We pull up in the driveway of Cameron’s house.
“This is it.” He smiles into the rear view mirror at Owen.
On cue, Owen gasps, and I roll my eyes. Oh, please, this is pathetic. This new car scent has heightened his excitability.
“This is your house?” Owen whispers in awe.
“Yep. Pretty cool, huh?”
We park the car and walk in, feeling like a party pooper for real. Owen is so excited, he is bouncing around, and Cameron is proud of himself and playing the happy host.
I should be happy, too. I should be happy that they have an instant connection, but I hate to admit that I’m I’m a bit jealous.
Owen could at least act loyal to me.
We walk in and my heart sinks. Last time we were here together I was falling in love, and I can understand exactly how Owen feels.
Cameron is fun and he makes you feel fun.
Owen has Cameron for life and I don’t. Is that a selfish thing for me to be feeling?
God, yes. I know it is, but I can’t help it. I internally kick myself for being a childish fool. Cameron takes Owen by the hand and leads him through the house one room at a time. I follow them, unimpressed. I didn’t get this good of a tour.
He then takes us upstairs. “This is my room.” He smiles to Owen and then glances over at me and my eyes drop to the floor.
I spent some of the happiest nights of my life in this room.
“And this is your room.” He opens the door and my heart sinks. This is the room I came into before, only now it’s painted navy blue and has a single bed and children’s furniture in it. He’s had it done already.
The linen is all expensive denim with little red, white, and blue flags hanging over the window. The same red, white, and blue cushions are on the window seat. A large, red, circular mat is on the floor near the desk.
It’s gorgeous.
Owen’s eyes nearly pop out of his head. “This is my room?” he whispers excitedly.
“Do you like it?” Cameron asks, his voice filled with hope.
I can’t take this. My eyes tear up and I leave the room in a rush and walk downstairs into Cameron’s study.
“Stop it, stop it, stop it,” I whisper. I close my eyes as I try to stop my tears from falling, but they won’t.
After a few minutes Cameron walks in and closes the door behind him softly.
“What’s wrong?” he whispers, concerned.
I scrunch up my face in pain. “It’s just so hard watching you give him everything I always wanted to but couldn’t,” I whisper.
His face falls and he pulls me into an embrace. “Ashley, this isn’t a competition.” He holds me tight against his chest and lets me cry.
“I know,” I whisper. “But it sure feels like it.”
He blows out a breath. “It’s not.”
I pull out of his grip. “Why did you pay my rent, Cameron?”
“So you don’t have to go back to the club.”
“What?” I frown, that’s not the answer I was expecting.
“You’re not going back, Ashley. ” He replies coldly. “Over my dead body are you stepping foot back in that place.”
Suddenly his motive is crystal clear: He wants to control me. He wants control over Owen and me.
I step back from him as uneasiness rolls through me. “You don’t get to tell me what to do, Cameron. You lost that right when you ended it between us.”
His jaw clenches and his cold eyes hold mine. “The hell I don’t.”
Ashley
I flinch. “What do you mean the hell you don’t?” I step back from him angrily. “I’m telling you straight up, I left that job last week to please you because I thought we had a future, but now that it’s quite clear that we don’t. You don’t have a say in my life.”
He glares at me. “Yes, I do.”
“You don’t.” I snap. “I’m giving you half a son. That’s all I’m giving you.”
“Well, let me tell you one thing. My job as a father is to make sure my son’s mother is in line.”
“In line?” I yell.
“Yes. In fucking line.” He growls.
“I’m not a circus animal, Cameron.”
“Then stop acting like one!”
I shake my head. “You selfish son of a bitch. This is all about you and your pathetic image.”
He narrows his eyes.
“Guess what, Cameron? I work a bar job and if I want, I can work in the Escape Lounge, too. It’s none of your goddamn business what I choose to do.”
“Isn’t it?”
“No, it’s not. So butt out!”
“I’m warning you, Ashley. If you go back, there will be fucking hell to pay.”
