Unspoken Words (Unspoken #1) (34 page)

Morgan doesn’t say a word. She stares at me for a few moments. “I don’t think you are crazy. Those guy gives me the fucking creeps.”

“I’m sure it’s nothing. But the scent of his cologne was too much for me to handle.”

JAMIE

A FEW DAYS
have passed since I last saw Cami. I miss her. Her lavender vanilla scent still lingers on my pillows, but my bed feels empty without her in it. Cami was only in my bed for a few days, but I’m like an addict and she is my drug of choice. I need my next fix of her, and I need it now. I’ve already grown accustom to her warm body wrapped in my arms at night, and her slow breaths lulling me to sleep.

She’s supposed to come to Aces to watch Side Effects perform tonight. I offered to bring her with me, but she insisted that Morgan would pick her up. I would have preferred her to come with me since this is her first time out in a large crowd since the night at Club Redemption.

We have a few hours until show time, I am sitting at the bar, shooting the shit with Lincoln. I watch the guys up on stage getting their equipment set up for tonight’s gig. Isaac, our drummer, is tapping out some beats, while the bassist, Alex, is fine-tuning his bass. Parker gives me a thumbs-up letting me know he is good to go.

A hand appears on my shoulder giving me a squeeze. The stool next to me slides out, then Christian signals to Lincoln. Lincoln slides a beer down to him, then he turns his attention on me.

“So, what’s the deal with you and Cami?” he asks, his brows raised.

My mouth curves into an unconscious smile. I take a long pull on my beer before answering him. I’ll let him stew for a bit. He knows my feelings for his sister. It’s no secret—especially to him. I think every freaking person in a two-mile radius knows my feelings for Camryn.

“We’re good. Things seem to be going smoothly.”

Lincoln heads in our direction. “You guys up for shots or sticking with light drinks for now?”

“I’m good,” I tell him as Christian nods his head.

“So, did this guy tell you he almost burned down his apartment while he was being a nosey prick?”

Lincoln lets out a hearty laugh, shaking his head.

Christian shoves my shoulder. I almost fall off the stool. “Look, dude, I already told you. I was making sure things were good with you and my sister.”

I set my beer down after taking a drink. “Things were okay with Cami and me. You didn’t need to be all Inspector Clouseau and shit with your ear up to the door.”

Christian laughs. “I gave you my blessings with my sister, but I didn’t say I was going to make it easy for you. You, my friend, need to step up to the plate. Lay it all out there. I want to see my sister happy again. Have you even told her how you feel about her?”

Lincoln stands there watching me—obviously stricken mute. He looks at Christian then back at me, like a damn volleyball match. He raises his brows to me, as if he’s the judge and it’s my turn now.

“Cami is special to me. You guys know how I feel about her. I’m in love with her. I have been for years.”

Lincoln opens up a beer and takes a swig. “You know for such a smart guy, you are rather stupid. I have seen the way you have looked at Cami for years. You’re gonna sit here and tell us that you haven’t told Cami how you feel out of fear she might not feel the same way? Are you insane, man? I have sat back for years and watched the two of you go back and forth. The games the two of you play. Everyone sees it. We’ve been waiting for the two of you to see it. You’ve been wasting all this time over one little word.”

Lincoln makes air quotes in the air, then says ‘IF’. “If she feels the same way, if she wants you. If she is willing to see if things can work out between you two. You sure did give that little word a whole lot of power.”

The look on Christian’s face is priceless. He has a smug grin on his face, as if saying, duh, you dumbass. “Everyone knows how you feel about my sister, but Camryn.”

After processing what Lincoln just said, I wonder if Camryn feels the same way, but was afraid that I didn’t look at her that way. Have the two of us wasted years because we were both scared? I’m such a stupid ass. I can’t believe I never had the balls to tell Camryn where I stand with her. If I could kick myself in the ass, I would.

“Dude, this guy knows his shit. It’s like having a free session with Dr. Phil. Who would have thought Dr. Phil would show up in Aces tonight?” Christian says, pointing his beer bottle to Lincoln.

Christian turns his attention to me. “I gotta ask you something. Why did you and Tabitha break up? Don’t bullshit me either. I want the God’s honest truth,” he asks.

I take a pull of my beer before I lay it all out there. I pick at the label. “The truth. I didn’t love her. I couldn’t see a future with her. I could never get those three little words to pass my lips.” I finish my beer off and nudge the empty bottle toward Lincoln. He grabs another cold one from the case, and slides it in front of me. “I’ve never told a girl I love her. Those three unspoken words have ruined every relationship I’ve ever had.”

Lincoln looks perplexed by this newfound information. “You mean to tell me that you never told Tabitha that you loved her and you dated her for over a year?” Lincoln asks.

Shaking my head, “Nope. I knew she wanted to hear them, they were just words that I never felt or could ever say. How do I tell someone I love them, when I didn’t have my heart to give them? My heart was taken from me the moment Camryn stepped foot on the plane five years ago. Whether it was taken willingly or she stole it long before that, I’m not really sure.” I shrug taking a long pull of my beer.

