Page 81 of Wrecked
We pull up to my apartment, my mind already settling comfortably on my pillow, so I don't even notice that he hasn't turned off the engine or made a move to get out until I'm already standing and about to close my door.
“Are you not coming up?” I ask, sounding like a needy girlfriend while leaning down into the opening.
I note his hand tapping on his thigh right before his eyes shoot to the side, shifting around before looking back at me. There's a restless energy radiating from him that I was too tired to acknowledge before. “Nah, not tonight. Reese sent a text asking to meet up for a chat. I might go see him.”
The disappointment slams into me immediately. In all of the daydreams I was having on the way home about falling asleep in my bed, his arms had been wrapped firmly around me.
And now to know that he's going to go and see Reese? An uncomfortable pressure settles on the muscles lining my shoulders. He had asked me to do something, and it wasn't until I said no that he decided to go see him. A measure of responsibility falls heavily onto me, and I feel myself backtracking.
“Well, I mean, I don't have to go to bed right away. We could go do something first if you want?” I make a move to get back in the car even as my body protests, but he stops me with a hand resting on top of mine before I can sit, leaving me hovering.
“No, Jaz. It's okay. You need sleep.” The side of his lip tips up in an attempt to make me feel better. “What time do you work tomorrow?”
“Tomorrow is a seven a.m start,” I say, resting my butt on the edge of the seat instead.
He nods while dragging his teeth across his bottom lip, avoiding the spot that was split open last week. “How about I pick you up around five, and we can go grab some breakfast and take it to that spot I showed you, then watch the sunrise?”
“You sure you want to get up that early?” I ask with a mixture of doubt and delight.
“Of course.” He gives my hand a squeeze. “If it means I get to steal a few minutes with you before I miss you all day.”
There goes my needy heart again, fluttering wildly in my chest while emotion fills my throat. “The sweet things you say sometimes.” I lean across the middle to kiss his lips and then pull back just enough to speak against them. “Okay. I'll see you at five.”
The fact that he's going to see Reese still lingers in my mind, but after I quickly shovel a frozen dinner into my mouth and shower, my eyes drift shut as soon as my head hits the pillow, pulling me into a deep sleep almost instantly.
My blaring alarm jolts me out of my sleep early the following morning, and I curse at myself for setting it so early when I don't have to start for a few more hours. But then I remember it's to have breakfast with Cam while watching the sunrise, and my annoyance fades away.
I get dressed and then make myself a coffee to drink while I wait. He should be here soon.
After finishing my drink, I decide to water all of the orchids he's given me and spray the leaves. It's not until I'm done that I realize how much time has passed, and he should have been here by now.
Pulling out my phone, I dial his number, but it goes straight to voicemail. Sighing, I perch on the edge of my couch while I contemplate what to do. Maybe I was the one that was meant to pick him up? I shake my head. No. He was the one who said he would be here at five. I figure I'll give him another fifteen minutes, but if he's still not here by then, I'll go to him. It's more likely that he slept through his alarm.
Fifteen minutes come and go, and I find myself driving the almost desolate streets to his apartment. It's still fairly dark, but it's getting brighter by the minute. If we don't hurry, we'll miss the sunrise altogether.
Once I arrive at his apartment, I dial his number, but like before it goes to voicemail. Unfortunately, when I get to his door, he doesn't answer that, either. Unlike other times, his door is locked, so I can't even slip in there to wake him up.
Knocking one last time, I listen for any movement inside, but all I hear is a door opening down the hall behind me. I turn around to see a man holding a dog in his arms, peeking his head out the door. He's wearing faded pajamas that barely cover his stomach, and his hair is pressed flat on one side and sticking up on the other. It seems I've woken him up.
“I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to disturb you,” I say, my voice contrite.
The grumpy look on his face never wavers as he looks me up and down and then simply rolls his eyes before closing his door.
Realizing Cam is not waking up, my shoulders deflate. I was looking forward to our breakfast date. And I'd be lying if I said I wasn't just the slightest bit annoyed that I got up for nothing when I could have slept in a little longer.
I start making my way back down the hallway, passing under the flickering light that sits above the guy's door that stuck his head out. I'm halfway to the stairwell when I pause mid-step, watching as a disheveled-looking Cam emerges up the last few steps and starts walking toward me. I'm confused for a moment because clearly, he's not fast asleep in his bed like I assumed.
He looks up, surprise crossing his face when he sees me standing here. “Jaz? What are you doing here?”
Slowly, he walks toward me while an array of emotions rush at me all at once.
Concern. Hurt. Annoyance.
He must have been out all night doing who knows what, and he didn't evenrememberour plans. “Umm, you were supposed to pick me up at five to go for breakfast, but you never showed up. I came here to wake you up, but obviously, you're already up.”
Realization sparks in his steel-gray eyes before he lifts a hand to run through his hair and then moves in closer to me. “Baby, I'm so sorry.”
Before I can even respond, he's enveloping me in a hug. Smoke and alcohol permeate the air surrounding him as well as cling to his clothing, and when he lets out a heavy breath above me, I can smell the liquor as if he just took a mouthful. Those little alarm bells that I had snoozed so long ago start ringing in my ears.
