Fake It Til You Make It

12

They get into Cameron's car but he just sits there looking at Esmeray.

"Are you going to drive?" she questions.

"Nope. Not until you tell me what happened." he shrugs. Of course, he would be this petty.

"Cameron," she says sternly.

"Esmeray," he speaks with the same serious tone. "We aren't leaving until you talk. Unless you would like to drive."

Esmeray glared at him, regretting that she ever told Cam why she didn't like driving. It still wasn't enough to get her to tell him what happened, though. If she were to tell Cameron that Ryan kissed her, he'd probably freak out and make them stop talking just to save his image. She wanted to give herself and Ryan a chance to figure out what was going on between them.

"I felt sick, I went to the bathroom, I threw up," Esmeray responds with an attitude.

"So we both have to leave because you can't handle your liquor?" Esmeray looked at Cameron and then it finally clicked in her mind. His expression was careless, even if Esmeray really was sick, he wouldn't care. Cameron Carter only cares about himself.

Esmeray silently got out of the car and slammed the door shut. She began walking and Cameron scrambled to start the car. He rolled down the window as he pulled up next to her.

"Esmeray, what are you doing?" he asks her.

"I'm walking home," she answers defiantly.

"It was 20 minutes driving here."

"Great, I'll get my steps in." Cameron shook his head at Esmeray's stubbornness.

"Get in the car," he demands.

"Why? Are people looking?"

"Yes, and they see a pretty girl in a little black dress walking alone at 10 p.m." Esmeray looks at him but keeps walking. "Please get in the car. We can go get some food if it will help your stomach," he begs.

"Fine." Esmeray gives in and gets in the car.

They finally reached Esmeray's house after they stopped at Wendy's for food. Esmeray was happy that she got free food but she was still upset at Cameron.

"I hope you feel better, Esmeray," Cameron told her. Esmeray scoffed, not believing him for a second.

"We're at my house, you can stop acting like you care."

"What? I do care, I wouldn't have gotten you food if I didn't care."

Still unconvinced, Esmeray got her food and got out of the car.

She could barely sleep. Esmeray was up half the night thinking about what happened with Ryan. The kiss made her feel things she'd never felt before but she didn't know if they were bad or good. Esmeray knew Ryan loved her. He showed her with his actions but she never felt it romantically. But his hands—when he held her face she felt a sense of safety that flew out the window when Cameron was around.

Was this really what she wanted for herself? A fake relationship with a guy who will never love her? Not when she had a love standing right in front of her. A gentle and kind love. A love that most people beg for. But this wasn't the time for Esmeray to be selfish. Not when she had her family to think about. Sure, Ryan makes her happy, but that won't save her family from falling apart. Everything could be gone in a second.

But still, Esmeray just couldn't get that kiss out of her head. How her heart jumped when his soft lips met hers. How his body fit so perfectly in between her legs. How his eyes burned through hers—like she could see him yearning to taste her. She'd never seen Ryan so desperate to be close to her.