“Behave.” She smirks and he grabs her again just to show her who’s the boss.
I smile. He can’t keep his hands off her.
“Adrian, shall we have pie or cake for dessert?” Natasha asks me.
“Pie,” I reply, distracted by Ashley and Cameron. I can’t take my eyes off them.
The sexual energy between them is palpable.
A text beeps through Ashley’s phone and she picks it up to read it, immediately frowning.
“That’s weird,” she mutters to herself. I don’t think they can tell I’m listening.
“What’s weird?” Cam asks as he slides his hand up her thigh.
“I just got a text to say thanks for my phone bill payment today, but I didn’t pay it yet,” she whispers.
“Oh, I paid it this afternoon,” Cameron replies nonchalantly.
What? Cameron is super conscious with his money. He is serious about this girl.
Her face falls. “Why would you do that?” she whispers angrily.
“Because I know you didn’t have the money to pay for it,” he whispers back.
“How fucking dare you?” she hisses.
I bite my bottom lip to stifle my smile and I sip my drink as I listen.
“Don’t how fucking dare me. A simple thank you is all that’s needed,” he snaps back.
I shouldn’t be listening, but I really can’t help myself.
“Just because you have money, it doesn’t mean I fucking want it,” she whispers angrily.
He taps her on the leg and signals to us. I try and act as though I’m not listening. “Yes, pie would be great, Tash. Do you want me to whip the cream or anything?” I ask.
“No, it’s good. Joshua can do it.”
Joshua shakes his head, smiling with a curled lip. “Whip the cream, Murph,” he mouths.
“Can you show me the back yard, Cameron?” Ashley asks as she stands abruptly.
Cameron purses his lips and I want to hoot with laughter. He’s going out the back to get blasted.
I really, really like this girl.
“Sure.” He picks up his glass and leads her out the back, and I watch as they close the door behind them.
“Oh my God,” I whisper to Natasha and Joshua. “She’s gone out there to give it to him.”
Natasha’s face falls. “What? Why?”
“He paid her phone bill and she just found out.”
Joshua frowns. “How do you know that?”
“I was eavesdropping.”
Joshua rolls his eyes. “Why am I not surprised?” he mutters with a shake of his head.
Natasha comes over to the counter. “Cameron really likes this girl. I haven’t seen him like this before.”
“You know who it is, don’t you?” I whisper.
“Who?” She frowns.
“This is Mrs. Stanton.”
Natasha screws up her face. “Who?”
“Remember the girl that Cameron met in Vegas years ago when he lost his phone and couldn’t contact her,” I reply. “He called her Mrs. Stanton.”
Natasha’s eyes widen and they flicker between Joshua and me. “That’s her?” She gasps. “He was obsessed with that girl.”
“Still is by the looks of it,” Joshua adds.
Her mouth drops open. “And fate has brought them back together.” Natasha grabs my hand. “Oh my God, this is it Adrian. She’s the one.”
I smile broadly and lift my glass. Natasha clinks her glass with mine as excitement fills us both.
Joshua rolls his eyes. “Don’t get excited with your fairy tale bullshit. I don’t think Cameron has a ‘the one’. He’ll probably be sick of her in two dates like the rest of them.” He sips his drink. “They only just met,” he adds.
Natasha whips him with the tea towel. “Will you be nice for once?”
“I am being nice. She’s in my fucking house, isn’t she?”
Natasha’s eyes come back to me. “So, wait, why is Cameron in trouble?”
“Apparently he paid her phone bill.”
Joshua looks at me deadpan. “And that’s a problem because?”
“Oh no, he can’t pay her phone bill. Doesn’t he have any idea?” Natasha whispers, horrified.
“I know, right,” I reply.
Joshua frowns. “Why can’t he pay her fucking phone bill? He has the money.”
Natasha rolls her eyes. “Oh God, Joshua, you have no idea, either, do you?”
