Teasing Hands (16 page)

“This makes no sense, Camden.” Things weren't adding up, like his story of struggling and working as maintenance for a hotel when married to Olivia. “Did you lie to me about—”

“No,” he interrupted. “
Gatita
, my family believes in hard work and being independent. We aren't handed opportunities just because.” Camden reached across the small table and took one of my hands in between his much larger ones. “Once married, I needed to maintain my family and work my way up to the position I hold. Its made me the man I am.”

Nodding, I grabbed my beer and took a long pull with my free hand. “So why are you a massage therapist? Why not just stay in management?”

“Simple. I love what I do.” His face was sincere and his tone honest.

“Okay, I believe you, but what about Hunter? How did he end up there?”

“His mother is a client,” he began, his fingers running soothing circles over the center of my palm. “She came in one day and overheard my mother and me talking about how much we needed another masseuse. Before we were even done, she’d jumped in and mentioned her son needing a job. That he would go to school and in the meantime could start doing all the dirty work for free.”

“That makes no sense,” I interjected while serving us each a bit of the salad I had made. “Camden, that woman babies her son to the point of making him seem like an invalid. She’d never…”

“Well, she did.” Blunt and straight to the point was his answer. An answer that left me restless, while he took his time adding condiments to his burger.

“But why?” I asked. The silence and his patience were driving me up a wall.

“Because he’d gotten in trouble with the wrong crowd in New York, Mandi. She literally offered him up on a silver platter.” Camden watched me with troubled eyes as he filled me in, like he was scared and it made no sense. None of this did. “Hunter was flunking out of NYU and owed money to some unsavory people. A mixture of drugs and gambling were involved, and they pulled him out before the end result was worse than the money owed.”

Holy fuck. Then why was he so damned set on their being an us again? He
hadn’t come back for me.

“Did you want him too?” I looked up at Camde
n
,
not understanding his question. “You spoke your thoughts.” A blush bloomed across my cheeks. “Do you want him back?”

“Hell, no.” That answered appeased him, a small smile appearing on his handsome face. “I’m just trying to understand. We talked that night, you know? After I walked out on you at the sandwich shop, I headed straight home, and he was there.”

“Go on,” he encouraged, and with the one hand not holding mine took a bite of his burger. I was mesmerized for a minute. The sensual way he swallowed did things to me. “Amanda.” My eyes left his throat and settled on his eyes. “Continue.”

Demanding fucker.

“Long story short, everyone argued and I took him outside. We fought, and he gave me some bullshit story on why he left. Asshole then proceeded to demand we continue from where we left off. I kicked him out not long after ripping him a new one.”

A throaty chuckle escaped him before he kissed the tip of my fingers. “Good girl.”

“It still doesn't answer why he wants me back.”

“Yes, it does.” I raised a brow in question. “He’s trying to make everything as perfect as it once was. Get his parent’s approval.”

In other words, he was using me once again.
Fuck you, Hunter Knox
.

17

Camden had been absent from my life since the day of our dinner at his house. No text. No call. No demands for my presence at our designated time.

I would have been worried if not for the spectacular memory of the time we had last week. He was attentive. Sweet. Talkative and open about more than just how good I felt wrapped around his cock.

“What time is your appointment today?” Courtney asked, bringing me back to the present. The girls and I had come to the school’s gym to run a few drills. With summer winding down, our practices were starting back up. Competition was sure to be fierce this year, and we had a championship to defend.

“Not ‘til three, why?” She tossed me an unopened bottle of water. Twisting the top, I chugged half its contents before looking back at her. “What?”

“You still seeing him?” It was less of a question and more like a statement. Nodding, I tipped the bottle back and finished the rest. We’d just finished drills, and I was embarrassed to admit that I was a bit out of breath. “Are you two exclusive?”

How could I answer that question when I didn’t know the answer myself? When I kissed him at the door that night, he was all smiles and soft touches. It seemed like we were heading in the monogamous direction.

“Something like that.” It was the most truthful answer I could give her. “At least, I think we will be soon.”

“Good enough.” She took a drink of her own bottle and looked across the gym where some of the other girls were talking. “Hunter’s been asking about you again,” Courtney whispered so low I almost didn't hear her.

“Why can’t he just let me be?” It was rhetorical. I’d told her everything Camden had shared with me, and to say she was livid would be putting it mildly.

