at him and he grins again. I don’t like his grin, it has no warmth, just stinks of danger and dominance. I have a feeling, Travis, doesn’t take no for an answer very often.

“You’re wasting your time, you know,” he continues.

My heart starts racing. I don’t like where this conversation is heading.

I bite my lip and he reaches up and cups my chin tilting it toward him. I want to slap his hand away, but judging by the size of him that might not be wise. He’s got an edge that unnerves me. My instincts are telling me to be careful with this one. He’s not going to do anything in broad daylight in a supermarket full of people, so I decide its best to play along for now.

“I can see the attraction. You sure are a pretty one, sweetheart.” He holds my chin a bit tighter and I suppress the urge to wince. “He’s blind when it comes to you. But I see what you’re all about. And you’re no good for him. Maybe once, but not anymore. You need to let him go. You’d be better off with someone like me.”

I gag, hearing him talk about me like he has any idea what I’ve been through, or who I’d be good for. How dare he? My blood boils and I forget all my other careful rules. I slap his hand away and try to side step his big frame, when another hand comes from nowhere and grabs Travis’s shoulder pushing him away from me.

“What the hell, dude?” Travis stumbles, but recovers quickly
, and I see who it is that’s pushing him. It’s Cam, and he looks like thunder. His face is red and he’s moving toward Travis so fast.

Travis puts up his hands in surrender, but Cam keep coming. That’s when I see Mr Hellier stomping toward us, waving his arms around. “Hey, boys, take it outside, don’t want no trouble in here. Or I’ll call the sheriff.”

I think that’s the only reason Cam stops. His sense of decency kicking in. His fists are clenched at his side, and he’s right up in Travis’s face. Even though Travis is taller and bigger, Cam looks the more dangerous one in this encounter. “I’ve been looking for you, you son of a bitch,” I hear Cam grind out through gritted teeth.

“You been talking to her then?” Travis asks, and I’m confused.

Talking to who?
They’re obviously not talking about me.

I don’t hear anymore though, as Mr Hellier approaches, giving them one last warning and they both high tail it outside. I suck in a breath. Holy crap, that was intense. I really have no idea what just happened, but I have a feeling it has something to do with Cam’s girlfriend. Sweet Cheeks, might not be so sweet after all. I wonder if she’s cheated on Cam with Mr Cowboy and that’s why he’s so pissed.

Oh, boy. I’m not sure lunch with Cam is such a good idea now. I shouldn’t get caught up in this. That would just complicate matters further. All my resolve to fight for him is dissipating. I should leave well enough alone, and give Cam some space to sort himself out. The cowboy might be right in that respect. I’m mixed up enough myself. I don’t know that I could handle any more dramas.

I bend down and pick up the packet of chocolate chips Travis dropped when Cam shoved him. They’re still intact, but I don’t want, or need them anymore. I stare at the red packet thinking about what they represented mere minutes ago. A chance. A chance for me and Cam. And now I have to put them back. I hesitate. I don’t want to, but I take a big breath and reach up and put them on the shelf.

I make my way to the candy aisle and decide to stock up on treats. The way my day’s turned out warrants it. Pretzels and m&m’s are high on my list and I find them easily and toss them in my basket, along with a bottle of soda, bread and cheese. I feel like being wilful. I’ll freeze the pasta so Dad doesn’t find out.

Mr Hellier serves me, and gives me a weak smile. He probably thinks I caused all the conflict with Cam and Travis. I thank him and leave quickly. I have my head down, just wanting to reach Dad’s truck and get back home. I figure I’ll text Cam and tell him I’m not feeling well. He’s probably forgotten about it anyway, seems like he’ll be spending his day focussed on bigger things. I wish I could help him.
But I’m pretty sure he wouldn’t want that kind of help from me.

I swing the bag around and reach my truck. I’m just about to pull open the door when I notice a pair of boots standing next to my truck.

“What do you think you’re doing?”

I look up and see Cam with his arms crossed glaring at me.

“Um … I’m getting in my truck.”

Seems stupid to state the obvious, but he asked.

“No, you’re not.”

“I am. Watch.” And I go to climb on in, when I’m grabbed from behind. Cam’s arm firmly around my waist. My breath hitches at the close proximity of his body next to mine and I melt a little. Pathetic I know, but I can’t help it. He feels so good. So right.

Cam breathes in my ear, and my heart nearly leaps out of my chest.
Holy hell!

