Author's Note: HOLY HOW you guys are so freaking amazing i flailed when i woke up this morning and read all your reviews. /falls over and dies. you are all so amazing i love you all with all my heart. this is not that great it's derived from a million things and written just for fun yo. you guys make me want to roll around in happiness. thank you to lydiamartins, psychotic honeybadger of death, rweasleys, amazingxlivexlovexlaughx3, mee, cerulean cascades, kneexsocks, anonymous, holy sht, captain americas, YAAAAAAS, the ocean floor, and sexy bitches milkshake club aka lily and my 5 guest reviewers for your reviews. xoxoxo
to my guest reviewers: ya'll are right. anna was riding a really fine line. if you read it again, it could go both ways, but most of you seem hopeful! chris and kemp have been mentioned, but has not shown up yet. they appear soon. jamie marvil is married in my notes, so she's not invested in the cam thing as much as her sisters, LOL. cam is not oblivious. nothing has happened to claire yet. everything so far has been behind the scenes [like the parents or alicia or etc] and only noticeable to the readers/viewers. derrick already warned cam about girls out for his attention, but cam is secure in his relationship and said he doesn't care. his only wrong doing is not warning claire about it all. i've been super, duper sketch about claire's background on purpose. sorry, but you'll see. more development on that next chapter! but i love your guesses though! i think that's all. ask me about any more questions, i'll try to clarify.
this was a long author's note. and also a super long chapter. it's all over the place. i don't know what to name it. LOL but we have aftermath, a look at california-famous vs. new-york-famous with olivia and her mom, pc intereaction, and clam scene... kinda.
Chapter Eight: Country Club and Newcomers
##
When Claire woke up the next morning to the bright sunlight shining through the automatic curtains, Cam was talking softly on the phone in the sitting room of their suite. It was reminiscent of the day he had invited her here. As her mind slowly whirled into action, Claire lay there silently, trying to take in everything that had happened so far on their trip to New York.
Last night had been amazing, but she couldn't help the growing sense of unease, the knots in her stomach tightening like a vice. Claire felt like she had just stumbled upon a button and into a secret chamber and discovered that her boyfriend had been living a double life.
The life of luxury and splendor that Cam seemed to have grown up in was so different from the ordinary life they shared as two young college students in Chicago that Claire was having trouble connecting the two.
Cam's lifestyle in Chicago was completely modest. He rented a cozy studio apartment three blocks from school that contained nothing of value except his laptop, schoolbooks, and guitar. He dressed completely casual and Claire, having no references to men's designer wear, never realized just how much those rumpled A.P.C sweaters or Turnbull & Asser t-shirts cost. She had snatched one off the ground and Google'd it like a stalker and almost choked at the prices. How was she supposed to know that the vintage hipster clothing he wore weren't from thrift shops or American Apparel or something, but were actually real?
The only real splurges she'd ever seen Cam make were fresh produce for her at the Farmer's Market or good seats to a concert if a band was in town.
But now suddenly, everything was starting to make sense. There had always been something to him, a quality Claire had never been able to articulate. Something that made her notice him in a new light she had caught the moment she really looked at him. He was different from everyone she had ever known. The way he interacted with people so casually, easily, charmingly. The way he commanded stage presence, drawing attention and second eyes and groupies wherever he went. Even the way he held himself. Cam didn't mind fading into the background, but for some reason, he had never managed it. He had always stood out.
Claire had always chalked it up to his good looks. She had been weary of him from the start because of it. But now, now she knew better.
Cam Fisher, who had grown up in the wealthy and extravagant world of Westchester, had nothing to prove… because everything else in the world paled by comparison.
Claire ached to know everything about him, to discover about the world he had lived and breathed everyday of his life until Chicago. She wanted to know all about his childhood at Derrick's mansion, about all the famous and illustrious people he knew, about everything, the food and parties and lifestyle he had introduced her to, but Claire didn't want to pester him with a billion annoying questions first thing in the morning. Not when they had the whole summer stretched out before them to discover it together.
"Hey, Sleeping Beauty," Cam whispered in her ear with a laugh when he noticed that she was awake.
Claire gave him a slow, sleepy smile, before scowling as the words reached her. "Are you sure you want to anger me this early in the morning?"
"No," Cam laughed, slipping under the sheets and wrapping his arms around her from behind. He pressed an opened mouth kiss against the back of her neck that electrocuted her whole body. Claire turned around to face him and just stared into his mismatched eyes.
"Did you sleep okay?" Cam asked, tucking a lock of blonde hair behind her ear for her.
"Like a rock," Claire answered with a small giggle. "Last night really wiped me out."
