Losing Her

by Cori Williams

  “Well, I like it. A lot.” He winked. A throat clearing had me whipping my head around to find Conner standing at the edge of our little reunion.

  I grabbed onto his hand, pulling him towards me. “Lawson, this is Conner. Conner this is Lawson.”

  “Great to meet you, Lawson. Cam’s told me a lot about you.”

  “Really? ‘Cause I haven’t heard shit about you. Cammie here doesn’t hang out with a lot of friends. She’s normally too busy.”

  “Well, I’m her boyfriend, not a friend, so we find the time.”

  My head bobbed back and forth between Conner and Lawson, who seemed to be having some kind of pissing match over me. Why, I have no idea because things had never been like that between Lawson and I; well, except for that one time.

  Chapter 4

  Falling without knowing it

  THE DAY AFTER I MET Lawson Reynolds, I figured I would never hear from him again, especially since I wouldn’t give it up. Sorry, I wasn’t a slut that just screwed some random guy in one night, although I let things go a lot further with him than I would’ve normally. I guess I just got caught up in the moment.

  “Oh my God, I’m so in love with Colton,” Tess declared, pressing a hand tightly against her chest. She’d been talking about our little meet and greet with the band every single second since we had left. I’d ended up spending the night at her house after the concert and I think I’d gotten about an hour’s worth of sleep because she wouldn’t stop talking. I was worn out, but I couldn’t help but grin at the giddy smile that was still plastered on her face. “Well I’m glad you had fun.”

  “Oh and you didn’t?” She wiggled her eyebrows, pointing a finger at me. “You snuck away with Lawson freaking Reynolds.”

  “Nothing happened, we were just talking.” Okay, well that wasn’t exactly true. Our mouths were talking for a bit and his fingers had been working a delicious magic on me until I came to my senses. Why did I need to come to my senses again?

  “Right,” she dragged out, pulling on one of her blonde, springy curls. “I’ll get it out of you someday, Campbell. So, you really didn’t like the concert?”

  “It was okay, it’s just really not my thing.”

  “Oh, I’ve heard what your thing is. You need to stop hanging out with your dad so much. He’s tricked you into thinking his music is actually good,” she groaned and I threw a pillow at her.

  “Hey, don’t hate on the classics, Tess.”

  She giggled and I climbed out of her bed that we had shared for the night. Tess was one of the best friends I’d ever had, and I’d only known her for a few months now. I guess it was fate that I met her as soon as me and my dad moved here. I needed someone to talk to, other than my dad, and Tess was right there—right next door, in fact. Having my mom cut me out of her life so completely and suddenly was a shock to my system, but she had made her choices and I’d made mine. There was no going back to undo what she had done to our family. “I need to get home and take a shower.”

  My phone buzzed from the night stand and Tess snatched it up, glancing at the screen before tossing it to me. “Who the hell is Sugar?” She questioned, her eyebrows bunched and her lips puckered.

  “Um…no one important.” I tucked my phone in my pocket, trying to bite back a smile. The last thing Tess needed to know was that Sugar was Lawson Reynolds. The girl would have a heart attack if she knew. “Are you still coming over for dinner tonight? I’m making spaghetti,” I added, in a sing song voice to try to sway her.

  I loved my dad. He was the main reason why I was here instead of being back in California where I knew everyone, but he could be a little depressing to be around all the time. He was still hung up on my mom, which was completely understandable. They had been high school sweethearts and married for almost 25 years. Their love story was one I dreamed of when I was a little girl, and up until pretty recently. But then my mom squashed all of that in one single swoop and that single swoop’s name was Aaron Grant. I blamed both of them for ruining our family, but mainly, I blamed my mom. She was married with kids, and Aaron was young and just looking for a good time, with a cougar no less. My brother, Braxton, didn’t see it that way, or he just didn’t care that our mom cheated on our dad. The most likely conclusion was because he didn’t want to leave his friends and girlfriend behind. I missed Braxton, we were only 18 months apart, so we had been close growing up; but I wasn’t abandoning my dad. Right after the divorce was finalized and he found a job that he had to relocate for, I told him I was going with him. He was surprised to say the least, and even though he didn’t say it out loud, I knew he was happy I had chosen to go with him over staying with my mom. I still hadn’t talked to her once since I had left, and I was completely fine with that.

