Page 30 of Cougar

* * *

“How was the fundraiser?” Jules asks as she shifts, folding her hands on my chest and propping her chin on top of them.

“Eventful,” I chuckle. “Lauren was there.”

Jules face twists in disgust. “She’s like a herpes.”

I throw my head back and laugh. Her English has improved greatly since she moved to the States over ten years ago, but sometimes her Russian comes out.It’s adorable.

I was a senior in high school when Jules moved in with the Sterlings next door. It didn’t take long for us to become friends. Aside from my mom and sister, Jules is one of the few females I fully trust. She knows everything about me, including my feelings for Emerson—not that she really gave me a choice.

“Cameron… Cameron… Cameron,” my mom called out, her voice growing louder each time she said my name as her footsteps drew closer.

Quickly I slid the photo I’d been staring at for the last half hour between the pages of my math textbook and fixed my attention on the page in front of me, pretending to study.

With a quick knock, she peeked her head around the door. “Cameron, honey, didn’t you hear me calling you? Dinner’s ready, and the Sterlings are here.”

“Sorry, Mom,” I replied, keeping my eyes on my textbook. “I’m studying for the big math test tomorrow. I have to pass with at least a B or Coach won’t let me pitch the next game. I’ll be down in a minute.”

“Okay, sweetie. Take your time. I’ll make you a plate.”

“Thanks.”

I listened to her footsteps fade as she moved farther down the hall, but a new set grew louder the closer they got to my door. My bedroom door swung open and in walked Jules.

Jules was a distant relative to Mrs. Sterling. She’d moved here from Russia to attend classes at Heritage University. Jules was just a year older than me, and we’d recently become good friends. She was pretty with white-blonde hair, blue eyes, and pale skin, and was totally off-limits—according to my parents and the Sterlings—which was fine with me. She wasn’t my type.

I preferred older women—one in particular, with shiny black hair and green eyes. A woman who was far out of my league.

Unavailable.

Forbidden.

“You’re not eating with us?” she asked as she moved to sit on the edge of my bed.

“I’m studying,” I replied, returning my attention to the open page of my textbook, pretending to focus.

“Bullshit,” she argued. It sounded like “bullsheet” and I chuckled at her attempt to call me out.

“What?”

“Your face.” She pointed. “You have a funny look.”

“No I don’t,” I denied, raising my book to hide my smile. Emerson’s picture slipped from between the pages and floated down to my bed.

“What’s that?”

“Nothing.” I grabbed the picture before she could see it.

“Cameron has a secret,” she teased in a singsong type of tone, giggling as she snatched it from my hand and hopped up from my bed.

One thing Jules hadn’t learned since she moved to the States was boundaries.

“Seriously, Jules, give it back.” I climbed off my bed and attempted to retrieve it.

“Let me see.” She turned her back to me. “Oh, she is pretty, Cameron.” She eyed me over her shoulder with a puzzled expression. “You have a girlfriend?” Of course she would be confused since I’d never mentioned a girlfriend in the time we’d known each other.

“No. It’s an old picture.” I dropped down on the edge of my bed. “That’s Emerson.”

---