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Chapter Five
Aden
Despite Camilla’s clumsily erotic interruption, I still managed to get to work on time. After my shower, I got dressed in what was clean outfit—looking very much like I did the day before in a slightly different black shirt and jeans—and hustled down to the ground floor. Sliding the heavy metal disc into the aged CD player before setting off int morning traffic, I couldn’t actually hear Wicks brother among the heavily overlaid vocals. What I could hear sounded really good overall. The new guitarist seemed to ease into the fold quite well.
Head-banging my way all the way down the freeway, I had almost forgotten about the office drama going on with Cooper and Camilla. I really liked Camilla and would have been with her if I could, but whenever I thought about it, I remembered the insanity that my best friend brought to the table. That would just give me a stress headache. There were times I was happy to have been from a fairly regular family.
A graphic display of the siblings’ dramatic dynamic happened two hours after I got to my desk. Camilla came storming out of the breakroom in the sort of rage only Cooper was able to cause. She was so angry, in fact, she ran right into me oblivious to anything other than getting away from her life-long antagonist.
I took hold of her to keep her from falling over. Our bodies pressed together in an admittedly pleasant way. I could feel Camilla’s warmth through her clothes, such as they were, and her full breasts pressed into my chest. I held onto her a moment longer than was strictly needed to keep her upright.
Our eyes met, and Camilla was definitely giving me a ‘fuck me’ look. Not that I was much better, undressing her with my eyes. I was unable to resist wondering what she looked like naked at that point.
Before I could meditate on the question any further, Cooper came out of the breakroom as well with all the fires of Hades burning in his eyes. I released his little sister quickly and took a step back. It was a muscle reflex based on years of experience. The truth was, my feelings for his sister would heart my friend, and I didn’t want it to come to that.
Camilla tried to step closer to me, but I stepped back again to keep my distance. From the way that Cooper glanced over at Carlos, I knew it was him my friend was mad at rather than me. I honestly couldn’t imagine what the new guy would have done to evoke such wrath but also knew that it wouldn’t have had to be much. I had once seen Cooper try to break a guy’s nose for spilling beer on him.
He was even worse when it came to Camilla. I would have thought that the first couple of broken noses might be an indication that he was taking the big brother shtick a bit too far, but he remained intractable. I could see how that would be frustrating for Camilla, who was pushing thirty.
“I’m not sure what happened, but she is an adult, dude,” I said, keeping my hands in my pockets.
Cooper looked at me like he couldn’t quite believe that I spoke and that I spoke against him. I really didn’t tend to say much at all unless provoked. For me to speak up like that was surely a rarity.
He raised his eyebrows as he held my gaze. “Does that mean you won’t look after her like you promised?”
“What the hell does that mean?” Camilla demanded, stomping her feet until she was between us.
“You have two brothers looking out for you,” Coop said, putting his arm around my shoulder.
“Did you agree to this?” Camilla asked, looking hurt.
“Not the brother part,” I said, looking over at Cooper.
Camilla looked like she might slap me. I wouldn’t blame her, really. It was a pretty shit thing for Cooper to do, and I never should have agreed to it. Instead, she just stormed off, shoving past me on the way, mostly because I let her.
“I don’t know why I waste my time with either of you!”
“She’ll get over it. It really is for her own good,” Cooper said, patting me on the shoulder. “Thanks for having my back, man.”
We were released for lunch as per the custom. Camilla still hadn’t come back, so we had to fend for ourselves, the office temporarily ceasing operations, which did not seem to make Ryan very happy. Not that I gave much of a damn. It was his fault we were in this situation in the first place.
On the way back with my ritual cheesesteak, I came across the tempting scent of a bakery. I suddenly remembered that Camilla liked caramel eclairs. I wasn’t nearly foolish enough to think it would make up for everything. Camilla had always had deep emotions, a Jones family trait, or so it would seem, and she had been rightfully angry by what Cooper had tried to do. I had agreed to watch out for Camilla, but that was because I loved her. I had never said anything about being her other brother.
I had put the pastry bag on the reception desk, without a word, hoping she would take it with the intended spirit. While I maintained my characteristic silence, our eyes did meet, just for a moment, and I could still see the longing there. She was pissed but still wanted me. I couldn’t say that I didn’t feel the same way. I looked away before my eyes could betray me.
Camilla’s desire seemed to trump her anger and, after giving me the silent treatment, she came into my cubicle at the end of the day. I was surprised but didn’t let on. I had gotten very good at suppressing my emotions.
“You’re making dinner,” she said.
Of course, bat-ears Cooper heard that and came rushing into the cubicle to protect his little sister from such horrid scandal.
“What the fuck does that mean?” Cooper demanded, in his best attempt at a warning voice that always made me want to laugh.
Camilla doesn’t answer, apparently still ignoring him. She walked away without even making eye contact.
“We’ve decided to share meals to make things easier.”
“Oh, okay. That’s actually a good idea,” Cooper said, turning back into his usual self. A transformation that put me in mind of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
