Unspoken Words (Unspoken #1) (4 page)

CAMRYN

THE THREE OF
us walk to the parking garage and my eyes wander around to see which car Christian used to pick me up. Christian leads us in the direction of our father’s black Land Rover. Neither of us own vehicles with him living in New York City and me being in Los Angeles. When I’m home, I use one of my parents’ cars. It makes more sense than renting one. Christian does the same if he needs to.

Christian pops the hatchback and loads my two bags in the back, while Jamie opens the passenger door for me to get inside.

Turning toward Jamie I smirk, “Well, aren’t you quite the gentleman.”

“I’ve always been a gentleman when it comes to you, Camryn. My mother raised me well.”

I can’t bring myself to look away from Jamie’s face. He looks better than I remembered. Christian slams the hatchback down, startling me, causing me to hurry up and get in the car. “Alright, Casanova, get in or we’re leaving you at the airport.” I playfully flirt with Jamie. Nothing sexual has ever happened between the two of us, but we have shared a few kisses over the years.

Christian gets in the driver’s side and buckles his seatbelt. Jamie jumps in the back of the truck and squeezes my shoulders lightly from the back seat. Glancing in my direction, Christian asks, “Where am I taking you? Are you staying with me, one of the girls, or am I taking you to mom’s?”

Turning to look at Christian, I notice Jamie staring at me from the backseat. “Take me to mom’s. I told her that I would have dinner with her and dad. Are you staying for dinner, or are you just dropping me off?”

Christian looks in the rearview mirror to address Jamie. “Dude, do you mind spending some time at my parents’ house today or do you want me to drop you off first before taking Cami home?”

“Nah, it’s cool. No need in going out of your way. I’ll go with you guys and then I’ll stop by to see my folks while we’re there. This way my mom can’t say that I haven’t seen her. If she knew I was next door and didn’t visit, she’d give me shit for not stopping by.”

“So, what are your plans for this weekend, do you have any work events that you need to attend?” Jamie asks from the back seat.

“No. My boss left this week open for me to get settled in. I have a few events set up in the City over the next month, and after that I have to do a bit of traveling. You guys are more than welcome to join me if you don’t have any plans. The rooms are paid for, I can always call and switch the reservations to two queen beds.”

Christian speaks first, “I’ll have to check my schedule and see what I have going on at the studio. Things have been a little busy lately. I’m finishing up an album and I have a few meetings set up with a couple new bands.”

“Well, check your schedule and let me know. It would be fun. We could take a few road trips. Shelby set it up that I am in each city for two days so I’ll have some time to go sightseeing or whatever.”

If I know Jamie, he’s mentally trying to figure out what Parker, the guitarist in the band, has lined up for their band, Side Effects.
It doesn’t surprise me when Jamie says, “I’ll check with the guys and see what our schedule looks like. I know we have a few gigs lined up at Aces, but I’m not sure what else Parker has booked. If we don’t have any shows, count me in. I’m in desperate need of a vacation for sure.”

Smiling, I turn to Christian, “You better make this happen. I haven’t seen either of you since you came to visit me in July for our birthday. We need some quality time together. I miss you guys.”

He groans, “I already told you, I’ll see what I have on the schedule. You know if I can make it happen, I will. Relax, you’ve only been off the plane for what, an hour?”

Reaching across the center console, I give Christian’s shoulder a shove. “Hey, I’m only home for three months, and I want to make the most of it. You know how I am. I love spending time and making memories with the two of you. I may even ask Morgan and the girls if they want to tag along with me.”

“Well, if Christian and I go, and the girls tag along, too, you might as well ask Lincoln if he wants to come.”

We met Lincoln in middle school. The boys hit it off immediately with him. He balanced out Christian and Jamie’s bold personalities. Both Christian and Jamie are hot heads where Lincoln is the more level-headed of the three.

I lean my head against the headrest, “Whatever. The more the merrier. Just let me know. I’ll ask the girls. If the girls are up for it, then ask Lincoln.”

The car ride to our parents’ house takes a half hour tops. Living in Berkeley Heights, New Jersey, was convenient for commuting to the City. Our parents still live in the house that we grew up in. Jamie’s parents, along with Morgan’s parents, still live on the same street. Christian pulls the car into the driveway and I immediately see the front door open before Christian even has a chance to hit the garage door opener.

My mom stands on the front step waving at us. You would think that she hasn’t seen me in years. I was home for Easter, six months ago. I love my job, I love being able to travel for it, and I love living in LA, but I do get homesick a lot. There’s nothing better than being home with my family and friends . . . and Jamie.

I open my door, and my mom immediately throws her arms around my neck and squeezes me close. I love my mom. She is one of my best friends. Growing up she always treated Christian and me as if we were the prince and princess of the home. We never wanted for anything, but we were never spoiled brats. Even though our parents are well-off financially, they still made us work for the things we wanted. My father is a partner at one of the largest law firms in New York City, Townsend and Wilcox, PC. My mom was a guidance counselor at the local middle school until she had Christian and me. She made the decision to be a stay-at-home mom when she found out she was having twins. Juggling twins and working full time would’ve been too difficult for my mom to do with my father’s hours at the firm.

