Smitten (6 page)

Chapter Six

Cami-

I bit my lip for a second, my heart pounding as I scanned down the list on the auditorium door. I paused when I got to my name and let out a
tiny squeal. Quickly pulling my phone from my pocket, I tapped out my message to Hunter.

Got the SOLO!!!!
!
I hit send before the wind was suddenly sucked out of my sails. I had Hunter’s phone. Not him. There was no way for me to even get a message to him. This was the second time I’d done this today. I felt stupid. He was going to get his phone back and there was going to be a bunch of outdated messages from me on it. I couldn’t help it. He was always the first one I shared things with. It almost felt like he’d died or something—disappearing from my life the way he had. I was having a difficult time adjusting.

Giving a dejected sigh, I turned and started walking toward the parking lot where I’d left the Camaro. I stared at the sidewalk, lost in my own pity party.

“Why so glum, chum?” Russ’s voice interrupted my gloomy thoughts. He draped an arm around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze.

I glanced up and gave him a small smile. “Nothing really. I’m just being a baby.”

“Missing our boy?” he asked, his voice full of concern.

I nodded and sighed. “I keep trying to text him things before I remember he won’t get it. It’s weird to have him completely disappear from my life. He was there one second
, and then he wasn’t. It makes me feel like he’s dead. I don’t like it.”

“You aren’t being a baby. You miss him. It’s natural. If it makes you feel any better, I started to send him a text today too.”

“Really? That does make me feel better. It’s nice to know I’m not the only one.”

“Yeah, well, I’m sure it’s harder for you. It’s not like I want his tongue down my throat or him groping me the way you do.”

I snorted and shoved him away from me. He laughed and fell back into step beside me.

“Will it help
if you tell me whatever you needed to tell him? Unless it’s that gushy love stuff you two are always spouting off to each other. I don’t need to hear any more of that.” He scrunched his face and made a shiver suggesting he was totally grossed out.

“It was some news I had, and we aren’t
that
bad!”

He raised his eyebrow in shock. “Excuse me, but I beg to differ. I practically need a mind wipe after spending any time with you two. It’s almost like watching porn or something.”

I slapped his arm. “Whatever! We are
so
not like that!”

“Hunter, I love you,” he said in a high-pitched voice. “You’re my world, Cami,” he mimicked in an overly deep tone before he wrapped his arms around himself and started making moaning and kissing sounds.

I couldn’t stop the laughter. “We don’t ever do that!”

“Note to self: Videotape Cami and Hunter the next time they’re together for proof and blackmailing purposes.”

I shook my head. “You’re such an idiot. You can leave now.”

He draped his arm around me. “Sorry, I can’t. I’ve given my word to be your personal idiot until Hunter rematerializes into the land of the living. I’m all yours, Cami—your own personal beck
-and-call boy. Now tell me this news. Is it good or bad?”

“Good! I got the big solo I auditioned for! I’ll be performing it in our next concert.” I could feel the excitement
pulsating through me again. I couldn’t wait to call my mom and tell her. She’d be thrilled.

Russ snorted. “Please. How is this news? No one can compete with your pipes, girlfriend. Surely you know that by now.”

“This is way different than high school, Russ! This is one of the best musical theater universities around! The competition is much greater. There are some really talented performers here. I was competing against twenty other girls for this song.”

“Which completely proves my point, don’t you agree? You’re among the best
, and you’re still the best.”

“You’re too sweet,” I replied, appreciating his support.

“Not sweet, simply telling it like it is,” he answered as we approached the Camaro.

“Do you have any
more classes today? I thought maybe we could hang out together tonight—get another pizza or something.”

“
Sounds great to me. I was actually going to ask if you might be willing to put that giant brain of yours to use and help me out with our math assignment. Some of us mere mortals aren’t as intellectually gifted as you are.”

I laughed again and rolled my eyes. “I guess I could be persuaded to stoop low enough to mingle with the common minds,” I jokingly replied. “After all
, you are my self-proclaimed, personal beck-and-call idiot. It’s the least I could do.”

