PAYBACK’S A BITCH

by Johnson, Missy

  “Technically, I didn’t say anything,” I point out.

  I wince under the weight of her disapproving frown and then I sigh.

  Okay, so she’s not in the mood for my humor.

  “Fine, I’ll tell you, but the story isn’t that interesting. Trust me,” I grumble. “I was sort of seeing this guy. He played a joke on me, I played one back, he found out and now I’m not seeing him anymore.”

  “He’s annoyed at you because you played a joke back on him?” she asks, looking confused.

  I nod. “The worst thing was, I was really starting to like him.”

  “Could he possibly be thinking that these feelings are just part of the joke too?” she asks.

  “You think he might be thinking I never really liked him?” I murmur.

  “You obviously like him,” Mom says.

  I shrug again. It doesn't matter now.

  “What happened?” she asks.

  “He played a joke on me, I did one back. He got upset. End of story,” I explain.

  “Sounds like he needs to dislodge the stick from his ass,” Mom comments.

  I snort. Would she be saying that if she knew who he was?

  “No, I think we’re just too similar,” I finally say, managing a smile. “We’re both competitive, want to win arguments, and it’s been suggested we can be immature.”

  “You?” She gasps, then smiles at me. “You’re a good person, Darcy. Those aren’t reasons to keep you from being with him. They’re excuses. If you like this boy, then decide if he’s worth growing up a little bit for. You know I mean that in the nicest possible way,” she adds.

  “Are you telling me to put my big girl panties on?” I tease.

  She nods. “Talk to him. Be straightforward about what you want, and then leave it up to him.”

  Her advice makes a lot of sense, although she might not be offering it if she knew whom I was talking about. That's the whole other complication with starting something with Cameron. These last two weeks is the first time we’ve really taken the time to get to know each other, but it doesn’t change the fact that after this weekend, we’ll be stepsiblings. I have no idea how Mom and Jim would react to us being together.

  She drops me at home before she heads out for drinks with a friend. I let myself inside, still thinking about what she said. She's right. I can either accept that it ends like this, or I can do something about it. They’re my two options. Being the one to make that first move might hurt, especially if he rejects me, but not seeing if we can work this out might end up hurting a lot more.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Cameron

  “Come on, Man,” Lewis urges.

  He pulls that pitiful look that he knows I hate. I scowl at him and shake my head. Fuck going out. Why bother when I can just hang around here, feeling sorry for myself?

  Lewis frowns. “You’re just going to mope around here feeling sorry for yourself.”

  It’s like he’s in my head.

  “Going out might make you feel better,” he reasons.

  “Fine. Whatever.” I sigh, just to shut him up.

  The only thing that’s going to fix this is Darcy and she never wants to see me again.

  Lewis nods. “Good.” He smiles, looking pretty proud of himself as he wheels over to the door. I open it for him. “Come over whenever you’re ready.”

  Would next week be acceptable?

  I see him out and then shut the door. I look around my mess of an apartment. I should probably tidy up, not that I would have done that if I were staying home anyway. I stalk down to the shower and strip off, then I step under the water. The last thing I feel like doing is going out, but as much as I hate admitting it to Lewis. He’s right. It will help me take my mind off Darcy, if only for a few hours.

  I didn’t handle things well yesterday and I’m not sure how to fix it.

  When I found out that she was really the one playing me, I lost control. I couldn’t get it out of my head that her feelings were a lie too. I was convinced the chick I’d fallen in love with, didn’t feel anything for me in return. It hurt, and I felt like a fool.

  But after a surprisingly decent sleep, I started to doubt my initial reaction. What had she really done wrong, other than give me a taste of my own medicine? She wasn’t even pranking me, not really. All she did was trick me into believing that I was pranking her.

  And now I’m not sure what to think. Maybe her feelings were real, maybe they weren’t. The point is, I didn’t give her the chance to explain. I shut myself off because that’s the only way I know how to deal with pain.

