Camille
Throughout the next day the only thing on my mind was who the hell Sandra was. An ex girlfriend? Is she dead? How did she die? Did Lancing kill her too like he tried to do with me? The questions just floated through my mind as I stirred the bowl of cereal in front of me.
Josiah's voice snaps me out of my thoughts, "Are you gonna eat it? Or just stare at it?"
"Sorry, I was just thinking." I take a spoonful and shove it in my mouth. "See?"
He chuckles as I attempt to talk with a full mouth, "You're cute. I'm gonna take a shower." He kisses my forehead before walking past me. "Wait, I forgot to tell you I'm going out today." He turns to face me again. "Alright, when will you be back?"
I shrug, "Why?"
"I was hoping maybe we could go out for dinner today." I smile, "Then I'll be back by 7:00."
"See you then." He heads back up the stairs to the bathroom. I use the house phone to call the apartment, "Hey bitch." Rosa answers after one ring. I chuckle, "Hello to you too, is my brother around?"
"Not yet, he called and said he'd be here at like 3 to get you."
I smile, "Then I'll see you guys at 2:30."
"See you later bitch, love you!"
"Love you too, and tell Mitchie I love her too!"
"Nah." Rosa says before hanging up. I shake my head at my best friend and put down the phone. I put my bowl in the sink and head upstairs to get ready. I enter Josiah's bathroom to get my towel, but end up coming face to face with his naked tattooed chest as he opens the shower door. His towel wrapped securely around his waist and water droplets dropping down his beautifully toned chest.
"Were you looking to join me?" He smirks. "I just came for my towel."
He looks me over and smirks again. "Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask. He doesn't answer my question, but instead brings his lips to mine fiercely. His hand cups my face as I kiss him back just as passionately. He lifts me up and leads me back to the bedroom where he gently lays me on the bed.
His lips depart from mine and make their way to my neck as his hands roam my body. I let out a soft moan as he lightly leaves bites on my neck. I bring his face back up to mine for another kiss as I flip him over and straddle him. He sits up and attempts to pull my shirt off but I stop him. "Is something wrong?" He asks.
"Um, I need to go get ready." I get off of him and grab my towel before leaving the room. I get into the other bathroom and begin undressing in front of the mirror. I almost let out a cry as I come face to face with these stupid bruises again. It wasn't as dark as before and they were still very much there. Josiah knew about some, but hadn't seen the one under my clothes.
I didn't want him to see them, I didn't want him feeling sorry for me or treating me different because of them. They didn't really hurt anymore, just slightly. But they made sure they were still very noticeable. A tear dropped from my eyes as I looked them over.
I was startled by a knock at the door, "Camille I'm sorry if I took it too far." Josiah says from the other side of the door. I recollected myself and wiped away the tears before answering, "You didn't do anything wrong. I just wasn't ready for that today."
"I understand, I'm sorry though."
"It's okay." I say quietly as I stare at the bruises one more time. "I'm gonna shower now."
"Okay I'll be downstairs." I turn on the shower and hang up my towel. I let the hot water soak into my body before washing off and getting out.
I change into blue jeans and a long sleeve black shirt and show on some sneakers. Josiah smiles at me as I walk down the stairs, I smile back and peck his cheek. "I'm sorry for running out on you like that." He shakes his head, "Don't apologize."
"So where are you off to today?" He asks trying to change the subject. "I'm hanging out with my brother. What about you?"
"I'm going to hang here and wait for you to get back. Like a good housewife." I chuckle, "I'll try to be back as soon as possible."
"Please do." I smile and grab my purse, "See you tonight."
He smirks, "I can't wait."
The guards follow me out and drive me to my apartment complex. "Ladies I'm home!" I call out once I enter. "Mitchie started her shift early so it's just me." Rosa says coming out of her bedroom to hug me. "How've you been?" She asks.
I shrug, "I'm coping, how about you? Life's pretty boring without me right?" She chuckles, "Obviously, but now that your sexy older brother is in town it's gotten a bit more interesting." I gag, "You're sick."
"And you're banging a mafia leader." I shush her, "He's not in the mafia and we are not 'banging'." She smirks, "Whatever you say."
A knock on the door interrupts our conversation. "I'll check." I get up and look through the little peephole and open the door with a smile. "Eli."
"Cammie." He gives me a hug and greets Rosa, who secretly fans herself at me when he looks away. I roll my eyes and turn back to him, "So where did you wanna go first big brother?"
"You tell me, you're the one who lives here." I nod, "True, but you're driving." He nods and we head down to the parking lot after saying goodbye to Rosa. I decided to take my brother to Carlo's Bakery from the show Cake Boss. You can't come to Jersey without stopping here.
My guards followed us from behind so Eli wouldn't notice them, and waited in front of the bakery for us. We ordered some cannolis and took a seat. "How've things been Eli?"
"They've been alright. Miss having you around though." I chuckle, "I've been gone for like 2 years now."
"Doesn't change the fact that life's boring without a little sister to bug. How are things for you?" I shrug, "Normal, basic everyday things. I miss having you around too though."
He smirks,"Of course you do."
We spent the rest of the afternoon just talking and catching up with one another. I took him around to see all the basic tourists sites, from the Liberty Bell to the World Trade Center.
For some reason, out of all days Jersey decides to be hot in fall. And since I'm wearing a pretty big jacket for proper cover of my bruises, I was sweating like a goat.
"Aren't you gonna take your jacket off? You look like you're having a heat stroke." I chuckle, "No I'm fine."
