Cammie Healy - Jennifer Foor Page 0,48

He was following behind, determined to get through to me. “Come back here, young lady.”

“No! You won’t listen. I’m done talking.”

I darted in the house and began running up the stairs, only to walk into something going on between Wes and Callie. I stormed past them, finally making it into my room where I could lock everyone out. This was a catastrophe, and I was undeniably in heaps of shit.

Chapter 19

I wasn’t meant to sit next to Cammie. When the whole family crowded in the room I was mid-conversation with Josh. Callie asked me three times to sit next to her, but when her older sister Cassie and her boyfriend showed up, they quickly filled the places. I didn’t even consider Cammie would take the spot next to me, not until she came down and pulled out the chair.

All of a sudden the room felt like it was scorching. Being this close to her was causing my body to react, even with her daddy sitting at the far end of the table, watching her every move.

Silently, I thought about earlier in the day. Let’s be honest, it’s all I’d been thinking about since it happened.

This was all out of character for me. I’d never been a player, or had problems getting over a chick. I’d had my fair share of relationships; all of them ending pretty soon after they started.

I may have always had a constant attraction to Cammie, but I never dwelled on it. In fact, I only thought of her on occasion. Quite often, I wouldn’t even look at her social media account unless she updated it with a status or picture. I’d never been the guy to like every one of her posts, or send her private messages to spark up a friendship. I’d moved on with my life, grown up, and got my shit in gear to be a respectable businessman. Josh and I had kept in touch, but with school and work getting in the way, I hadn’t been able to visit like I wanted to. Months had turned into years, and like every busy lifestyle, time had slipped away from me.

Now I was back for a visit. I didn’t know she’d be there. I had no idea what it would be like to see her again; to be close to the first girl I’d ever had feelings for.

It was unlike me to have to push myself on a woman. Usually they were passing me numbers or asking when we could hang out or in some cases, hook up.

I’d been content with the way I handled my life. There were no complaints from me. School was almost over. I had a successful future ahead of me.

Was I crazy to want to make changes after spending such little time with her?

Probably.

I couldn’t shake it. I’d waited over ten years to experience what it would be like to hold her in my arms and feel the way her lips fit against mine. Despite the fact that she came with a ton of baggage, I wanted to dive right in. When you know, you know, and trust me when I say, I was one-hundred percent positive she was the girl for me. If I was unsure before, it had all been made very clear.

Did I love her?

I don’t know how to answer that question. Was it even possible to love someone since you were a young teen? Could a man love a woman who barely knew he existed?

We had history. Sure, she hated my annoying ass, but I’d known her since we were kids. I’d seen her go through changes. I’d watched her from afar. She set my standards so high no one could ever compare.

Could I see myself loving her for the rest of my life?

It was very possible.

Would we ever be more than passing ships in the night?

After promising to give up on trying, I wasn’t that optimistic.

During the meal it was difficult to avoid thoughts of earlier in the day. I wanted more, but didn’t regret where we’d stopped things. I wanted her to know I’d never push.

After dinner Cammie was to have a talk with her father. He took her out on the front porch where they could have privacy. I tried to sneak upstairs with Josh and his date only to make it halfway and get cornered by Callie. She was all dolled up, probably for my benefit. A part of me felt terrible for not being able to give her a chance.