Page 49 of Stanton Unconditional

You owe it to me to listen.

Call me. Now!!!!

“Oh baby, just go.” I whisper as my heart fills with hurt. I link my hands on top of my head and sit back in my chair. I blow out a deep breath of regret as I go over the words ‘Speak to me or I will never forgive you’. What if he really never forgives me and I lose him…forever. Would we make it if I went with him? I know I’m not good girlfriend material at the moment. I’m just too insecure and that trait doesn’t sit well with me. He deserves someone stronger and in the life that he leads insecurity would poison anything beautiful we ever had between us.

No. Sacrifice now for payment later. I have made the right decision. If we are meant to be it will work out in the end and if not… who knows and who cares for that matter? A life alone with ten cats sounds good at the moment. I’m so sick of my head being filled with all this pressure. I’m twenty-five. I should be tarting around town without a care in the world… like Abbie. Not suffering terrifying nightmares and migraine headaches not to mention the inability to eat or sleep. I don’t need this shit in my life. It’s just not worth it. I’ve been summoned to Oscars tonight by the girls. They had dinner again last night with the boys so I know I am going to get a lecture. They have been blissfully silent up until this point and not wanting to upset me but that will all end tonight.

I walk sheepishly into Oscar’s with Max at eight fifteen. I

have been staying with my mother but tonight I am going to go home after this. I need to get back to some normality. I see the girls sitting in our regular seats and smile and wave on my way over to them. I flop into the large leather chair and Max goes and sits in the corner on the other side of the café at a table and pulls out his iPad to start reading his book.

“Hi.” I smile.

The girls smile and exchange glances. “We’ve ordered for you.” Bridget smiles.

I nod. “Thanks, can we have cake?”

“Umm, yeah. Cameron is just getting us some.” Abbie winces.

My eyes snap to the counter where, sure enough, I see Cameron picking out cake.

“Are you fucking kidding me?” I snap.

“Tash, Cameron is our friend too. He’s done nothing wrong.

Why can’t you talk to him?”

I screw up my face. “You two are totally fucked. How dare you ask him here without telling me? What, is Joshua hiding in the toilet?” My eyes fly around the restaurant.

“No, he wouldn’t come. We asked him.”

“God, I’m off you two. You’re unbelievable,” I whisper angrily. Cameron rejoins the table. “Tash.” He nods.

I smile slightly at him. He’s furious with me for hurting his brother. I can feel the animosity from here. This is a disaster. I glare at my two friends who are openly uncomfortable. The waitress brings over the coffee and cake.

“Thank you,” I whisper as she passes me the cake. I take a massive slurp of my coffee, anything so I don’t have to talk. I gasp in pain. Shit, I burnt my tongue. What in the hell temperature is this, 200 fucking degrees? Everybody watches me silently as they drink their coffee. Awkward.

“So, when are you going back to LA, Cam?” Abbie asks. “Sunday, I go back to work on Monday,” he answers flatly.

Everybody nods and takes another drink of their coffee in silence. God, I’m furious.

“How are you Natasha?” Cameron asks.

I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’ve been better,” I reply flatly.

He nods but stays silent, his eyes locked on mine. I’m not taking your shit either. Bring it on, I feel like fighting with you asshole.

“Where is Adrian?” I ask

“Back in the hotel with Joshua.”

I nod and take another sip of my gazillion-degree coffee.

Why did I ask that?

“Did Nicholas Anastas ever call him? He hassled me for his number and I never heard anything,” I splutter through my burnt tongue.

Cameron shrugs his shoulders and shakes his head. “Yeah, he came over for dinner at Joshua’s last week.”