This love—no, this ‘like’ thing—is so confusing.
Chapter 6
Life can change in the blink of an eye.
Lawson
“SO WHAT EXACTLY is going on with you and this Campbell girl?” Colton asked as I turned off the exit that I’d become so familiar with, going back and forth to visit Campbell.
“Nothing,” I shrugged, trying to keep it casual, even though with every inch I got closer to Campbell my heart went into overdrive. Campbell wasn’t like other girls. I know how cliché that sounds, but it was true. She was like a drug to me, I couldn’t get enough—an addiction that I didn’t want to rid of. I was busy non-stop, but I still found time to call, text message, and occasionally visit her. I was actually kind of annoyed that Colton tagged along this time. I would’ve much rather had my little amount of time that I could spend with her, alone.
I pulled into Campbell’s driveway and was out of the truck and ringing the doorbell before Colton even unbuckled his seat belt. The door opened within seconds. I think she was excited to see me, too. “Hey,” she greeted me breathlessly and I drank in the sight of her. I had missed the hell out of her. She wasn’t a girl that spent hours doing her makeup or hair, or picking out the right outfit. She was just Campbell—her dark hair pulled up high, revealing her smooth tan neck, and I knew if I got close enough I would smell the soft flowery perfume that she always wore, and I always went home smelling like. I wouldn’t wash my shirt for days after that.
“Hey,” I scooped her up in my arms, squeezing her tight against me. Her sharp inhale of breath told me she was surprised. I’d surprised myself. We weren’t normally all touchy feely. I was stepping over that invisible line that she had drawn the night we met.
“You’re here,” she said when I set her down on her feet, wobbling slightly.
“Sure am, and this guy tagged a long,” I elbowed Colton who had just walked over the threshold, his eyes bouncing back and forth between Campbell and I. I knew what he was thinking, my answer of ‘Nothing,’ didn’t seem very convincing to myself either.
“Well, that’s good, Tess has been a nervous wreck, so please be nice.”
“Nice?” Colton asked in wonderment. “I think I can handle that.” He laughed lightly but stopped when Tess came down the stairs, a huge smile on her face, which was soon matched by his. You could see the sparks flying between them instantly.
Campbell sighed loudly and I could tell that she was wishing we’d have the night to ourselves, too. We all loaded into my truck and headed towards the steakhouse in town. The night did turn into time for us really, though. Colton and Tess were so lost in their own little world, hands and mouths all over each other, that if Campbell and I just ignored them, we were pretty much on our own.
“Think we should start planning the wedding?” Campbell joked before snatching one of my fries to dip in her chocolate milkshake she was having for dessert. My nose scrunched in disgust as she continued to pop one after another chocolate covered French fry into her mouth. She slowly licked a bit of chocolate off of her lip and I groaned, shifting in my seat. Did she know what the hell she was doing to me? Even after watching her stuff that gross combination into her mouth, I could think of something else to put in her mouth just fine. Quit thinking with your dick, Lawson—not with her.
“Huh?” I asked, closing my gaping mouth and wiping at it to make sure there was no drool leaking.
“Those two.” She hiked her thumb to Tess and Colt who were across the booth from us. “They’re already in love.”
“Yeah,” I muttered, not really worried about those two. It was Campbell who I had my eyes set on. My phone buzzed from my pocket and Campbell’s hand landed on my jeans, making me jump at the contact. If she only knew… She was so damn innocent.
“Do you need to get that?” She dipped her spoon into the chocolate ice cream before pulling it out and licking it off.
“Get what?” I couldn’t focus on anything but her and the ice cream. Her tongue…licking…warm…in my mouth.
My pocket buzzed again and I groaned, pulling my phone out of my pocket. Once I saw who it was, I forgot all about the ice cream and Campbell’s mouth. My palms got sweaty. I didn’t think I would hear from her again. I thought it was a joke, someone trying to get money out of me. This had to mean something.
