Smitten (14 page)

“Cami, baby, there’s no choice. I’d always choose you, hands down, every time.”

“Really?” I asked, unable to believe he’d quit his job for me.

He lifted his other hand so he was cupping my face. “I love you more than anything else. Don’t you get it? I want to be with you forever.” He gave a wry chuckle. “I planned
on asking you to marry me, but this stupid job got in the way and messed everything up.”

“You want to marry me?” I asked, swallowing hard.

He gave a small chuckle. “Is it so hard to believe? I know you’re young. We don’t have to rush into anything. We can take all the time you need. I want you to live your life and fulfill your dreams like you want. I simply want to be part of it—if you’ll have me.”

“Hunter, I want you to be able to live your life and dreams too. I know how much you love being a cop.” I didn’t want him sacrificing things
just to be with me.

“Honestly, I’d be happy flipping burgers if it meant I got to be with you.”

I snorted. “Sure you would. I’ve seen the lifestyle you come from. You’re used to having money.”

He laughed and dropped his hand from my face to grab both of mine. “You know cops don’t make that much, right? It’s sad, but true. They’re at the bottom of the job chain. Besides, I have plenty of money either way.”

“What do you mean?”

“My parents are loaded. My sister and I received our trust funds when we turned twenty-one. It’ll continue to pay large lump sums to us every five years until we
’re like sixty years old or something.”

I was shocked. He’d never told me anything about his financial situation before. “Wow. That’s nice of them.”

“Yes, they wanted to be sure we were taken care of. The only stipulation on mine was that I keep a full-time job unless I’m incapacitated for some reason. My parents didn’t want me sitting around being lazy. I’ve invested some of it, and I have a couple business ventures I’ve been mulling over in my head. I may be a police officer, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have other plans in mind for my future.”

“Really?” I said again, shocked by everything he was revealing. “Like what?”

“Well, I could use my police skills to be a bounty hunter.”

My eyes widened. “Isn’t that still dangerous?”

He shrugged. “It could be, but most of the time people aren’t expecting a bounty hunter to show up. Things go down relatively peacefully.”

I sighed. “Danger appeals to you, doesn’t it?”

“Seeing people who break the law brought to justice appeals to me, Cami. I like getting my man, figuratively speaking.”

“Hmm. Still seems dangerous.”

“I like cars too. How would you feel about being with a greasy mechanic? I’m good at it.”

I shook my head. “I don’t want you to change your life to suit me. That’s not fair.”

“What wouldn’t be fair is losing you because of a job. I’d be crushed. Don’t you remember Sheridan told you I was smitten with you? Well, it’s true. I’d do anything to keep you by my side.” He squeezed my hands tighter.

“It still doesn’t seem fair,” I grumbled.

“Then how about a compromise?”

“Like what?”

“I’ll keep my job on the force, but as soon as this case is done, I’ll ask to be assigned to patrol the school systems or something. I’ll tell them I don’t want to be involved in undercover work anymore.”

“That sounds kind of boring for you.”

“Are you kidding? What’s better than working with kids? Besides, I really don’t want to do the undercover thing anymore. It may have led me to you initially, but it’s been pure hell staying away from you this go around. I’ll finish this case and tell them I’m through. Deal?”

I studied him closely, noting the light shining in his eyes. He seemed truly sincere in what he was saying. “Deal,” I replied
, and he let out a breath I hadn’t realize he’d been holding.

He pulled me into his embrace. “Don’t ever leave me, Cami. You have no idea how much I need you.”

Chapter Seventeen

Cami-

“Thanks for breakfast, Mom,” I said, giving her a hug before I helped to clear the table. “Sorry for all the drama. Things have been a little crazy lately.”

“No need to apologize. I understand completely. We just want you both to be happy and safe.”

“Well, I’m very happy—regardless of everything that’s gone on, and Hunter is doing his best to look out for me. I do think I need to take care of some other things while I’m here, though.”

“Like what?”

I sighed. “I think it’s time for me to face some of the demons I have hiding in my closet.”

“Take your time. You don’t need to push anything,” Hunter spoke up.

“No, I want to. I’m ready. I need to put some closure behind me. I think it will be healing for me.”

“So what’s your plan?” my dad asked, giving me a concerned look.

“I’m going to see Clay’s parents and ask them if I can lay flowers on his grave.”

“Would you like us to come with you?” my mom asked.

I shook my head. “No. Hunter can take me. I’ll have him wait in the car while I go in.” I looked at him apologetically. “I’m not ashamed to have you with me, but I don’t want to make them feel any more uncomfortable.”