  “Yup, I’ll be over later,” she yawned before collapsing back onto her pillow. I quietly closed the door and pulled my ringing phone out of my pocket to silence it, once again seeing that it was Sugar. To say I was surprised that he was calling me, was an understatement. I thought for sure I would never see or hear from him again.

  “Hello?” I answered quietly, scooting out the front door and heading in the direction of my house.

  “Is this the Campbell Wynn?” his husky voice asked from the other end of the line, sending tingles between my legs. Why did this guy get such a reaction out of me?

  I shook the confusion away, clearing my throat “It sure is and is this the Lawson Reynolds?”

  “Well I hope no one else is labeled Sugar in your contacts.”

  “Not that it would be any of your business.”

  He grunted and mumbled something unintelligible before clearing his throat. “So, I want to take you out when I get back home. I’ll be done on the road in about two weeks.”

  “You want to take me out? You do remember we live hours apart, right? ” I pressed my phone against my shoulder before unlocking the front door to my house and slipping inside. “And besides, I wouldn’t go out on a date with you. If you remember correctly, I’m not interested in that kind of relationship with you.” I bit down on my lip, hating that I came off sounding like a bitch. I actually liked Lawson. He seemed like a pretty good guy after you got past the whole famous façade, but I barely knew him—That could all be a lie.

  “Do you think I take every girl I meet on the road out on a date? I’m not a manwhore, it’s not like girls are filing on and off of the bus all the time. I mean, I’ll admit there’s been plenty but—”

  “Alright, I don’t need to hear about it,” I interrupted. “We can hang out, but it won’t be a date, so don’t get your hopes up, Sugar.”

  “Really?” Surprise was evident in his tone and I grinned, throwing my bag on my bed. This room was slowly starting to feel like my own. “Yes, really. But how exactly do you plan on hanging out? Don’t you live out in the country, like way far out in the country, where cow tipping is the favorite past time?”

  He laughed. “Cow tipping was never really my thing. And I plan on driving, it’s really not that far. Does that work for you?”

  “Sure, I guess it works, then. So, where are you taking me?”

  “Well I don’t…I mean…I don’t know. I really wasn’t expecting you to say yes on the first try. I’ll figure it out and you’ll love it.” I loved that I had this guy sputtering. I was almost positive it wasn’t his usual self. “I better love it,” I answered before ending the call, smiling at myself in the mirror. I had a non-date with Lawson Reynolds in two weeks and I couldn’t wait.

  * * *

  “You look freaking hot, Campbell.” Tess declared after swiping the last bit of makeup onto my face and moving aside so I could take a look in the mirror. My dark brown hair that was usually a frizzy mess, laid flat, landing just below my shoulders. My makeup was light and subtle, for which I was glad since I didn’t wear much of it in the first place; and my outfit of skinny jeans and a tank top didn’t scream date—the look was perfect. “Are you sure this isn’t a date?” Tess asked for only the hundre
dth time since I’d told her that Lawson and I were hanging out. To say she freaked out, was an understatement.

  “I’m sure, Tess.” “Well then I’m sure you wouldn’t mind if I tagged along. Maybe he can hook me up with Colton.” She rubbed her hands together, a hopeful glint in her eye.

  “Um…not this time. Maybe I’ll put some feelers out for you in the Colton department. Would you really want to hook up with a guy like that anyway?”

  “Uh, hell yeah. What girl in their right mind wouldn’t?”

  “Tess, they have girls flinging themselves at them all the time.”

  “Oh, Campbell, sometimes you need to loosen up, girl. You’re eighteen years old, act like it. Have some fun, do something crazy.”

  “I do crazy things,” I argued, rolling my eyes. “I just don’t go around spreading my legs for some guy that I just met and who has plenty of other girls spreading them so willingly. We’re just friends and that’s all. Got it?”