“Have you forgotten what the doctor told you?”

Okay, I’m a bit dizzy, but the doctor’s words register somewhere in the recess of my brain.

He doesn’t ease his grip and continues to hold me, and my wobbling limbs feel like a bowl of unset jelly.

“Um …” is all I can pant out.

He continues his assault, and breathes in my ear again, “You can’t drive on your meds, Bailey. I’m driving you home. I’ll get your truck later.”

“Um … okay.”

Because I can’t honestly say anything else. I’m not really sure where this alpha male version of Cam came from, but it’s hot and mega hard to resist.

He finally releases me and I feel like crying. I want his arms back around me. Well, to be honest I want more than that. I fan myself at the thought, blood rushing around my body likes it’s on a mission to enflame every single part.

“
You, okay?” Cam asks, for the millionth time.

No. I already told you that. You’re making me goddamn crazy.
“Yeah, just a bit hot.”

Shit. I did not just say that! Oh crap.

Now my cheeks are flaming red. I turn away quick and hurry toward Cam’s truck. I think I hear a muffled chuckle and I walk even faster.

Earth swallow me up, like right now.

I reach his truck and Cam opens my door for me and I climb in. My face still flushing. I pull out my cell for something to do, but there are no new messages. Cam climbs in and I give him a small smile.

He goes to start the car, then let’s go of the keys and turns to face me. I cross my arms over my clenching stomach, not sure what he’s doing now, or how I’m supposed to cope with this next onslaught.

“Bai, I’m sorry about Travis.”

“Why? Not like it’s your fault, he’s an ass.”

Cam shakes his head and runs his fingers through his hair. “It’s a bit of a mess. I can’t really explain, because it’s not my place to explain it.”

He’s such a decent, trustworthy guy. Oh, god I love him.

“It’s okay, Cam. I get it. I’m just sorry you have to be caught up in something like that.”

“Do you know about Jen?” he asks, and his brow creases.

I don’t, but it doesn’t take a genius to work it out. “No. Not really. I just guessed what was going on, after what you and Travis said.”

“Yeah, sorry you had to see that. I’m more than pissed at him.”

“I saw.”

He sighs, long and hard. Then glances at me. “So, are we still on for lunch? I promise: no more dramas.”

Life is a frigging drama, where I’m concerned. Follows me round like some tormented, lovesick puppy.

“Sure.”

Stupid mouth runs away before I tell it the right thing to say. That was not what I agreed to do.

Cam starts his truck, and looks over his shoulder to reverse out of the supermarket car park.

I have no idea where he’s taking me, or why I agreed to come, but I’m kind of tired of fighting again
st the tide, so decide I’ll go with the flow and see where the wind takes me.

I’m just hoping it’s a nice breeze and not a gigantic hurricane, like usual.

eiGHTeeN

______________________________________

Boy is it hot. Okay, I know it’s a nice spring day, but the heat in the cabin of this truck is reaching the high hundreds. I don’t remember it being this bad last night, but then again I slept for most of that. Every movement Cam makes sends a flutter of nerves straight through my system, his arm muscles flex with each gear change and I’m trying really hard to breathe properly. I don’t dare look at him, but I know he’s snuck glances at me. I can feel it. The heat of those baby blues are lethal and it’s killing me.

I really want to be a good girl and do the right thing, but my raging hormones aren’t listening. Curses. I shift and lick my lips and I hear Cam murmur something under his breath. I don’t bother asking what he said, I have a feeling it was a cuss of some kind. We haven’t spoken any more about Travis and Sweet Cheeks. Cam was pissed but he doesn’t seem heartbroken. I guess most guys would be pissed, they say guys are more affected if a girl sleeps with someone than if they say they love someone else. With girls it’s supposed to be the other way around. The innate human psyche at work from primal days. Or so I heard.

I have no idea where Cam is taking me, until he turns off at the dirt track leading to the Wicca woods. Oh crap, I hate this place. It’s creepy.

“Cam, we aren’t having lunch here
, are we?”

It’s the first I’ve spoken, but I have to ask, I couldn’t stomach eating food in this place.

“You still scared, you big fraidy cat?”

“You know damn well, I am. I hate these woods.”

We’re talking and flirting like we used to, and it’s nice. Real nice.

“Well, I said we need to talk and I want to talk here.”

