Page 60 of Unstoppable Love

After Cameron left, I’d done some yoga, tried to get some work done, but then I decided to walk to the library. Everywhere I turned in my own house, I saw him, smelled him. Memories of the last twenty-four hours flashed in my mind on repeat. His arms as he carried me. That smirk when he said those filthy things. The way my body had responded.

I figured the library would be a better escape so I could focus. I was dead wrong about that, too. The librarian, April Walker, gave me a knowing wink when I said good morning, which had been followed up with a “I bet it was for you, honey,” and during story time, three moms, with toddlers in their laps, hadn’t paid a lick of attention to the story being told to their kids. Their eyes had been cemented on me, in between their whispers. They were older. Graduated a year before Cameron in high school. The looks a couple shot me weren’t all that friendly either.

I also didn’t like being the center of attention, especially when that attention was whispers about me, not conversations with me.

I’d packed up, headed back home, and spent the rest of the day trying to shake off the looks I’d gotten.

At some point, I’d have to get used to it, but it’d take time.

When Lydia called me and told me we needed to meet, I almost said no.

Now, with more whispers and glances, I was wishing I had.

“It’ll blow over,” she said. “But it’s not like you guys haven’t known each other for years. He could have been there for any reason.”

“That’s probably what the whispers are all about. There has to be some reason he was at my house.”

I was the best friend’s little sister. To the people looking in my direction, I was probably too young for Cameron. Too naïve. Too dumb to be sitting my ass back in New Haven when I had a life in Denver. I could only imagine the gossip mill about this.

“Don’t talk about yourself like that,” Lydia said and bit into her Reuben. “But maybe keep your eyes open, too. Who knows who’ll have an issue and get in your face about it.”

Jimmy Morton came to mind. He despised the Kelleys, and the last interaction I had with him had been less than fun. He’d definitely have something to say.

“So, you going to tell me what happened?”

“He came over. We ate dinner, we talked, I fell asleep. I didn’t even know he stayed, Lydia. He was just… still there this morning when I woke up.”

She looked at her sandwich like it was moldy, and then me. “That’s it?”

“That’s it.”

Besides the dreams he said he had about me. Outside the fact he’d carried me to bed. Sure, there were specifics I was never mentioning, not even to my bestie, but all the things I told her happened.

“Well, that’s boring,” she muttered. Her gaze went behind me, and then she mouthed in my direction, “Kelley incoming.”

“Shit,” I whispered, but I was too late.

“Don’t sound so excited to see me.” I looked up, and thankfully, it was Gavin Kelley. Bryce would be a loudmouth, giving me shit in front of everyone. Dalton would probably scowl, because that was all he seemed to do. Caleb would definitely tease me, although he’d do it quieter.

Gavin was the quiet one. The serious one. He was also holding a white plastic bag filled with to-go containers in one hand, and his daughter’s, Josie, hand in the other.

“Gavin,” I said and grinned at Josie. “Hey, sweetie. How are you?”

“I rode Pickles today!”

Pickles was one of the Kelleys’ tamer horses. Smaller. She had to be old too, because I’d been riding her since I was ten. “I love Pickles. Did you give her special treats?”

“Carrots and an apple,” she said, leaning in like it was a secret. “I wasn’t supposed to do the apple, but Grandma wasn’t watching.”

Gavin grinned down at his daughter like she’d told me she’d solved world hunger. The pride of a father wrapped around his daughter’s little finger.

“You’re a sneaky thing,” I told her. “I like it.”

Lord knows I’ve given my share of extra treats to Pickles over the years, too.

“Stopped by to get Josie after I was done with work tonight. You should know Ma was in town today and heard the news about Cam and you making their rounds. She wanted to call you, I told her not to.”

“Your mom knows Cameron was at my house last night?” Oh god. That had to mean my own parents knew, and probably Isaiah. And how awesome did that look to have him spend the night at my house when I hadn’t told my parents anything yet? Mrs. Kelley and my mom probably had an impromptu prayer meeting for our souls.

---