Page 3 of Always Be My Baby

“You’re going off to graduate school this summer to get your MBA in Los Angeles. How about Cammy? She’s staying here in New York, right?” He didn’t give me time to answer and continued, “Have you two talked about the distance relationship? It’s time to grow up, my friend.” He patted my back and stood up. “It’s late. Get some sleep.”

“Yeah, thanks,” I said.

There was no doubt in my mind I loved Cammy and I would do anything for her, even if it meant I would have to cut my friendship with Caroline, but Paul was right. Cammy and I had to have that talk soon, if she gave me a second chance. We’d both received our acceptance letters recently and we both put off talking about it.

I had always planned to move back home, but what about Cammy? Knowing there was no way in hell I could fall asleep, I called a few of the pledges to give them a task. Cammy didn’t want to see me, but that didn’t mean I couldn’t do anything about it indirectly.

I needed my girl to forgive me, and I had to find a way to get her back.

Chapter Three

Not Enough

Cammy

The next morning, I dragged myself out of bed. My body ached as if I had trained for a marathon, and my heart... I wasn’t sure I had one anymore. I felt nothing. Somehow, I felt disoriented from reality and time. But I had responsibilities, the only reason I forced myself out of bed.

There was no way in hell I was going to let Lucas see me with puffy eyes if he even dared to show up at my apartment again. I’d shoved two spoons in the freezer last night, so I wrapped them in paper towels and placed them over my eyes this morning. Those darn things were so cold, I couldn’t leave them on for long.

I allowed five minutes before I dashed out the door, my hair tied back into a ponytail with a scrunchie and no makeup on. The frozen spoons had helped alleviate the puffiness somewhat but not entirely. It would have to do.

I had been late to my job several times, no thanks to Lucas who had slept over often, and I couldn’t afford to be late again. I quickly shut out the thought of Lucas and sprinted across the street to the food court where I’d worked for the last year.

“Hey, Gus.” I waved and rushed to the cash register. Not only did I not want to be there, I didn’t want to talk to anyone.

“You’re late.” He frowned, adjusting the stainless-steel containers lined up.

I gave him a small, innocent smile, not really giving a shit what he thought. He had replaced Stacey, the other manager whom I adored. Even though it had been a month, I still missed her. A Backstreet Boys song was playing, and I lost myself in the music.

“Uh, what?” I mouthed the words to the song.

“You’re late,” he repeated, with a sting in his voice.

“Sorry. I’m only late five minutes and we just opened. Besides, nobody comes to the burrito station for breakfast.” I gestured toward the bakery shop across from us. They sold muffins and coffee and all kinds of yummy stuff. As if on cue, as if God played a trick on me, a couple lined up to order.

Gus smirked, but his eyes fell down to my bare legs and my gray penny loafers. Pervert. Or maybe he liked my shoes. I usually didn’t wear shorts to work, but what the hell. It wasn’t like I was working in a professional office.

As lunchtime approached, the line became longer. Tracy, who worked only for three hours every day for lunch, finally arrived. She too was five minutes late. I narrowed my eyes at Gus, who simply rolled his eyes as if to say, yes, I know she’s late and don’t you dare say anything to me.

“Hey, Cammy.” Tracy smiled and went to help Gus. She sported Calvin Klein jeans and jelly platform shoes. A black plastic choker necklace hugged her neck. Not one I would wear, but it looked cute on her.

I smiled in reply with a wave of my hand. We worked fast and diligently, moving the line, but even then the time seemed to creep by. My body weighed a ton. Every step was a struggle, and every word was an effort.

I ducked lower from embarrassment when I spotted a few of Lucas’s fraternity pledges. They had been at the party and no doubt saw what had happened. Ugh! I wish I could disappear, better yet, make them disappear.

Crap! They filed in line.

“Six forty-eight,” I said to the girl in front of me, holding a tray of Gus’s special burrito and a soft drink.

She dug into her wallet and pulled out a five and a dollar. “Shoot. This is all I have. Can you just skip the drink?”

“Let me see...” I reached inside my front pocket, recalling I had shoved some change in the last time I wore those shorts. “Ah.” I pulled out two quarters. “I’ve got you covered.”

She lifted a corner of her mouth. “You’re so sweet. Thank you for covering for me. I promise to pay you back.”

“Whatever. It’s small change.” I moved on to the next person after giving her a smile.

Then...