Page 6 of Unwrapped
Her words go straight to my dick. No, I don’t know what she feels like inside, but I’ve spentyearsfantasizing about it. Even when she was my brother’s woman.
“You’re right. I don’t.” I press my fingertips to her neck once more. Her heart is racing now. “But I can only imagine.”
A blush crawls up her cheeks when she realizes what she said. “I meant—”
Sawyer clears his throat, glancing between us awkwardly. “Let’s get you upstairs, Cami.”
I meet his gaze. “She’s not ready to walk.” The aftereffects of a syncope event can linger for thirty minutes or more. The last thing I need is her falling down a flight of stairs.
“I can walk just fine, thank you.” She sits up with a defiance that’s nothing short of sexy, then blinks rapidly, like her vision’s tunneling again. “See? I’m perfectly normal.”
“I’m sure you are.” Sawyer wraps his arm around her back and slides the other beneath her knees, lifting her as he stands. “But I’m still gonna carry you.”
Camille meets my gaze over his shoulder as they leave the kitchen, her eyes swirling with a thousand emotions. I don’t know what stories my face is telling, but the ones written on her features break my heart. Anger mixes with pain and the familiar longing I’d sensed back in college but was too stupid to do anything about.
I stare after them and rub the back of my neck, both concerned about her well-being, and more than a little jealous Sawyer gets to have her in his arms. Things would be so different if my twenty-three-year-old self hadn’t been a coward. My mind has replayed that night in the parking lot for the past eleven years. I hate how I clammed up when she put her hands on my chest and leaned in to kiss me. Shocked by the idea of her wanting me, and terrified of ruining our close friendship, I pulled away like a fucking idiot.
I will never forget the hurt in her eyes. The embarrassment and shame. Instead of coming to my senses and going after her, I did nothing. Ryan asked her out a week later. He spent eight years with the woman who should have been mine and callously broke her heart in the end.
“Hey, Doc. You gonna stare into space or suture this finger?” Lena’s voice jolts me from my painful reverie.
“Yeah. Sorry. I’m coming.” I make my way over and point to the ceiling, once again thankful for the presence of a nurse. “Can you please monitor Camille for concussion signs and symptoms?”
“Sure thing.”
“Her heart rate was normalizing, and she denied head trauma, but she’s always been stubborn.”
Lena snorts. “You think?”
“I doubt she’d tell me if there was an ice pick in her skull,” I mutter, gesturing to the counter. “There’s a BP cuff in my bag. Take whatever you need.”
“On it.” Lena releases Hudson and retrieves a few items from my bag before leaving the room.
Feeling the weight of my friends’ gazes, I wait until she’s out of earshot before speaking. “Let me guess. Every one of you assholes knew she’d be here but didn’t think to warn me.”
“We wanted to see you, man,” Hudson says.
“Well, you saw me. As soon as everyone’s good, I’m gonna head out.” Camille’s reaction to me resurrected my original escape plan. The kindest course of action—for everyone—involves placing immediate distance between us.
Jordana tugs the straps of her reindeer-covered Christmas apron. “You can’t leave. I made pies.”
I drag my hand down my face. “Sorry, Jordy, you know I love your baking, but I don’t want to ruin everyone’s weekend.”
“You aren’t ruining anything,” Talia chimes in, touching my shoulder. “We want both of you here.”
“Thanks, but I’m going to hit the road before the snow starts to stick. Then I’ll make it back home before dark.”
“You’re not going anywhere,” Jordana snaps, her eyes welling with tears. “Bad things happen in threes. Idiot Hudson cut himself and then Cami fainted. I won’t let something happen to you just because your dumb ass wants to drive home in a blizzard to avoid an uncomfortable situation.” She snatches my keys from my bag and pockets them. “I’m not fucking around, Dean. Don’t make me pop your tires.”
“I see you’re still superstitious,” I say, fighting the smile that wants to break free. She has always been the protective mama bear of our group.
“Damn right, I am.”
Talia pours a glass of water and hands it to me. “Relax. It’s been three years since they split. She’s gotta be over him by now.” She cocks her head to the side. “What’s he driving these days?”
“Who, Ryan?” I ask after I finish chugging the water.
“Yeah.” Talia’s eyes have their usual mischievous gleam when she adds, “Maybe we’ll take a ride up to Albany and pophistires for good measure. You with me, Jordy?”