He gave a small wave. “Don’t worry, I understand. It’s okay.”

“There’s a box of pictures and things he gave me in my room. I’d like them to have them. Memories are all they have of him now.”

“I think that’s a lovely idea, sweetheart,” my mom said, hugging me tightly. “You have a good heart.”

I didn’t know how to answer. My heart didn’t feel very good. There was still a lot of turmoil inside me when it came to Clay. “Do you care if Hunter and I get cleaned up? We brought extra clothes since we left in the middle of the night.”

“That’s fine. Dylan, feel free to use the guestroom and bathroom down here.” Mom gestured down the hallway.

“Thanks,” he replied. “I’ll run and get our stuff out of the car.”

An hour later, I balanced the box I was holding on my hip and lifted a trembling hand to knock at the door. I was incredibly nervous, which seemed strange since I knew this house almost as well as my own.

“Cami! What a surprise!” Kathy Bradley glanced at the box in my hand before looking out to where Hunter was sitting in the Camaro at the curb. “What brings you here?”

“Is it okay if I come in?” I asked, fidgeting restlessly with the box in my hand. My throat suddenly felt dry. It was odd to feel like a stranger with people I’d known my whole life.

“Of course you can.” She opened the door wider
, and I cast a glance back at Hunter before turning to step inside. “George, Cami’s here.”

Clay’s dad appeared in the hallway, a surprised expression on his face. He looked as uncomfortable as I did. “Hi, Cami,” he said.

They both stared at me expectantly.

“How’ve you been?” I grimaced at my choice of words—so much for making small talk. “Don’t answer that,” I quickly blurted out. “I
simply wanted to come by and give you some things.” I held the box out toward Kathy. “I thought you might like these pictures of Clay. There’s a few things he gave me in there too.”

His mom’s eyes watered as she took it from me. “Cami, we’re still so sorry about what happened. We don’t know what we can do to make it
up to you.”

I
raised a hand to stop her. “You have nothing to apologize for. What happened wasn’t your fault. I’m not even sure it was Clay’s fault. He was obviously sick. I’m sorry I didn’t notice in time to get him some help before things got so far out of hand.”

His parents stood there quietly not saying anything. I fumbled trying to continue.

“I want you to know I don’t blame you, and I want you to have these pictures so you can remember happier times with him. Regardless of what happened, he was still the best friend I ever had. I wish things hadn’t gone down as they did. I still miss him.”

Tears dripped down his mom’s face and his dad sniffled. “Thank you, Cami. Your concern for our feelings means a lot.”

“I also wanted to put some flowers on Clay’s grave today, if it’s all right with you.”

His dad nodded. “I think Clayton would like that. Thank you for thinking of him.”

A few awkward moments passed. I didn’t know what else to say.

“Okay, I guess I should go then.” I moved for the door. “Thanks for letting me drop by unannounced.”

“Cami,” Kathy called out and I stared at her. “You’re always welcome here.”

“Thank you,” I said, my own eyes tearing before I turned and slipped out the door.

“How’d it go?” Hunter asked, firing up the engine as I slid into the seat beside him.

“It was
 . . . interesting . . . good, I think. I definitely caught them off guard.”

“Well, hopefully it will help them in their path to healing also.”

“I hope so too. They’re good people.” I stared at the house, my gaze wandering to where I’d often seen Clay standing at his bedroom window, smiling as he watched me walk up the sidewalk. The curtains were closed now, and I wondered if his room was still the same on the inside.

“Where would you like to go?” Hunter asked, interrupting my trip down memory lane.

“To the movie theater,” I replied, turning to give him a tiny smile.

His eyebrows
raised, and he gave me a concerned look. “Are you sure about that?”

I nodded fervently. “I need to do this.”

He gave a big sigh. “Okay, if that’s what you want. You know this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind when I wanted you to have a day away from everything.”

“I know, but it’ll help me close the door on some things I’ve been keeping buried inside. I want to heal as well.”

He reached over and took my hand. “I hope you know how proud I am of you. You’re truly one of the strongest, sweetest people I’ve ever known.”

I didn’t reply, but continued to hold his hand as we drove through town. My thoughts wandered off again as we passed the high school. My last few days there had been rough, full of stares and whispers—even name calling in some cases. People had called me a nar
k, and a cop lover. I didn’t say anything back to them. I may not have been a nark, but I did love a cop—fiercely. I’d never told Hunter about what I’d faced after he left me. It would have made him angry, and I didn’t want to distress him. He was already upset about how things had gone before he’d been able to contact me again. It had become something we didn’t really talk about. It was easier to pretend everything was normal.

