Beautifully Destroyed(24)

“She’s not my girlfriend,” I declare as I come up behind her.

“Does she know that? I think she is and you’re just saying this now because you got caught, Cameron,” she yells at me and I’ve never seen her so angry. Not even when I nailed the neighbor.

“You’re right, I do have a girlfriend,” I confess and I hear her gasp. Cecilia is yelling at me that I’m a damn idiot, and Scott is saying that I’m an asshole. Trying to clear them out of this equation, I walk up to Fate and try to touch her, but she smacks me away.

“Don’t you dare touch me, Cameron McAlister. You will never touch me again. Do you hear me? Never,” she continues yelling at me. “I hate you.” Watching her walk away with Cecilia trying to comfort her, I feel as if I’m losing my mind.

“She is this sexy and amazing person. This girl just came up and saw me for the real me not some fake rock star and I’m sorry for that.” Scott turns on me and I think he might actually punch me.

“You are not helping, just shut up,” he shouts at me.

“She talks about these amazing facts and has inspired so much in me that I feel like I just don’t know what I’d do without her.” Turning to me, I see Fate lock eyes with me and there are tears streaming down her face. I want to go to her, but I have to get this shit out before it’s too late. “She tells me about her love of fish and her thoughts on the world. She lets me in and shuts the rest of the fucking world out. She’ll never know how much she means to me. I hate that my past taints her because I’d give anything to protect her from it.”

My own eyes are betraying me as they feel like stinging. “Her name is Fate McKenzie and I am fucking falling in love with her so hard that I don’t think I’d ever recover if I couldn’t touch her, hold her, and if she hated me that would kill me,” I say as I start taking steps toward her. Cecilia is watching this whole thing and I’m not sure if she’s going to get in my way but right now I need Fate. “Because I need her as much as I hope she needs me,” I whisper when I’m close enough to her.

“Baby, there you are.” Are you kidding me, Trisha? This girl’s timing is going to be the death of me. Quickly, I turn and put myself in front of Fate, trying to protect her from Trisha. “What is this?” Trisha says snidely, and I want to run away, taking Fate with me. “I thought we covered this, I’m the girlfriend so run along now.”

“Trisha, that’s where you are wrong. I’m sorry you have to find out this way, but you really didn’t leave much choice when you walked up to my girlfriend and tried to act as if we haven’t been broken up for eight damn months.” Her face turns to anger and she looks around me at Fate.

“Oh, and this is my replacement. Let’s be serious now, she’s not even twenty, I’d bet,” Trisha says spitefully.

“Eighteen,” Fate squeaks out.

“Oh, that’s precious. You can’t be serious, Cam.” She walks closer and I feel Fate press against my back. I wrap my arms behind me, holding her waist against me. “Honey, you’re way out of your league here. Do yourself a favor and back out gracefully before you make an even bigger fool of yourself. I have two years of history with this man, you can’t compete with that.” I hear Fate gasp and she tries to pull away from me.

“You are such a bitch,” Cecilia yells at Trisha. “Don’t stand there acting like you have all this shit with him. You’re just acting that way to scare Fate off, and shit, I’m not about to let that happen. Two years, that’s a laugh. On and off for two years, most of the time off, trust me, Fate. This girl is just jealous that he’s found someone she can’t hold a candle to. Sorry, but you just missed the show, sweetheart. He just told her he’s falling in love with her. I know for damn sure he never said shit like that to you.” Thank you, Cecilia.

“Cam? Is this true?” Trisha says.

“Not that what I have with Fate is any of your damn business, but yes. If she will have me, then I’m hers. You’re done here,” I say, hoping this will show her that she has no chance here.

“Well then, keep the tramp. I know the drill.” Her words are filled with hate toward Fate and that makes my blood boil. I watch as she walks around so she is in complete view of Fate. “I bet you think I’m crazy, Fate. Just wait and see what I do to you. You’re just some little pawn in his new game. All screwed up needing a hero. That will get old and he will return to me. You just wait and see. He always does,” Trisha says, then turns and walks away, leaving a stunned Fate behind.