Camille
I was starting to feel better, I had been staying at Josiah's for a couple of weeks but I had never left the house. Not because he wouldn't allow me to or anything, but because I was kind of scared to. I knew at some point I'd have to suck it up and get back out there, but now wasn't the time.
"What are you doing today?" I ask Josiah as he enters the kitchen. "Just heading down to my office at the club to get some work done, don't you wanna go out or something? You've been locked up in the house for weeks." I shake my head, "I'm fine in the house."
"If you go out you won't be alone, you can go with the guards, nothing will happen to you. Maybe you can finally go visit your friends." I shake my head again, "I said I was fine."
He sighs and holds my hand in his, "Camille I know you're still scared, and I love keeping you to myself in the house but you need to over come your fear. It's okay now." I look up at him and sigh, "I'll think about it okay?"
He nods, "I'll see you when I get back." He kisses my forehead and heads out. I finish my breakfast and head upstairs to take a shower. I decide Josiah's right and I do need to get over it. I change into something simple and call out 3 of my favorite guards to take me back to my apartment to see the girls.
When we arrive at the apartment the guards follow me up to my door. "Guys I'm back!" I yell as I enter the room. The girls are both in the living room talking to someone, when I see who the someone eyes my mouth drops. "Elijah!" I exclaim running up to him, he opens up his arms and lifts me up into a hug.
The guards quickly pull him away and begin searching him. "Wait guys that's my brother! He's okay." They stop and nod, moving to the side. Two of them leave the room to guard the door. "Who the hell were they?" Elijah asks.
"Um, bodyguards?"
"And where have you been? I've been here since late this morning, the girls said you went to sleep over at a friends house but I'm starting to think that's not true." I look at the girls telling them thank you with my eyes. I had completely forgotten Eli was coming, and I haven't had a phone for a few weeks.
"Um I'm staying with another friend right now."
"And what's with the body guards? And your phone being disconnected?" He asks. I begin laughing nervously, "Is this an interrogation or a mini reunion? How was your trip?"
He sighs, "It was fine, but you know I hate airplanes." I chuckle, "Yeah, are you hungry?"
I bring over some juice and snacks for him. "Thanks squirt, how have things been here?"
"Oh you know, completely normal. How's life in Cali?"
"Expensive as hell, but I love it over there. You should come visit sometime." I nod, "Definitely."
We continue discussing life and catching up with each other most of the afternoon.
In the middle of one of our conversations one of the guards come into the room with a phone in his hand. "Big Jo is on the phone for you." Elijah frowns, "Big Jo? Who the hell is that?"
I begin laughing awkwardly again, "I'll be right back." I glare at the guard as I grab the phone and answer it in my room. "Who the fuck was that Camille?" Josiah asks angrily.
I frown, "My fucking brother Josiah, who else?" He sighs, "I'm sorry, I just wanted to check up on you. So your brothers in town?"
"Yes you can hack the airline database system to check if you want."
"You're mad at me." I roll my eyes, "No shit, I'll see you at home." I hang up walk out of the room and hand the guard back the phone.
"Are you pimping yourself out or something? Because big Jo sounds like a pimp name." Elijah asks as soon as I enter the room. I frown, "No and his name is Josiah."
"And who is? Why's he calling?"
I groan, "Eli do you have to interrogate me? Can't we just hang out?"
"Camille I'm worried about you, you're hiding something."
"Yeah for a reason, since my crazy over protective brother keeps trying to dig into every detail of my life."
He sighs, "Camille it ain't like that, is everything okay?"
"Yes it is."
"Well if you say it's okay then I guess it is, I won't pry. I think it's time for me to head back my my hotel, I'll be back tomorrow after my meeting." I nod and give him a hug before he leaves. "I'll see you tomorrow."
The girls come out of their rooms after he leaves, "Where did you guys go?" I ask. "We were giving you two some bonding time. How'd it go?"
I frown and take a seat on the couch, "It went fine until Josiah called and the guards addressed him as big Jo, causing Eli to think I was being pimped. Oh and Josiah heard Eli's voice through the phone and got all mad at me until I told him it was my brother."
"Why is Josiah even jealous? Are you guys together now?" Mitchie asks. Rosa smiles, "Of course they are, it's obvious he's obsessed with our girl."
They both look at me, "You are together right?" Rosa asks. I shrug, "Its complicated?"