“Oh.” I suppose I can’t argue. He’s driving so he’s got the upper hand. I decide to seal my lips and pull down the sleeves of my sweater.

We pass the bloody red painted sign of Wicca Woods, and I shiver holding my arms around me. Now the temperature has dropped a few hundred degrees. The large trees loom ahead and I bite my lip. Cam pulls into the thick of the woods and drives a few yards down a narrow muddy track. I’d hate to get stuck here, and I’m glad for his big tires on his big truck. I see another familiar sign and I shiver again. LOVERS
LANE screams out in blood red runny letters.

I close my eyes. Last time we were here, we were lovers, and it was more of a spooky adventure, now it’s just plain creepy. The legend of Lovers Lane is not a nice romantic story, although some people think it is. It’s a tragedy if you ask me. A waste of young lives. I’m not sure how true it is, but according to local historians, one night a very young and beautiful girl was burned as a witch, by the good townsfolk. Her lover, who was a prominent member of the town, di
dn’t find out until it was too late, and arrived at the site to see her burning. He was so outraged, that it’s said he entered the flames to set her free and in the process ended up being burnt to death as well. There is still a narrow strip of burnt ground, which is now called Lover’s lane. Nothing has ever grown there, not for hundreds of years, and it’s said both the witch and her lover haunt this part of the woods on the anniversary of the burning. They appear ready to seek out their vengeance cursing any new lovers who dare enter their neck of the woods.

See, creepy. Not a place to have a chat or a picnic.

Cam stops the truck and I look around my eyes wide.

What the heck?

I never knew this was here. Probably because I’ve only come here at night, and I kept my eyes closed, pressed into Cam's solid, comforting chest. I've never been in the daylight. I look around to see every tree circling Lover’s lane carved. Carved with words and symbols of love.

Your mine.

Eternal love
.

Forever loved
, etcetera, etcetera ...

Hundreds of
love hearts, cupids arrows, kisses.

I can’t make out what they all are from where I’m sitting, but I can’t believe I never knew about this.

I look over to Cam for the first time, and he’s looking straight ahead. I follow his gaze and see a tree not that far from where we are. Doesn't look like there's any carving on it, though.

He sighs. “Come on, I want to show you something.”

I swallow. I’m suddenly afraid of more than spooky stories right now.

I open the door of the truck and step down. The mud has dried here so it’s not all that bad to walk on. Cam waits ahead and I step toward him. It would be so natural to grab his hand, press into his side and reach up and kiss him, and I wonder for a minute if he’s thinking the same thing.

He's looking up at the filtering light of the blue sky and taking a deep breath. Then he looks at me and gestures with his hand. “It’s over here.”

I follow him, taking care not to step in the muddy puddles scattered around. We’re heading for the tree he was staring at, and with each step, my heart beat increases, my palms sweaty.

Cam stops before we reach the tree and turns to look at me. Really look at me, and my breath hitches, but I don’t look away. I owe him this.

“So, there’s a new tradition in town.”

I swallow again and give a small nod, keeping my eyes on his beautiful face. He looks so adorable right now. Likes he’s embarrassed by what he’s about to show me.

He smirks. “You know how much I like tradition.”

I nod again, and give him a small smile. He is such a stickler for rules and always doing the right thing by everybody.

“Well, after that movie hit the big time and the town kind of got a revival, a group of teenagers came out here one night, and decided to give the tourists something else to look at. A bit of burnt ground doesn’t really hold interest for long, so …”

I raise my eyes.

Cam sighs, and runs his fingers through his brown locks.

“Everyone in the town was given a tree, and asked to carve something about their special someone in it. The rumour was then spread, that all these sentiments of love will act like an enchantment to stop any curses being placed on new lovers. It was for publicity really. Made the news …”

He rambles on some more, about why it was done, but I don’t focus on that. If he’s showing me his tree, so that he can tell me that he’s falling in love with Sweet Cheeks, I don’t know want to hear any of it. I have the sudden urge to find an axe and chop the stupid love tree down.

“Okay,” I grind out, my jaw clenched and my nails digging into my palms.

“So, well my tree went without any carvings for a while, and I kept being asked to carve something …”

Cam blows out a breath and grabs my hand and takes me around to the other side of the tree. I stare wide eyed for a moment. I don’t know what to say. There's a big love heart carved into the wood, with the word
Forever
underneath. Cam moves to stand behind me and I can barely breathe. I don’t know who his forever is, there are no initials carved in the heart.