"You were amazing. I know it must have been crazy meeting all those people, but you charmed everyone. They loved you."
"Um, that's what you say," Claire muttered, pulling away slightly to avoid his eyes. "But I don't think some of those people liked me very much. Like, that Alicia girl or Derrick's parents. When Mr. Harrington and the Mayor started asking me about New York policies, I completely—"
"Claire, no one expected you to know everything about New York law and policies. You live in Chicago. Everyone loved you, I promise."
"Even Anna?" Claire asked, biting her lip and dreading the answer when she remembered her horrible faux pas.
"Of course," Cam smiled. "In fact, she even invited us to stay with her, if you wanted that was."
"Wait, seriously?" she asked in complete surprise, turning back to him.
"Yes, Claire," her boyfriend laughed. "She wants to get to know you better. Why are you so shocked?"
"I didn't think I made that much of an impression…" Other than being a complete embarrassment.
Cam leaned closer until their noses were almost touching. "You don't need to make an impression on anyone, Claire. You just need to be yourself. …That's enough of an impression."
Claire felt close to bursting at his words. She bridged the distance between them and pressed her lips to his.
When they finally resurfaced for air, Claire's stomach growled and Cam laughed and rolled of the bed. "You know what we have not done yet? We have not taken advantage of the 24 hour room service. You know, that's one of my favorite things about staying at a hotel. Let's go see how good their breakfast is."
"Sounds good to me. So, wait, quick question, does Derrick's family really own this hotel?" she asked, as she accepted the leather bound menu from him.
"Yeah. Did Derrick tell you?" Cam asked, scanning his own menu.
"No… Layne did. She saw something in the papers and—uh," Claire trailed off, not wanting to tell him that Layne had tried Googling his friend, but found nothing. She dropped that part. "She saw something. You didn't tell me that Derrick's wedding was going to be such a big deal."
Cam looked up from his food perusal. "I didn't think it was going to be," he told her with a furrowed brow.
"It's apparently front page news in every magazine and newspaper in New York. There's even this thing called Wedding Watch, where they track the progress. Like, a full article, just on any recent developments with pictures and stuff."
"You'd think that they'd have better things to report." Cam snorted in disgust. "What with shit going on all around the world."
"You know nothing sells like a big fancy wedding," Claire sang, flipping through the pages of her menu. "They're calling it New York's own royal wedding."
Cam sighed, tossing his menu away and flopping back down on the bed next to her. He stared up at the wood paneled ceiling. "That's why Derrick's so stressed. I'm kinda worried about it. A big wedding was the last thing he wanted, but I think Massie and their moms kind of just took over and now it's unavoidable. I heard it's going to be a Broadway production."
"Well, good thing I can just sit in the audience and relax," Claire teased.
Cam narrowed his eyes playfully. "Lucky you." He exhaled loudly. "But that reminds me. Kemp Hurley is organizing the entire bachelor party and apparently, he's planned quite the event. We're meeting at the airport this weekend and flying to a secret destination. Are you going to be okay for a whole weekend without me?"
"Don't even worry about me," Claire laughed. "I can explore a bit on my own. And Layne can always show me around. She's been a really fun guide. You should have heard some of the comments she made."
"Well, don't forget there's always another option. Massie called this morning to remind you about her bachelorette party this weekend too. She meant it when she invited you. She really does want you to go too."
Claire bit her lip. "Are you sure she wasn't just being polite? I mean, we've only just met. Wouldn't it be weird if I showed up to a party with all her closest friends?"
"Don't think of it like that," Cam reassured her. "Derrick's my best friend. And Massie's going all out. It won't be just a few people. I'm pretty sure half of Westchester is going too, so it could be fun for you. Why don't you talk it over with her? There's this lunch thing at this country club in Westchester today that I kind of wanted to show you. You can work out the details there if you want to go."
"Okay," Claire mused. "Yeah, lunch at a club sounds like fun. I've never been before. But I really want to try these eggs benedict first."
Cam pressed a kiss to the top of her head and reached over her for the hotel phone.
##
In the middle of a ultra-modern top floor studio loft turned boutique on Fifth Avenue, New York, Olivia Ryan stood in the center on a revolving platform in a excessively organza-draped and pearl-detailed Stella McCartney ball gown as two seamstresses flittered around her. The three-set mirror and Max Mover lights in front of her bathed her newly tanned skin in a flattering glow, but her mother still continued to glare at her.
Guzzling down a Diet Coke to fight off her jet lag from only just stepping off a plane from California, Olivia stared back in resentment at her mother.
"It should be cinched in tighter," Jacklyn critiqued, eyeing the folds in her dress.
