Finally Found

The next day was tense. Cammie made sure to be busy and inaccessible every time that Adam came into the kitchen. She made him a sandwich, but left it and him to eat alone in the great room. She shooed him out of the kitchen every time it looked like he might be there longer than five minutes. It was a blessing in disguise to have Sam and Haley show up late in the afternoon.

Sam walked into the house through the kitchen door with Haley by his side. He froze when he saw her hovering over the stove, stirring something in a pot while consulting her phone. “Oh, you must be Cammie. I didn’t recognize you…” His voice trailed off and she could only imagine what he was thinking.

“Hey,” she joked, “just because my parents stuck me in a hot pink bustier, that doesn’t make me a dumb blonde. It just means I had an unfortunate childhood.” She winked.

Haley walked over and gave her a hug instantly, which both shocked and pleased her. “I feel like I’m supposed to welcome you, but from the looks of it, the roles are completely reversed.” She glanced about. “Is there anything I can help you with? I am pretty good in the kitchen.”

His hands on her shoulders, Sam piped in, “She’s being modest. Haley is amazing in the kitchen. I’ve put on ten pounds since she started cooking for me.” He leaned in and kissed her neck affectionately before excusing himself. “Ladies, I’m going to go look for that infuriating brother of mine.” Then he left the room.

Cammie sighed. “He’s not kidding. That man.” She tried to play off her feelings and focus on the food, but Haley saw through her.

“Oh.” Haley said as she wandered over and sat down at the table. “Oh, you slept with Adam.” She sighed.

“What gives you that idea? And who just says that kind of thing anyway…” She frowned. This was most definitely not going the way she imagined.

“I have been to enough events with Adam and Sam that I recognize the confusion and disappointment. What did he do? Trick you? Sleep with you and dump you? Make you feel like less than you are?” She stood to take off her coat and make it obvious that she was both staying for a while and safe to confide in.

Shaking her head in shame, Cammie turned off the stove, turned back to the island, and leaning on it heavily, she finally divulged her truth. “I initiated the sex with him the first time. Ugh. If you want to split hairs, I guess the second time was pretty much my fault, too. And then he told me we shouldn’t have slept together if I didn’t trust him!” Her face was flushed with shame. “I don’t know what made me do it. It’s so…unlike me.”

Looking Haley in the eye for comfort and reassurance, she found the woman smiling at her. For some reason, that wasn’t helping. Frustrated she walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bottle of soda. Just as she was about to offer one to Haley, the woman stood and walked over to her.

“Are you laughing at me?” Cammie asked quietly.

“Never,” Haley said warmly. “I just see things differently because I know Adam.” She stretched before she continued. “Whew. Long car ride. In other news, I think he likes you.” She shrugged and started toward the great room.

Inhaling sharply, she looked at Haley. “How do you just say that to me and leave the room?”

Laughing, Haley smiled at her. “Well, it’s easier to gage your reaction that way.” After saying that, she smiled widely before she went to no doubt find Sam.

Wondering what to think, what to do, or even what to say, Cammie stood there for a moment mulling over their conversation. It wasn’t possible. There was no way Adam could like her. She stood there staring off into space and considering every interaction between them since they had begun talking at the party just days before. Years of trying to get his attention, and the minute she stopped caring, it started happening? But…she had huge plans. She had just quit her job. She was working on completing her final project. She had to focus on building a future because she had no trust fund to fall back on. She had a tidy sum in the bank, but that had come from nearly ten years of scrimping and saving.

Cammie started saving right after that incident with her sister. Funny, Adam was Cammie’s dream so long ago. She had imagined a future with him. It was one of those silly teen crushes. Adam had seemed about as accessible as a movie star or male model. He was so confident, so friendly, such a flirt. All the girls wanted him. She was so disillusioned after that night when he went with Cin, even more so the day Cin finally talked about it. After that, she realized there was no future in men. She had to be responsible for her own future, her own happiness. No man was ever going to break her like Adam had broken Cin. What was worse, Cin still tried to pursue him. Every chance she had. It had been uncomfortable for all involved for years.

How could Adam, whom she had come to think of as a heartless player, suddenly behave like he had recently? It just didn’t make sense. His timing was lousy.