  The doorbell rings while I’m still in the shower.

  “Fuck,” I mutter.

  I quickly get out and dry myself off, throwing on my pants on my way to the door. I’m sure it’s Lewis being an ass and hurrying me up, but just in case…

  I’m almost there when it rings again.

  “Jesus, calm down. I’m coming,” I mutter, yanking it open.

  Fuck. It’s Darcy.

  My heart lifts but then plummets as my head and my heart fight over how to react. She’s both the last person and the only person I want to see, and it’s messing with me big time.

  “Can we talk?” she asks.

  One look at her face and I know she’s not leaving until she says what she came here to say, anyway. I let her inside.

  “Can you make it quick?” I ask her quietly. “I was just about to go out.”

  No matter how much I want to, I just can’t let my guard down.

  “Can you give me five minutes?” she asks, her eyes searching mine.

  “Fine,” I say. I stand back to let her inside. “Would you like a drink or something?” I ask awkwardly.

  “Always the gentleman. Even when you’re angry,” she says softly.

  “Didn’t you hear?” I manage a small smile. “I’m a bit of an arrogant asshole.”

  “Cam, I just need to say something. If that’s okay?” she asks.

  She sounds nervous now, which makes me nervous as to what she’s going to say.

  “Okay.” I nod.

  She smiles and takes a deep breath, looking me in the eye.

  “I like you, Cam,” she begins. “All jokes aside, I’m here to tell you that I like you. You’re unlike anyone I've met. You’re offensive, rude, blunt, arrogant—”

  “I think you’ve memorized the wrong list,” I interject.

  “Shut up,” she tells me. “Right. You’re arrogant. But you’re also funny, and sweet, and fiercely loyal. Not to mention, you look damn sexy in a dress—”

  She stops and winces when I frown at her.

  “Too soon?” She nods, answering her own question. “Way too soon. Anyway, my point is that none of it was a lie. Remember when you sent those messages as James, you told me they were all you? This is the same thing. Everything we spoke about, everything we did together? It was real. For me, at least.”

  “And when you kissed me?” I ask quietly.

  “That was real.” She stands up and steps closer to me. “When you touched me…” she continues, her fingers touching my arm. “What I felt was real, so were the feelings I felt when you were inside me.” She pauses and looks into my eyes. “All of that was real.”

  I stare at her, my heart racing. I so badly want to kiss her.

  “Darcy—”

  She shakes her head and lifts her finger to my lips.

  “Don’t say anything now,” she whispers. “I want you to really think about it. About us and whether that’s something you want to explore, because I'm not sure I can handle any more games.”

  She walks over to the door but looks back at me before she leaves.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow at the wedding, okay?” She smiles at me.

  “Okay,” I say. “Night, Darc.”

  “Night.”

  She walks out, and it takes everything I have not to chase after her and tell her that I don’t need to think about it, because I know she’s what I want. Maybe what
I need to do is prove that to her. I smile, because I think I know just the way to do it.

  * * *

  “You want me to do what?” Lewis stares at me like I’ve lost my mind. “Are you kidding? I mean, have you heard me sing?”

  “Come on, man. Do it, for me?” I plead with him. “I can’t think of anyone I’d want up there with me, more than you. I need you to be part of this. I need you to have my back.”

  He groans, then he shakes his head and laughs.

  “Fine.” He sighs. “I hate you but whatever. Let me know what you need me to do.”

  I grin and clap him on the back. I knew he wouldn’t let me down.

  “Hey, one more thing,” I say with a grin. “Instead of going out and getting drunk, do you mind if we do something else tonight?” I ask.

  “Like what?” he asks suspiciously. “Paint our toenails and do each other’s hair?”

  “Not quite,” I say with a laugh. “But does your sister still run that dance school?”

  “Yes.” He narrows his eyes at me. “Where is this going, Cam?”

  “Just see if she can help us tonight?” I press.

