River's Destiny (River's End Series, #8)

by Leanne Davis

  “Oh, my GOD. You and Charlie?” Brianna said as she hugged and squealed and laughed, seemingly all in one breath. Cami cringed and then laughed as she tried to stay upright while also supporting Brianna’s tall, lithe body. Brianna shoved her backwards. “Mom told me on the way over here. When? How?”

  Gripping Brianna just to stay upright in spite of her body-crushing hugs, Cami replied, “A week ago. Not that long, I swear.” She laughed and pushed Brianna back. “Let me breathe.”

  Brianna had texted they were home and Cami ran down to Joey’s house. Joey was Brianna and Jacob’s stepdad. Brianna was Cami’s age, and only a year ahead of her in school, so she’d already finished her first year of college. Jacob, at sixteen, was in his junior year of high school. He came to River’s End for the summer vacation as well as many of their school holidays, and even some weekends, depending on their schedules. Their dad lived in Everett, the city where they were from and where they continued to attend school.

  Brianna barely let Cami get into their driveway before she had her wrapped up tightly in her arms. Cami couldn’t stop laughing because Brianna looked like she’d been overexerting herself in the gym. High in color and breathing hard, she stared, bright-eyed, at Cami. “So spill.”

  Cami and Brianna were the least likely girls to become friends. If they’d gone to the same school and encountered each other, they most likely would not have even spoken two words to each other. Cami was part of the anti-social, goth crowd with disdain towards everything and never content with fitting in. Cami was sure Brianna must have been the “it” girl at her school the moment she saw her long, shiny, rumpled, blonde hair, perfectly oval face, and sexy, supple body. She dressed in the latest fashions, investing lots of energy into her hair and makeup.

  Brianna and Cami met on the ranch, having no one but Charlie and Jacob to hang out with. It was just so. And they accepted how it was. Out of necessity, they spoke to each other when they were thirteen. That was just after Cami moved there full time, and Brianna was only there part time. Spoiled, high-strung, excitable, even annoying in her incessant chatter sometimes, Brianna was also fun, exciting, loving, loyal and sweet. Under her façade of mean-girl, she was really a very caring teen who never intended to actually hurt anyone or anything. Cami appreciated Brianna because she could manage to get Cami out of her own head and shyness. Brianna was also into things that were more normal for their age. She accepted Cami just as Cami was, something which no other girl in Brianna’s capacity would have done.

  “Senior Prom night, he suddenly busted out and told me he always wanted to be with me. I was shocked. Like no-words-for-it shocked, and I said yes… and yeah…” Cami sounded blasé, but her eyes still sparked with excitement.

  “I always wondered. You two have always hung together, spending hours on end together, trailing each other around this place ever since the first time I met you. I obviously thought so then, but you guys never admitted it. I finally had to assume it was just me. However, it wasn’t. You guys have to be more than adorable. I can’t wait. I’m so glad I’m back. This will be the best summer ever. I swear. I know it.”

  Cami followed the still gabbing Brianna while Jacob slouched on the porch. He straightened up and Cami stopped dead. “Jacob?”

  His smile was loose and easy. “Hey, Cams.” He’d… changed. More than any of them ever had in such a short amount of time. He hadn’t been back there since winter vacation, and now, at age sixteen, Jacob was heading into his junior year after growing probably five inches. His frame had also filled out, and his hair had grown darker but the tips of it were still tinged in blond. She blinked. “You’ve changed.”

  He shrugged. “I hope I don’t look like I’m thirteen anymore.” His voice was deeper and his smile, slower, stretching over his face. She blinked and laughed again.

  “You don’t. Not to worry.”

  “Come on, Cams.” Brianna called after her. She smiled at Jacob.

  “She hasn’t changed a bit, however.”

  He rolled his eyes. “No. Brianna is as annoying as ever.”

  “I heard that.” Brianna reappeared in the doorway. “Did you hear about Jacob getting busted for pot last March? Got grounded for two months.”

  “No. That isn’t how you used to be.”

