Unforgiven (Wanderers #3) (29 page)

Dean lowered his head and pushed himself away from
her. Cameron let out a sigh and looked at her phone that she had
stuffed down the front of her dress. She forgot it was even in
there. “It’s from Austin. I should probably take this.” She could
see the guilt in his eyes at the mention of his name. “Thanks for
the drink.” Dean nodded and Cameron made her way back to her room.
The chance to see if she really had feelings for Dean was gone.

She wasn’t sure how she really felt when they spent
all that time in Ireland together. At first she just thought that
maybe because they were forced to be together all the time it was
just natural to find an attraction to someone when there was no
other option and that once they got back to the states and went
their separate ways she would feel differently. And at first she
did, but then at the party when she saw all those women throwing
themselves at him and pawing him she felt a twinge of jealousy. She
even went as far as to finagle her way in between them when she
went to get another drink at the bar. She even purposely bent down,
and stuck her behind out right in front him, knowing he couldn’t
resist a look. Even when Xander’s friend Zach started flirting with
her she made sure Dean saw she was having a good time even though
should couldn’t wait to get rid of the creep.

After a while she thought maybe it was just the booze
making her feel this way, but she had to know for sure. She had to
know if these feelings she was having for Dean were genuine, and
the only way she knew how to do that was to kiss him, but now it
was too late.

She closed the door to the guest room and leaned up
against it closing her eyes. Maybe this was for the better. Maybe
this was a sign letting her know she shouldn’t try to dive into
this uncharted territory. Cameron opened up the text from
Austin.

Heard u were bck in the U.S.

Was all it said? She didn’t know how to reply or even
know how he knew she was back when they hadn’t told anyone yet. She
went to reply when another text came through before she had the
chance.

We need 2 talk

She wasn’t ready to talk to him. Not yet. Her best
response was to keep it short and sweet.

Yes we do. Can I call u tom? I’m beat

Yeah

She closed the phone and turned it off for the night
and then she changed into some pajamas. She looked at herself in
the mirror while she brushed her hair. Dean kept flashing into her
head while she sat there. The casual way he floated around the
party, always the social butterfly. She envisioned when they
danced. The way his hand felt on her lower back and the way her
hand felt like a perfect fit in his. She was surprised when he
didn’t try to move his hand to her backside. She was expecting it
and actually welcomed it, but he was the perfect gentleman.

She closed her eyes and pictured him lying on the bed
with his shirt open, the confident smile on his face, the way the
light shined just right on his rock hard stomach. That was it. She
put down the brush and made a decision. She knew if she didn’t act
she would lose her nerve and her only chance to discover the
truth.

Cameron got up and looked to see there was no one in
the hall. When it was clear she made her way back down to Dean’s
room, passing Ella’s. Ella’s door was closed but Ginger was lying
outside keeping guard. Cameron looked at the dog who lifted her
head at the sound of Cameron tiptoeing her way down the hall.
“Don’t judge me,” she said to the dog, who then put her head down
on her paws.

When she arrived in front of Dean’s room she raised
her hand to knock, but then just changed her mind. Instead she just
let herself in. He was on his bed texting, still in the same
clothes as before. “Cameron?”

She didn’t say anything. She just closed the door
behind her and locked it.

I woke up in my bed still in my clothes from the
party. Why did this keep happening to me? The only light came from
the bright shining moon, letting me know it was still night time. I
checked my clock and it was just past one in the morning. I knew
everyone would be asleep by now so I changed into some pajamas,
washed off all my make-up, and pulled my ratted hair into a loose
bun on top of my head. Then I quietly made my way downstairs to the
kitchen.

When I passed Dean’s door I heard some girl giggling.
I rolled my eyes. We’re back in the states only a few hours and
already he was entertaining some whore.

I raided the fridge for something to eat. I grabbed a
few pieces of leftover chicken and then took the biggest slice of
cake that was brought back from the party. Then I poured myself a
big glass of milk. I didn’t want to disturb anyone so I took my
plate outside to sit by the pool.

