by Thomas, C. M
“Are we watching another movie?” Anna asked.
“I think this is so much more fun. It’s been a long time since I’ve had the chance for some serious girl talk.” I smiled.
“As long as we don’t have to talk about me, I’m all for girl talk.” Amy winked at me. “Are you and Li doing okay now?”
“I think so. I promised him not to draw conclusions based on the tabloids, and that was exactly what I did… But I think I needed that breakdown, and talking with Anna all night helped, too.” I smiled over at Anna.
“It is a lot to deal with. I didn’t think much of it when my sister told me how it was like to have cameras follow your every move. But after they found about Zane and I, I saw what she always talked about.” Anna closed her eyes a moment before she continued, “But he is so worth it. I don’t know what I would do if I lost him. I was scared at first of letting him in, but my heart was set on one thing: Zane.” She had a big smile on her face every time she talked about him.
“I still can’t believe he has a girlfriend. When Liam told me, I was in shock.” I smiled at Anna.
“Me too. If you would have told me a year ago that Zane would have a girlfriend, I would have told you that it was never going to happen… But the first time he told me about Anna, I knew. Even before he did,” Gia said.
She and Zane have always been super close, and I thought they talked a lot on the phone when he was away from home. When I looked at their bond as siblings, I wanted Alana to have that. I didn’t have siblings, but I wanted my daughter to have that someday. The Camden siblings were one of a kind. They supported each other one hundred percent.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me sooner.” Amy pointed at Gia.
“Why? You know I would never tell a secret if I’m told not to, or do you want me to share your secrets with Zane?” Gia looked back at Amy.
“Nope. Don’t do that. He will kill me and then Cole if he found out about that.” Amy looked away, but I wanted to know what that was about. But Harlow beat me to it.
“What have you done?” Harlow asked.
“This can never leave this room, okay?” Amy looked at all of us, and we all nodded. “Two years ago, I crashed my car. I told everyone that some animal ran out in front of me and therefore I pulled hard in the steering wheel and crashed the car against a lamppost…”
“The hot guy was Cole?” Anna asked. What hot guy? I didn’t get what the hell she was talking about.
“Yep.” Gia grinned.
“How the hell does a hot guy fit in in this story?” I asked, and looked at Amy. Harlow looked as clueless as me.
“Well, it wasn’t an animal who ran out in front of me. I was focusing on Cole, who was talking to some stupid chick…” Amy put her hands on her face and hid. “I didn’t want to tell him that, so I came up with the animal story.”
“Let me get this right. Cole saw you crash the car and when he came over to you, you told him that some animal ran out in front of the car?” Harlow asked.
“Yep. I couldn’t tell him that I was ogling him and the stupid girl instead of concentrating on driving the car.” Amy sighed.
“You could have been seriously hurt. Did your parents buy the story too?” I asked.
“They did. I just think they were relieved that the only damage were some bruises and the fact that my car was totaled.”
“Zane believes the story. Because when Gia mentioned a hot guy that day we talked about it, he was in complete shock, and I think he just though that she was messing with you,” Anna told Amy.
“Why do you know about it when no one else doesn’t?” I asked Gia.
“Well, I kind of told Amy I didn’t believe her story and if she didn’t tell the real story, I would tell Mom and Dad that she was lying.” Gia smirked.
“Some little sister I have, right?” Amy looked at Gia. “She came into my room that night and told me that she didn’t believe my story and that she would find out the truth, or I could just tell straight up, so she didn’t have to find out some other way.”
“You blackmailed her?” Harlow asked Gia with a smile on her face.
“I won’t call it blackmail, but yes, I told her I wanted to know the real story.” Gia grinned. “And it worked. She told me, and I promised her never to tell anyone.”
“But you almost did,” Anna said.
“Yes, and that was a slip of the tongue. I didn’t mean to say it out loud… Thank God that Zane didn’t ask more about it, because he always knows when I’m lying to him.”
“I know. He knows that about me too. I can’t keep anything from him; he reads me like an open book.” Anna smiled.
“Are you ever going to tell them the real reason?” I asked Amy.
“No. I might have told everyone if Cole and I were a couple, but we never will be, so the secret stays a secret,” Amy said with a stern voice.
“It will never leave this room,” Harlow said, and we all nodded in agreement.
“Well, I think I want to go back to my man. I have some work to do before I call it a night,” Anna said.
“I will go with you, if that’s okay?” I looked over at Amy. I wanted to make sure she was okay before I left.
“It’s fine. Thanks for tonight, girls, I needed that,” Amy said, and we all said our goodbyes before Anna and I walked back to our men.
“Hey, I thought you would be sleeping when I got home?” I said to Liam when I found him sitting with his guitar in the living room.
“I wanted to wait up for you.” He laid his guitar down on the table and walked over to me. “I missed you.”
“Missed you too. But your sister needed me.” I wrapped my arms around him and rested my head against his chest. His arms were around me as he held me close.