The attendants glanced at each other, before unpinning a section and pulling it tighter and pinning it back.
"Jesus, mum," Olivia whined. "I can barely breathe in this as it is."
"Take smaller breathes, then." Her mother raised a brow at her and nodded approvingly at the workers. "This wouldn't be a problem if you'd been watching your weight in California. You're allowing those C-list celebrities to bring you down with them. You're slacking in everything from your etiquette to your manners to your fashion sense to your figure."
Olivia rolled her eyes. Her figure was perfect. Spending time away from here in California with those so-called C-listers had given her a boost of confidence that she would never have gained in the world of Westchester.
"What is this? England?" Olivia muttered, tugging at a flap to loosen it only to be slapped away by her mother. "This is like a corset."
"Beauty is pain, Livia," Jacklyn chided. "Perfection is sacrifice. I've told you this time and time again. But you've seem to have forgotten everything I've ever taught you."
Olivia rolled her eyes again. "Don't start, mum. I knew exactly what I was doing in California. I had a series contract to guest star on MTV waiting just for me to sign and Ben was planning on taking me to this island near Terranea this weekend too. Things were going perfectly over there until you forced me to come back here for this stupid wedding. I was looking forward to blowing this off completely."
"Don't get me started on the riot you almost caused over here with your offensive comments in US Weekly about Massie," Jacklyn hissed in anger. "You had no idea of all the damage control I had to do. You're lucky we're even still invited to the wedding."
Olivia kept her face impassive at the memory of the mini-scandal she almost caused as rumors spiked of a rivalry between her and Massie, even though she was close to bursting at finally getting one up over on Massie. 'I don't understand what all the fuss is about over the Block wedding,' she had commented on a red carpet premiere for a movie launch confidently. 'I'm far too busy over here to rush back to my hometown for every social climber's wedding.'
She had washed her hands clean of insanity that was Westchester forever. She had no trouble burning down all the bridges too.
Or so she had thought, until her mother had her dragged back here.
"California has drained you of all brain cells. I don't care what world you're living in now, but you've never been this dumb. Things were not going perfectly over there for you and this wedding is going to be the wedding of the decade. And it might not be the only one!" Jacklyn seethed at her daughter. "Cameron is planning on proposing to this Claire Lyons girl any minute now. I've trained you from a young age and the worst thing is, you had him, only to let him slip from your grasp. One simple mission and you failed miserably. Well, now's your second chance. Your last chance."
"You have no appreciation of anything I've accomplish, mum!" Olivia finally burst out. One of the seamstresses jumped in surprise, accidentally jabbing her in the thigh with a pin. She didn't even feel it, adrenaline surging in her veins after reaching her breaking point. "Ever. I'm a rising star now. I was one step away from being a series regular. I went to three red carpet premières this year. I'm this close to becoming America's next starlet!"
"Who gives a damn about that?" Jacklyn jerked her daughter back into fitting position for the workers. "Do you think anyone here in Westchester is impressed to see pictures of you on TMZ with that awful surfer? Pictured in the US Weekly in bikinis every week? That people stop you in the street for your autograph?!"
"He's a champion, mum! Californian pro, 3 years running," Olivia corrected as she straightened her back and held out her arms again. She smiled proudly at her accomplishments. So her mother had seen. "And those US Weekly articles were the reason I made it to number 53 on Maxim's 2015's Hottest People List. I'm moving up every year."
"You're an embarrassment to me and all of New York society," Jacklyn interjected again, ignoring her daughter's words. She gestured under Olivia's arm. "Take this part in a bit more."
"He's not going to marry her, mum," Olivia insisted, knowing that that was what really had her mother all riled up. "I know Cammy. No one knows him like I do and I can assure you he won't marry this Claire Lyons girl."
"Well, for your sake, I hope you're right," Jacklyn finally conceded at her daughters words. She softened and stepped back, nodding at the seamstresses. "That's enough. That's good." She adjusted the long mesh train behind her and then stared at her daughter in the three way mirror. She smiled slightly. "You look exquisite, Livia. Absolutely lovely."
"Thank you," Olivia beamed. She tilted her head and admired herself. "It does look nice, doesn't it?"
"Her body was made for Stella McCartney," a seamstress simpered. The other nodded vigorously, hoping Olivia had forgotten all about her pin prick.
"I don't have to remind you how important this is," Jacklyn told her daughter sternly, ignoring the gushing workers. "You know—"
"Yes, mum," Olivia interrupted sarcastically. "Of course I remember. You've told me every single day of my life. I'm a girl and the youngest Ryan to boot. You have nothing to leave me. Everything is going to my older brothers Andy and Leo. I need to be perfect to find someone of my status if I want to maintain my lifestyle. I know."