To my surprise Danni and Grandma Bea were outside
chatting. “Bumble bee, what are you doing up?” Gran asked.

“I just woke up and was hungry so I came to get some
food. What are you doing out here?”

“Just catching up,” Danni said, sipping some
wine.

“Excuse me but I believe I taught you better than
that,” Gran said. I looked at her funny. “It’s rude to eat in front
of others without offering them anything.”

“Oh, right.” I held out the plate and soon realized
by the way they were grabbing at the food I didn’t have enough.
“I’ll be back. I’m going to get some more food.” Danni reached for
the cake and I smacked her hand away. “That’s mine,” I growled.

She covered her mouth to hide her giggle. I narrowed
my eyes at her letting her know I would be watching her. I turned
around to walk back in the kitchen when Danni yelled, “Hey Ella,
can you grab the cookies and some more cake, oh and…” I gave her a
look like, seriously? “Never mind I’ll come help you.”

“Danni dear, could you grab another bottle of wine
while you’re up?” Gran asked, shaking the almost empty bottle in
her hand.

While Danni went down into the wine cellar, I pulled
the chicken and cake from the fridge and grabbed some plates. Danni
grabbed the brownies and cookies and helped me carry the rest of
the stuff out. I pulled one of the tables over so we could lay out
the food and make a mini smorgasbord. “So what happened at the end
of the party?” I asked, not remembering much at the end of the
night.

“What’s the last thing you remember?” Gran asked
curiously.

“It’s kind of foggy which is weird. I mean I remember
everything from the night up until the end. Most of what I remember
is all the boring stuff. When did I fall asleep? I don’t even
remember leaving.”

“My dear, you were so tired you were falling asleep
in your chair. I had Dean and your nice friend Cameron, help you
into the car. You slept all the way home. You looked so beat I
thought you wouldn’t wake up until the early afternoon.”

“Huh, I was pretty tired,” I shrugged, shoving
another piece of chicken in my mouth. The odd thing was that I
couldn’t remember leaving or what lead up to it. I gasped, suddenly
remembering something. My grandmother froze. She had a slight
worried look on her face. “I just remembered Jasa asked me to be
her maid of honor.” Gran let out a sigh of relief. “Danni, if you
want I’ll tell her no I changed my mind.”

“No Ella. You don’t have to do that. Xander made his
choice and this is how it’s going to be. You don’t have to pretend
to not like Jasa just for me. It’s okay, really.”

“I’m not pretending. There’s something off about her.
I don’t know what it is, but I will find out.”

“Now, now sweetie, let’s not jump to conclusions. You
want to make sure you play your hand right. No sense in folding
when you have a full house,” Gran winked. I never understood her
poker analogies, but nodded as if I did. “So I want to hear all
about you. Starting with the reason behind all those tattoos,” she
said, narrowing her eyes at me.

“How much time you got?”

“For you bumble bee, I have all the time in the
world,” she smiled, gently touching my cheek.

I spent the rest of the night catching Gran and Danni
up. I told them all about school and the evil Mackenzie. I told
them all about Roman and all about my adventures in Ireland,
basically everything that had happened in the past six months that
they didn’t already know about. I had a hard time when I talked
about Roman and Tristan and tried not to let my anger get the best
of me when I told them about Tristan leaving me. I could see the
sympathy in their eyes and I couldn’t handle it. I told them not to
feel sorry for me. I didn’t. I was still angrier than anything, but
I was also ready to move on. I knew from the beginning we would
never work. It didn’t matter if we were meant for each other, soul
mates, or whatever. Our relationship was nothing but a disaster
from the beginning and I should take his departure as a blessing in
disguise. I was happy to at least no he didn’t die in vain. He was
alive and able to live a life as he pleased. I just hoped he lived
that life as far away from me as possible.