“Is she okay now?” I knew he was worried about Amy, as they had always been close. I knew they were twins, but still, they were really close.
“I think so. But I still think Cole should pull his head out of his ass.”
“I don’t think he will,” Liam told me honestly. I agreed with him. If Cole hadn’t done it yet, I didn’t think he ever would. “Is she in love with him?”
“I think so. She will never admit it, but I see it in her eyes. She looks just about as hurt as I did when we weren’t together.” I looked up at him.
“That will never happen again, Sunshine,” he said before he kissed me. “I love you and our girl. I will do anything to keep you both safe and for us to have a life together as a family.”
“I know you will, and I want that too. You can’t get rid of me that easily. I’m here to stay. I don’t plan on going anywhere.”
“You don’t know how happy that makes me, Sunshine. I love you so much.”
“I love you too. Always have, always will.” I kissed him and held him close to me. This was my man, and I would do anything for him.
“We need to talk about the gala event,” Liam said. We were sitting on the porch, watching Alana play in the backyard. We’d been spending a lot of time together just the three of us the last five days.
“What about it?” I looked at him. We were going to the event in two days and then they would go back on tour. And Alana and I were going with them. I still had some doubts about how it would work, but both Liam and Dax assured me more than once that they would keep Alana safe.
“Well, we have invited everyone. But that leaves Alana, do you want her with us?” Liam asked.
“I don’t know. Don’t you think it will be too much for her?”
“I don’t know. But if we don’t want her with us that night, Mom and Dad are going to stay home and watch her. I’m not ready for some stranger to watch her,” Liam said. I agreed with him on that. I didn’t know if I ever would be ready for that. But right now, I knew I was nowhere near ready for a stranger to babysit.
“Can
we have her with us? Is it even possible to have a toddler with us to an event like that?” I asked him. I didn’t see how it would work. She wouldn’t be able to sit still for hours.
“We can talk to Anna about it if you want. But I think it would be great to have her with us. And if she gets too tired, Mom and Dad can take her home. That way they still come with us.”
“Let’s talk to Anna about it. But if you think it will work, then I don’t see why we can’t have her with us. But is it possible for your parents and Alana to come in through a way other than in front of all the cameras? I don’t want her exposed to that just yet.”
“I’ve already talked with Dax about that. He says it won’t be a problem to get them in through the back entry. But there will be some cameras inside, will you be okay with that?” he asked.
“I guess. We can’t keep her from this forever. But the ones inside are invited in, right?” I didn’t know if I was ready for her to be exposed to cameras, but at the same time, she had to get used to cameras following us. Her father was a famous musician and that would never change.
“They are there to cover the event, yes. They will be asking questions, but not like the ones outside. And if we don’t want to talk to them, we can just tell Dax to keep them away from us.”
“Okay. If Anna agrees that it’s possible to have a toddler with us, I think she should come. But can we talk to Anna soon? I need to buy a dress for Alana if she is going with us.”
“Sure, I will go and talk to her now, is that okay?”
“You do that, and if Alana is going with us, I will call Amy and ask if she will go dress shopping with me.” I smiled.
“I have no doubt that she will love that. I don’t think I know anyone who loves shopping as much as Amy. Perhaps my mom, but no one else.” Liam kissed me before he walked around the house to go to Zane’s house.
Chapter 26:
Liam
“Hey, is Anna home?” I asked Zane when he opened the door.
“She is, but she is talking on the phone right now with Kylie.” Zane stepped aside so I could walk inside. “You want coffee while you wait?”
“Sure, thanks.” I walked over to the kitchen table and sat down. Zane found two cups and poured coffee in them before he joined me at the table.
“Everything okay?” Zane asked.
“Everything is fine, I just wanted to talk to Anna about the gala.”
“About having Alana with you?”
“Yep. Evie is fine with it as long as Anna thinks it will work. And I kind of need Alana there.” I smiled at Zane. He knew what plans I had for that night, and they included Alana.
“I know. And that is why Anna is talking to Kylie right now, they are trying to figure out the logistics of it all. Including your surprise.”
“Have you told anyone?” I asked him.
“Of course not. I can keep a secret, you know?” Zane tried to look offended but failed. He had a big smile on his face.
“I know. But Amy can’t know, she will not be able to keep it a secret from Evie.” I’d spent the last days arranging this surprise and I would not let anyone ruin it.
“I know. She will be so excited that she won’t be able to keep from telling everyone who will listen to her,” Zane said. “Do you know what happened the other night at Mom and Dad’s?”
“Not more than what Evie told me when she came home that night. Why?”
“Cole’s been acting weird the last couple of days, and when I asked him if he wanted to talk about it, he just told me to mind my own business.” Zane shrugged.
“I think something happened between them,” I said, hoping like hell that Zane wouldn’t flip out. I knew for a fact that he told Cole more than once to stay away from Amy. Why, I didn’t know.
“I know something has happened. He is just too stupid to see just how much she wants him. Only him.” I looked over at Zane, surprised. Did he really just say that?
