Okay I know I haven't updated in a while and I'm really really sorry. Please don't kill me! I've just been adding little bits here and there and I finally decided to get hands on and finish the chapter tonight so here you go. Enjoy!
BritishBombshell007 - thankyou so much! More Zammie in this chapter cuz I'm really feeling it right now and I'm spreading the love.
Guest - Eventhough Zach hasn't pieced it together he knows it deep down. I think the fact that he has such a strong bond with two kids who aren't his makes it all better because it shows how much of an amazing dad he's going to be. That could end up winning over Cammie into telling him the truth. Thankyou!! Xx
Guest7 - thankyou! I have the 1st chapter of my new FF ready to post but I'm waiting until I have a few up my sleeve so it's easier and I can update frequently rather than every so often like this one. Also I love that vine hahaha
Guest - I agree completely, if it were me that's what I would do. I wouldn't be letting him back into my life properly until I knew he could be there because this time it isn't just her heart on the line xo
Bookslover777 - l hope I didn't make you wait too long! Exactly, she needs to be calculated about how she's approaching the situation because I don't think she could handle getting attached for him to leave again
hadn't seen Cammie or the kids since that night. The next week has been packed with work and catching up with the family. Ilysh, Jake's youngest daughter, and I had got really close. Probably because she reminds me of a mini Jake as a child and also loves playing nurse on me. I bought her a kid's medical kit and I've never seen her eyes light up as brightly before. As much as I love my three Niece's, my mind keeps drifting back to two other bright green eyed kids I've came to adore. Matthew and Morgan. I know, Zach you've been around these kids for around 6 hours, how could you be so attached? Well to answer that question, I don't know. Maybe it's the idea that they're Cammie's kids, they're the outcome of what could have been. Or maybe it's that they don't have a man to call dad, maybe it's that I know what it's like to feel neglected as a child. My parents would go on business trips for months at a time from me being the age of 10 all the way up until I left for New York. Could it be because I couldn't possibly not hold affection for the kids of the woman I love? All I know is that Cammie has haunted my dreams since I came back to the small town of Roseville and now Morgan and Matthew are there too. I contemplate this for what feels like years until I finally roll out of bed and get ready for the day. The hot summer air means I can wear my green shorts with a white T and trainers. When I come down the stairs, I notice my parents aren't home and their car isn't on the drive. It's my day off and there's literally nothing to do so I pick up my cell and ring Grant.
Hey man, what you up to today? I say when Grant picks up.
Everyone's thinking of heading to the beach. You in? Bring a soccer ball so I can whoop your ass old school! Grant replies laughing. A loud thwack sounds through the phone followed by a very distinct British accent shouting "Grant if you swear in front of Grace one more time I'm going to boot you so hard you'll be sticking your toothbrush up your butt to brush your teeth." Bex warns dangerously. If there's one thing I've learned over the years of living in Roseville, it's never mess with Rebecca Baxter.
I jump in the car and head to Ocean View beach where the gang are. When I get there, the sun is beaming down on the golden sand as waves lap at the shore calmly. I make my way down to the left of the pier where I see everyone. Laying down on towels are Liz, Cammie and a woman with jet black hair. Her Gucci sunglasses hide a lot of her face but I'd know that girl anywhere. Macey McHenry, Nick's fiancé. By the side of Liz, I see Little David sat on her lap playing with a Bambi teddy. As I make my way over to the group, Cammie looks up. Her eyes widen slightly before she glances at Macey and acts like she isn't fazed.
"Hey, where's everyone else?" I ask innocently as I've the night at Cammie's never happened. Liz grins and nods over to the sea. "Bex, Grant, Nick and the kids are in the sea cooling off," I can practically see Macey's eyes roll at the idea of swimming in the sea through her sunglasses. Liz picks up David and runs a little sun screen in where she missed on the side of his cheek.
"No Jonas today?"
Liz sighs and David seems to perk up at the mention of his dad, "he's at work but he's coming here straight after. Should be finished around 1." I nod to myself before turning to face the ocean. Grant and Nick are swinging little Grace up in the air before catching her just before she hits the water, Bex is laughing playfully as Connor splashes her. I'm about to ask about Matthew and Morgan would I come across as too keen? When I'm tackled to the ground by a pair of giggling small people.
"Zachy!" Morgan screams as she jumps on top of me. Matthew is smirking at me for getting me off guard and into the sand. They're both soaking so I guess they've been in the water.
