Chapter 6

Dana

The smell of bacon and eggs woke me up the next morning, my stomach grumbling loudly at the idea of something beyond delicious to start the day. I rolled onto my back and let out a long sigh. Cameron's side of the bed was made already, his pillow in its place. What I wouldn't give to wake up to a man wrapped around me, his body hard and ready for another round of what happened the night before. Where I couldn't help but tease Jackie about everything in her world being about sex, the truth of the matter is that I was hella jealous. Love seemed a far off desire, incapable of being reached by the average commoner, but sex? Lust? They were waiting for a spin around the dance floor of life, and weren't choosy at all about which partners they got.

So why not me? I slid my hands over my breasts and down my stomach to linger at the top of my panties. How nice it would have been to lay there and enjoy the softness of my skin, the tight warmth between my thighs, but by the sound of things down the hall, Cameron was still there. He'd frowned upon the idea of masturbation a hundred times over the last few years, as if he was the only man on the earth that didn't give in to self-love.

"You need to get up," he hollered down the hall. "I'm leaving soon."

"All right. You're right." I groaned as I rolled onto my side and moved to the edge of the bed before sitting up. I pulled on a pair of sleeping pants from the floor and worked my long hair into a ponytail before walking into the kitchen. There was no point in prancing around in my panties. That would only leave me turned on by the possibility of him being turned on, which wasn't going to happen. He was far too much of a practical kind of guy to allow for spontaneous sex.

"I usually am." He smiled over at me and got up with his empty plate in his hands.

I walked into the kitchen, half expecting to see cold eggs and bacon sitting in the pan for me. That would have been upsetting, but seeing nothing on the stove was disturbing.

"Did you not think I would want breakfast?" I turned to face him.

He brushed his napkin by his lips and tossed his trash before moving toward me and sliding his hands over my shoulders.

"You don't need bacon and eggs, baby. You're trying to stick to your diet this time, remember? You asked for my help, so I'm giving it. Don't give me that sad look. I'm here to help you like you requested. If you don't want my help, don't ask for it." He leaned down and kissed my forehead like a brother or father might.

I didn't have words as he released me, picked up a grapefruit and tossed it over his shoulder to me.

He didn't say another word as he grabbed his briefcase and whistled as he walked out of the apartment, leaving me standing there in shock. Where I had most certainly asked for his help in watching what I ate a few months back, he was going overboard with it - so much so that I wanted to crawl back under my covers and hide from the world. Surely it would be better for everyone if I did.

My phone buzzed, saving me from a torrential meltdown. I put the grapefruit back in the fruit basket and picked it up before sitting down on the couch and answering.

"Hi Mom," I mumbled as I leaned back and closed my eyes.

"Hi baby. I haven't talked to you in three days. Tell me everything. How's school? Work? Cameron?"

The negative energy buzzing through me started to dissipate at the sound of my mother's voice. She was a strong Hispanic woman with a hard past and a great love story thanks to my dad. She didn't appreciate drama or too many tears, but then again, she'd been raised by a mother that felt the same way.

"The internship is great, but isn't really a job, Mom."

"I know, but you're still getting paid, right?"

"No, but they are helping to fund the rest of my semester. Being poor helps you get grants. Remember I was telling you about this financial aid stuff."

"Yes, yes. How is your man? Are you cooking more often like I told you to?"

"No, Mom. I'm working at the hospital a lot and trying to do most of my business classes by correspondence. I can't come home and cook a meal for Cameron morning, noon and night. Besides, he's a health nut. He wouldn't like what I know how to cook."

"What?" She huffed. "What's wrong with the food I taught you to cook?"

"It's either Mexican or southern fried food, momma. He's into woks and vegetables right now."

"Did he Asian on you?"

"Mom. Really?" I rolled my eyes and got up from the couch. "How is Kevin?"

"Good. Being an ass. What's new?" She chuckled. My little brother was a big handful and always had been. Little was an understatement seeing that he was twice as big as any of the other men in my extended family.

"And my sister?" I walked to the kitchen and pulled out the bacon. The thought of frying it and pouring the bacon grease on Cameron's perfectly made side of the bed had me second-guessing my thoughts of wanting marriage and kids with the jerk. He hadn't started out so controlling and condescending, but after getting comfortable, it would seem the real him had come shining through.

No thanks.

"How are your classes doing? Are you still thinking of double doing it?"

"Double majoring?" I smiled as my mother cursed me in Spanish. "I'm graduating in May, momma. I'll have both degrees and finally be done."

"And then we'll get married and have some bambinos?"

"Yes, Mom." I turned on the stove and tried not to dive into a conversation over how much my heart hurt. It wouldn't be received well by my strong-willed mother. She was too old-school for talking about feelings. "I gotta go or I'll be late."

"Never be late. It shows your unwillingness to finish anything."

"Okay Mom." I rolled my eyes and dropped the call. There was no way in hell I was going to marry someone like Cameron. "So what are you doing with him now?"

I had no clue. Protection? Apathy? Loneliness?

The image of Amanda's handsome brother rolled through my mind. I couldn't imagine why he was alone, but maybe his story was similar to mine. Maybe he had a girlfriend that took him for granted, treated him like trash, acted as if his feelings didn't matter at all.

"What's your story, Kendal?" I turned to the stove and made a breakfast that would make Cameron cringe.