“And you’re okay with that? I though you told him to stay away from her.”
“I did. If he just wanted her for one night, I told him to stay the hell away from her, but I don’t think he wants her for just one night. But like I told Anna, it is their life and they need to figure it out.”
“I guess. I just don’t like seeing my twin cry.”
“I don’t like that either. But she also needs to pour her heart out and tell him how she feels. But again, not my problem. They will figure it out if they are meant to be together.” Hearing Zane talk about love was kind of strange. He had changed so much since he met Anna.
“Hey, everything okay?” Anna asked when she walked into the kitchen.
“Everything is fine. I just wanted to know if it is possible to take Alana with us to the gala?” I looked over at her as she sat down beside Zane.
“I just finished a very long Skype call with Kylie, and we will make it work, just like I promised.” She smiled before she continued, “We will make sure that your parents and Alana will come in from the back entrance ,and when she is inside, she will be able to run around and there will be other children as well. All the children the foundation has helped who live in Colorado Springs, Denver, and the towns nearby are invited, so there will be a lot of children attending, that way she will have someone to play with.”
“That’s great. I will let Evie know. She and Amy are going dress shopping for Alana.”
“You don’t want to tag along? They might use all your money,” Zane said, smirking.
“Amy might, but it’s Evie who has my credit card, and she won’t. But if I know her right, she won’t even use my card, she is so stubborn.”
“I know the feeling. Anna is too.” Zane smiled.
“Hey, just because I don’t want to spend all your money I’m stubborn?” Anna huffed and crossed her arms over her chest, looking offended at Zane.
“Yep. I want to spoil you, baby.” Zane kissed her on the cheek.
“Fine, then I will go with Evie and Amy and spend all your money.”
“Want me to text Evie that you want to go with them?” I asked Anna.
“Yep. I have to use a lot of Zane’s money, so they can count me in,” she said.
I pulled my phone out of my pocket and texted Evie.
Me: Hey Sunshine, Anna wants to go dress shopping with you and Amy. Want me to take Alana or you want her with you?
Evie: She can come with us to the event?
Me: She can. There will be other children there too, so she will have someone to play with.
Evie: That’s great. And if you don’t mind, then I think it’s better if she stays here with you. Tell Anna that I will pick her up.
Me: It’s fine. I will come home soon. Love you.
Evie: Love you too. See you soon.
“I will go home. Evie will come and pick you up before she picks up Amy. I will just call Dax and let him know we need a couple of guys with you,” I told Anna.
“Already done,” Zane said. “I just texted him that if some of his guys needed a punishment, I had a task for them.”
“Don’t be mean, or you will come with us.” Anna slapped him on the shoulder before she walked over to the fridge to get some water.
“Not a chance in hell I’m going shopping with you three,” Zane said to her. “I will go and entertain Liam and Alana instead.”
“Fine, but remember to leave your credit card,” she told him before walking out of the kitchen.
“I will go home. We will be in the backyard if you want to join us,” I told him before getting ready to go home.
“I will be there soon,” he said just before I walked out of the house.
“Are you ready?” I asked Alana. She was sitting on the couch in her new dress ready to go to the gala. Evie and the girls went shopping the other day and my baby girl was so cute in her new dress. She looked like a
princess; her long hair was pulled back and braided and her dress was pink, of course. What other color could she possibly be wearing?
“Yep,” was all she said. She was focused on whatever she was watching on her iPad.
I heard someone knocking on the door before my dad walked into the house. He was here to pick up Alana, who would be going with my parents tonight. Evie and I were going with the rest of the band and Anna to walk the red carpet, but Alana wasn’t doing that.
“Hey Dad. You guys ready for tonight?”
“We are. More importantly, are you?” He came over to me and gave me a hug.
“I think so. I’m nervous.”
“It would be surprising if you weren’t.” He smiled before walking over to Alana, who hadn’t even looked up from her iPad. “What are you watching?” he asked her.
“Papa,” Alana squealed, and jumped up from the couch and ran around to my dad. He squatted down and picked her up.
“Ready to go back to Grandma?” he asked her.
“Yeah!” she replied, smiling enthusiastically.
I walked over to them and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “See you later, baby girl.” I looked at my dad. “Ryder will be at the house with three others to take you guys, Amy, and Gia to the gala.”
“I know, Anna told us earlier today.” He smiled before he walked out of the house with Alana. We had to drive to Colorado Springs for the gala event, and tonight Evie and I were staying here alone. Alana would be sleeping at my parents’ house, because after tonight, I hoped that Evie and I had something very special to celebrate—alone.
“Hey, where is Alana?” Evie asked from behind me. I turned around and looked at her. She was stunning. She was wearing a long, red evening dress. Her hair was curled and fell down her back, and she had the biggest smile on her face. I walked over to her and took her in my arms.
“You look amazing, Sunshine.” I kissed her. “Dad already picked up Alana, we have to go soon.”
“Thanks, you don’t look so bad yourself.” She smiled at me. “I’m ready to go when you are.”