Page 83 of Brand
“It was a guy, actually,” he corrected without any hesitation or shyness in his voice. “And well, he found someone perfect for him. I wouldn’t take her away from him for the world.”
Um.
What?
Maybe it was my drunken brain but it started to go places that it had once been. I mean, Chris and Brand did seem so perfect to me not too long ago. I tried to replay our conversations in my mind but everything was too fuzzy right now.
“No, Cami, I’m not talking about Brand. We are dude-bros only and for real,” Chris said obviously seeing the look on my face that I thought I was hiding. Then he laughed and shook his head at me.
I would have said that I didn’t care, because really I didn’t. If Chris was gay or bi or whatever that was fine with me. And if Brand was the same way that was alright too. Maybe it was that the whole thing had come out of left field and taken me by surprise.
“You’ve had sex with men?” Laurel asked beside me. “So have I!” She then squealed like it was the most amazing thing that they had something in common.
“Yeah, I think it’s time for bed for you.” I laughed and pushed my way up to standing.
After much protest, Chris and I managed to get her into the spare room, which was set up with a beachy but still masculines theme. I liked it. It felt cool yet warm and cozy.
“I’m sorry about that,” I said after Laurel was tucked away. “I hope she didn’t offend you.”
Though I was sure Laurel didn’t mean it that way, I still felt the need to smooth things over.
“No worries. I don’t get offended at much. Being bi kinda makes you like that.” He shrugged and I could tell he added that part in there to satisfy my curiosity. “Is she going to be alright?”
“I hope so,” I whispered. “I know things are really hard for her right now, but I think she’s finding her way. Thanks for this. I think we both needed it.”
“No problem. My door is open any time,” he said then pulled me in for a hug before we said goodnight.
The next day we hung out at the beach. Laurel had the day off from the coffee shop that she worked at. Gwen had helped get her the job, and though I knew it wasn’t something she wanted to do for the rest of her life, it was easy enough that it would work for now. Baby steps on living in the real world and all.
I sent Sketch a text telling him I needed a personal day. It wasn’t something I was going to make a habit of, but I felt like I needed to be there for Laurel. I knew they would understand. And I didn’t lie to him either. I told him I was going to be at the beach all day. He didn’t disappoint me by sending a text back asking me to take pictures of “hot chicks” for him, preferably ones that had gone swimming and lost their tops. Yep, I rolled my eyes at that and sent him a picture of a baby with a saggy, waterlogged diaper and another of an old man in a Speedo. Then I laughed to myself.
I headed home back to the compound just as the sun was starting to set. I wanted to sleep in Brand’s bed, well I guess reallyourbed. I needed his scent to surround me. It was silly, right? He’d only been gone two days and he would be back tomorrow, but I still worried and missed him like crazy.