“Go fuck yourself,” I snap and then I walk out the door to find Owen standing in the hallway, wide-eyed and listening.
My face falls in horror. “Oh, hi, baby.”
Cameron walks out behind me, closes his eyes then shakes his head in regret. “Don’t worry about us, mate. We’re just being silly. Sometimes grownups are ridiculous.” He walks past us and back into the kitchen.
Oh shit. What a nightmare. Owen shouldn’t have heard that. What the hell am I doing? I need to be the bigger person in front of him and pretend everything is okay. I walk out and sit at the counter next to Cameron. My heart is slamming hard against my chest in fury.
“Can you make us a hot chocolate, please, Dad?” I ask Cameron flatly.
His angry eyes flash my way. “Sure, Momma.” He sneers sarcastically.
I fake a smile at Owen and his little eyes glance between the two of us. Cameron starts making the hot chocolate, and I think I’d better watch closely in case he puts rat poison in mine.
He hands us the hot chocolate and we drink them as Owen chats happily, soon forgetting all about what just happened. Half an hour later, when I’m sure there is no issue, I turn to Owen. “We better get going, baby.”
“Okay.” He jumps down of the stool and smiles up at Cameron.
“I will pick you up on Saturday.” Cameron smiles down at him.
Owen nods an over the top nod with a huge smile on his face, and Cameron goes and retrieves the keys to the new car. He returns holding them up in the air.
I narrow my eyes and snatch them out of his hands. He smirks.
“Can you give Mom a spoonful of honey before she goes to bed tonight, Owen?” he asks.
I shake my head, of all the nerve.
“What for?” Owen asks.
“Sweeten her up a bit.” He smiles and throws me a wink, and it’s all I can do to not scratch his eyes out.
“Goodbye, Cameron,” I snap.
“Bye. Dad.” Owen waves as we walk down the driveway.
That man is a pig.
I don’t know what’s more annoying: the fact that Cameron gets to me or the fact that he knows that he gets to me and plays on it.
We are sitting in the cafeteria while I watch every damn slutty nurse in this god-forsaken hospital make fuck me eyes at him.
One of them is going down real soon and he’s going to end up in the ER.
There isn’t a doubt in my mind.
He sits with his legs crossed in a fancy suit with everyone hanging off his every word, being all witty and charismatic. I sit on the other side of the table drinking my coffee while I imagine nailing his head to the table. Either that or having sex with someone else on his desk, just to piss him off.
He probably wouldn’t even care, to be honest, but it’s nice to imagine I could get to him as much as he gets to me.
I’m supposed to be working tonight, and although I have no desire to go-and now that my rent is paid, I technically don’t need to-I’m going anyway.
I will leave on my terms and when I’m good and ready. I already called this week and begged for my job back, so I’m not turning around and leaving in the same week. It’s bloody embarrassing.
I’ll give it another four or five shifts and then I’ll scratch it.
However, if they try to make me wear that stupid lap dancing uniform again, I’m walking straight out on the spot.
Screw that, bar work only. A text beeps through and I open my phone to read it. Speak of the devil. It’s Eliza.
Hi, Ashley,
I keep forgetting to message you.
I’m taking all of the girls out for dinner on Sunday night f
or a staff meeting and as a bit of a thank you.
I would love for you to join us.
See you tonight with the details.
Eliza x
I click out of the message and look up to see a nurse leaning over Cameron’s chair talking to him and being all seductive. He’s listening to what she is saying and being super attentive.
Stupid slut.
My blood begins to boil and I smirk. Imagine if Cameron knew I was mixing socially with the Exotic girls. He would flip his frigging lid.
I should go just to piss him off.
I glance back up and the brunette nurse laughs out loud. “Oh you are so funny Dr. Stanton. You kill me.” She laughs.
I look at them, deadpan. He’s a complete fucking twat. I go back to my phone and I reply.
I would love to come,
Eliza.
See you tonight.
Ashley.