Page 64 of Brides and Brothers
Camille took her popcorn bag out of the microwave and shook it. She justified her shouting as a need to be heard over the rattle of the bag. “I have good reason. Your brother is planning on taking out some new girl tonight.”
Cade sighed and shook his head. “Only because he beat me to her. But I have it all arranged; I’ll take her out next week.”
Camille’s temper flared, and her pulse accelerated to a dangerous pace. She should keep her mouth shut, but who else would step in and say something? They didn’t have a mom, but they did have a big sister now. “Do you even care how Macey and Raina will feel about this? They’re probably turning down dates to be with you, while you two are running after every attractive female who crosses your path. If you don’t want to date them seriously, then you have to break up with them before you take any other woman out.”
“Oh, we have to, do we?” Cade said casually.
Camille scowled. “Yes! Or I’ll have Aiden come... come...”
“Spank us?” Daegan finished for her.
“I’ll stop feeding you!” Camille marched off to her room with her popcorn and book but stopped halfway there. She turned, tears pricking her eyes, and pointed at them. “It’s the code of a gentleman—the difference between a guy I can respect and one I can’t.”
The next morning, Camille gagged while brushing her teeth and lost the contents of her stomach in the bathroom sink. She took a deep breath and rinsed the sink. Loving her body was hard these days. She put her tired head on the counter, and her hands shook as they gripped the edge. Where were her happy thoughts? Regardless of her lack of positivity, she was going to have to buck up.
Her nausea was much worse if she slept poorly, and last night had been rough. Daegan and Cade had had her so riled, she’d called Aiden to complain about them. After pouring her heart out, he’d told her she’d blown the situation out of proportion. Daegan and Cade were noncommittal, lighthearted, and silly, and she needed to adjust her expectations for them. When she’d begged for him to interfere, Aiden had reminded her that they were grown men and would have to reap the consequences of their actions.
That meantshewas going to have to break it to Macey and Raina, because obviously Daegan and Cade weren’t going to man up and do it themselves. Camille turned on the shower and took her time getting ready. The boys were used to getting their own breakfasts again, but on weekends Camille forced herself to make them something special. Today it would be for Easton, Flynn, and Benson. Cade and Daegan would have to cry over their cereal bowls while the rest of them ate something extra gourmet.
She put on her house slippers and padded to the kitchen to find something palatable for her sensitive tummy. She saw a note on the fridge and pulled it from underneath the magnet.
Sorry for last night. We fixed it with the girls.
—C&D
They must’ve called Macey and Raina and broken up with them. It was the decent thing to do, even if Camille wished they hadn’t needed to do it. She would have to bring some chocolate to her friends and commiserate with them.
She rubbed her eyes. How many days until Aiden was back? Moments like this made her miss him more than ever. If he were here, he’d be dealing with this too. How was she ever going to have a normal marriage if Cade and Daegan were noncommittal and never moved out? Her eyes misted over. She’d been an eternal watering pot for the last two months. She swiped at her eyes and sniffled a few times as she pulled out her cookbook.
Later that morning, while Camille was sitting on a couch in the family room and folding laundry, Daisha called her.
“Camille’s Washhouse, this is the laundry lady speaking. How can I help you?”
“Sorry, wrong number,” Daisha replied. “I was calling for Millie’s Matchmaking Services.”
Camille chuckled. “Let me transfer you. Okay, Wishes for Kisses, Camille speaking.”
Daisha snorted. “I had no idea your talents were so versatile. I’m impressed.”
“No,I’mimpressed. You have impeccable timing,” Camille said into the phone. “You always call while I’m folding laundry, which is exactly when I need someone to distract me. I could give the commercial laundry businesses in town a run for their money. Someone needs to know about my talents.”
“They’re lucky to have you over there. Free labor and all.”
Camille smiled. “You’d better believe it. They do help a little, but I don’t have the patience to stare at dirty work clothes until their wash day comes. And I think serving them has been what I needed. But you didn’t call to hear about laundry, did you?”
“Nope, I’ve got something a little more important on my mind.”
“What’s up?” Camille cradled the phone between her ear and her shoulder so she could set down the towel she’d just folded and pull out another.
“Benson sent me flowers this morning.”
Camille dropped the towel into her lap and held the phone closer to her ear. “You mean Derek?”
Daisha sighed into the phone. “No, I mean Benson.”
“Derek will have his head. Don’t tell him. He’ll forbid you from coming here again.” Camille leaned back into the couch cushion.
Daisha chuckled into the phone. “I don’t think Derek is going to care. At least, I won’t know if he cares or care that he cares.”
