Page 4 of Curious
“Okay. Um. I guess I could come over for tonight, at least. That way I can help you with that ankle.”
“Deal. We’ll break out the first aid kit for you, too. Give me your phone.”
He furrows his brows.
“You can follow me there, but in case you get lost or we get separated.”
Shelby fishes the phone out of his bag and hands it to me, open. I create a new contact,Camden Cooper, and then text myself.
I give him back his phone. “You’re all set. Follow me.”
CHAPTER2
Shelby
I’m pretty sure today is the second-worst day of my life—my eighteenth birthday gets top honors—except it’s kind of the best, too.
As I follow Cam’s truck, the rubber accelerator feeling foreign under my bare foot, I slowly start being able to breathe easier. I ran from Evan, but not before he got a few hits in, mostly in areas covered by my clothes. I’m going to be bruised tomorrow, and I keep shaking.
Evan seemed like a different person just now. I’ve never been more scared in my life—the way he lashed out at me when he realized his wife had found out he’s a cheater. And, apparently, when she found out he wasn’t straight.
He should’ve thought of potential fallout before he started anything up with me, and yet somehow, it’s my fault? I’m so pissed. I’ve gone from being scared shitless to feeling numb. The tears have dried, and I’m just trying to unpack the past twenty minutes or so. I don’t know where to start.
Actually, I do: with Cam Cooper.
When he appeared like some kind of avenging angel in denim and flannel, I had no idea who he was for a moment. Here’s some random guy running at me, and I was a bit terrified life was going to get worse. Was he going to attack me, too? It’s not like my mind was working rationally after Evan turned on me.
But then I focused, and I couldn’t believe it washim. Cam’s so gorgeous, I never know where to look first. Deep, dark sepia-colored eyes, skin that’s tan from working outside, well-groomed scruff on his cheeks and jaw. He’s one of those big but rangy guys who’s strong, agile, and gets shit done.
So, of course, I’ve had a crush on him in the worst way since I first laid eyes on him. It’s not just me, though. He’s internet famous. His brother, Charlie, an attorney in my office, films their DIY projects together. I’ve maybe watched one or two—cough,dozen, cough—of their time-lapse videos on Ad/VICE, a newer social media platform. I pretty much only use it to watch Cam’s videos, because OMG have you seen the man? He’s unbelievable.
Cam is blue-collar through and through, and I love the messy curls of his dark brown hair, which is normally stuffed into a backward baseball cap, like now. He’s always in jeans and a flannel over a T-shirt, at least the times I’ve seen him at firm events and in his videos.
This crush goes one way, though, like all my crushes do. From what I know based on the chatter in the office, I think Cam’s only dated women. In fact, there was talk of a wedding a year ago or so? Maybe? Well, he’s likely straight. His sister, Reyna, is bisexual, and Charlie is gay, and I have no idea what the chance is of a three-fer for being queer, but it can’t be all that high.
Can it?
I’m assuming Cam is straight and therefore unavailable, so he’s totally my type. Eye roll.
A sharp pain lances through my cheek. I want to call someone, because I need to process what just happened, except I’m not sure I’m coherent enough to make sense. I hurt in weird places. But I hit the hands-free anyway and, with clammy fingers, call the first number I get to in alphabetical order.
Thankfully, Alden picks up fast. He’s become one of my good friends over the course of the past few months. He’s the newish bookkeeper at Weston & Ramirez, where I’ve worked for eight years. In fact, I was the first employee—the founders, Noah Weston and August Ramirez, hired me while I was still in high school.
“Hey,” I say, struggling with how to begin.
“What’s wrong?” Alden asks.
I lick my bruised lips. “How did you know something’s wrong? I mean, it is, but …”
“I can tell by your voice,” he says. “Are you okay?”
He’s such a sweetie. I guess I do sound defeated. I’m only just now getting my limbs to stop shaking and the dizziness to go away. “I am now. Or I will be.”
“What happened?”
“So, you know Evan?”
“I haven’t met him.”
