23

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height

23. Wrong place, wrong time.

Truce.

That word.

Camryn sat alone after Rocco walked out - taking in the morning, sipping on her coffee and thinking. He must not have been there longer than four minutes.

Yes, they shook on it.

Truce.

Finally, the fire was ceased.

Would he keep his word? Would she?

Despite the crew who continued to film her in silence, Camryn sensed another pair of eyes watching her every move.

Paige.

Paige had seen them together at Sky. Again, was it arranged? Or was it voluntary?

Camryn wondered something similar: was spotting Paige across the street a coincidence or planned? Was she meant to be at that boutique, at that time, and did she receive a heads up on what was happening? Someone in the crew must have slipped and told Freddie that Camryn and Rocco agreed to meet and to act quickly on a random encounter for added drama. That was the obvious answer. Freddie surely contacted Paige prior.

When Camryn finished the last of her peanut butter mocha latte, which had gotten cold quick, she grabbed her bag and headed for the door. She was in no mood to converse with another female she had no interest in entertaining any topic of discussion with, especially if the topic was Bryson.

But Paige had other plans.

In her peripherals, Camryn saw the long-haired fashionista with fabulous shoes b-line directly to where she was about to cross the street to get to where her vehicle sat.

The crew moved so effortlessly after them. It was impressive.

"Well well well. Look who it is."

The beginning of the brief conversation made Camryn giggle out loud. Paige was a real con artist. Her sugar-sweet-nice-and-innocent persona went right out the window the moment Camryn came into her space and bursted her bubble.

"Hi Paige. What a coincidence running into you...here. How's it goin'?"

"Life couldn't be better for me right now. Thanks for asking." Paige answered.

"I find that hard to believe." Camryn returned.

"I know you think you have everyone under your spell, but that's about to change."

"I can't help it if that's your perception. You'd be happy to know it's just the opposite." Camryn insisted. She didnt have time for the bullshit. She didn't have time for her. A small article on the importance of self-care needed to be edited and submitted within twenty-four hours to Diana. Other things - better things - were calling her name.

"I noticed you and Rocco snuck off at Midnight." Paige crossed her arms over her chest.

Camryn's heart raced. Oh no - of all people to catch them in the act, it had to be one who knew how to put one on well.

"What are you getting at? Just come right out and say it, Paige." Camryn hit the unlock button on her car key.

"I don't have to say it. You and I both know exactly what happened." Paige flashed a smile that wasn't anything but malicious.

"Let me ask you something."

Paige waited.

"Have you always gotten what you wanted by manipulation? Because the more I'm around you, the more I believe your ex-husband really was the victim in your marriage. Not you."

Camryn proceeded to open her car door after it was clear Paige didn't have a response.

Paige grew angry once Camryn referred to her divorce. That bitch. Who the fuck did she think she was talking to?

"You're jealous." Paige said at the last minute. Camryn rolled her window down after hearing yet another absurd remark from Little Miss Tickle-Me-Pink.

"Excuse me?"

People were starting to inch closer to them in hopes of being on camera and getting a shot of the hostile exchange of words.

You know what they say: when one war ends, another begins.

Camryn went on. "You're the last person I'd ever be jealous of. Don't flatter yourself, sweetheart. It doesn't do much for your premature wrinkles."

"I'm telling Brooke everything. Just so we're clear."

Camryn, who had already put the gear shift into drive, pressed the brake.

"Go right ahead and tell her. Rocco and I could've been talking about the weather for all you know. You weren't there and you didn't see anything happen. So stop assuming. You're just mad that Bryson chose me over you to go home with that night. But we're done and it's over, so you can gladly have him. I'm not that desperate to keep someone around whose undivided attention I don't have."

Camryn put her sunglasses on. This conversation was over.

"It doesn't matter. We're all adults, here. Who sneaks off to talk about the goddamn weather? You're not fooling anyone. So regardless of who you're fucking this week, stay the hell away from men who don't belong to you." 

"Cool, Paige. Are you happy you got that last bit off your chest?"

Paige smile with satisfaction.

"Let me know how I taste the next time you kiss him."

Camryn drove off.

Paige stormed off with a wide, pretentious smile on her face for anyone who wanted to take her picture as she strutted down the street.

__________________________________

Paige had just entered another store on the strip - one that sold extremely high-end home decor and wall art.

After a few laps around the store, she grabbed an armful of designer candles that equaled an average car payment for one alone. While waiting in line to purchase, she glanced at various corners of the store, feeling off. Something wasn't right. Her intuition was trying to prep her to brace for impact into a sea of severe apprehension.

When the bell above the door jingled, signaling a new customer entering, Paige was inclined to turn around to see the newcomer. But the sight of the person in line, behind her, made her drop all three candles to the ground that shattered into a thousand tiny pieces - just like their marriage.

"Tucker." Paige gasped, in shock.

Cameras started flashing through the windows as the paparazzis went berserk at the sight of them together.

Her stomach dropped, just like the candles did. Instantly, she bent down to pick up the glass before a store associate rushed over and insisted she'd clean the mess.

Tucker, who stood tall and broad, stared at her some more while she was still on her knees. He didn't say a single word.

He had fury and disgust swimming in his eyes, which made Paige nauseous.

"What are you doing here?"

Unemotional, he answered. "Shopping."
__________________________________

Camryn was seven minutes away from the place she momentarily called home. As much as she loved the idea of having that much money one day to buy and own a house of that size, she missed her small, yet tasteful, hole-in-the-wall back in New York. It was still hard to believe she had fallen into the position she was currently in. Not many people experience such major shifts in a short period of time, such as barely getting by to the next morning being on Muse Magazine's payroll.

Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted by an incoming call that was singing to her from the inside of her bag.

It was Bryson.

Camryn panicked and stared at his name that was lit across the screen as she sat at a red light.

"Hey?" Her tone welcomed a new conversation, yet questioned it at the same time.

"What are you doing right now?" Bryson sounded optimistic.

"Driving."

She wanted to know what he was doing, too, but couldn't bring herself to ask. Being interested sometimes meant being open to a possible invite. It was the first time she had heard his voice since Ophelias's.

"I'm right near your place. Meet you there in ten?"

"Uh. Another time. I still have a few errands to run." Camryn fibbed. Pushing him away was easier said than done.

"That's okay. I'll wait."

Shit.

There wasn't a chance in hell Camryn was talking her way out of this one.


You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net