  “Alright, fine,” she threw her hands up in the air. “Go have fun on your ‘non-date’, and if he happens to mention Colton don’t be afraid to drop my name into the mix.” She wiggled her eyebrows. “I’m heading home and I’ll be waiting ever so patiently by the window to see when he drops you back off. Expect me to be here approximately thirty seconds later.”

  “Promises, promises,” I answered with a roll of my eyes.

  After Tess left, I paced the living room, watching the minutes tick away on the antique grandfather clock that had made the cross-country trip with Dad and I. I was convinced Lawson wasn’t coming, when I heard a rumble of a truck and I ran to the window, peaking out the curtains. I thought for sure my mind was playing tricks on me when Lawson slid out of the driver’s seat and started up the walkway towards the front door.

  Now, I was starting to panic.

  Chapter 5

  I didn’t know what we had going on, but I couldn’t wait to see what it could be.

  Lawson

  “I TOLD YOU THIS wasn’t a date,” she opened up the door with narrowed eyes, and I grinned, pushing the bouquet of sunflowers into her hands.

  “Friends can brings friends flowers.” I winked, while she groaned—it was fucking adorable.

  “Says who?”

  “Says me…Lawson’s laws.” I grinned and she rolled her eyes, snatching the sunflowers and twisting around with a huff. “For each law broken a piece of clothing gets removed, you game?”

  “No!” She exclaimed, throwing her free hand in the air and I snickered. I loved seeing her all flustered.

  I followed her inside, taking in the bare living room and the stark kitchen as she opened up cabinet after cabinet, before pulling out a large plastic cup to sit the flowers in. “I should’ve brought a vase, I guess.”

  “Don’t worry about.” She waved her hand before smiling, pushing one dimple onto her cheek that I’d noticed right away the first time we met. I’d noticed pretty much everything about her. “And thank you, by the way, the flowers are gorgeous. I swear I’m not a bitch all the time. It’s just… I don’t want you to get the wrong idea here. My legs are not spreading for you. Ever.” Her blue eyes narrowed again and I snorted.

  “We’ll see about that, Cammie.” I winked, holding up both hands when I saw her fists clench. “I’m joking, calm down. Are you ready to go?”

  “I don’t know, are there anymore of these laws of yours? I’m not sure I can handle many more of them.”

  “You’ll just have to wait and see. First one you break, the panties have to go.” All I got was a roll of her eyes.

  I ended up taking her into town so we could grab lunch, and then we stopped off at a local park so we could have some alone time. I quickly learned that Campbell was a different breed—She was sarcastic, but funny; a little moody, but had a bit of a soft side, and she was probably one of the only girls I had ever been able to talk to this easily before. “So, is this how your days normally are?”

  “What do you mean?”

  She tipped her head at a group of girls that were sprawled out on the grass along the walking path. They were whispering back and forth to each other and staring in our direction. I pulled down on the ball cap I was wearing, even though it didn’t seem to be helping any.

  I shrugged. “Well at least they’re not chasing after us.”

  She giggled. “That’s a plus, because I’m sorry, but I don’t think I would save you. I’d probably just walk the other way and pretend I don’t know you.”

  “Really? You’d leave me hanging like that?”

  “I would,” she confirmed with a bounce of her head.

  “Alright, I guess I need to add another law then. No abandoning Lawson allowed. If I have to escape, you need to help out. It’s what friends do.”

  “You’re completely right,” she agreed, shaking her head with a laugh. “No friend left behind, even if he’s being attacked by crazy-ass fan girls. I can deal with that one.”

  I clutched at my chest. “Can we be best friends for life, then? I think I need to keep you close by. To protect me. I would love to see a girl fight.”

  “We’ll see about that,” she answered with a wink. “So, what are the rest of the guys up to right now?

  I stopped walking, pulling on Campbell’s hand until we were both seated on a bench that seemed to be secluded. “Why? Please don’t tell me you’re just using me as an in and you have a mad crush on one of the other guys?”

  “What?” She gasped, smacking me in the chest. “Um, no. I was just…well my friend Tess might have a little bit of a crush on Colton. Not that it would matter, but she seems to think I would have some kind of pull for her or something. He probably doesn’t even remember her name. Not that he should, Tess is pretty amazing, but….” She trailed off, picking at the worn wood of the bench.