“Because he’s a selfish mommy’s boy who’s been put in a time out.” The entire situation was insane and fucked up on so many levels, but funny at the same time. I couldn't hold in the giggle that escaped even if I tried. “He’s looking to get off for good behavior and you are exactly what his parents want.”

“Where do you get that from?”

Turning to face me, she squeezed my shoulder and gave me a sad smile. “I overheard them talking a few days ago…his mom and ours. I’d just happen to come downstairs and heard Susana agreeing with his mom on how good you two were together. How it was only a matter of time before you gave in and came to your senses.”

“Well they can keep on dreaming. It isn’t going to happen.”
You have got to be fucking kidding me!
Mom promised she’d butt out. Hunter and me will never be again.

“I know that, Mandi. Just thought you should know what’s going on.” And I appreciated it. Courtney always had my back and I, hers. Pulling her in for a hug, I squeezed her tight and kissed her cheek.

“Thank you.” Courtney waved me off and opened her mouth to speak when my phone rang, cutting her off. It was Camden’s tone, the one I’d given him the same night I left his house.

Courtney rolled her eyes and walked off toward Jennifer and Steph. They were busy having a three-point shoot off.

“Hello.”

“Amanda?” His breathing was a bit loud, as if h
e’d been running around.  It also caught me off guard that he used my first name. Since when was I Amanda to him?

Stop it
. He’s probably at work and trying to be professional,
I mentally chastised myself.

“Hey, Camden. I swear I’ll be on time.” He didn’t laugh. Didn’t react. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah…” He cleared his throat before continuing. “Listen, I have to cancel today’s appointment. Something’s come up, and I need to leave within the next few minutes. Sorry.” His tone was cold. Detached. Something wasn’t right, I felt this in the way my chest tightened.

Pushing back the looming dread I felt, I took in a deep breath and tried to center myself. “Is everything okay? Can I help—”

“No,” he yelled and then muttered something underneath his breath. “I don’t need your help, Amanda. Everything will be fine, okay? We’ll reschedule once I’m back.”

“Okay.” What else was there to say?
No, don’t go. I need you.
It was apparent by his abrupt behavior that he was in a hurry, and I didn’t want to delay him. “Don’t worry, Camden. I’ll see you...” He hung before I even finished.

I don’t know how long I stood staring at my phone trying to decipher just what had happened. How it had all gone wrong. Was this his way of blowing me off?

Couldn't be. Maybe I was making this a bigger deal than it was. He would be back and explain. People act very different when faced with emergency situations. Yes, that had to be it.

“You okay, Mandi?” Steph called out from across the court. Was I? I didn’t know.

“I’m fine, just received a weird phone call.” Her brow rose in question while the other two looked on with interest. “He canceled our appointment. Something about an emergency and having to leave.”

“Okay. Shit happens.” That was Jennifer adding in her two cents. Always blunt. Sighing, I put my phone back in the pocket of my bag and walked to center court with them. The way he hung up was rubbing me the wrong way, and I needed to distract myself before my thoughts went down a dark hole.

“I know that…it’s the way he spoke. In a rush, and cold.”

Jennifer shrugged and dribbled the ball in her hand. “He isn’t Hunter, and you’re overthinking this.” She pulled her arms up and back before flicking her wrist and letting the ball go. It was all net. “Why don’t we all head to
Rage tonight? It’s been a while, and I could use a night out with my girls.”

“Everything okay with you?” I asked her.

She shrugged and looked over at our coach. The man wasn’t supposed to be at this drill, but had showed up anyway. We knew why he was here, and watched on with amusement as his eyes would wander over to Jennifer every few minutes.

“Jennifer,” Courtney giggled and smacked her in the ass, “pay attention, you whore.”

“What?” Her angry hiss was met with our laughter.

“Never mind.” Courtney turned back toward Steph and me. “We doing Rage or what?”

“I’m in,” Stephanie chimed in and posted up to release her next shot.

“Me too.” There wasn’t anything better for me to do today, and I refused to stay home and dwell. The uncertainty and doubt would drive me insane. I’d think of only the worst and ruin what we could have. “Let’s meet at ten by the doors?” The girls all nodded, and practice continued. I had a good feeling tonight would be just what I needed to get over my funk.