We parked in the back of the theater. It was too early for it to be open yet, but I knew the staff would be inside getting things ready for the first movies of the day. I tried the door and it swung open. Hunter held my hand as we walked down to the office.

Jon was inside at his desk, and his face lit up in surprise when he saw us at the door. “Hey kids,” he said warmly as he stood and came to give me a hug and shake Hunter’s hand. “It’s good to see you. What brings you here? I thought you were both living in Tucson now.”

“We are,” I said, shifting uncomfortably. “We came for the day. I visited with my parents and decided to confront some of the things that have been giving me nightmares since I left.”
I had never come back to work after Clay attacked me. I couldn’t bear to be here. “I was wondering if you’d let me into the old theater?”

He pondered my request for a moment. “Are you sure?”

I nodded. “I think it will help.”

“Alright then.” He stepped out the door and began walking toward the staircase.

“Don’t you need to get the keys?” I asked, knowing he always kept it locked to prevent it from being disturbed.

He shook his head. “No. I’ve changed a few things since everything happened. After they
finished with the crime scene, I decided to keep the place opened. There’s no reason to lock it where it can be abused again.”

We climbed to the top of the stairs
, and I walked to where the great wooden doors were flung wide open. It was strange to see them that way. I closed my eyes as I remembered screaming and pounding against them for help while I was trying to escape Clay.

“I’ll leave you two alone. Take all the time you need.”

“Thanks,” Hunter said as Jon walked away. He took me by the arm. “You ready to go in?”

I couldn’t speak
, so I just nodded again. I was afraid of the images flashing to the surface in my mind. We walked to the doors and entered the space, and I let out a surprised gasp.

Nothing looked the same. The chairs were gone and all the carpeting
was removed, leaving only the wooden floor behind. The wallpaper had been stripped away and the walls freshly painted. The stage was also gone, taken clear back to the far wall, and a giant, new digital screen was mounted there.

“Well, well,” Hunter said, glancing around impressed. “Looks like Jon decided to open a new theater.
Obviously it’s still under construction, but it looks great.”

I couldn’t help the smile that crept to my face. “Nothing even looks the same.” I turned around, taking it all in. “I love it! I’m so glad he decided to use this space. I was always so sad it was sitting here going to waste.”

“This poor old room has had a tortured past, hasn’t it?” Hunter agreed. “Maybe now it can be filled with happier memories.”

“I hope so,” I said, spinning around to look at everything again. “I’m glad I came here. Maybe the nightmares will stop now—they’re of a place that doesn’t even exist anymore.”

He wrapped his arms around me and held me close. “I hope you find the peace you’re seeking.”

“I will,” I said determinedly, taking a moment to enjoy the safety of his arms. “Are you okay too? This was where you
were shot after all. I guess I should’ve asked if you felt all right with coming here.” I felt horrible, realizing I’d been so involved in my own trauma I’d failed to think of his.

“I’m fine, Goody. The only demons I have are regrets that I wasn’t able to figure things out sooner. I wish I could’ve protected you
better.”

“Please don’t feel badly. You did the best you could under the circumstances. Things would’ve been much worse if you hadn’t intervened.” I continued to hug him.

“I don’t even want to think about it,” he whispered, his grip on me tightening.

“Then don’t. All’s well that ends well, right?” I popped
up to give him a quick kiss on the lips. “Let’s go to the store and get some flowers now. I’m ready to visit the cemetery.”

I stood by myself on the grass, looking at the small metal plaque that marked Clay’s grave. Hunter stayed with the car, allowing me some time alone. I knew he had no desire to be here.

When I’d been here for Clay’s funeral
, I was in complete shock, still unable to properly know what I was feeling. I hadn’t cried a single tear—my emotions locked so tightly inside myself. Today I felt only sorrow over a lost friendship and regret for the relationship we could’ve had if things hadn’t gotten weird. We’d planned to go to college and cross things off our bucket list together. I realized now, that even though we were making plans, we’d been seeing two different futures. Never in my wildest dreams could I have imagined an ending like this.

I stepped forward and placed the bundle of yellow roses next to the plaque with his name on it. “Yellow roses mean friendship, Clay,” I spoke. “That’s how I choose to remember you—as my friend. I want you to know I miss talking and laughing with you. I’m not sure why things had to happen the way they did, but if you want my forgiveness
, you have it. I hope you’re at peace now too.”

It felt as if a giant burden was lifting from me, and I turned and walked away, knowing the door was closed. I’d never come to see him again.