“What’s up? Who was that?” Colton asked from across the table, a concerned look on his face. I fiddled with the phone in my hands before it buzzed again, and I dropped it onto the table with a clatter. Campbell picked it up and looked at the screen before shrugging.
“Someone named Chloe.” Her lips pursed before she handed me back the phone. “Who’s that? One of your girlfriends?” She tried to ask lightly, but I could hear the tension behind that. She was jealous. I should’ve been ecstatic that she was jealous. That would mean she wanted something to happen between us—something more than just friends. But I couldn’t worry about that right now.
Colton’s eyes widened at the mention of Chloe’s name and Tess looked at him sideways. “Who’s that, Colt? Why are you freaking out?”
Colton threw his hands up in the air and I gave one shake of my head, willing him to shut the hell up. Colton didn’t know how to keep secrets and he tended to run his mouth when he got nervous about things. This wasn’t something I wanted to share, not yet anyway. Chloe was a mistake. I was always safe, but there was always that chance. Could this really be happening?
Somehow, Chloe had gotten in contact with me, I’m still really not sure how. When she told me she was pregnant, I shrugged it off. There was no way I was the father. She was trying to get money and fame out of me. I wasn’t going to give into her game. It had been almost two years ago, when I was even younger and stupider, fucking chick after chick that threw themselves at me—But I was always safe. Always. I submitted for a DNA test after the baby was born. I figured I would never hear from her again. There had to be a reason I was hearing from her.
My phone buzzed again, this time a message flashing across the screen.
Lawson, call me when you can. I got the results. You are the father.
I felt like I’d just been slam dunked in the middle of an episode of Maury. You are the father. You are the father, I kept repeating over and over again in my head. What the hell was I going to do? I looked at Campbell, who was studying me carefully. There was no way in hell the feelings that I was feeling about her could go anywhere now. No, not now. Now, I had too much shit too deal with. I couldn’t get into a relationship. I was a dad.
“Shit.”
Chapter 7
Campbell
THE SHOW WAS OVER and I was completely exhausted, but I promised the guys we would hang out afterwards, it had been way too long. I tensed when I saw two missed calls from the assisted living home my dad lived in, putting a damper on the excitement I felt about spending some much needed time with Lawson. I visited my dad every week, sometimes more than once. He was in horrible shape and seemed to despise the time that I was there but I powered through, doing my daughterly duty. My brother Braxton would call every once in a while to check in, but I still hadn’t seen him or my mom since the day I left with my dad. Apparently my mom had remarried and was happy—not that I cared. She had pretty much forgotten that I existed. To say that it stung was an understatement. It hurt to know that the person who had given you life could care less about it now. Before Conner came along I was slowly starting to sink into a dark depression at how alone I truly felt. Lawson was there for me but at the same time, he wasn’t physically here. I checked the message, rolling my eyes when I listened to his slurred voice, demanding something that even I couldn’t understand after all of these years of dealing with him. I set my phone down. The nurses could deal with him tonight, that’s what they were there for.
My phone rang and I knocked away the darkness when I saw who it was. “Woman, what are you still doing up?”
“I have no idea,” Tess grumbled from the other line. “In fact,
I’m pretty sure I’m asleep right now talking to you. I probably won’t even remember this conversation in the morning so you probably shouldn’t tell me anything that you expect me to remember.” She yawned. “How was the show?”
“It went really well, the guys should be in my office any minute.”
“Okay, well tell Colt to call me when you see him. I threatened his life earlier if he woke me up, but I miss him and I need to hear his voice.”
“You got it, babe. Now get to sleep, my little niece or nephew needs you to be well rested. Any day now,” I added in a sing song voice.
“I know,” she whispered. “Honestly, I’m getting a little scared.”
