The problem with living in a town the size of Vertie, was that your dating options were extremely limited. Even with your dating app range set to 50 Miles you still scraped the bottom of the barrel, three towns over, in Plains. My thumb swiped, rejecting suiter after suiter, until I was at serious risk for CMC joint arthritis.
"Why the fuck are you even messing around on that thing?" Damion huffed as he crossed the restaurant he owned and bussed his own table. One of the other problems with living in a town the size of Vertie, was that there were never enough people for the workforce. Especially when your best worker just quit to go have their FIFTH child.
"What's wrong with dating apps?"
"Absolutely nothing. Lord knows I've used a few. But you already have a seriously fine neighbor friend who would love to scratch that itch you're swiping for."
"Ew!" I used his own dish towel against him, whipping him playfully across his toned arm. "First of all, he's not my friend." Damion rolled his eyes as he shoved the tray of dirty dishes on the kitchen counter. "Secondly, we both know I'm not going there. It's been discussed, and it's not happening. There's just too much history, and I don't want to get sucked down that rabbit hole...again." Damion cocked his head, ready to sling another provocative insult, but I quickly cut him off. "And don't call my horny swiping an itch. It makes me sound like I have a yeast infection or some shit. This kitty cat is pristine, thank you very much."
"Meow!" Damion crooned as the door to the restaurant swung inward. "We close in five!" He shouted, not taking his eyes off my phone as his wet hands attempted to swipe their way across the screen. Always thinking he could salvage my love life.
"I just came for a slice of key lime. If you haven't already sold out for the day." Camden Carter's raspy unsure voice had both of our heads snapping to attention.
I turned quickly to see Damion's pained eyes scanning over his distressed blue jeans and dark blue button down that brought out the blue in his eyes. To the untrained eye, Camden looked like your typical corn fed, church going, southern gentleman. And for all intents and purposes he was. Along with being my best friend's soul mate. If they both weren't so wounded and stubborn to see it.
"I think we might have a slice left." My best friend muttered, straightening his spine as if the customer hadn't ran over his heart with a bulldozer a few months ago. Damion Cross was one hell of an actor, but no one was buying his performance. As much as he tried to sell it with his sashay across the restaurant and through the swinging kitchen doors.
"Nice to see you, Camden." I drawled, finding my southern manners as the minutes ticked on. Damion was, undoubtedly, trying to make Camden sweat as he "searched for the last piece of pie". We both knew it was right on top of the fridge in the Saran Wrap, ready for me to take it home - not that I needed it, my ass was big enough.
"You too. Wait, what's that? You swiping for the next great Vertie love story?" Camden inclined his head toward my still active screen and the man holding the ugly slimy catfish there. As much as I wanted to dislike Camden Carter, he was just so dang...cute. His sweet little dimples and the way his calloused hands tucked into the pockets of his jeans in an ah shucks kind of way that was completely unintentional.
"No way. The next great Vertie love story just walked into this place." I made a point of crossing my arms over my chest after tucking my phone into my back pocket. Camden went to look over his shoulder, but I snatched his arm, losing my patience. "Quit looking around, you know I'm talking about you and Damien!"
"We both know that can't happen." He tried to shrug me off, but I dug in.
"Why not? It's not the 1950s. No one worth a damn will care if you guys get together. Fuck the little old ladies in this town. They won't be around much longer to ruin the chance of happiness you two have."
"It's not that simple." Camden was getting red now.
"What's not so simple?"
"My mom's dying!" He blurted and I retracted my hand as if he'd slapped me. "Colon cancer. Stage three. And she said the only thing that can bring her peace is if I settle down with a nice girl and start a family. She said she can't leave this world if she is worried about me."
"Wow...that's...wow. I'm sorry, Camden."
"Thank you."
"But...I don't understand. Why can't you settle down with a nice boy who loves you and owns his own freaking business, and adopt some amazingly wonderful kids? That sounds like a pretty amazing family if you ask me."
"If you ask me too." His eyes looked haunted and glazed as he stared at Damion sauntering out of the kitchen. "I love him, I just know they never will." His voice sounded like he'd swallowed a thousand marbles.
Before I could stand on the table and scream from the top of my lungs about true love and TO HELL WITH EVERYTHING AND EVERYONE ELSE, Camden had the togo bag clutched in his hand and was running out the door like the place was on fire.
"What was that all about?" Damion raised his eyebrows at me, but I shook my head. Camden's business was his own. As much as I loved my best friend, I knew his mother's diagnosis was not mine to share, and if those two assholes could get out of their own way for more than ten seconds, they may just realize how perfect they were for each other.
"Nothing." I shrugged. "Let's forget about your love life and get back to mine." I waved the phone in the air, knowing Damion wouldn't miss up the opportunity to meddle. I guessed that was what best friends just did for each other...
YOU ARE READING
The Impact of Intimacy
Romance***ONGOING*** Being the only virgin left in small town, Texas was a major fucking buzz kill. Bailey Sawyers didn't get invited to parties, she didn't get to gossip with the girls, and Bryce Hall certainly never looked in her direction. Which was wh...