He swept off his ball cap and made a dramatic bow as if he were greeting royalty. “The common minds thank you, great lady.”

I snorted and glanced around the parking lot. “Stand up straight before someone sees you.” I couldn’t stop laughing. He was such a goof.

He straightened immediately. “As you wish.” He winked at me. “See you around six? I’ll bring the pizza, you bring the brain.”

“Deal,” I replied still chuckling. “See you then.”

I watched for a moment as he turned and jogged across the lot. He was a great guy. I couldn’t imagine it would be too long before some girl snatched him up. Whoever she was, I hoped she would like to laugh.

I unlocked the Camaro and climbed inside, grateful to have a friend like him in my life. Closing my eyes, I breathed in deeply, the faint sent of Hunter’s cologne still in the vehicle. I loved the way he smelled, and the scent somehow made me feel closer to him again.

Smiling to myself, I wondered what he’d think if I went and stole his cologne from his apartment and sprayed it on my pillow. It would be
a totally girly thing to do, but it would give me something to hug that smelled like him. I missed being next to him.

Sighing, I started the car and headed home
—my heart and mind full of aching thoughts as I drove. I parked when I arrived and grabbed all my things before trudging to my room and letting myself inside.

I glanced around the space, seeing little pieces of my life with Hunter scattered everywhere. I’d been so excited to move here so we could spend more time together—he had too. Now we were stuck right back where we
’d been over the last couple months—apart. I was happy for the distraction Russ was providing me, and I mentally thanked Hunter for being so considerate about my wellbeing. He hadn’t left me alone, but I wondered if he was. I wished I knew how he was faring.

I took out my phone and dialed his number even though his phone was sitting on my desk. It went straight to message.

“Hey, you’ve reached Dylan. Leave me a message.” The phone beeped, signaling it was time to speak.

“Don’t laugh when you get this. I miss you
, and I wanted to hear your voice. It’s been hard not being able to talk to you. I hope you’re okay. I love you.” I hung up and flipped through my photos, putting a new one as my screen saver. “I hope you’ll be back soon,” I said to his smiling face.

Chapter Seven

Hunter-

I tossed my phone and keys onto the nightstand and collapsed onto the bed. My phone buzzed, signaling a text message, but I ignored it. After a week of texting with Roberta, I didn’t care if I ever saw another message from her again. To say she was really getting into the part of playing my girlfriend was a bit of an understatement. We’d decided early on to do whatever was needed to maintain appearances. I didn’t realize that would consist of her texting me about
everything
—from shoes to her gal pal gossip. I’d learned way more about her in a week than I ever wanted to know in the first place. The girl seriously stuck to me like glue.

I closed my eyes, wishing for the millionth time I could call Cami. I ached to hear her voice again.
There was nothing to remind me of her—no pictures, messages, nothing—only the memories in my head. That’s what had saved me so far, lying in bed every night and closing my eyes while I let all the things we’d done together replay in my head.

“How’s my lovesick baby brother?” Chris’s voice asked
, and I opened my eyes to find him leaning in the doorway.

I sighed. “Exactly that. Are we done yet?”

He chuckled. “I wish. Your parents and Sheridan send their love. They said to tell you they miss you, and they hope we wrap this thing up soon. I’m guessing you have nothing new to report?”

“Nada,” I replied. “Not one damn thing—still hanging out and getting to know the guys. I’m sick of going to that
blasted club.”

Chris nodded. “I get it, but when in Rome
 . . . ,” he let his sentence drift off.

“I’d rather
be
in Rome. It’s got to be better than this.”

“Hang in there, man. It’ll get better
, I’m sure.”

“I’d be fine if I could check in on Cami once in a while. Hell, at this point I’d settle for sitting in a parking lot and watching her walk by. I just want to
see
her. This no contact thing is killing me.”

“I know, but you have to remember it’s also protecting her.”

“I do. That’s the only thing keeping me from breaking the rules.” I sighed. “So, anything new from the department?”

