Chapter 8

CHAPTER 8

Sydney

"An entire day? What happened to the beach?" Amanda asked.

I picked up another slice of pizza and said, "It's still on so far, but that will depend on whether the sun shines or not. But at least we have a backup plan."

"Sounds like more than a backup plan. If you ask me, he wants to spend as much time with you as he can. I am surprised that you and Cameron didn't hook up last night," she giggled. "Or did you and you don't want to tell me?"

I glared at her. "No. We did not hook up. And you know me better than that. I don't do one-night stands." That is more your style.

" True. You're not that adventurous. Someday you'll loosen up and have some fun."

"Fun? What is fun about having sex with a stranger?" I said, a bit too loud and the couple at the next table shot us a surprised look before laughing. It was an odd conversation to have over dinner, but to me, it was risky behavior. Turning my attention back to Amanda, I said, "Too dangerous."

"I use protection," she replied.

I rolled my eyes. "Would you take your dog to a park and let him lose to play with a strange dog?"

"You're comparing me to a dog?"

"The comparison is the risk. No, you wouldn't let Kiki, your cute Chihuahua, play with a German Shepherd that you don't know."

"Of course not. I wouldn't let her play with any dog I didn't know. But that's because she's so tiny," Amanda said. "But it's not like I don't know the person that I have sex with. It is possible to have sex without looking for a relationship. Many people do it."

"Not me," I stated firmly.

"And that's why you're sexually frustrated and I'm not. Tell the truth. When was the last time a man, not a vibrator, cleaned out those cobwebs?" she teased.

"None of your business."

"That long, huh? And you have this guy who you said is so sexy you can't stop thinking about him, even at work. And yet you aren't inviting him over?" she asked.

"I thought it was you who said he probably was married," I reminded her.

"I said he ‘could be'. That is different. And the more you talk about him, the more I like him."

"Then you call and invite him to spend the night." The second I said it, I regretted it. The thought of Cameron with anyone else, even my BFF, bothered me. Crazy, because we hadn't even been on a date. Yet, there was a part of me that already liked him. If I didn't, I never would've kissed him.

"Wow, I wish you could see your face right now. You look pissed. At yourself," she said.

"Yeah. Guess I am. But that doesn't mean I'm going to call him out of the blue. We agreed on Sunday. I can wait till then."

"True. And it's not like you're sitting home on a Friday night with nothing to do. You've got me," Amanda grinned.

I wrinkled my nose. "Not that I'm not grateful for the dinner invitation, but why aren't you out with your latest boyfriend?"

"He's out with his buddies tonight. Some huge boxing matches going on and I wanted nothing to do with it."

"God. What do they see in it? Men punching each other for money. Get a real job," I said, disgusted.

"Well, it's a lot more than that. Not that I understand all the rules, or care to, but they spend a lot of money and time preparing for it."

"Well, you'll never catch me going to one of them. Don't even want to watch it on television, never mind in person. Then again, I'm not into sports at all." Even in school, I focused on my education, and from there dove right into college. Many people didn't realize that there was more schooling to become a vet than an MD. The price of all that training was a social life. Or as Amanda would say, a love life.

"I thought you told me to never say never?"

I laughed. "No. You said that to me," I reminded her. "You're the one who likes to change her mind all the time. I'm the predictable one. Remember?"

"I would agree, but something has changed. Ever since you clunked Cameron over the head with the 2x4, you haven't been the same. Are you sure you didn't hit yourself instead?" she joked.

I snorted. "Don't even remind me. Every time I think about it, I want to call and check on him."

"Clunk. Smack. Whack. Huge cut. Lots of blood. Head trauma."

"What on earth are you doing?" I asked.

"Encouraging you to call him," she smiled before grabbing the last piece of pizza. "Well? What are you waiting for?"

"You want me to call him now? Here? It's not like we can talk," I stated.

"Are you planning on having phone sex?" she asked. The couple next to us laughed again. I huffed and glared at Amanda. She continued. "Then there is no reason why you can't call. Is there?"

"Fine." I reached down into my purse and pulled out my cell phone. I dialed his number and instantly it went to voicemail. I ended the call.

"Why did you hang up?"

"He didn't answer," I said, simply.

"And you didn't say anything. I'm sure he has voice mail."

"I don't want to leave him a message," I said. I had no idea what to say.

"Then how is he going to know what you want?" I shrugged, not sure what I wanted either. "Then send him a text. At least you will know he gets that."

"Fine." I typed him several messages and deleted them all. Didn't want to check on his head. Didn't want to talk about the weather for Sunday either. What I wanted was to talk to him. See him.

Oh hell. What do I have to lose?

I CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT YOU.

I hit send and there was no turning back. Now I just needed to stress about what his reply would be.

"What did you say?" she asked.

"Just checking on him. That's all," I lied. If I told her the truth, she would start all over again on how I needed to invite him over and rock his world. Tempting. But it was his turn to make the move.

If he wanted to make one.

" I should've texted him for you. At least he would've replied," she sighed. "Well, since you haven't heard back, what do you want to do tonight? Movie?"

"No. If you don't mind, I'd like to head home. It's been a long week," I said.

"It's only eight. All you're going to do is sit by the phone, wishing it would ring. Trust me, I've been there. All you do is lose sleep or miss out on fun."

I was going to have my phone by my bedside, but I really planned on getting some much-needed sleep. I didn't want to see Cameron Sunday and have dark circles around my eyes.

"Is it so wrong to think of a good night's sleep as fun? Well maybe not fun, but enjoyable. This is the first Friday I have been out in a long time. That doesn't mean I want to make it an all-nighter," I stated.

"I was talking maybe ten or eleven. Not four in the morning," she laughed. "If you won't go to a movie, how about staying here and shooting some pool?"

"Amanda, have you forgotten that we are best friends? I know you hustled people in pool when you were in college. I'm not falling for it."

"That was years ago. I don't do that kind of stuff anymore. I have a real job now," she smiled. "But that doesn't mean I won't let you pay for dinner."

I rolled my eyes. "And the game has already begun. Fine, I will pay for dinner under one condition."

"What is that?"

"You promise not to talk about Cameron at all," I stated.

"How about I don't use his name?" she teased.

"Oh, that early bedtime is sounding even better," I warned.

"Fine. Not one word. But that is for tonight only."

"Nope. The entire weekend," I said, extending the terms. I could use a few days of not listening to her constant questions or nagging about what I needed to do with my love life.

"Not sure pizza is worth that," she replied.

"I'll also buy a pitcher of beer," I offered.

"Ooooh. You're having a drink? Guess you really want me to agree, don't you?" she asked. I nodded. "Fine, Sydney, consider Cameron's existence off-limits. Till Monday that is. Then I better hear every single detail. And there better be some juicy shit too," she stated.

"I'll try my best," I said and waved the waitress over. After ordering the beer, I said, "I'm ready to get my ass whooped."

Amanda rubbed her hands together and said, "Just like the old days."

It was funny that she thought so because nothing felt like the old days. I wasn't the same person. Or maybe I was, and just needed Amanda to remind me of that.

Still working too hard, and not playing enough. Maybe I do need to add some...juicy worthy fun into my life.

Now all I needed was for Cameron to be on the same page.

Definitely going to need a good night's sleep because I have a feeling, I won't be getting any sleep Sunday night.

At least I hope not.