“When Camryn is by my side, I feel alive. I feel like I’m complete, the other half of my heart has found its way back to me. Yes, before you ask, I still have my balls.” I stopped speaking and inhaled a deep breath. “You don’t get it. I’m in love with your sister, dude.” They just sit there staring at me when I finish talking.

“Lincoln, back me up here. You feel the same about Morgan?”

Christian speaks up first.

“I get it, trust me, I get it. We know Camryn means the world to you. But don’t tell
us
what she means to you, tell
her.
Show her how much you love her. You know how much she loves to see you perform, to hear you sing. Make tonight special when she comes. You need to go out on a limb, man. Camryn has been to hell and back. You have been there for her since we were kids, let her know that you plan on being there for her in the future. Tell her you love her. I bet money that she feels the same way.

I grab my beer and take a long swig. “You guys don’t get it. We’re seeing each other exclusively. I just haven’t told her I’m in love with her. I got it covered. Stop with the advice.”

“Don’t get all defensive. I’m just trying to help. The two of you need to figure this shit out. And figure it out fast. She’s only home till after the New Year, then she heads back to LA. Shit or get off the pot, dude. Make a move. Don’t let her get back on that plane and take your sanity with her again.” Christian shrugs matter-of-factly.

Lincoln looks at Christian like he has lost his mind. “What do you mean she’s leaving in January? Morgan said she was offered a job here in the New York office, with a promotion. Morgan made it seem like it was a done deal that Camryn was taking it. It was a huge opportunity for her, one that she wasn’t going to pass up.”

When Lincoln notices the look of bewilderment on both mine and Christian’s face, he holds his hands up in the air and backs away from the bar. “Look, I thought you two knew about this. My bad. Talk to Camryn. I’m sure there is a reason she didn’t tell you yet.”

A muscle flicks angrily in my jaw. Was she going to leave me again? Was she going to turn down this promotion? Was she even planning to tell me about it? I look to Christian and ground the words out between gritted teeth, “Did you know about this shit?”

He shakes his head. “This is news to me, man. I had no fucking clue. My parents haven’t even mentioned it.”

Lincoln speaks up. “Look, if it makes you feel better, she called me the other day when she heard I was contemplating selling Redemption. She didn’t mention it to me either. It looks like she only told Morgan. Don’t make a big deal out of this. Maybe she was waiting for the right opportunity to tell you.”

“She has been with me since Thanksgiving. We’ve been inseparable for days. She slept next to me every night. Cami had every opportunity to tell me, yet she chose not to,” I say through clenched teeth. My mind is a crazy mixture of hurt, deceit, and fear. I can’t believe she kept this from me. How could she not tell me this little—hell, this big—tidbit of information?

Christian places his hand on my shoulder. “Calm down, man. I’m sure there’s an explanation. Don’t go all apeshit crazy and get pissed off. Give her the benefit of the doubt.”

Taking a deep breath, I try and calm myself down. Talk myself off the ledge before I go balls to the wall on Camryn when I see her. “You’re right. I’ll wait it out. I’m sure she’ll tell me.”

It’s eleven o’clock and Aces is packed. Isaac announces five minutes to show time. We’ve gone over the playlist for tonight. The guys weren’t happy that I’ve switched out a few songs, but they know the music, they can play the songs without any flaws. I look around the place—trying to see if Morgan and Camryn are here—when I spot them at the bar with Lincoln. I am proud my girl took a big step and came tonight. She’s come a long way, and I love her more for fighting her fears.

For some reason tonight I am on edge. I’m not sure if my nerves are all over the place because of the bomb Linc dropped on me about Camryn’s promotion or that this is the first time she has been out since the attack. Once Christian notices Camryn, he immediately heads in her direction. He throws his arm around her shoulder, pulling her body close against his side. Christian and I talked earlier today. He plans on staying close to her tonight to make sure she feels comfortable. It will definitely make me feel better, knowing she is with her brother.

Camryn spots me from across the bar. She grabs Morgan’s hand pulling her with her through the crowd. When she reaches me, she stands on her tiptoes, touching my lips with hers. Her lips brush against mine gently. Raising her lips to mine again, she gazes into my eyes. My lips burn with fire from the contact. I want more. I need more.

“Hey, gorgeous. I missed you,” she says in a silky voice. Damn, I want to take her right here and now.

Pulling her into my arms, I whisper, “I’ve missed you, too, babe. Are you staying for the whole set?” Biting her earlobe before pulling back to look at her face. She notices me watching her intently.

“Of course, I’m staying for the whole set.” I want to ask her about this promotion, but now is not the time, so I push that thought out of my head for now

She leans in, kissing me again. Between each word, she plants a kiss on my neck, nibbles my ear, then my neck, and face before saying, “I don’t plan on going anywhere except home with you at the end of the night.”

When I hear those words pass her lips, “I wouldn’t have it any other way, Tink.”

Before she has a chance to respond, I hear my name being called, then Isaac is telling me to get my ass up on stage. Kissing Camryn lightly on her forehead, I help her get settled on the stool at the table near the stage. “Stay here, I’ll be right over there.” Pointing to the stage. “I’ll be the one singing.”