I sat back in shock, checking the screen on my phone to make sure I was still talking to my best friend. Tess has always been the wild and crazy one out of the two us, the brave and fearless. After we graduated from high school, she took off for New York with barely $100 in her pocket, but that was her dream—big city living—and she made it happen. Then she reconnected with Colton after they had only dated for a short time, two months later and they eloped. Now, they were getting ready to have a baby. She’d moved to Nashville with Colton. I missed having my best friend close by, but she had her own life now and I was happy for her.
“You’ll be okay, knowing you you’ll be up and running the next day. Colt’s coming home for a break after the next show, right?”
“Yes, finally,” she said in a dreamy voice. “We are going to have so much sex when he gets home, this baby will pop out in no time.”
I laughed and she sucked in a breath. “O-M-G, are you finally getting some? Any other time I mention sex you grumble and get all bitchy because your vagina’s lonely. Why didn’t you tell me?” She screeched, now sounding completely awake and wired. I’m glad my sex life got her that excited.
“Calm down, no need to go into labor over my sex life. And the one that now exists, let me tell you, is pretty wonderful.”
“Shut the front door! Who is it? What’s his name? Have I met him? When do I get to meet him? Why the hell didn’t you call me right after the deed was done?”
I sighed. “Are you done? Can I get a word in now?”
“Ugh, fine…spill.”
“Okay, his name is Conner, no you haven’t met him. I met him at a dinner party thing, actually. He’s kind of new to town. And he’s a cop.”
“What?” She sputtered. “Okay, I don’t know what I’m more shocked by—The fact that you went out or the fact that you actually talked to another guy. Now I’m really pissed you haven’t told me about him. A cop? Jesus, that’s like, every girl’s wet dream. Please tell me he’s used the handcuffs on you.”
I ignored her comments, tilting my head back when I heard my door creak open. I grinned when I saw Lawson’s head pop in. “I’m not telling you that. But you can meet him, soon. I promise. Now, a certain asshole is here so I need to visit. Go to bed.”
“Tell Colt to call me!” She yelled before I ended the call and tossed the phone on my desk.
“Tess?” Lawson questioned, leaning a hip against the door frame. He was freshly showered, his hair still damp, but his typical uniform was in place—A pair of faded jeans and a plain t-shirt with a pair of boots No matter how much money the guy made, it never changed.
“Yup, tell Colton to call her. She’s waiting and I’m sure she’ll stay awake for a while now ‘cause she’s all hyped up.”
“Oh yeah, why’s that?” One eyebrow raised and I kicked off my heels, sighing in ecstasy.
“We were catching up on stuff,” I shrugged my shoulders.
“And by stuff, you mean your new boyfriend? You hadn’t told Tess about him yet?”
“No.”
“Why? Don’t think he’ll be around for long?” I turned to my computer, choosing to ignore him. “That’s good because I didn’t really like the guy, seems like a douche.”
“Conner is not a douche.” I stood up and shoved him in the shoulder. “You are. Now c’mon. I need a drink.”
“Alright, fine, just promise me you aren’t gonna get crazy like that one time.” He smirked and I rolled my eyes.
“Shut up, we don’t talk about that and you know it.”
“We don’t talk about it, huh? Why in the hell not? That was some funny shit to see, Cam.”
Chapter 8
That one time that we are to never speak of again. Ever.
Campbell
I COULDN’T BELIEVE that I was here. I hated country music—loathed it in fact. But I did have a soft spot for a certain band lately, named Jensen Outlaws, mainly because the guys that were in it were pretty cool. Lawson had begged and begged—and begged some more—for me to come out on the road with them for a weekend. So I had finally agreed.
“Cam!” Lawson grinned from the top of the tour bus stairs as I hesitantly took a step closer, lugging my duffel bag behind me. “I can’t believe you’re really here. I figured you would bail after Tess got sick.”
“I’m here,” I grumbled, cursing Tess in my head even though I knew she was really sick and if she could, she would definitely be here right by my side—well, more like right by Colton’s side…with her tongue jammed down his throat.
“Don’t act so excited about it.” He met me at the bottom of the stairs and slung an arm around my shoulder. “So I take it your dad was alright with you coming?”
