Page 26 of Broken Love (Love 2)
Although I'm ready for some rough, dirty fucking, when Cameron arrives, she wants to talk. We've been texting off and on since I got hurt. I was hoping that would be enough.
"How has it been living with your sister?"
"She tries to mother me. But at the same time, I'm really grateful. I needed a lot of help at first. I'm pretty sure my sister is going to need her walls repainted when I leave. I was not a good wheelchair driver."
"And what about your career? The papers say your injury is such that you'll never be back."
I sigh. "The papers might be right."
"Are you giving up on baseball? Retiring?"
"Mentally, I'm not ready to say that yet. But the more time I spend with my sister, the more I realize how much of life I've missed because of baseball."
"You're basically traveling for six months of the year. At first it seems really glamorous, but people don't understand the reality. Sure you travel in a private team plane, and you stay in beautiful hotels, but travel is stressful on your body. The planes, the different beds."
"I opened a bottle of wine for us, but I couldn't carry it in," I tell her, wanting her to relax.
"I'll go get it. Why don't you sit down on the couch and get comfortable."
"You travel a lot for your job," I say.
"Yeah, and it gets old. Sometimes, I want to just stay at my house."
"Do I dare bring up the engagement? Ask what happened?"
She sighs as she's pouring the wine. "Are you on pain medication?"
"Only to sleep," I lie.
She pours me a glass half the size of hers, regardless.
"Cheers," she says clinking my glass and sitting on the couch next to me. She takes a big sip of wine and then walks her fingers down my new cast.
"No one has signed it."
"I just got it today. Don't you think I'm a little old for that?"
"One would think you're a little old to choose the neon green color as well, but there it is," she teases.
"I thought it would cheer me up."
"Did it?"
"Not really."
"Are you all depressed, Pike?"
"First, I was just in pain. Then the realization that my career could be over hit. It's tough to give up something you've worked your whole life for. It'd be like you learning you could never act again."
"That's why I broke off the engagement," she admits, pushing her now blonde hair behind her ear. It looks odd on her.
"Is the hair color for your role?"
"No, I always go crazy and dye my hair after a break-up. I went flaming red after you."
"But you broke up with me."
"Doesn't mean it didn't hurt. It's hard choosing your career over love."
"I'm retiring," I blurt out.
"Really?"
"Really. Just think, I could travel with you and be your sex slave."
"Sex isn't that hard to find, Pike. Love is."
"Cam, you know that I loved you. That I've always--"
"I know, Pike. I know." She leans over and kisses me, avoiding the topic. Honestly, I didn't want her to come over to talk. I wanted her to come over and fuck. But something about her always makes me want more. Her lips are soft and tender. Her hair smells like jasmine. Even though the color is different, she always uses the same shampoo.
My casted leg is up on the sectional's chaise, which makes it hard to twist my body toward her like I should. The cast is like an anchor weighing me down.
"I'm dying to properly kiss you, but I can't fucking move."
She glances at my leg and smiles at me then slides onto my lap and kisses me.
I feel the rush of excitement I always feel when she gets close to me, especially when she slides her hand down the front of my shorts.
Palmer
We chat through dinner, me entertaining him with funny stories from the press junket, like how one of my costars had his black t-shirt turned inside out half the day because he was hung over and had literally rolled out of bed and pulled on whatever clothes were lying on the floor.
Things are going well until he mentions my brother in passing.
And something inside me clicks.
I can't bring a baby into a world where the uncle and father hate each other.
Which means I have to choose.
I'm lost in thought when Cade gets up, takes my hand, and says, "I want to show you something," and leads me to an elevator.
He presses a button, and we emerge on a rooftop terrace with sweeping views of downtown, romantically lit with lanterns. It reminds me of our first date and the night we got engaged.
"It's gorgeous up here," I say. "And the views are incredible." I turn in a circle taking it all in.
Cade takes my hand, leading me to the center of the circle of lanterns.
Oh, no. Is he going to propose? Now?
I start to panic. My mind racing. My heart feeling like it's beating out of my chest.
No. No. No.
"Palmer," he says, dropping to one knee.
"I'm sorry," I cry out, then I turn and race toward the elevator.
I'm sobbing by the time I reach my car. Cade shouts from behind me, telling me to stop.
But I don't.
I get in my car, quickly start it, and drive away.
My heart hurts. Tears are blurring my vision--much like they did when I broke up with him six years ago.
I drive home in a flurry of tears, barely paying attention to where I'm going. I'm so mad I can hardly see straight.
And I'm sobbing.
How could Cade, the man who is supposed to love me unconditionally do this to me? This is my big break! And he was willing to jeopardize it just because he didn't want me to do a sex scene? No matter how much I love him, I can't marry someone who doesn't support my career.
I bawl and slam my hand on the steering wheel.
A car behind me honks, letting me know that a light has turned green. I look up to see where I even am.
My hands are shaking, my whole body shaking, as I try to make it home.
When I finally get to my parents' house, where I'm living in the guest house, I completely break down, leaning my head against the steering wheel and letting it all out.
I was supposed to come here with Cade to tell Mom and Pike the good news, but now--
Now, I just--
I don't even know what to do.
I get out of my car, slamming the door with way too much force, as my brother pulls into the driveway.
"What's wrong?" he asks, immediately looking worried. "Is Mom okay?"
I can't say anything. I just sob some more.
Pike
Cameron is bouncing up and down on my dick in the middle of what's been an all-night fuck fest.
The back door opens with a bang, my sister walks into the room, and yells, "You've got to be fucking kidding me!" Then marches off to her room.
"Shit," I say as Cameron jumps off me.
Then she starts giggling.
"It's been a long time since I got caught having sex. Remember that time on the beach in Miami? I hadn't seen you in two weeks and was so fucking horny I could barely stand it."
I laugh, too. "Those were the good old days."
She slips back into her clothes. "I thought tonight was pretty damn good, but that's besides the point. We need to check on your sister. She looked really upset."
"I suppose so, since she just caught me with my dick in you."
"No, I mean she had mascara running down her face, like she'd been crying."
"Really? I didn't notice."
"Why don't you get dressed, and I'll go check on her."
She goes down the hall and knocks on my sister's door. "Hey, Palmer, sorry about that. I'm headed out. Um, it's hard for him to get around. Thus, the couch."
I hear the door squeak open. Cameron asks my sister if she's okay. Palmer replies with a sob.
When Cameron escorts her out to the family room, she's got her arm wrapped tightly
around her, making it look like she's holding her up.
"What's wrong?" I ask as she sits in a chair across from me. "You haven't looked like that since the day you and Cade broke up. Do I need to go kick someone's ass again? Mop up?" As soon as it comes out of my mouth, I realize it was a mistake to bring up the past. Must be the meds, the wine, and having Cameron on top of me. My mind is not fully functioning.
"Cade was going to propose," she stutters out between crying, which causes Cameron to stop in her tracks.
"To who?"
"To me." Instead of leaving as promised, Cameron returns to the couch and takes my sister's hand.
