When Brent and I walked in the door, we heard voices in the family room, but I didn’t have the strength to put on a happy face. I went to my room, shut the door and crawled into bed. It was only a little after 4 p.m., but I couldn’t face anyone. It was a fitful sleep; images of Drake kept seeping into my subconscious. Every time I saw those light blue eyes in my head, I startled myself awake – refusing to replay any of the images I’d seen on the yacht today. At midnight, I knew I needed to talk to someone. I picked up the phone and scrolled to Daniel.
He picked up right away, dispensing with the customary, “Hello,” and said, “So, tell me about your latest adventure.”
“I miss you.”
“Oh come on, tired of the private jets and yachts already?”
“Shut up. What’re you doing?”
“Beach day. Bonfire in Carlsbad, met a girl.”
“You always meet a girl. In two days you’ll figure out she’s not perfect and you’ll meet another girl.”
“Naw, I’d give this one a week.”
“Wow, she must be special. You’re such a man-whore.”
“Man-whore? I just love women. So really, what happened today? That mouth freshener girl, did you two do anything today?”
“Mouth freshener girl?”
“Binaca, right?”
“Her name’s Bianca, you bonehead!” Daniel sucked at remembering people’s names. One time he introduced one of his girlfriends to me as “Anita” when in fact her name was “Benita.” She corrected him several times before she decided he wasn’t worth her time. Daniel was a great guy but was never big on details.
“Oh, there’s such a big difference. Did you two get together?”
“Yeah, Brent took us all out on the boat today. But, I’d much rather hear about your day.”
Daniel’s tone was accusatory, “What happened, Camille?”
“Nothing happened. Can’t I just be homesick and want to know what’s going on with you?”
“No. I know you too well. It’s midnight there. You didn’t call me all day: something happened. Spill it.”
“You wouldn’t believe me if I told you.”
“Try me.”
“I can’t. I just seriously screwed something up and wanted to hear a friendly voice.”
“I hate it when you hide shit. What happened, Camille?”
I took a deep breath. This was why I had called him. I needed to get it off my chest. I had to tell someone before I imploded from the guilt. Daniel was part psychic, at least that’s what I’d always told him. He always knew when he wasn’t getting the whole story and would drag it out of me, give me advice, and then tell me everything would be fine. “Okay, so there’s this guy, who I don’t like, that I kind of kissed.”
“Why would you kiss a guy you don’t like?”
“I don’t know. Why do you wear socks to bed?”
“Because I don’t like my feet to be cold when I sleep. I’ll ask again: why would you kiss a guy you don’t like? Do you like him, but you don’t want to admit it?”
“I don’t know him well enough to like him or not like him. But I know I don’t like him.”
“Camille, can you hear yourself?”
“Would you shut up and listen?”
“Alright, alright, so you kissed this guy, who you don’t like, and it bothered you so badly that you had to call and tell me you don’t like him.”
“Something like that.”
“If you’re looking for relationship advice, I say: don’t kiss him again.”
“You’re such a genius. Why didn’t I think of that?”
“That’s what I’m here for, baby. To help you weed through the complexities of your psyche. This one was a real stumper. I’ll put it on your bill.”
“So, he’s kind of Bianca’s fiancé.”
“Kind of or he is?”
I took a deep breath, “He is.”
“My vote hasn’t changed. I still don’t think you should kiss him again.”
“Thank you, Captain Obvious. Do I tell her?”
“Hmmm, who initiated, you or him?”
“Does it matter?”
“If you initiated, then you have to decide if telling the truth is worth giving up the first friend you made out there. If he initiated it, then he’s a snake. He’s probably done it before, and he’ll more than likely do it again – so tell her.”
“I think, maybe, I initiated it. I don’t know . . . it all happened so fast.”
“Whoa, Cami, you kissed this guy knowing he was Binaca’s fiancé?”
“Her name’s Bianca, and I didn’t mean to.”
“You know, I saw that on the news last week. People walking down the street, minding their own business, and BAM their lips turn elastic and wrap themselves around a friend’s man. Happens all the time. It’s a side-effect from the ‘Stupid Pill.’ Must have refilled your prescription before you lef’ town.”
“You’re not helping, Daniel.”
“Cami, look. You feel bad for a reason. Own up to it with Bianca and it’ll make you feel better.”
“There’s more at stake than me. If I tell her, she’ll break off her engagement. Drake says it won’t happen again.”
“Sounds like you already made up your mind.”
“I feel horrible. I needed to tell someone.”
“I’m not a priest, so no absolution. I think if it were you, you’d wanna know. If it was just a kiss and nothin’ more, she probably won’t break it off with him. But if you don’t tell her and it is something more, you take responsibility for everything that happens next.”
“Nothing else is going to happen.”
“Judge and jury, right?”
“What?”
“If you don’t say anything, and this guy really is a slime ball, you’re acting like the judge and jury by not saying anything—basically forgiving him on Bianca’s behalf. You need to decide if you want to be the judge and jury or if you want to be the cop and report it for her to decide.”
“And if it backfires and blows up in my face?”
“Then she wasn’t that great of a friend to begin with. You can always come back to Cali.”
“Thanks, Daniel. Call me and tell me about Day 2 with Miss Wonderful tomorrow.”
“Who?”
“Uh. . . the girl you met today?”
“Oh yeah. Get some sleep. You’ll feel better tomorrow. Le’ me know if I need to pick you up at the airport.”
Chapter 18
Camille Benning – Charleston, SC