Chasing Fallen

Chapter 34

Shopping was uneventful. We got all of the things that were on the list dad texted me and a few other things that Conrad wanted.

He was adorable but dare I say it, slightly spoiled by his mother who didn't quite have it within herself to say no.

We also ended up driving to the park because of said adorable boy. The moment the car stopped, the overeager McGuire ran out of the car with his new ball and an equally excited Coal.

Easy sighed, "I should probably go after him. You guys can catch up right?" He turned to face me.

"That's okay." I answered for the both of us since Annie seemed too preoccupied with her thoughts.

With that, the older boy went after his brother.

Annie and I walked together in a comfortable silence and sat on one of the park benches. We watched the boys pass the ball to each other, in their own world, enjoying familial bliss.

A sad smile made it's way onto my face when I remembered how close my siblings and I were before puberty hit them. I couldn't help but feel my mother's indoctrination had also gotten to them too.

I looked down at my lap.

Things weren't going as planned.

My phone started ringing and upon seeing that it was an unknown number, I blocked it. It was probably him.

The dull thud in my head, the tell tale sign of a headache, increased with a vengeance. I shut my eyes to alleviate the burning sensation at the back of my eyes.

"He wasn't always like that you know?" I heard. My eyes popped open as I turned to face her.

I furrowed my eye brows, "Who, Easy?"

"No, his dad." She said as she wistfully stared at Easy and Conrad.

"We met in Vernice when he was on vacation. I was young and looking for an adventure with an older guy and one look at him, let's just say I was smitten from the beginning."

"He would spoil me. He knew the right things to say. Took me places I've never been to before. Great in bed too." She chuckled for a bit. "And the best part was that he promised me that he would make me a model. He would give me the world."

"I inevitably fell for him."

"One night, Robert was drunk and he told me his son was dead and he wanted a child to replace him and I wanted to make him happy so we had unprotected sex. Next thing, I was carrying Conrad."

"When I told him, he didn't seem too happy with the news. At the time, I just thought he was in shock."

"He asked if I wanted to abort and I told him no. He said he would take care of it. Next thing I know I was being strung into a shot gun wedding, where I met Conner for the first time."

"I dropped everything, Camille. I dropped everything, my friends, a man who loved me and family in Vernice to come here to be with the man I thought I loved, the man I love. Only to figure out he was in love with someone else he couldn't have and he'd lied about his son. I was willing to overlook that of course. I was in love and I figured he'd come around because I had given him a beautiful son."

"He took care of me and Conrad. He gave me the world. Helped me start up a cosmetics company and got me modeling gigs. He did everything he promised. But there was nothing I could do. He's still hung over the wife that he lost over a decade ago. How could I ever compete with her?"

"But I was okay with that. I really was, until I saw how he treated Conner..." she sighed.

"Y'know, he didn't like me when he met me. Of course, I came out of nowhere since his dad never bothered giving him a heads up and I was old enough to be his sister and he suddenly had a brother all in a day." She said with a watery smile.

"He warmed up to me with time, possibly because he was sorry for me. He probably saw how much I loved Robert and how emotionally unavailable he was."

"Easy became my best friend. My first and only friend ever since I left Venice. And to see him get the shot down by the only parent he has left hurt."

I looked at Easy as he lifted Conrad into the air, smiling big as his brother squealed in delight. "What happened?" I found myself asking.

"Robert blames him for his mother's death." Annie told me grimly.

But didn't she die in a car accident?

"Wh-why are you telling me all of this?" I managed to choke out.

"He's lonely. He denies it, but he is. You're good for him Camille and I know that he'll be good for you too. He cares about you."

As if he knew that we were talking about him, he turned to face me.

We stared at each other for a while before he smiled and waved me over.

My breath was knocked out of my chest. I got quickly got up, halted and glanced at Annie.

"It's okay, I'll be there in a second." She shooed me away.

I ran over to the two boys with a grin on my face as Easy kicked the ball to me. "You're going down, McGuire!" I screamed.

"As long as you're going down with me, Campbell!"

__________

I know that this was a really short chapter but I really didn't want to add a lot to it. I feel like way too much happened regardless of how short it is.

So what do you think about Annie's story?

What do you think happened for Mr McGuire to be so cold to his son?

What do you think Camille should do about the whole Peyton situation?

If you enjoyed this chapter please leave a vote and a comment!

I love you guys! Till we meet next Friday!