He looks at me weirdly but ignores it. I was wearing a shirt underneath but it wasn't going to cover enough for my brother to not see. I had an ugly one on my wrist that would easily be seen, even with a long sleeve shirt.
We were now at a burger joint for lunch after a long day of being tourist. "Camille it's literally 90 degrees, you okay?" I nod my head and pick up the menu. Maybe taking off the jacket wouldn't hurt, just don't let him see your wrists.
"What are you thinking of getting?" I ask as I begin to slide off the coat. "We're at a burger joint, so obviously a burger."
I glare at him, "You know what I mean asshat." He chuckles as he flips through the pages, "Probably a triple decker cheeseburger with bacon. You?"
"Probably an avocado turkey burger with curly fries."
"Disgusting as usual." I gasp, "Turkey burgers are delicious."
"Not that, the avocado part." He even shudders to add affect and I laugh. "Avocado is good for you brother. Unlike the 2 pounds of meat and cheese you're going to indulge."
"I'm not dying am I?"
I scoff, "Not yet."
The waiter takes our order and later comes out with our food. Eli as usual, dives into his food while I make sure my sleeves are rolled down and pick up my burger.
As we're eating my stupid sleeve dips into my ketchup. I groan before picking up a napkin and wiping it off. Eli suddenly stops eating, "Camille what's going on?"
"With what?"
"You never eat with your sleeves down, for that exact reason." He said motioning to my ketchup stained sleeve. I shrug, "I just forgot."
He shakes his head and reaches for my wrist, but I pull back immediately. "Camille please talk to me."
"I am perfectly okay Eli."
"Then show me what you're hiding on your wrist."
"I got a tattoo. But it's still healing and I didn't want you to see it." He shakes his head, "You've always been a good liar."
"Who said anything about lying?" I question.
"Then show me the bandage."
"Why are you so concerned about my tattoo?"
"Because you're lying to me Camille. Ever since I got here you've been lying. From the mysterious bodyguards to this fake tattoo story. We don't lie to each other Camille."
I sigh, knowing my brother had a point. We were always close, told each other almost everything. And now here I was living a whole other life with my mob leader boyfriend, or whatever he is. If I told him what was going on and what had happened, he'd probably drag me away from Jersey and kill Josiah with his bare hands, or attempt to.
I looked away from him, "This is personal Eli." He lets out a scoff, "I see." He places some cash on the table before sipping his drink and getting up. "Where are you going?" I ask him.
He grabs his keys, "Back to my hotel room."
"You can't just leave my here, you're my ride."
He chuckles, "We both know you had your bodyguards following us everywhere. Ride with them." And with that he walked out of the restaurant. I packaged my food, suddenly not hungry anymore.
I walked out of the restaurant and into the car the guards drove. We arrived back at Josiah's house around 6:30. I walk in and set my leftovers in the fridge. "Hey." Josiah says as he enters the kitchen. He pecks my forehead before opening up the fridge. "Where did you wanna go tonight? I was thinking maybe you'd prefer Italian or Mexican, or maybe we should try Thai tonight-" He stops talking when he hears me sniffle and turns around to face me.
"Why are you crying?" I shake my head and wipe the tears away. "What happened?" He asks again.
"I got into a stupid fight with my brother. Because I've been lying to him about everything."
He frowns, "Why is he so concerned? Not everything is his business."
"He's my brother Josiah, my big brother at that. He's just worried about me." Josiah wraps his arms around me and brings my head to his chest, "Let him know there's nothing to worry about, you're safe here. Hell I'll let him know myself if it means making you happy again."
I remove my head from his chest and look at him. "Stop that!"
He gives me a puzzled look, "Stop what?"
"Stop acting so caring and loving! It is so confusing." He sighs, "Camille we're not going to argue about this again."
"There's nothing to argue about, we're not together. I'm going back to my apartment."
"Like hell you are."
I get up and head up stairs, "Stop it Josiah! This isn't my home, this isn't my life. I'm going back home and you're not going to contact me. You complicate my life." I begin putting my things into a bag as Josiah throws them out again.
He grabs my wrist to stop me and I try to pull away. "What's really going on Camille?" He stared me down with his eyes waiting for an answer.
"Everything. Now let me go."
He lets go of my wrists with a sigh and I continue packing my things. "You're not actually leaving right?" He asks.
"I don't see any point of me staying here."
"Camille, you know I care about you. I'm crazy about you even. Why do we need to put labels on it?" I tear slips from my eye as I continue packing my things. "Camille." He says again.
"It's more than that."
"Then tell me what is it that's making you leave again?"
I sigh, "Being with you requires me to lie to everyone I love. I was okay with it before, but now I could lose my brother for a guy who doesn't even consider me as a girlfriend. A guy who doesn't want 'labels'. And to me, loosing the only family I have left isn't worth it." I pick up the bag I packed, "Ill get the rest of my things tomorrow."
I begin to head out of the door when his voice stops me, "You know there's a reason why I won't make you my girlfriend."
I turn around, "Then just tell me."
He opens his mouth to speak but stops again, "I- it's just.." I nod my head and continue walking away, "I thought so."
I left his house that night, called an uber to take me back to my apartment. He didn't chase me, or call for me to come back but I know I had a guard secretly following me. I didn't care at the moment. All I wanted was to lay down in my bed and forget this crazy situation. I was going to visit my brother first thing in the morning to clear things up.
When I got to the apartment, the girls were very surprised to see me. They didn't ask questions but welcomed me in with wide arms. After eating a small dinner I got into my bed and attempted to fall asleep.