Shouldn’t there be initials?

I have no idea why he wants to torture me by showing me his sentiments about another girl. That’s just cruel. I mean I know I hurt him bad, but this is another level of mean. I’m just about to storm off, when Cam grabs me and spins me around, and I find myself backed up against the tree, and Cam steps in close, so close that I can smell his minty breath and see the intense look in his eyes.

“I want to carve BR into this tree Bai. I’ve wanted to do that for so long …”

Holy shit! I think my legs just gave way.

BR? They're my initials, right?

Oh crap.
I don’t know how to process that, but I don’t have time too. Cam’s lips crush on mine and I’m soaring to heady heights of bliss. I’ve missed him so much. He leans in closer so his whole body is pushed up against mine. But it’s not close enough. I need more of him, I need more of this. Our lips are welded together, there is so much intensity in his kiss, my brain is exploding. My legs make their own way around his waist, and I can feel him and his need for me. I’m all wrapped up in my Cam cocoon, his hands run down to my waist, and my hands wrap around locks of his gorgeous hair and I pull on it, making Cam groan while he’s still kissing me. God that’s hot. I’m so wrapped up, I don’t hear any other noise or care who might be watching. That’s why I’m shocked when Cam pulls away from me, and I nearly fall down. He steadies me and I release my legs from his waist. He bumps his forehead to mine.

“I haven’t finished
talking
to you yet. Just give me a sec,” he pants.

My lust filled brain is still a bit foggy and I have no idea why he wants to stop. But I nod, and the sounds of the woods come back into tune. Then I hear a car door slam and I jolt with surprise.

Who the hell is that?

Cam kisses my lips once more and stretches, closing his eyes and taking a few deep breaths. Yeah he’s just as worked up as me. That was intense. I lick my lips and straighten my skirt and I go to look around the tree to see who the intruder is. Except Cam puts his hands on my shoulders, stopping me. “Stay here. I want you right here. Don’t move. And stop licking those beautiful lips you're driving me crazy.”

I smile at him and of course I stick my tongue out and lick slowly around my lips. He growls, kisses me once more and steps around the tree. I lean back my whole body still buzzing with all things Cam. I can still smell his heady scent, its surrounding me. My fingers are still tingling from touching him. I missed that so much. I really hope he hurries up and gets rid of whoever it is that just blew away the best thing that’s happened to me in ages.

Then I hear shouting. Uh oh, I hope Cam hasn’t come across a gang of nasty tourists or some other meat heads. I move around the tree and start toward the truck. I still can’t see the other car, it must be behind Cam’s. I decide I should go cautiously, and not alert the intruder to my presence in case I need to call the sheriff or something. I creep up and bob down behind the back tray and I peer over.

Holy Hell. It's Sweet Cheeks, and she’s crying. Cam is trying to calm her down. I wonder if she knows that he’s finished with her, and wants to get back with me. He must have told her where he was going. My heart goes out to her. I feel guilty, and I feel sorry for her. But Cam was never really hers. He was always mine. And now after what just happened, there’s no way I’m letting him go again.

She spits out between tears. “I need you, Cam. I can’t do this on my own.”

Do what?

I swallow, hoping it is not what I think it is.
Please, please don’t let it be that.

“I want this baby, Cam …”

No! No! I said not that! Anything but that!

My stomach plummets and I’m going to be sick.

She’s having Cam’s baby?

The tears spill, and I choke back on the biggest sob. I touch my stomach, remembering for the first time in months, and a pain so intense stabs my heart. Then I feel my heart shatter and each tiny piece is stabbing me all over. I lean over and I throw up on the dirt beside me.

I have to get out of here. I can’t listen to anymore. I can’t take any more hurt.

Too much. This is too much.

I yank open the door of Cam’s truck and fumble with the keys. My face is wet with tears and I can smell the vile taste of vomit on my tongue. I’m a mess and in no condition to drive, but I have to. I get the keys in the ignition and I look back to reverse out. That’s when I see Cam look my way, shock written all over his face, and he’s yelling something over and over again as he starts running toward me. I don’t stop. I put my foot flat on the pedal and the wheels screech and churn up a river of mud, but I keep going. I slam the truck into gear and take off, going as fast as I can, out of Wicca Woods.

I don’t look back. This time I’m never looking back. There is too much pain.

I can only see and cope with forwards.

And from now on, that’s the only place I’m moving towards.