  “Just holding it for a friend. Dad refused to believe me and of course had to call Mom for advice. Because, you know, he couldn’t possibly figure out how to be the bad-cop parent. Still trying to convince us he’s Disneyland Dad, like we’re still ten and can’t see him for what he really is. He’s completely incapable of taking care of us or being faithful. Anyway…”

  Cami touched his arm as she passed. “No changes there?”

  Jacob shook his head, so she went first, and he followed her inside. Brett Starr, cheated on their mom years ago, and lately, Jacob kept harping on that. Why now? After so many years? No one seemed to know. There was little love lost between Brett and Jacob for reasons that went back several years. They were the source of an ever-expanding chip on Jacob’s shoulder. Brianna turned a blind eye. She was fine. She was great. Their family was wonderful. Cami wondered what might happen if she ever stopped trying to convince herself into believing that.

  “So, do you have access to it then?”

  Brianna’s eyes popped open as Cami addressed Jacob. “Cami. Not that shit again. I hate it when you do it.”

  Cami rolled her eyes. “Well, none of you all do. Last person I suspected was straight-A, straight-laced Jacob Starr.”

  “No more is he either of those,” Brianna sighed as she flopped down, glaring at her little brother. “He’s rebelling now and pretending its super cool. Never mind that it’s all stupid and bound to mess up his future for no damn reason other than to prove Dad wrong.”

  “Dad’s an asshole.”

  “He’s also the only one we got.”

  Jacob ignored her and addressed Cami, “I might have access—”

  “Here?”

  His smile was small and secretive. “Maybe.”

  “Later… we’ll have to explore that.”

  Jacob gave her a smirk. “I don’t think your boyfriend’s going to like that.”

  “Well, then, he doesn’t have to do it, does he?”

  “He doesn’t have to do what?” said a voice that came up behind them.

  Brianna squealed and began repeating her spastic hugging and enthusiastic hellos. All were directed towards Charlie now, who caught her when she launched herself against him. With a tolerant, ambivalent hug, he patted her skinny back. “Hey, there, Bri.”

  “You…” she smiled as she leaned back and grinned maniacally at him. “I can’t believe you and Cami. You surprised me, Rydell. Props.” She gave him a fist bump and he did it back, his expression becoming more amused.

  “Thanks, Brianna. Glad to get your approval,” Charlie said, casually strolling past her. He leaned forward and fist-bumped Jacob with a nod. No crazy smiles or squeals or bubbling giggles as she and Brianna shared. “Hey.”

  Jacob bumped him back. “Hey.”

  Jacob and Charlie were best friends. Charlie couldn’t say that about any other guy. Charlie turned and kissed Cami briefly on the mouth before he plunked down beside her on the couch. Brianna sat opposite them. “You guys are so-o-o cute together.”

  Cami blushed. “Could you not talk to us like we’re puppies that you expect to start performing tricks for you? We’re just Cami and Charlie with you guys,” She glanced at Charlie and he nodded his agreement. “So don’t act any differently.”

  Jacob leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “I wondered if you two would act differently. Annoyingly, like I’d have to get high just to be around you.”

  “Nah,” Charlie said easily, leaning back, his arms behind Cami. “And getting high? That’s not new with you, huh, Cams?” He glanced at her and winked. “No, but it is you, huh, Jacob?”

  Jacob leaned back, sprawled out like a spider over the couch with his long, spindly limbs. �
�Sometimes. Not that big of deal. Not like my parents try to make it out to be.”

  Brianna thumped the back of his head. “It’s a drug, you idiot. No different from if they caught you drinking alcohol underage. Of course, your parents are getting down on you.”

  “Brianna doesn’t approve.” Jacob’s tone was dry as he fluttered his eyebrows toward Cami and Charlie.

  “No, she never did.” Cami grinned at her friend, who stuck her tongue out in return. Brianna, despite all of her mean-girl talk and pranks, wasn’t into partying at all. Ever. She and Charlie shared that. Apparently, Jacob and Cami shared the other.

  “Well, you had plenty of sad reasons for using that stuff, what with all the shit that happened when you were young. Jacob? Please. His parents got divorced. Boo hoo. Oh, come on and join the ranks of every other teenager in America.”

  “This from the girl who almost seduced our stepfather in her rebellion against Mom? Like you managed to deal with it so normally.”

