AllFreeNovel
Share Us
64
Willow
Around four a.m. this morning, sleep eluded me, and I’d called Camdyn. The ball of tension in my abdomen dissolved the instant I heard his voice. Our little one somersaulted in my stomach during the entire call.
By noon, I’ve had adequate rest. I place my palm to my forehead, stifling a laugh glimpsing at his text message. Leave it to Camdyn. Give him an inch, and he steals a mile. He’s sent me a short video of his face kissing a pillow in his hotel room, saying this could be us, but I’m playing.
“I miss you.” I text him back. Chewing my bottom lip, I drop the cellphone into my pocket and meander around the pool.
“Did you figure out the problem?” I grimace at Jamie. “Last week, I’d stroll outside to a Sandals Resort. All of a sudden, it looks like our pool was built over a pet cemetery.”
From his kneeling position near a weird hole in the ground, he replies, “Eh, maybe go in the house?”
With Camdyn’s voice cushioning my heart, my eyes twinkle. I cover a laugh and joke, “There a dead body in the pool?”
“Something like that.” Jamie’s eyes sweep the length of me for a couple of beats. “Sorry, you look happier than usual.”
“Thanks. I apologize for sending you away yesterday evening. It took forever to fall asleep, but when I did.” I melodramatically sigh.
Nodding slowly, a smile materializes on his face. “Which reminds me, I’ve something for the baby. I’ll grab a trash bag from my truck and the gift. Just stay here.”
Jamie hops up, strides to me, squeezes my shoulders, and heads for the door. While he’s gone, I stroll toward the furthest end of the swampy water. I then take a cautious glimpse into the circular plastic container that’s built into the ground. Wedged into the tiny area is a bloated, fur-matted rat. Gasping, I hurry into the house.
“You looked?” Jamie shakes his head as he enters the front door.
“Ugh.” I start into the bathroom with him behind me. He has a light blue rabbit in his hands and a trash bag. He places it onto the counter and holds my dreads.
“No—hack—Jamie—ugh—get out, please.”
Ten minutes later, the only thing in my belly is Camdyn’s baby. I wash my mouth out.
“You weren’t supposed to stay.” Tears reflect in my eyes. My heart begs for Camdyn. He’d consoled me after a hangover on bum wine.
Jamie’s mouth furrows at the edges. “You had to support that belly while heaving. I held all your beautiful hair.”
Assuming he attempted a joke, I fake a laugh. “Hah. There’ll be plenty more where this comes from soon—I mean more pounds—just one baby.”
While I lean against the marble counter to gather my bearings, Jamie holds out the blue rabbit. “Here. Since Tatum’s harassing you to have a gender reveal soon—here’s hoping the baby’s a boy.”
“This is so cute.” My arms fly around him. “Little . . .” I break off, almost calling the baby Little Cam. “Ahem, the little one’s first gift.”
At the ringing of my cellphone, we glance around the floor. Jamie picks up my fallen iPhone. His smooth jaw restricts. “When did Cam start calling?”
My shoulders ride upward. “He never stopped. I finally answered.”
Tension emanates between us. “You mention the baby?”
“Why? You got video proof? I . . . Damn, sorry. Hormones talking. I haven’t told him yet.”
Jamie strokes my cheek. “That’s best for the baby.”
* * *
It’s been about a week since I talked to Cam, but every night he infiltrates my sleep. Tonight, a loud hammering expels me from a beautiful dream. Squeezing my eyes, I grab my cellphone from the nightstand.
12:02 a.m.
I mumble Hillary’s text. “Lolo, Sleeping at King . . . Oh, for the love of . . .” I grumble. If she’s not making this ruckus, who is? I open the sliding glass door and step out onto the balcony. A shiver of fear skitters over my spine at the bizarre sight. I jerk back into the room and dial Camdyn. The second he answers, I stutter, “Hey, your brother—”