  “You fucking owe me,” he mutters, reaching for his phone.

  I smile. He’s right. If I can pull this off, I’ll owe him big time.

  “I have to go, but I’ll meet you at her studio at six.”

  “Shouldn’t you wait until I confirm that’s okay?” he calls out after me.

  “Nah. Your sister loves me,” I remind him. “Convincing her will be easy for you.”

  * * *

  To say Dad looks surprised to see me when I knock on his front door is an understatement. He clears his throat and then smiles at me.

  “Cameron,” he murmurs. “If you’re looking for Mack, he’s at a friend’s house.”

  “No, I’m looking for you, actually,” I say.

  Now he looks even more surprised. He stands back to let me inside. I follow him down the hall to the living room, my hands shoved deep into my pockets to stop myself from fidgeting. I sit down.

  “Drink?” he asks.

  I nod. “Why not?”

  I use the time while he’s distracted preparing our drinks to be sure about what I’m doing. I look up and smile at him, accepting the glass of scotch he holds out to me.

  “So, what can I do for you?” he asks.

  “I wanted to apologize,” I begin. “For the way I’ve been acting and the way I’ll no doubt act in the future. I know you expect more of me, and to be honest, I expect more of myself.”

  “It’s okay, Cam,” he murmurs. “You’re under a lot of pressure with work and this wedding—"

  “That’s no excuse,” I cut in. “And honestly? Neither of those are responsible for the way I’ve been acting and feeling.”

  “What is, then?” He pauses. “Is this about you and Darcy?”

  Now it’s my turn to look shocked. He chuckles.

  “I’m not an idiot, Cameron. Think about what my profession entails and tell me if you’d trust a judge who couldn’t even see a relationship happening under his own roof.”

  No, I probably wouldn’t.

  “It’s not Darcy either. Well, it partly is, but mostly it’s…” I sigh. I really don’t want to cast a shadow on their wedding day.

  “For God’s sake, Cameron, please just spit it out,” Dad says. He’s starting to get frustrated.

  I sigh, I’m not sure I could’ve picked a worse time to bring this up, but I don’t want him standing up there at his wedding, thinking that I don’t care or that I don’t support their marriage, because I do.

  “Cameron—”

  “It’s the date,” I blurt out.” I press my lips together and then look up at him. “Your wedding day marks three years to the day, since Mom got her terminal diagnosis.”

  His frown deepens. He looks at me, confused, then he shakes his head.

  “What?” No. I’d remember something like that.” He looks at me. “I remember you calling me to tell me. It was…”

  His voice trails off as his eyes meet mine. I can tell by the look in them he knows.

  “How did I not realize?” he mutters. “This is why you’ve been so distant?”

  I nod. “It was never about me wanting to rebel against you or ruin your happiness. I just....” I laugh, not even sure what to say next.

  I stand up. “We’ll talk more after things settle down,” I say.

  I run my hand through my hair, because there’s one more thing I need to ask him, about the wedding and the thing I have planned to show Darcy what she means to me.

  “I want to do something for Darcy,” I begin. “During the reception, but I don’t want to take anything away from yours and Paula’s day. I can do it another time if it’s—”

  “Cam,” Dad cuts in. “It’s fine. Paula will love that you want to do something for Darcy. And you know how much she hates the attention being on her, so anything you can do to take it away she’ll be more than happy with,” he assures me.

  I sigh, relieved. Then I narrow my eyes, studying his face.

  “How are your dancing skills?” I ask.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Darcy

  “Well?” Mom asks.

  She glances down at her dress, then back up at me, a look of uncertainty in her eyes. I smile at her, blinking back tears, because I’ve never seen her look so amazing, or so happy.

  “You look beautiful,” I tell her, squeezing her hand.

  She smiles at me and then looks at her reflection in the mirror. She’s perfect. The dress is perfect. Everything is perfect, right down to the little teardrop pearl that hangs around her neck, that was my great-grandmother’s.