Rosa gasps, "What? Aren't you on his dick like every night?" I throw a pillow at her and laugh, "You're sick Rosa, no I am not."
"Oh please, he is obviously wrapped around your finger. He does everything for you." I scoff, "And what makes you think that?"
"You're living in his mansion with him, with bodyguards and personal nurses."
"He doesn't live in a mansion." I mumble. "And he just cares about me that's all."
Mitchie smirks, "Are you in love Camille?"
"I don't even know what that is, but when I do I'll let you know."
"But you like him right?" Rosa asks. "Yeah of course, a lot."
"Then go home and find out why the hell you aren't together and where you stand." I frown, "But why? That might just over complicate things. Things are okay between us right now and I don't want to mess it up."
"If that's how you feel." Mitchie shrugs. I nod, "I do. I think I should head back over there now, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Bye love!" Rosa calls out. "Don't forget to call!" Mitchie yells.
The guards drive back with me to the house. "Can you not call him big Jo in front of other people?" I ask the guard. He chuckles, "Sorry ma'am."
"And stop calling me ma'am, it's Camille or Cam." He nods, "Yes Cam."
I chuckle as we drive back home with the other guards following behind.
When I enter the house Josiah tries to greet me with a kiss but I dodge away from him. "You still mad at me?" He asks. "Yes Josiah."
"You'd be mad too if you heard another woman's voice when calling me."
"No I wouldn't, because we're not even together." My talk with the girls was weighing heavy on my mind and I wanted to know what he felt. He sighs and pulls me too him, "Camille don't do this."
"Do what?"
"Try to put labels on us, can't we just keep doing what we're doing?"
"What begin roommates? It's kind of confusing." He wraps his arms tighter around my waist and snuggles his face into the crook my my neck. "I care about you, and you care about me. That's enough right?"
I push him away, "So we aren't together."
"Why do we need to over complicate it?" Funny, I felt the same way before talking with the girls. I sigh, "I'm going to bed."
He groans, "Camille." I continue walking up the steps and up to my original room. I feel his presence walk into the room while I pick out some pajamas. "Why is it that you always follow me?"
"You haven't slept by yourself since what happened."
"Then tonight will be a first." I mumble.
He groans, "Camille stop being so difficult."
"Stop being so difficult." I mock.
He rolls his eyes and walks over to me, sitting on the bed. "Come here." I ignore him and continue looking through the drawers. He gently pulls me into his lap, securing his arms around me waist.
"Let go of me."
He pouts, "I know you're mad, but come back to the room."
"You mean your room? Why would I sleep with someone who doesn't even like me enough to make me his girlfriend."
He frowns, "Of course I like you enough. I'm just not used to the whole girlfriend thing."
"You've had a girlfriend before, who was Sandra?" His body stiffens and his grip on me loosens. "Someone from my past."
"Is she the reason why you don't want me to be your girlfriend?" I ask. He shrugs, "It's not important."
"It obviously is." I mumble getting up from his lap. He frowns,"I was just trying to help you, go ahead and sleep on your own if you want to."
I roll my eyes, "Isn't that what I told you in the first place?" He glares at me before leaving the room and slamming the door shut.
"Asshole." I mumble as I walk over to the bathroom. I change into one of Josiah's t-shirts and a pair of shorts before brushing my teeth and getting into bed. I got into bed and stared at the ceiling. The room was dark and I was alone, which reminded me of each dark night I spent alone strapped to that table.
I turned on the bathroom light and crawled back into bed hoping it would help. I cuddled my pillow and tried to shut my eyes but they would always open again. I tossed and turned most of the night, and I didn't like how I was feeling. Alone.
I looked over at the alarm clock to see that it was already 3:00 am. I sighed and got out of bed. I headed downstairs to the kitchen to get some water but someone was already there. "You're still awake?" He asks. I shrug and walk over to the fridge.
"I'm sorry about earlier, come back to bed." I turn to him, "You don't have to apologize for anything."
"Then what do you want me to do?"
I shake my head, "Nothing really."
"Then why are you still mad at me?" He asks.
"Why are you still up?" I ask back. "I was hoping you would come back."
I sigh, finally caving in, "Fine let's go to bed." He smirks, "After you." He followed me back to the bedroom where we both crawled into bed and he wrapped his arms around me. The warmth of his body immediately made mine relax, making it much easier for me to sleep. I was really hating how dependent of him I was getting. I snuggled closer and let my eyes close.