He shook his head. “Nope, more of the same—continue on with what you’re doing. I guess Randolph was in a fender
-bender while he was responding Code 3 to a call. He’s okay, but the whole department had to sit in on a mandatory reteach of the defensive driving course. They made us watch all the videos and take a test on it again. So perk up, you got to miss all that!”

I chuckled. “That’s something, I guess. Nice of Randolph to put everyone through that.”

“Yeah, the guys have been ribbing him pretty hard.” He glanced at his watch. “You have any plans tonight?”

“Yep,” I replied
, drawing out the word and glancing at him with an eye roll.

He laughed. “Let me guess? The club?”

I made a shooting gesture with my fingers. “Pow! Chris gets a bulls eye. How’d you manage to guess?” I let my hand drop lifelessly to the bed.

“Cheer up. It could be worse. Besides, weren’t you the one who used to love
using your fake ID and hanging out in those places? I clearly recall you telling me about picking up girls there when you were younger.”

“That
’s before I met Cami. There’s no reason to go to a club now unless she’s there, and in case you haven’t noticed, clubbing isn’t really her scene.”

“So take her with you sometime. You never know, she might like it,” he suggested.

I shrugged. “Maybe, but I’m not going to be able to find out for a few years. She won’t be twenty-one for a while, and it would probably look bad for me to get her a fake ID since I’m a cop and all.”

Chris chuckled and nodded. “Yeah, I can see how that might be a problem. I guess that’s what happens when you cho
ose a teenager to be your girlfriend, though.”

“Spare me the age lecture please. I’ve already given it to myself a billion times
, and I come to the same conclusion every time.”

“Which is what?” he asked.

“I don’t care how old she is, obviously. She’s the one. Period. End of discussion.”

Chris sighed. “Well, if there’s one thing I know for certain about you, it’s that you’re bullheaded
, and when you make up your mind about something, you’re not very likely to deviate from that course.”

“Are you saying you don’t approve of my choice?” I could feel the tension knotting in my shoulders as I prepared to defend myself.

“Not at all. I quite like your choice, honestly. Cami is a beautiful, good girl and way better than any of those other girls you used to amuse yourself with.”

I chuckled. “So you’re saying she’s too good for me?”

He laughed. “No, I’m saying it’s about time you started dating someone worthy of you.”

I couldn’t help
but smile. “You’re my brother-in-law. You have to say things like that.”

“Don’t delude yourself. I don’t have to say jack to you if I don’t want to.”

I groaned. “Can you please not use the term Jack around me? I’ve had about all I can handle of the elusive Mr. Ripper.”

“Jack the Ripper
 . . . ,” Chris mulled the words over. “He sure seems full of himself. Do you think he has the instincts to match the pseudonym? Was Manny his first victim, or are there others we don’t know about?”

“All good questions I don’t have the answers to, I’m afraid. So far
, the only thing I can accuse him of is drinking and driving. There hasn’t been one word of stealing or selling cars, or chopping parts. All we’ve done is drink beer and talk about women and building custom cars. I’m really not even sure if he trusts me yet. He keeps staring at me and squinting, like he’s trying to see through me or something. It’s a bit nerve wracking to be truthful.”

“You’ll get it.
Keep being yourself—people naturally gravitate toward you.”

I glanced at the clock and sighed. “Guess I better go get ready. My
girlfriend
likes to show me off to everyone.”

“I love that there are guys on the department who’d kill to be in your shoes right now
, and you’re grumbling about it. Try to enjoy yourself—hang out, have fun.”

I gave him a noncommittal grunt and headed for the shower. “I’ll try, but it’s kind of difficult when the girl rubbing herself all over you
, isn’t the one you want. I’d happily trade places with you, if you’d like.”

He raised his hands in surrender. “That’s perfectly okay. You keep your job. I get to see my wife, thank goodness. Besides, I’m way too old for either of your teenage girlfriends.”

I chuckled and shook my head. “You’re such an ass.”

He grinned. “It’s a gift.”