Grandma Bea comforted me and even offered up some
little spells to give Mackenzie warts or pimples. I declined – as
much as she deserved it. Although after a few more sips of wine I
might have actually taken Gran up on her offer.

After Gran and Danni almost finished their second
bottle of wine I decided to call it a night and hide the bottle.
Anymore wine and I’d have to carry them both inside and I did not
have the strength for that. I was so happy to able to talk to
Grandma Bea and Danni. I felt like a weight was lifted off my
shoulders. I wasn’t sure I would be able to talk to anyone about
what happened in Ireland, but I was glad I did. It was so nice to
let it all out and talk to someone who understood, listened, and
didn’t judge. I hadn’t realized how much I missed home and my
family until I got there and I didn’t know if I’d be able to leave
them again. Not to mention I had this feeling that I needed to be
there. The feeling to protect my family was strong, but I knew I
couldn’t stay. I had to go back. I had to go back to school and
clean up the mess I left behind. I could only imagine the damage
Jack had caused. I couldn’t even begin to think of the damage I
caused my friends.

I wanted to run away again, but only cowards did
that. I had to face it and sooner than later.

“Well Bethany, I think it’s time I get to bed.”

“How many times have I told you to call me Grandma
Bea,” Bethany chastised.

“Probably about a million, but I’m not going to be
your family, Jasa is,” she said with a heavy heart.

“Danni my dear, you will always be family to me, you
and that darling little girl of yours.”

“Thanks Bea,” Danni said, patting her hand.

“Besides, you are the mother of my great
granddaughter, therefore you are already family.”

Danni pulled back, stunned. “You know?”

“Please, there’s nothing you can’t put past me,” Bea
smiled. “If Xander’s too dumb to notice the resemblance than maybe
you’re better off,” she winked. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe
with me, but he should know.”

“I know, I just…when?” Danni always wanted to tell
Xander Hadley was his but she made a promise she would keep it a
secret so he could live his life as he was meant to.

“When the time is right you will know. And who’s to
say this is the life he was meant to live?”

Danni looked her. “I thought you could only read
minds through touch?”

She laughed. “I don’t have to read your mind to
always know what’s going on in there. You may believe this is the
life meant for Xander, but trust me it’s not. It may take him a bit
to figure it out, but when he gets there you’ll be right there
ready for him,” she smiled, cupping Danni’s chin.

“I don’t know if I can wait that long,” she
admitted.

“Sweetheart, you’ll learn that the heart will wait
when it knows what it wants. And I believe you won’t have to wait
long.”

Danni smiled weakly at Bea. She didn’t quite have the
same faith that Bethany did of Xander coming around. She knew she
broke his heart and he had moved on. It was time she did the same.
Danni helped Bethany up and into the guest room downstairs. Then
she made her way upstairs suddenly remembering Cameron was staying
in the other guest room. She sighed and made her way back outside
to the pool house. Danni thought that would be better anyways. That
way she would be away from the house and not wondering what was
going on in Xander’s room.

When she got to the pool house she automatically
started to undress. She was so tired and a little drunk and just
wanted to crash. Danni was surprised to find out she wasn’t alone.
She hadn’t realized it until she had her shirt off. “Xander!” she
shrieked, jumping back and covering herself.

“Danni, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you,” he
said, standing only two feet from her.

“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t think anyone was here. I’ll
go,” she said, turning to leave.

“No, you don’t have to. I was just out here trying to
clear my head,” he said, staring at Danni and making her blush.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” she asked.

“Your, uh…shirt,” he pointed to the floor.

“Oh, god.” She grabbed her shirt and hastily threw it
on. He laughed at her goofiness making her blush even more. Fully
clothed, she felt a little more relaxed. “So what’s going on that
you feel the need to get away from it all?”

“I didn’t say that,” he said, looking at her
curiously.

“You don’t have to say it. I know you Xander. I know
that when you say you need to clear your head you feel like you
need to get away from the pressure.”

“You always did know me well,” he smiled, as if it
was a long lost memory.