From the moment we were outside of our mother’s womb people referred to us as the “Townsend Twins.” We both have brown hair and brown eyes, mine a little lighter than his, more hazel. Looking at us, you immediately know we are related, but you can’t tell that we’re twins. Christian is six-two, whereas I am only five-four.
Thank the Lord for heels.
Christian jokes around and calls me “Tink” just like Jamie. He says I’m a real life Tinkerbell fairy. That I am both sweet and sassy and loyal to all my friends.
Whatever.

When I hear the hatchback of the Land Rover shut, I realize my mom still has her arms around my neck, my arms go around her waist and I place my head on her shoulder. She whispers in my ear, “Welcome home, sweetie. I’ve missed my baby girl.” My insides warm as her words make me teary-eyed. I never stopped and thought about how me living in LA affects my family. I’m looking forward to spending time with my mom over the next three months. As much as I need my Jamie and Christian time, I also need to spend quality time with my mom because I miss her every day. I make a mental note to keep an eye out for an opening in the New York office. I miss being home.

JAMIE

WATCHING CAMI’S MOM
, Gwen, embrace her makes me smile. They’re my family, too. Looking around at the Townsend’s house and my childhood next door, this is home. Living in the City is convenient because of the studio and Aces, the bar that one of my best friends, Lincoln owns, but I always feel more at peace when I am here in Berkeley Heights.

Growing up with Christian and Camryn, this house is a second home to me. To be honest, more of my childhood was spent in their backyard than my own. Our parents are friends, they grew up together, so it was only natural that we would do the same. Being an only child, one would think I would be lonely, but that is the furthest thing from the truth. Christian is like a brother to me. We’ve been through everything together, whether it was a fight at the playground, relationship break-ups, or career moves. The biggest event we’ve been through is that brutal day I carried my best friend off the field when he tore his ACL. The look in Christian’s eyes when he knew his dream was crushed broke me.

I was there for him every step of the way after his surgery. I took him to and from the months of therapy sessions. Christian didn’t want to see the pity or sadness in his mom’s eyes when he would endure the long therapy sessions. So I volunteered to take him after school. I would sit in a chair in the corner with my elbows on my knees, my hands dangling between my legs, as I watched Christian struggle with the exercises. Those days were torture for him and me both, but it was another fight that we battled together that bonded us closer.

Gwen steps back from Camryn, takes her hand and leads her toward the house. Leaving Christian and me to grab Camryn’s bags from the car and bring them inside. We place them by the front door, not knowing if Camryn is staying the night here or just staying for dinner and heading back to the City with us.

I love when Camryn stays with me or Christian. It feels like old times . . . when we were inseparable. When she is here, I feel complete. Christian and I live in the same apartment building in SoHo. We were lucky to find our places, the rent was affordable and it’s close to the studio. Christ knows, rent in the City will bleed you dry.

I’m a partner in the studio with Christian. He and I attended college together, and studied the same majors. We recently opened the studio and called it Townsend and Banks, LLC. Our parents are investors, which worked out well, so we didn’t have to use all of our savings.

The sound of laughter echoes into the foyer, drawing my attention to the kitchen. Walking down the hallway, the French doors to the kitchen are open, allowing me to see Camryn and her mom sitting at the island. Gwen is on the telephone, and I hear her say, “Come on over. Have dinner with us.”

Having no clue who she is speaking to, I look at Camryn as she shrugs her shoulders and sips on her cup of coffee. “Don’t be silly, your son is here.” Ah . . . she’s on the phone with my mom. She laughs, “You know how it is, Michelle, wherever Camryn is, Jamie is close by.”

My eyebrows shoot up in the air.
Hello, I am right here
.
Do you mind not talking about me while I’m standing less than ten feet away?
Turning my attention to Camryn, she tries to hold back her laughter. Her hand covers her mouth and her eyes shine as if to think,
what?

I walk over and stand behind her, gently moving her hair away from her neck, whispering in her ear, “What’s so funny. You never seem to mind when I’m around, now do you?” The locket around her neck catches my attention. I exhale a long sigh of contentment, my girl still wears it after all these years.

A gasp slips from her mouth. She turns around to look at me, trying to seem as if I’ve offended her, but I’m the wiser. This is what Camryn and I do. These are the games that we play with each other. My relationship with Camryn is different than any relationship I have with my other friends. There’s nothing hidden between the two of us. She knows all of my dirty little secrets; she accepts me and loves me with all of my flaws.

Standing here in the middle of the Townsend’s kitchen with their mom, I am flooded with tons of memories from our childhood as I glance over at a picture that was taken the night of the Homecoming dance, a silly photo that my mom took of the three of us, arms wrapped around each other’s waist before we left for the dance. The bestest of friends sharing and making high school memories that we’d cherish forever. Some of the strongest bonds we formed happened here in this kitchen.