together?” I asked.
“We’ve been living together for a couple of months but we’ve been together for a little over a year. We worked too far from home and I hated the commute; we moved when Kris got the transfer. It’s so convenient here, and on a good day you can see the bridge. How about you two, you’ve been together a long time, haven’t you?” Nikky asked.
Cam grabbed my hand and smiled, my heart skipping a little. Nikky leaned forward with interest, an open smile on her pixie-like face, as I told her the condensed version of our story.
I had a hard time picturing her with Kris. She was small and quiet, happy to sit back and watch but not participate too much. Kris seemed to be a take the bull by the horns kind of guy and jumped into the conversation every chance he got. He obviously enjoyed a good time, yet his girlfriend struck me as a happy at home type.
The meal was great, the wine flowed freely, and despite my initial reservations, I enjoyed the company. Kris looked at Cam with a sparkle in his eye, but he also looked at Nikky and me the same way. I came to the conclusion that that was how he was. Yes, he touched Cam a few times, usually when he laughed so hard he needed something to grab on to, which happened to be Cam’s arm, but I didn’t sense anything sexual in it.
Cam’s mood was light and a wicked glint played in his eyes, so I put my concerns away and enjoyed myself.
The night drew to a close, and as the last of the wine was poured, I excused myself to the restroom. When I came out of the stall, Kris stood by the basin, waiting for me.
The wide-eyed shock on my face snapped him into action. “Uh, sorry, man, didn’t mean to scare you but… I wanted to talk to you.”
What the hell did he want to talk to me about?
I swallowed past the lump in my throat as I washed my hands. “Okay?”
“Uh, sorry. I wanted to apologize for not bringing Cam home that night. I figured you guys had a fight, but he wouldn’t talk to me and got really drunk. He insisted he couldn’t go home, so I let him crash on my couch. As soon as I could, I made sure he got himself sobered up and headed home. I really am sorry, I didn’t want you to think badly of me for keeping him out all night, and I tried to get him to go home. I didn’t want to cause any problems between you…”
“It’s all right, Kris. Look, Cam not coming home wasn’t the wisest decision he’s ever made, but that’s on him, not you. You looked after him during what must have been one of the biggest benders he’s been on, and for that I’m grateful,” I said honestly.
Kris’s entire body sighed in relief. He held out his hand to me, and I took it as the olive branch it was. “Jeez, man, that’s… Friends?” he asked, at a loss for words.
Grabbing his hand, I was pulled into a tight one-armed hug before I could respond. Kris pulled away, slapping me on the back as we exited the restroom.
Chapter Seven
Cameron
Things between Jake and me were getting better, especially after our dinner date with Kris and Nikky, but I was determined to do everything I could to fix our relationship.
I stopped having beers with the crew, coming home immediately after every shift. I cleaned the apartment and made Jake his favorite meals. I wasn’t much of a cook, but we had our staples. I did the laundry and the grocery shopping. Doing the chores wasn’t fixing the problem, but I needed to show him my commitment somehow and being busy helped with my wayward brain.
My nightmares happened when I couldn’t keep my mind off the accident, so if I could avoid the slow times, then I avoided the nightmares. Some dreams I could hide from Jake, but others were too intense and I woke up screaming. The bad ones freaked Jake out, and we’d both end up awake, hearts pounding, as we stared at the ceiling, neither of us sleeping again.
We needed time together, away from outside pressures, and I wanted to suggest a weekend in Napa.
“We’ve been living together for a couple of months but we’ve been together for a little over a year. We worked too far from home and I hated the commute; we moved when Kris got the transfer. It’s so convenient here, and on a good day you can see the bridge. How about you two, you’ve been together a long time, haven’t you?” Nikky asked.
Cam grabbed my hand and smiled, my heart skipping a little. Nikky leaned forward with interest, an open smile on her pixie-like face, as I told her the condensed version of our story.
I had a hard time picturing her with Kris. She was small and quiet, happy to sit back and watch but not participate too much. Kris seemed to be a take the bull by the horns kind of guy and jumped into the conversation every chance he got. He obviously enjoyed a good time, yet his girlfriend struck me as a happy at home type.
The meal was great, the wine flowed freely, and despite my initial reservations, I enjoyed the company. Kris looked at Cam with a sparkle in his eye, but he also looked at Nikky and me the same way. I came to the conclusion that that was how he was. Yes, he touched Cam a few times, usually when he laughed so hard he needed something to grab on to, which happened to be Cam’s arm, but I didn’t sense anything sexual in it.
Cam’s mood was light and a wicked glint played in his eyes, so I put my concerns away and enjoyed myself.
The night drew to a close, and as the last of the wine was poured, I excused myself to the restroom. When I came out of the stall, Kris stood by the basin, waiting for me.
The wide-eyed shock on my face snapped him into action. “Uh, sorry, man, didn’t mean to scare you but… I wanted to talk to you.”
What the hell did he want to talk to me about?
I swallowed past the lump in my throat as I washed my hands. “Okay?”
“Uh, sorry. I wanted to apologize for not bringing Cam home that night. I figured you guys had a fight, but he wouldn’t talk to me and got really drunk. He insisted he couldn’t go home, so I let him crash on my couch. As soon as I could, I made sure he got himself sobered up and headed home. I really am sorry, I didn’t want you to think badly of me for keeping him out all night, and I tried to get him to go home. I didn’t want to cause any problems between you…”
“It’s all right, Kris. Look, Cam not coming home wasn’t the wisest decision he’s ever made, but that’s on him, not you. You looked after him during what must have been one of the biggest benders he’s been on, and for that I’m grateful,” I said honestly.
Kris’s entire body sighed in relief. He held out his hand to me, and I took it as the olive branch it was. “Jeez, man, that’s… Friends?” he asked, at a loss for words.
Grabbing his hand, I was pulled into a tight one-armed hug before I could respond. Kris pulled away, slapping me on the back as we exited the restroom.
Chapter Seven
Cameron
Things between Jake and me were getting better, especially after our dinner date with Kris and Nikky, but I was determined to do everything I could to fix our relationship.
I stopped having beers with the crew, coming home immediately after every shift. I cleaned the apartment and made Jake his favorite meals. I wasn’t much of a cook, but we had our staples. I did the laundry and the grocery shopping. Doing the chores wasn’t fixing the problem, but I needed to show him my commitment somehow and being busy helped with my wayward brain.
My nightmares happened when I couldn’t keep my mind off the accident, so if I could avoid the slow times, then I avoided the nightmares. Some dreams I could hide from Jake, but others were too intense and I woke up screaming. The bad ones freaked Jake out, and we’d both end up awake, hearts pounding, as we stared at the ceiling, neither of us sleeping again.
We needed time together, away from outside pressures, and I wanted to suggest a weekend in Napa.
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