He grabs her ass and drags her against his hips. “I’ll pay your phone bill in a minute.” He gives her a pump. “With my dick.”
“Whip the cream,” she snaps as she pries herself from his clutches.
“You should invite her this weekend,” I add.
Natasha smiles broadly and points the spoon at me. “Yes, I will.”
“I wouldn’t,” Joshua adds.
“Why not?” Natasha frowns.
“Are you forgetting that our mother is going to be there, and Cameron will probably be over this chick by the weekend?”
Natasha smiles. “I think she could handle your mother.” She starts to serve the dinner onto the plates
Joshua smirks. “I pity the poor girl who tries to take Mom’s beloved Cameron away.”
Natasha rolls her eyes and then looks to me. “Shall I ask her or not?”
I shrug. “I think so. If he asked her here he’s serious-”
“He’s not serious,” Joshua interrupts. “Calm the fuck down, you two.”
Ashley
The children have gone to bed and we are just finishing dinner. It was delicious. “Thank you, that was beautiful, Natasha. You’re a really great cook.”
“Call me Tash.” She smiles. “And this is all a façade.”
I frown as I watch her. I don’t think I have ever seen such perfect dimples and white teeth.
“Façade?” I frown.
She rolls her eyes. “I’m a hot mess. I’m lucky enough that Joshua earns enough so that we can have a cleaner, a gardener and all that.”
I smile gratefully. She obviously doesn’t come from money and she knows how lucky she is.
“The house would be pure chaos without them.”
I smile into my glass and nod.
“What about you, Ashley. Tell us about yourself.” Adrian smiles.
My heart drops and I hesitate. “I’m in my final year of medicine.” My eyes flicker to Cameron. “I’m one of Cameron’s interns, so I’m really not supposed to be seeing him at all.”
Joshua winks at Cameron who grins in return.
“Vous serez le stagiaire le plus chanceux au monde pour me rendre visite”
Translation: You will be the luckiest intern in the world to date me.
I laugh and fire back, “Ou le plus stupide, je ne suis pas encore terminé avec vous. Voyons ce que vous avez chanceux ce soir.”
Translation: Or the stupidest. I’m not finished with you yet. Let’s see how lucky you get tonight.
Adrian’s and Natasha’s eyes meet across the table. “German?” Adrian asks.
“French.” Joshua smirks. Oh shit. He speaks French, too. I drop my head embarrassed that Joshua has understood what I just said.
“So, you two met years ago?” Natasha smiles as she puts her hands under chin dreamily.
“Yeah.” I smile, embarrassed.
“She fucked my brains out,” Cameron adds as he shovels a mouthful of food into his mouth.
Natasha and Joshua choke on their drinks, and the table bursts into laughter.
My mouth drops open in horror. “I did not. I’m a virgin!” I chuckle. “C-Cameron,” I splutter. “Please use your table manners.” I shake my head. “You are uncouth.”
Cameron smirks. “You love it, Bloss.”
Our eyes lock. He’s right, I do love it. I love everything about him. Even his family are beautiful.
“But then…” I hesitate and sip my champagne and narrow my eyes. “Cameron.” I bring my hands up to accentuate the word. “Lost…” I smile broadly. “His phone.”
“I did lose my fucking phone that night.” He fires back. “Back me up here Stan. Did I lose my phone that night?” he asks.
Joshua smiles and nods. “Affirmative. He did.”
He points at me across the table. “And I was pissed that I lost your number.”
“I was kind of glad to be honest. I think I dodged a bullet.” I smile cheekily. The table erupts into laughter again.
This is a fun night. I can be myself and I feel comfortable.
“You won’t be dodging anything when we get home,” Cameron fires back.
“Ash, I have a charity ball on the weekend. You must come.” Natasha smiles.
My face falls. “Oh. Um…” I glance at Cameron.
His face lights up. “Yes! We can go away again.”
“You went away at the weekend?” Adrian asks, clearly surprised.
“I took Ash to New York.”