Natasha and Adrian’s eyes meet across the table in some kind of unspoken acknowledgement.
“Why didn’t you take the plane?” Joshua asks.
Cameron frowns. “Because then it would have been a thing and I would have had to explain who Ashley was.”
Joshua looks at Cameron, deadpan. “Then you bring her to my house three days later?” He raises his eyebrows. “That makes perfect sense.”
I burst out laughing. I like this guy. He’s dry as all hell. I clink my glass with Joshua’s and he smirks.
“He didn’t tell me we were coming here tonight,” I add.
Cameron sips his drink and smiles across the table.
“Why didn’t you tell her you were coming here?” Natasha asks.
“Because she probably wouldn’t have come.”
The table’s attention turns back to me. “Why wouldn’t you have come?” Adrian asks, surprised again.
“Honestly?” I smile bashfully.
“Yes, honestly?” Joshua replies, and I get the feeling that they are all really interested in my answer.
“Because Cameron hardly knows me and I didn’t want to be in the position of letting anyone down. Especially him. I think it was a bit too soon for me to be meeting the family.”
Joshua frowns, intrigued by my answer.
Cameron smiles softly across the table. “You’re refreshingly honest, Bloss.”
Our eyes lock and I feel a pull to him that can only be explained as magnetic.
“So will you come?” Natasha smiles. “At the weekend?”
My eyes flicker between her and Adrian. “What’s the dress code?” I ask.
“Black tie-”
“But you don’t need to worry about that. I’ll buy you a dress,” Cameron interrupts.
“No, that’s fine.” I smile softly. “Maybe I’ll give it a miss and come to the next one, if that’s okay. Thank you so much for the invitation, though.”
Cameron’s face falls. “Why don’t you want to come?”
God. Why is he so pushy? “You go with your family and I’ll just see you when you get back.” I smile.
“No. I want you to come. I’ll buy you a dress,” he asserts.
I frown. “Not now, Cameron.” God, he’s so annoying.
“Don’t not now me,” he snaps.
I glare at him. This money thing is really starting to piss me off. “You’re not buying me a dress. I’m fine without one.”
“What’s the big deal. He has the money. Let him buy you a dress,” Joshua intervenes as he sips his wine.
I turn my attention to him with a frown. “With all due respect, Joshua, butt out. This is none of your business.”
Joshua’s face falls in shock, and Natasha and Adrian burst out laughing. Adrian grabs my hand over the table. “Oh, I love you, Ashley.”
“Don’t worry about them, they have no idea.” Natasha smiles. “They have no idea how it feels to have a man buy you things. You feel owned,” she adds.
I smile, grateful that she gets it.
“This was really hard for me to get used to in the beginning.”
My eyes hold hers.
“We’re about the same size, aren’t we?” she asks.
I shrug, embarrassed that I just snapped at Joshua. My eyes flick to him and I can see he’s just as shocked as I am. God, I’m a rude bitch. I drain my champagne glass in one gulp.
“Adrian, I have lots of dresses that would fit Ashley, don’t I?”
Adrian smiles broadly. “Of course.”
I frown as my eyes find Adrian. “Adrian is the family stylist.” Natasha laughs. “He’s the only one around here with any taste.”
I smile, my cheeks still ablaze.
“Borrow one of my dresses and then you can pay for the dry cleaning bill.” Natasha smiles with a wink.
I fake a smile in return. “We’ll see,” I murmur.
Somehow it’s now Thursday and I still haven’t told Cameron about Owen. It’s getting harder and harder every day. Cameron has stayed at my house all week and, although I have had Owen’s door closed, I kind of thought he would catch on at some point. He hasn’t.
Today, Natasha and Adrian picked me up from work. I had the afternoon off and we went to Natasha’s and picked out a dress. It’s weird that I feel so comfortable with the two of them. They sat on the bed while I tried on dress after dress and they worked out what I was going to wear with which shoes and bag. They’re normal. Refreshingly normal.
