Page 196 of Just for the Cameras
OC lifts his head and sniffs the air. “You know, I don’t smell him enough to recognize his signature scent, but if this is what he smells like, you are one lucky girl.”
“Can we get on with whatever insane shit you came here to talk to me about?” I flop onto the couch and line my arm across the back of it, irritation pumping through me as my eyes fall on Maple and those shorts she’s wearing.
“I can really feel your compassion. Thanks for making this easy, man,” OC says as he takes a seat across from me in one of my chairs.
I’m shocked he didn’t come over here and snuggle into my chest.
I wouldn’t put it past him.
“I’ll, uh, I’ll give you guys some space,” Maple says.
“No, stay,” OC calls out. “You might be able to help as well.”
“Are you sure?”
“He is,” I say and then pat my lap.
She rolls her eyes and takes the seat next to me, causing me to grumble in disapproval.
“I’m not going to sit on your lap in front of your friend.”
“For one, he’s not my friend—”
“That hurts,” OC scoffs, his hand to his heart.
“And two, I don’t care about who is with us, I want you on my lap.”
“Now, now, demanding will get you nowhere, just like the Beast,” OC says.
“Who the fuck is the Beast?”
“FromBeauty and the Beast?” OC rolls his eyes. “Come on, man, do you not pay attention to anything? The snarly monster tried to force Belleto do his will, but she wouldn’t budge. It was only once he started being nice that she started to bend.”
“Jesus…Christ.” I carve my hand over my face, begging the universe to let this end.
Maple smooths her palm over my thigh and leans into me, temporarily easing some of my irritation as I lower my arm around her and rest my hand on her side as her legs curl up on the couch.
“Why don’t you just tell us what’s bothering you, OC?”
He dramatically flops back in his chair, arms draped over each armrest, legs spread. “It’s Grace.”
“Who’s Grace?” Maple asks.
“The girl he likes,” I answer.
“You remember?” OC asks, looking like I just patted him on the head and told him he was a good boy.
“I will never forget what you did in that coffeehouse while talking about her.”
The tonguing of the muffins. It will never, ever leave me.
A core memory developed, one I wish I could shake off.
“What happened with Grace?” Maple asks.
“Long story short. We were once a thing, I thought she was the love of my life, then we parted ways—my fault, don’t need to get into it—and I was traded to the Agitators, where she was also working. I thought the stars were aligning and we were going to be able to rekindle what we had, but then I was sent down here and she stayed up in Vancouver. I never got a chance to fix things, so I started planning on doing so, coming up with a scenario where I could show her how much she means to me, only to find out she’s with someone else now.”
“Oh gosh, I’m so sorry.”