  “It’s perfect, isn’t it?” she asks as if reading my mind. She laughs, a puzzled look on her face. “It’s still annoying me that I haven’t worked out what happened to the other one. I mean, how could it just disappear like that?”

  I lean forward and hug her, mainly so she can’t see my smirk.

  “Mom. Let it go and quit worrying about it,” I whisper in her ear. “Just be glad it went missing in the first place.” I pull back and study her. “Now, we better go, or we’ll be late. Are you ready?”

  She takes a deep breath and nods. “I think so.”

  “Good,” I grin.

  I take her hand and we walk out the front door, where the car is waiting to take us to The Gardens, where the ceremony is being held. It’s just immediate family attending, which is all Mom and Jim wanted. Something intimate and small, with minimal fuss. Then later, we’ll move to the ballroom at The Intercontinental Hotel, for a party with all our family and friends.

  I climb in the back of the fancy Mercedes and sit next to Mom, careful not to crush my dusky pink dress. I’m not usually a pink kind of girl, but when I saw this delicate little lace number, I knew it was perfect for their garden wedding. I buckle myself in; then I reach for her hand. She laughs and studies my shaking hand.

  “How are you more nervous than me?” she teases.

  I wince because I was hoping she hadn’t noticed.

  “Can’t I be happy my old mom is getting married to the guy she loves?” I shrug.

  The truth is, I’m nervous about seeing Cameron. I’d been hoping I’d wake up to a message from him, or something to tell me what he’s thinking. But so far, there’s been nothing. He’s had time to think about what I said to him and to decide whether I’m the person he wants to be with. But now I’m worried. What if he says no? What if I’m putting myself through all of this and he doesn’t want me?

  “Darcy,” Mom practically shouts.

  I look back at her and wince. “I’m sorry. What did you say?”

  “I said, quit worrying. Cameron will be there,” she repeats, a smile spreading across her lips.

  I stare at her, confused. Her eyes sparkle as she nods at me.

  “How did you know?” I ask, my heart pounding.

  She shrugs. “They were only suspicions, but you just confirm
ed it.”

  I’m too shocked to be annoyed that I gave myself away.

  “And you’re okay…I mean if he and I…”

  “I’m your mother. I’m always going to worry about you, but despite the fact that you sometimes act without thinking, I know you’re a smart girl. Cam is a good boy. You could do a lot worse than him,” she reasons.

  “I guess I could,” I agree.

  We pull up outside the park, adjacent to the rose gardens where the ceremony will be held. I can see the arch and celebrant in the distance, along with Jim and Mack. My stomach churns, because I can’t see Cam there yet.

  “Don't worry about it.” Mom’s voice cuts into my thoughts. “You know what he’s like.” She smiles reassuringly at me. “He’ll be here. I know he and Jim have their problems, but he wouldn't do that to his father.”

  I wish I was as confident. Without even adding us into the mix, this was always going to be a difficult day for him, with what happened to his mom.

  “We better get over there, before Jim starts to wonder if you're going to turn up,” I tease.

  Mom smiles at me. She reaches over and gives me a hug.

  “Thanks, Darc. For all your help and just for being such an amazing daughter.”

  I hug her back, tears pricking my eyes. Then I take a deep breath and get out, then I take her hand, helping her out. too. I giggle when she nearly trips over the curb. She gives me a look, which just makes me laugh harder.

  “You can barely stand in those heels now. Imagine what you’re going to be like after a couple of drinks at the party,” I tease.

  “I’ll settle for just making it to the party at all, at this stage,” Mom says.

  Both Jim and Mack look up and spot us walking in their direction. The look in Jim's eyes when he sees Mom says it all. There’s no doubt that he’s smitten, and she is too.

  “Hey,” Jim murmurs to her when we reach them.

  “Hey back at you,” Mom says. She giggles like a teenager when he takes her hand.