I shrugged one shoulder. “Well, I asked and he grunted some kind of response, he probably won’t even remember me asking or the fact that I’m not even home. But it’s not a big deal.” I pushed a smile onto my face and Lawson shook his head.
“That’s bullshit¸ Campbell. You deserve way better than that. You need to be treated like the special girl that you are.”
“The special girl that I am?” I quirked my eyebrow and tilted my head at him. “You think I’m special?”
“Of course I do. Why the hell else would you be here?” he grabbed my duffle bag from me and I held out his hand. “C’mon, how ‘bout I give you a tour of the bus in the daylight?”
My cheeks burned as I followed behind him onto the bus, and I remembered the one and only other time I had been on the bus. That time that our lips were latched together in a hot and heavy make out session, and his hands were down my pants. I wondered if he was thinking about the same thing….
“So, you okay with sleeping on top?”
“Huh?” my head whipped around and I followed his outstretched finger to the top bunk as he looked at me with twisted brows.
“Right above me. That okay?”
“Oh. Yup, totally fine. Totally.”
Riley and Colton came out at this point and we all caught up. They kept giving Lawson knowing looks, like they thought there was something going on between the two of us, but there clearly wasn’t.
“You ready to party it up after the show tonight, Campbell?” Riley asked, as we sat side by the side on the couch in their narrow living room area, while Colton and Lawson finished getting ready. I had no idea guys could take so long to get ready.
“I’m not really a party type of girl. I’ll probably just come back and go to sleep.”
“Oh no,” he shook his head, laughing. “No way in hell, girl. You’re here, you’re partying. All three of us will make sure of that.”
“Um….” My phone sounded from my pocket and I pulled out in a rush, avoiding Riley for as long as possible. I would fake a headache or something later. Tess wasn’t here to be my wing woman, so I would probably feel completely out of my element. I tapped out a response to the message I received, a smile tugging at my lips.
“Who’s that?” I jumped in place and looked up from the screen to see Lawson trying to peer over my shoulder.
“No one.”
“No one, huh? Is that no one a guy? Are you seeing someone?” he asked, casually pushing a hand through his still wet hair.
“I thought you were getting ready.” I squinted my eyes at him. He was dressed all in black—jeans and a simple t-shirt,
and black boots—pretty much the same outfit he had on when I got there.
“I took a shower, I’m ready. Don’t change the subject. Are you seeing someone?”
“Why do you care?” Riley interrupted and Colton smacked him in the chest with a loud thump. “Dude.”
“No, not really, just talking with a guy that I met a few weeks ago. It’s nothing serious.”
“Oh.” He tugged on his hair before clapping his hands together. “That’s cool, I guess. You guys ready to get the hell out there?” Riley jumped to his feet and Colton bobbed his head, taking a few deep breaths in and out. According to Tess, he got nervous before every show and those nerves were shining through right now.
“Campbell, Mack will make sure you get to your seat. We’ll see you afterwards,” he acted dismissive and I kneaded my hands together. Maybe it was a mistake coming here. I was going to be all alone at a concert. How fun would that really be? Maybe I would just stay behind and read a book. Lawson probably wouldn’t notice if I wasn’t there. He seemed annoyed that I was here now. We were just friends, so why would he care if I was talking to another guy? I knew for a fact that he talked—and did a whole lot of other things—with girls while he was out on the road. Tess had been witness to it one long weekend when I wasn’t able to make it. She tried to hide the details from me, but after finally convincing her that I didn’t care, she spilled everything.
“Oh, before I forget,” Lawson turned back towards me right before they were getting ready to step out of the bus. “You’re gonna need this,” he pulled out a backstage from his pocket that read Jensen Outlaws VIP. “You’ll always be my one and only VIP,” he whispered in a husky tone and I swear, all of my insides melted before I brought myself back to reality. He probably says that to all the girls.
Losing Her Page 4