  Brianna shoved Jacob. “You are such a little dick. I told you to NEVER mention that again.” She pinched her lips together tightly and then added, “And he wasn’t my stepdad then for God’s sake. Give me some credit.”

  Cami cracked up, enjoying the Starrs and having them back at the ranch. She and Charlie exchanged a look and a smile and all felt right in the world just then for her. Even with the change in Cami and Charlie’s relationship status, the four of them still retained their unique bond.

  Brianna chased after Joey Rydell hard during the summer they first met him. It was almost like bad karma when Joey ended up with Brianna’s mom, and not Brianna.

  “So… you guys staying the summer?”

  Jacob nodded. “Yeah, Dad’s being a dick. No reason to visit him. Gotta put up with him the rest of the year.”

  “What’s going on with you two?” Charlie’s eyes narrowed on Jacob. Jacob rarely talked about his family like that.

  He shrugged and leaned back, putting his leg over his knee. “Hell, just don’t see eye-to-eye. He tries to tell me who and what to be, and when I’m not, he lectures me about it. Who is he to do that with me? Especially after considering what he so miserably failed at.”

  Brianna shoved him and sat down on the couch arm. “Jacob’s changed, not Dad. Of course he fights with you. You’re rude and disrespectful. What else can he do? And you’re not much better to Mom.” Brianna smirked at him as she told Charlie and Cami, “But now while we’re here, he won’t abuse Mom because when Joey heard him do it, he just about hit Jacob he got so mad. He told him to get out. Mom got upset and they ended up fighting and she cried. He told her she couldn’t let Jacob be like that or he wouldn’t ever stop. I guess Joey used to be like that or whatever. And crazy enough, Mom listened. She put the hammer down on Jacob, he had to follow their rules, and use respectful language or else he had to get out. End of story. So Jacob’s almost tolerable now.”

  Cami’s gaze twisted up. “What changed for you, Jacob?”

  He stood to answer. “Grew up. Parents are stupid. Now you all wanna go out and hit the new pool? I’ll behave here, ‘cause it’s way better than a summer at home. Dad kept pushing me to get a job bagging groceries or something equally menial. So,” he rubbed his hands together, “let’s get to doing something fun.”

  Charlie stood also and nodded. “I’m glad I’m not your parent then. Yeah, let’s go.”

  “I’m so glad you guys are here. I think… I think this is going to be the best summer ever.” Cami said in a rare rush of mushy, sentimental feelings. She and her friends and Charlie being all together there and surrounding her and laughing and talking and BSing felt like sheer heaven. She and Charlie were still together but it wasn’t odd with the four of them either. It hadn’t ruined anything, which she feared might happen.

  They hit the pool for two hours, playing, splashing, laughing, and soaking each other. When they separated, Charlie walked Cami home. Taking her hand, he waited until they escaped the scope of the outdoor lights before he kissed her senseless. He left her heart thumping, and she felt weird, breathless, and very girlish in the rush of feelings she didn’t usually have. A happy sense of light and wonderment filled her. “I’m so glad nothing’s changed. I thought it might be weird with us and them.”

  “Nah. It’s just Jacob and Brianna and us. Right?”

  She snuggled into his chest. “Always the calm logic. Someday, Charlie Rydell, I’ll rattle that right out of you.”

  His arms tightened around her. “Yeah, when? The next time you and Jacob get high?”

  “Maybe. Would you stop us?”

  “No. I just won’t join you. You know I don’t like to do that.”

  She tilted her head back. “And you’re really not going to discourage me? Set some kind of limits on me? Try to make me more like you?”

  “No.”

  “And for that, Charlie, I kinda think you’re great. Maybe I don’t need to do that with him. Maybe… maybe I could just be with you.”

  “Well, that would be my preferred course of action.”