"Hey trouble 1 and trouble 2." I reply, messing up Matthew's hair playfully. I glance over at the girls to see Macey push her sunglasses down, eyebrows raised, to give Cammie a look that clearly says she hasn't told the girls about our recent encounter. No doubt they'll be talking about that later. I'm pulled out of my thoughts when Matthew tugs on my arm, "Zach, come in the water!" he shouts, shaking his chocolate hair around and splashing water all over me like a puppy. I go to decline but they pull the Morgan eyes out on me and it's impossible to resist. Cammie smirks at me when she realises they've coaxed me into it.
"You too Momma!" Morgan squeals and it's my turn to smirk. Yeh Gallagher Girl, good luck turning them down. I pull my shirt off and my smirk widens into a smile when I see a dark blush form under Cam's cheeks, "like what you see Gallagher Girl?"
She rolls her eyes and proceeds to unbutton the oversized shirt she's wearing to reveal a khaki bikini which shows off her amazing curves in all the right ways. She definitely doesn't look like she's a mother of two.
"Like what you see Blackthorne Boy?" Cammie asks innocently and it takes all of my willpower to turn my eyes away from her alluring body. Morgan and Matthew take off running to the sea and I walk silently beside Cammie. The awkwardness since we seen eachother dissipated and replaced with a comfortable silence. When we reach the waves, Cammie sticks a manicured toe into it and shrudders, taking a step back.
"You're not backing out now are you?" I ask cockily. She looks up to meet my eyes and shakes her head. "No but give me a chance to accumulate to it, it's like a sea of ice cubes out there!" She retorts.
"Now now Gallagher Girl, don't make me come and get you." I reply. Her eyes narrow dangerously.
"You wouldn't."
"Try me." Before she gets a chance to run, I scoop her up and throw her over my shoulders before taking off into the waves. Once I'm knee deep, I dump her in the water and her full head goes under.
"I'm going to kill you!" She shouts when her head resurfaces and she stands up. I can tell there's a playful tone to her voice so I smirk.
"You've gotta catch me first Gallagher Girl," and that's how we ended up playfighting like kids in the sea. Soon after, Matthew and Morgan joined in. Morgan and I against Matthew and Cammie. Just like the other night, to an outsider we would look like a happy family spending the day at the beach. And I don't know if that makes me happy or sad.
After hours of playing around on the beach and in the waves, the gang decides it's time to head home. We've all dried off from swimming and Morgan's dark rich hair has went so curly from the sea that Cammie snapped two bobbles trying to put it in a bun for her. If you took my hair and Morgan's and combined it, you would have enough curls to put a poodle to shame.
"Cammie Nick and I are eating out tonight so we'll drop you and the kids off now if you're ready to go?" Macey asks once we've packed away our things. Before I realise what I'm saying, my mouth is taking over before my brain can adjust to what I'm saying, "I'll take them hope they live in the street next to me."
Cammie's head shoots up from Macey and locks with mine. She shakes her head frantically and starts to make up excuses.
"You don't have booster seats for the kids and I'm not putting them in a car without them," she says, smug that she has a reasonable excuse. But I'm one step ahead of her. "Gallagher Girl, I have three nieces, ofcourse I have booster seats they're in the boot. What do yous think?" I turn to the kids who have clearly already made up their minds. Cammie goes to argue when Macey cuts her off, "actually I think that's a great idea it saves on gas and the restaurant Nick and I are going to is two minutes away from here." Bex shoots Macey a warning look but she holds Bex's gaze confidently. Cammie pouts but realises she basically has no choice in the matter so eventually agrees to let me take them home.
The ride back through town is calming, Morgan and Matthew are chattering between them and Cammie is humming along to the music on the radio. Her fingers absentmindedly tap along to the beat and I can't help but smile to myself at how some things never change. I notice the sky is starting to brighten up with vibrant reds and oranges. Sunset. Suddenly, I have a strange idea and find my mouth acting without my brains consent again.
"Before we go home, can we make a detour?" I ask Cammie. She nods confused and interested. If there's one thing that Cammie has always been, it's curious. I pull up to the field and jump out the car excitedly. Morgan insists I carry her so I grab the bag out of my trunk and swoop her into my arms. We walk for around 10 minutes until I find the spot. Our spot. Now, the sky is a ensemble of amazing colours and the setting sun is hitting the Castle just right. I lay out the picnic blanket and we all huddle together on it. Matthew and Morgan's eyes light up at the view and I notice Cammie's smile growing by the minute. Her eyes glaze over and a single tear escapes her eye. I catch it and wipe it away as quickly as it appears. She must read the worried expression on my face because she laughs melodically.
"Don't worry, I'm happier now than I have been for a while," Cammie says quietly. I know she doesn't want a reply so I put my jacket around her bare arms and turn my attention back to the sky.
And we watched the sunset
Over the Castle on the Hill