  “I’ll talk to Colt and see if he remembers your friend, the blonde with the curls, right?”

  “Right, you really remember her?”

  “Well, yeah… and her nose was pressed to the window of the house next door when I picked you up.”

  “Oh my God,” she rolled her eyes. “Yup, that’s Tess. My one and only friend since moving here. I’m not a people person, but she sort of forced herself on me. “

  “That’s a lie. You have two friends.”

  “Oh, right.” Her lips pushed past her teeth, smiling widely.

  After the park, I drove her home. It was starting to get dark and I walked her back to her porch, her house looking as empty as when I picked her up. “Is your dad home?”

  “No, probably not. He works a ton, and when he’s not working…he’s busy.” Her lips were set in a straight line but I could tell by the set of her shoulders, she was defensive and didn’t want to talk about what he was busy doing. Maybe I would get it out of her another time. “Alright, well,” I didn’t want the night to end but I didn’t want to push my luck. I’d already softened her up a bit today, “I’ll see you in a few weeks?”

  “You will?” she asked, surprise washing over her face.

  “Well yeah, did you seriously think this was going to be a one-time thing?”

  “Well….”

  “Well, you were wrong. It’s not…in fact, you’re probably going to get sick of me real quick.”

  “I highly doubt that.”

  * * *

  That time that Tess and Colt decided they were going to be together forever. Epic.

  Campbell

  “This is so crazy,” Tess blew out a shaky breath, pulling at her curls. “I can’t believe I’m about to go out on a date with Colton Jensen. Pinch me.”

  I looked at her sideways. “Are you actually nervous? I didn’t think you got nervous.”

  “Hell yes, I’m nervous! Do you know how many girls are in love with him? How many of them throw themselves at him? And he’s going on a date with me? Are you sure he really wants to?”

  “Yes,” I rolled my eyes. “He remembered exactly who you were. Lawson said he was excited about it since
he didn’t get a chance to get your number. He figured he would never see you again.”

  “Well, that makes me feel a little bit better, I must’ve made some kind of impression on him,” she wiggled her eyebrows before pointing at me. “So, how do you feel about this double date?”

  “It’s not a double date,” I muttered under my breath, wincing as she came up behind me to pull my hair up into a tight bun. I wasn’t even considering it a date, even though there was some kind of feelings there; but I was trying to stamp them down. That kind of relationship wouldn’t work out between Lawson and I. He was on the road constantly, and when he wasn’t, we lived hours apart. Plus, I had serious trust issues, thanks in part to my mother, I’m sure. Lawson would cheat on me at the drop of a hat, or pair of panties for that matter.

  A friend’s only relationship was fine by me. We had fun when we were together, and that actually seemed to happen a lot more often than I ever expected. He always found time to spend with me, and always made the extra effort. It seemed odd to me, but in a gleeful sort of way. My stomach jumped every time his name popped up on my phone screen, my heart raced every time his truck rumbled into my driveway, and my palms got sweaty whenever he touched me in the simplest of ways. No, I definitely wasn’t in love with Lawson Reynolds. Definitely not. Okay, maybe I liked him a lot, a lot more than a friend, but I didn’t want to ruin our friendship. I’m pretty sure that’s all he saw me as, anyway.

  “They’re here,” Tess squealed in my ear before pushing on my shoulders. “Go, you need to answer the door. I need to check my makeup one more time. How do I look?” She tugged on the black body hugging dress she had chosen and I shook my head, looking down at the jean shorts, worn pair of Converses, and simple tank top that I had on. We were definitely complete opposites, but they say opposites attract, and Tess was one of the best friends I’d ever had.

  “Tess, you look gorgeous. Now, get your ass downstairs quick. I’ll get the door.” There goes that racing heart thing again, I thought as I took the steps two at a time and a giant leap off the last one to reach the door. Lawson’s grin was crooked and his eyes lit up the second he saw me, or at least I think they did—maybe I’m seeing things.