  The summer only started then, after the Starrs returned to the ranch. Charlie had to work with his dad for half days in the mornings and Cami started helping Kate with her business. It involved data input and making routine phone calls. Tedious and brainless, it kept her busy enough to justify how she spent the summer. The last summer when they could still enjoy acting like half-grown kids. That was even encouraged by Jack and Erin and Kate and AJ. So they did. They sunbathed, soaked in the cool, refreshing water, and played volleyball down at the Rydells’ private beach. They also rode horses when it cooled down or hung out at the beach stoking a bonfire. They laughed all the time with Jacob and Brianna. After floating on the river nearly every single day, the four of them often ran into town for ice cream or just to wander around Pattinson. Charlie insisted on holding Cami’s hand or wrapping his arms around her middle as they stood somewhere with his head resting on top of hers. There were plenty of kisses and smooches before he left her or whenever he first saw her, or just because he so adored her, he had to kiss her.

  The four of them were golden, together, and the best of friends.

  Cami still pinched herself to believe she was an integral part of such a special group. Friends. A couple. All of it seemed surreal. How could she, Cami Reed, deserve such things? A place where she belonged with people her own age. Who would think any of them would like her? Or accept her? She wouldn’t have dared to believe it five years ago. But she did now. She trusted them as her friends and confidants, and Charlie was her boyfriend.

  But as the summer’s heat faded, the mornings grew colder, hinting at the reality that September was already here and the Starrs had to go back home to attend school. It was the first year Hailey wasn’t leaving to join them, now that she’d married Joey she would live permanently in River’s End. She cried with Cami as they all stood around the car, saying their tearful goodbyes to Jacob and Brianna.

  Hailey hugged and kissed and reassured them. She told them to come back next weekend, and promised she’d come to them if they ever needed anything. Joey hung back, his face screwed up with indecision. Cami assumed it must have been tough on them. Their entire relationship was an endless commute between two places. Finally, it would not be, but Hailey didn’t easily accept that advantage.

  Still waving when Brianna took the driver’s seat and Jacob slipped into the passenger seat, they watched him slide all the way back before he slouched down. Brianna put on her sunglasses and waved again. Cami curved into Charlie’s arm as she cried, and Hailey turned away after they disappeared.

  “They’ll be back. They’ll be okay,” Joey said softly, soothing her as she cried.

  “Maybe I should have stayed there for one more year…”

  Cami peeked at Hailey who cried hysterically. She pictured Jacob’s new, but fairly confident opinion of anyone over the age of twenty-five nowadays. “I think Jacob needs more space. I think you’ll find it’s probably better this wa
y, at least for now,” she told Hailey.

  Hailey lifted her head off Joey’s shoulder while he hugged her next to him. “You think so?”

  “I know so. He needs more space. I think he’d rebel against you for any more mothering. You’re going to have to let go a bit and maybe this way, you can. And Brianna’s already nineteen. She’s okay.”

  Joey let out a surprised laugh. He glanced down at Cami and then at Hailey as he tightened his arms around her and mouthed “Thank you” to Cami over Hailey’s head. Then he said softly, “I think Cami’s right. Jacob is more honest with them than with us. She would know more than anyone. He’s not twelve anymore.”

  Hailey nodded and pushed away from Joey, wiping her eyes and walking inside their house without another word. Joey flinched. “This part has never been easy. She wants to be in two places at once.”

  Charlie nodded. “Jacob is hell-bent on rebelling, and better to do it from a distance, letting Brett take the brunt of it, since Hailey won’t tell him no. So it’s probably a good idea.”

  Joey punched him gently on the arm. “You, my nephew, are always the smart one in the room. I think I’ll go back to the resort and let her decompress. See you guys.”

  They watched Joey walk down the road from the houses towards the main part of the ranch and then further on towards the resort.

  Charlie turned to Cami, who wiped her eyes. “Next it will be you. I can’t… this was hard enough. I can’t imagine letting go of you.” Charlie still had three weeks before he had to leave for his dorm and college. It seemed so remote as if it were a hazy, long-time-from-now event. Surreal too, like it couldn’t actually happen. They’d been in such a golden, wonderful, happy bubble, it was hard to accept the end of summer, knowing it was the bitter end of all of it.

  He wrapped his arms wrapped around her as he so easily and often did. “We’ll make it work.”

  She looked up and the angle made her stare up at his chin. “Charlie, it won’t be that easy. I’ll be here, and I’ll be the same and you’ll be there… it’s entirely different.”