Page 31 of Keeper
Camden scoffs, “So serious, baby bro. Don’t worry about me. I think you need to turn your focus on your little flatmate situation. Just look at how easily Poppy seems to be fitting in with our ladies.”
They follow me as I take Poppy’s drink over to her. I can’t help but observe her as she laughs at something Belle whispers in her ear. Poppy has always been charismatic and could talk easily with anyone. But seeing her slip in so effortlessly now that we’re all grown up is…nice. My chest puffs up with pride.
She waves her drink glass at me in thanks, her eyes twinkling that familiar Poppy sparkle. “It’s not tequila and cream soda, is it?”
Everyone at the table groans.
My eyes crinkle with mirth. “You’ll have to taste it to find out.”
The warning tone doesn’t go unnoticed by her. Several layers of questions could be interpreted under that statement if she really wanted to dig. Regardless, she takes a sip of her drink and winks, the tiny gesture sending a jolt of electricity through my body.
She turns her smile to Vi and asks, “What did you do with Rocky for the night?”
Vi beams. “We got a proper sitter for the first time!” She raises her hands up in the air in mock celebration and then takes a drink of her beer.
“I wanted to babysit,” Tanner bellows. “But Camden said I had to be here.”
“We wanted to be here!” Belle defends, eyes wide and angry on Tanner. “It’s my best mate’s birthday. We wouldn’t miss it, you knob.”
“That’s not what I meant! Indie knows I love her like a pig loves not being bacon,” Tanner argues. “But I would have stayed in so you all could have a night out. I don’t like the idea of leaving our Rock Star with some stranger off the street.”
“She’s not off the street!” Vi exclaims. “She was hired from an agency. She’s been vetted. She’s completely professional!”
Tanner scowls, scratching his beard. “I still don’t like it.”
“Well, we have to find someone we like before your wedding because I intend to pass off my little princess and party!”
Everyone laughs and then Hayden elbows Tanner with his mobile in his hands. “Two words. Nanny cam.”
Tanner’s eyes fly wide. “Oh, thank fuck for that!”
The two huddle over the phone like it’s the next M. Night Shyamalan flick before Camden’s stern voice interjects. “Are you all quite done?”
We look at him to see his stony expression. Very un-Camden like. Just then, a waitress walks toward us holding a flaming birthday cake with over twenty tall, skinny candles shooting off fiery sparkles. She sets it on the picnic table in front of everyone.
“Specs, can you come here?” Cam asks, his face bathed in golden light. He grips the back of his neck and looks away nervously. Truthfully, he looks how he does before a match. Like an edgy wreck.
Indie doesn’t seem to notice, her eyes bright on the flaming cake as she stands and hurries over. Her hands clasp together with glee as she smiles at Camden. “Oh, Cam, I love it! What a surprise! Thank you!”
She leans forward for a kiss, but he pulls back, his face looking awkward. “This isn’t your only surprise.” He exhales heavily.
We all watch in silence as he digs inside the pocket of his jeans. He pulls out a black velvet box, and there’s a collective gasp as he drops down on one knee. Indie’s hands fly to her face, covering her glasses to hide her complete and total look of shock.
“No fucking way,” she whispers breathily, dropping her hands. Clearly she did not suspect this.
Camden clears his throat. “Tanner and I have shared everything most of our lives, so I suppose it makes sense that we share our engagements, too.”
Vi laughs inelegantly and croaks, “Oh my God! Is this real?”
My smile is a mix of shock and awe as I shake my head at the scene unfolding before me.
Camden smirks up at Tan and then steels himself to look at Indie.When their eyes connect, you can see it…The shift. The complete giving of himself to her. He opens up like a book for her to devour. “Specs, since the moment I was injured last year and thought my life was over, I’ve been proven wrong time and time again and shown that the best is yet to come. And all of those bests have been better because of you.”
He opens the box, revealing a ring of diamonds around a platinum band. It’s nontraditional. It’s very Indie.
He takes a deep breath and exhales. “I am thine, and thou art mine,Specs. Marry me.”
There’s complete silence as he says the final two words. They don’t come out as a demand. They come out as a plea. A raw, vulnerable plea for her to put him out of his misery. Suddenly, Indie starts laughing like a hyena. We all stare at her, completely gobsmacked and awaiting her reply.
