Chapter 10

CJ leaned against the door she had just shut to keep Houston out.

He started to bang on it. Ask her who was Bruce and why didn't he know about him since they told each other everything.

She snorted.

Who was he kidding he didn't tell her about every woman he encountered. His flavor of the month, his "distractions". If he did they'd never get any work done and she wouldn't be having these feelings for her best friend if he had actually had given her a play by play of his latest conquest.

She needed some space but he continued to bang on the door and he had growled at her.

She had enough.

Yelling through the door that the subject was closed and she never asked about his personal life and why all of a sudden he was so interested in hers.

She knew he was still there and told him she was taking a shower then a nap and she would talk to him later. She waited and heard him walk away.

CJ mumbled "Im going to kill Carol."

Why did she have to bring Bruce's name into this? Houston would not let this go till he found out exactly who he was and how long she had known him. He was going to really lose it when he found out she had only gone out with him once and he had left such a big impression on her.

She sat on the bed in her bedroom. She had slept in Houston's room last night. She always did when she was house sitting for him. It made her feel safe.

She would spray some of his cologne on his pillow and it would help her sleep. She all her stuff still in there. The bed wasn't made the room a mess since with everything that had happened she had no time to tidy up his room and what would he say when he found out she had slept in his room instead of hers.

She decided to sneak over and make the bed and get her stuff out of there before Houston came up to sleep since they needed to be back at the hospital in a couple of hours. She open the door a crack and didn't see anyone she slowly walked out and almost made it to the other room when she heard Houston yell, "In my house he came into my house!" CJ closed her eyes and swore.

"Carol's going to need a doctor when I done with her."

She snuck in to his room and it was a mess. She made the bed first and grabbed all her clothes that where on the floor and on the chair by the balcony. She went into his bathroom and grabbed her make up case and her shampoo and conditioner from the shower. She put it all in her bag and was coming out of the room when Carol with a tray of food came up the stairs.

"Hey whatcha doing in Houston's room sis?"

I went into my room and she followed me in and put the tray down on the dresser. She looked around and said, "Yeah this is more your taste love the décor oh and the guest room too that has your touch all over it."

"Yeah when Houston got this place he brought me and asked what I thought and said I could have this bedroom. He said I could decorate the guest room too. I helped him with the rest of the house but I made sure it was his taste but steered him away from the horns and the extra-large state of Texas flags and a pool table."

Carol laughed, "you are a good influence on him he should be so lucky that you have feelings for him."

I shook my head, "No I have feelings for Bruce remember. You told Houston it was Bruce and he nearly tore the door asking who was he and why hadn't I told him. Carol you don't know Houston he's not going to let up till he finds out everything there is to know about Bruce. Heck I don't even remember his last name."

Carol smiled.

"Hey I thought you'd be happy I gave you an out and you should have seen him downstairs he was not a happy camper."

I groaned, "I heard him. He didn't sound happy. How upset is he Carol I'm surprise he didn't try to come back and drop off my tray."

Carol shrugged her shoulders, "Well it's not my fault he jumps to conclusions. I said Bruce was at the house and he thought in the house. I told him I went for a walk with Aaron and when I came back you were in his room. Again the man jumped to conclusions and thought you had Bruce up here with you."

"Carol! How could you let him think that?"

I started for the door.

"CJ he's not here he took Beast for a walk he said he needed some air."

I grabbed my jacket, "I'm going to go look for him."

She shook her head, "Nope you are not going out there did you forget about the circus they still want to talk to you and I think cowboy needs to stew in his thoughts for a minute. You need to shower, eat and nap. So which will you be doing first?"

Carol was right I couldn't go out to look for him and I needed to eat, sleep and get cleaned up. I grab the tray and sat on the bed and started to eat.

"Why didn't you correct him Carol he thinks I brought a strange man into his house and into his bedroom? Great how am I going to explain this?"

"Why do you have to explain CJ he shouldn't be asking you these questions unless..."

"Unless what Carol and don't say unless he has feelings for me because he doesn't. He's mad because I didn't do as he asked and brought a stranger to his home."

"CJ you've both been through some heavy trauma and things seemed like they've changed I see a difference in him and so has Will and Uncle Roy. Why can't you believe he loves you?"

I picked up the tray and put it back on the dresser I wasn't hungry anymore. I started to grab my PJ's and turned to Carol.

"He doesn't see me that way, we've been friends too long now and I've accepted it I won't put my heart out there to get trampled again."

"CJ..."

"No Carol you remember when I called you and told you about Elizabeth and how he used my house as his love nest. How he had used my bed to entertain his newest distraction by smelling her perfume and his cologne on my sheets. And how you came over to find me drunk and crying and how you help me get rid of the evidence and redo my room."

She came over to me and put her arms around me I started to sniffle I hated reliving that time in my life.

"Do you remember how I told you Elizabeth left him and how hurt he was and how I swore I wouldn't be there to pick up the pieces again? But fell into that role once again? And when she came back because she changed her mind and he fell head over heels in love with the woman of his dreams and how I cried on your shoulders when I told him I was jealous and how he just brushed it aside and said he'd feel the same way when I found my true love."

I pulled away and wiped away my tears, "I can't Carol, no I won't. I'm not going to wish for something that will be one sided. I love him. But I'm not the woman of his dreams, I'm just his friend and I'm good with that. I wouldn't want him any other way now. I kissed the frog and he didn't turn into my prince so I'm just going to take one day at a time, I have Jake to take care of that's my priority now. So I'm going to shower and then take a nap I want to go pick some clothes for Jake to take back with me Emma said I could." I wiped my tears with his sweater.

"Hey why don't I go to the store for you so you can get some more rest and I'll make sure no one disturbs you okay? You know I love you CJ and you are one of my best friends. I just want you to be happy. I promise to tell Houston I lied. Okay buttercup."

I looked at her, she had tears in her eyes and handed me a tissue. I shook my head.

"Let him stew he really doesn't have any right to ask me about my "distractions" and I love you too. I'm tired and I should take the doctor's orders and thanks for going to the store for me. Wake me in a couple of hours."

She hugged me and I went to the bathroom.

I turned on the water and pulled off his sweater. I hugged it wishing it was him but knowing it could never happen I had to protect myself or I'd lose more than our friendship but my heart as well.