Rage was packed tonight, more so than I would’ve expected for a Wednesday night. House music blared from the speakers and the dance floor was jammed with people dancing, hands thrown up in the air and gyrating to the beat.

The girls and I didn’t feel like getting too dressed up tonight and all settled for tight skinny jeans and all-too-tight tank tops. Mine was special to me. It was one I pilfered from my mom’s closet a year ago. Her fascination with 80s’ metal hair bands was a secret amongst her friends, but not me or Dad. She loved Guns N’ Roses, and at their Use Your Illusion tour, she bought the shirt I wore.

“Who’s heading to the bar?” Jennifer yelled over the music. We were standing just inside the door and trying to come up with a plan. Two would get the first round, and the others would score a table.

“I’ll head to the bar…the usual?” I asked them, and after their nod of confirmation, I pulled a dancing Stephanie with me. “God, I needed this.”

“We all did.” Boy, was her statement the truth. Practice today was brutal. In Coach’s eyes, we’d become out of shape in the last few weeks. How that happened within the span of two months beat me, but if the way we were gulping in air after a simple scrimmage was anything to go by…we were fucked. “My ass hurts.”

Laughter bubbled up inside of me and I giggled. “Your ass, my pussy.” She laughed right along with me, remembering the awkward split I ended up in after landing wrong when I tripped during a scrimmage. Finally, the bar was in our sights, and my mouth watered.

I deserved my screwdriver. We were a few feet away when someone grabbed me by the elbow, stopping me in my tracks. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. I knew this person—of that, there was no doubt. Problem was, their touch wasn’t welcomed.

“Are you following me, Hunter?” The iciness in my tone didn't stop him from pulling me in just a tiny bit closer. From him sniffing my hair.“Get off!”

“Fuck, you look beautiful.” His fingers on my arm tightened, and I winced. “Is it all for him?” He spat the last word.

“What the fuck are you talking about? Hunter, let me go.” Stephanie put a hand between us, trying to separate us, but he wouldn't budge. He looked smug. The look on his face was one of a person gloating.

“Dude, you need to back off. She’s made it clear that she doesn't want you.” Stephanie pushed again to no avail. I raised my leg, dead set on kneeing him, when he abruptly pulled my face to look toward a table to my right.

At first, I didn’t know what the fuck I was supposed to be looking at. But then, it all made sense, and the pain that wracked my body could only be described as acid being poured on an open wound. My eyes couldn’t pull themselves away.

How? Why?

“You didn’t know…did you?” Hunter whispered low, remorse now coloring his tone. His shoulders slumped and his arm loosened its hold. “Fuck. Shit, Mandi. I swear I thought you were here together and he was being, well, him. All I wanted was for you to see that I was better.”

“What the fuck are you talking about, Hunter? Why is she trembling?” Steph’s words didn’t register. Nothing did.

Camden was a few feet away from me
—
with her. Cynthia was beside him at a small table with another couple. Laughing. Drinking. I watched as she leaned against his broad chest and he put his arm around her.

Watched as she kissed his jaw, and he let her.

A sob ripped itself from me, and my knees weakened. Almost as if he had somehow heard the sound, Camden’s eyes snapped up and landed on mine. In those swirling waters was guilt, and it was more than I could take. My hand reached out and fisted Hunter’s shirt, using it as a shield for all the hurt and rejection that filled me.

Camden’s eyes followed the movement and narrowed. He made a move to stand up, but Cynthia pulled him down and nuzzled his chest. Again, he let her. Even pulled her closer.

“Get me out of here,” I whispered into Hunter’s shirt. His arms snaked around my waist and hugged me.

“That’s Camden,” Hunter said to
Stephanie, pointing over at the angry man that just broke my heart. The same man who was now watching our interactions with undisguised ire.

“That motherfucker!” she screeched and turned to make her way to him. I stopped her before she could. It wasn’t worth it. Not anymore. Done. This was the final drop of water to what was an already full cup. “Why are you stopping me? He’s an asshole and deserves everything I have to say and more.”

“Won’t solve a thing…just get me out of here.” Couldn't they hear the desperation in my voice?

“No.” Hunter’s anger caused me to recoil away. “Sorry, babe. I’m not trying to be a bigger dick than I’ve already been.” His hands reached out for mine, and this time I let him take them. “I get it now. You don’t love me, and as much as it hurts my pride, I do get it.”