AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I think so. Let’s do this.”
Thirty-Eight
Camryn
It takes us almost four hours to get to Durham because the traffic was horrendous, but it was so worth the journey. The hotel is beautiful. But I can’t admire it for too long as I’m bursting for the loo. Jamie says she can check us in while I find the toilet.
When I get back to the lobby, Jamie is waiting at the bottom of the stairs, and we head to our room together, almost getting lost on the way.
The room has a four-poster bed, and a balcony that looks out over the beautiful gardens. As Jamie explores the room, I open the doors to the balcony, stepping out into the sun and basking in its warm rays.
After freshening up, we head down for a quick lunch before we go out on some excursion that Jamie pre-booked.
As it’s such a glorious day we decide to sit out on the terrace. Jamie seems nervous and distracted, and she doesn’t eat much of her lunch either. Which is always a concern as she loves her food.
“Are you okay? You seem, I don’t know…distracted,” I say, laying my napkin on my plate.
“Huh. Oh, yeah, I’m fine. I didn’t sleep well, so feeling a little tired.”
“If you’re not feeling up to it, we can always give the excursion a miss.” I haven’t got a clue what the excursion even is, so I’m happy to just explore while Jamie catches up on her sleep.
“No, no. I’m fine, the fresh air will wake me up. Besides, we don’t want miss this.” She checks her watch, then asks for the bill when the waiter comes to take our plates.
I don’t say anymore, but there’s definitely something going on with her. I plan to get it out of her by the end of the day. We pay the bill then Jamie suggests that I should change my shoes, so I head up to the room. Quickly switching out my flip flops for pumps and grabbing a jumper before meeting Jamie back downstairs. Only Jamie isn’t there, and after searching the lobby for her with no luck, I make my way outside. I spot her leaning against the car with her phone to her ear, hastily ending the call before I reach her.
“What’s—” She cuts me off before I get another word out.
“That’s better. Okay, let’s go.” Opening the car and climbing in.
I get in the passenger side, suddenly nervous and certain there’s something she’s not telling me. We drive away, neither of us saying a word, and it’s awkward as fuck. Just as I go to ask her what the hell is going on, we pull into a car park, and Jamie gets out announcing that we’re here.
“That’s it. What the fuck is going on, Jamie? I’m not going anywhere until you tell me.” I stand in front of her, blocking her exit.
“What do you mean? There’s nothing going on.” I’m not buying it, and I raise a brow at her. “There’s nothing going on. Just more shit with my parents, and I don’t want it to spoil our weekend so come on.” She practically drags me towards a small dirt pathway.
We walk a little way before Jamie stops suddenly. “Shit. I left something in the car. You go on ahead, and I’ll be right back.” Before I get a chance to tell her I’ll come with her, she’s gone. I keep walking as the sound of gushing water reaches me, and as the path comes to an end, I step out into a small clearing. I don’t notice the man standing there at first, too taken aback by the stunning view of the waterfall in front of me.
My breath hitches when I finally see him standing there. I already know who it is before he even turns around. The butterflies are going crazy in my chest.
“Hey, Bambi. It’s not exactly Niagara, but it’s the best I could do.” His deep, velvety voice washes over me like a balm, and I almost fall to my knees at the sight of him.
“Ryder.” His name is a whisper on my lips, it’s all I can manage. My heart is beating so loud I can hear it over the water fall below us. And as I step closer to him, my knees give out beneath me. Strong arms wrap around me, stopping me before I hit the ground. Finally, I find my voice. “I’m going to fucking kill Jamie. She knew, didn’t she?”
Ryder nods as he leads me over to the blanket I’ve only now just seen. Ryder lets me go, and I sit before I fall again. He takes a seat opposite me, and I take him in. Looking at him is like a tall glass of water on a hot summer’s day. One I’ve been dying for, and I didn’t even know it. His hair is a little longer on top, scruff on his jaw that I love so much, and my core clenches at the memory of it between my thighs. Holy shit.
“What are you doing here?” It comes out a bit more angrily than I expected.
“I decided that you’ve had long enough.”
I scoff at the arrogance of his answer. “Right, and what, you just get to decide when I’ve had enough time, do you?” This time the venom in my tone is certainly intended.
“No, I don’t, Cam. But that doesn’t mean that I’m going to sit back and do nothing. I know you’re angry at me, but we need to talk, and you need to hear what I have to say.” I can’t deny that he’s right, or that I had been thinking about him a lot more lately.
“You lied to me, kept things from me. Important things, and that’s all I need to know.” I tuck my legs beneath me.
“You’re right, I did, but I had my reasons, Cam. You of all people should understand that.”
I jump to my feet, in utter outrage at the audacity of the man. “No way, nah-huh. You do not get to sit there and justify what you did by comparing it to me. That’s bullshit.” I go to walk away, but his hand on my arm stops me. Tingles from his touch rush over my body, and I squeeze my eyes shut.