Then we went out to lunch and we laughed like old friends. It was strange having Max, Natasha’s security guard, with us. Even Adrian has a guard. It turns out Adrian is gay and beautiful, and I can see him and I becoming good friends. And Natasha… well, she is just so lovely and genuine-the kind of girl I would be friends with even if we didn’t know the Stanton boys. I’m still not sure about Joshua. Only time will tell what happens there.
The pressure is amped up, though. Not only have I lied to Cameron, but his family seem to be making such an effort to make me feel welcome, and I really like them, so now I’m effectively lying to them too.
This is a big fucking mess.
I hold the phone in my hand. I’m working tonight and I haven’t told Cameron yet. He sent me a text asking me to come over because he was making dinner. We’ve spent every night together since we hooked up. I dial his number and he answers on the first ring.
“Hey, Bloss. How did the dress shopping go?” His voice is happy and jovial.
My heart flips in my chest at the sound of his voice. I adore him. “Hi, babe. Tash’s wardrobe shopping was good. We went out for lunch afterwards.”
“It seems you have them wrapped around your finger.”
I giggle.
“Natasha rang me this afternoon and told me not to fuck things up with you.”
My stomach drops. I’m the only one who is going to fuck this up.
“Cam, I can’t come over tonight.”
“Why not?”
“I’m working.”
“What?” He hesitates as he puts the puzzle together. “At the club?” he snaps.
I swallow my nerves. “Yes, I start at ten.”
“No!” He pauses for a moment. “I don’t want you going there at all.”
“Cam.”
“Ashley, I fucking mean it. You do not go there. Call in with your resignation right now.” He snarls.
“Cameron, I need the money.”
“You are not working there. I’m not having my fucking girlfriend working in a brothel.”
My heart somersaults in my chest. “Girlfriend?” I whisper.
“Yes, you are my fucking girlfriend, so get used to it.”
“Cam, listen to me. I can’t just leave.”
“Ashley, so help me fucking God, if you go there tonight we are through.”
“Is that a threat?” I snap.
“That’s a fucking promise.” He growls.
His anger has gone from zero to ten in a second.
“Cameron, you can’t tell me what to do. It’s bar work and nothing else.”
“I don’t want those sleazy men looking at you. You’re mine to look at. Ring in with your resignation.”
My anger bursts. “Need I remind you that you are one of those sleazy men, Cameron? I can’t give up a job for a man who has a membership at the same club. I’m not that stupid,” I yell.
He stays silent for a moment as he thinks.
“Hand in your resignation and I will cancel my membership.”
I close my eyes as tears fill them. Why is he making everything so hard?
I need this job.
“Cameron, I can’t do that,” I whisper. “I need this job. Why don’t you come with me and sit at the bar?”
“I’m not sitting at the fucking bar watching other men drool over you. I will end up killing someone.”
“Cameron…” I beg.
“Resign.” Then he hangs up.
The rain pours down as I stand at the door and knock. It’s 10. 30pm.
Cameron opens the door, his face falls in relief and he takes me into his arms, holding me close. “I resigned,” I whisper. “I’m not going back baby.” I cling to him like my life depends on it.
He kisses me and it’s the most beautiful kiss he has ever gifted me with. My eyes instantly fill with tears.
Tonight Cameron showed me that I have absolutely no control over my emotions with him. The thought of him leaving me was unbearable.
He kisses me again and I melt into his arms.
He’s driving this ship and all I can do is hang on and hope to survive the ride.
I lie on my side and smile at the beautiful man facing me. We’re naked and in his bed after a couple of rounds of lovemaking.
This is special.
Every moment with him is sacred.
I couldn’t go to work tonight knowing it may cause us to end. I could never purposely end what we have because I know what a gift it is.
His eyes watch me and I smile softly as I run my fingers through his stubble. “What are you thinking about?” I ask.
He swallows and his eyes don’t leave mine. “You,” he eventually answers.