"Good." Jacklyn smiled brightly. "So you haven't forgotten everything I taught you." She clapped her hands at the seamstresses. "Now get her into the Yves Saint Laurent. She has to look absolutely flawless."
##
The country club that Cam and most of Westchester had grown up going to had been so pretentious and ostentatious that women were not even allowed into the men's smoking room and bar until 2001. It was a Victorian era structured building on the edge of town with all dark wood and leather décor that opened to a spacious formal dining restaurant with faded brocade walls and fancy wall sconces. The most modern thing about the room was its wall windows overlooking the main tennis courts outside.
It wasn't extravagant like the St. Sherry's, but Claire could tell that it was just as classy. The richly-textured mahogany and fretwork dining tables were all strategic placed with a view of the restaurant's main doors, allowing all the esteemed club members the opportunity to make grand entrances, turning even dining into another sport to be won in Westchester.
Already seated and scanning their menus in the toile dining chairs were the well known Pretty Committee. It was better to order earlier, the food here took ages.
Dylan Marvil, who finally extracted herself from her older sister, fidgeted nervously, alternating between tugging on her bright floral Pucci dress and her hair. It just wasn't sitting right, despite the fresh blowout she had done early this morning. She also regretted going with classic floral, especially since Alicia looked better in her simple one colored Missoni.
It was similar to what Claire was wearing yesterday. Shit, why hadn't she thought of that?
Now she looked like a walking blob, clashing with the dark décor. She tugged on her hair again nervously.
"Don't bother," Kristen Gregory told her without looking up, scanning her menu a little too intently. "He prefers blondes."
Dylan gasped.
Massie glanced up over at them with a long-suffering sigh. Alicia giggled in her seat.
"What—you're not blonde either!" she spluttered at her.
Alicia's single arched brow told her she was more than confident that that wouldn't be a problem. The messed up thing was, she was probably right, Dylan thought with despair. She couldn't remember the last time Alicia hadn't gotten a guy she wanted. Her track record spoke for itself.
"Massie, do you hear this?" Dylan seethed, turning to her. "This is so unfair—Leesh already won the croquet match to tell Ella. She has her endorsement. And Kris is right, Cam does have a thing for blondes! Nikki, Abby, Liv, and now, Claire. They both have an advantage or a leg up! This is so messed up."
"So does this mean you're backing out?" Alicia asked, shutting her leather-bound menu.
"No," Dylan replied vehemently.
Alicia shrugged in response, nonchalantly examining her manicure.
"Dyl, you're gorgeous. You're letting them work you up," Massie told her patiently.
"You could go dye your hair right now," Kristen joked with a laugh, snapping her menu closed too. "I'm sure Ted Gibson can fit you in."
"Yeah, like that wouldn't be obvious," Alicia snickered. "Imagine marrying him and having to re-dying your hair every week. That's 6,000 dollars of scalp burn a month. You'll be bald by thirty."
Kristen let out her signature phlegmy cackle while Dylan pouted. The other patrons glanced over at them curiously.
"We're ready to order," Massie told the black-tuxedo jacketed waiter who approached them with a pleasant smile. "I'll be having the mesclun salad."
"Same," Kristen and Alicia said instantly at the same time.
Dylan bit her lip and eyed the charred calamari and spicy espelette pepper jam she had been planning to order. She didn't want to be the only one eating in front of Cam… but no, she needed the pick-me-up. Screw trying to be someone she wasn't, she was going to eat everything offered in the full course meal too. And dessert.
The sound of the country club doors opening drew all their attention to the sight of Cam Fisher walking in holding Claire Lyons' hand. Claire's hair was free again, artfully mused from what looked like simple air-drying and wind. Damn. Dylan would have killed for the kind of hair that could stand no maintenance. She was also wearing a simple white sundress. Double damn. She wasn't wearing heels either; instead she was dressed in plain white sneakers that added no height. Triple damn. Obviously, Cam liked the short-girly-girls he could protect and shelter or something. The complete opposite of her, the tallest of all her friends.
"I mean, she's pretty," Kristen whispered to no one in particular. "But she's not that pretty, right?"
Dylan had forgotten that this was the first time Kristen was seeing Claire. Claire wasn't even fashionable and she was inspiring insecurity in them all.
Alicia sniffed. "If the only trait you have to offer is pretty, be prepared to be cheated on with a woman twice your age and divorced before forty."
"This coming from you," Kristen snarled, without taking her eyes of Claire. Alicia opened her mouth in indignation to protest, but Massie cut her eyes to Kristen, who reddened. "Sorry," she muttered to the dark-haired beauty with a contrite look. Alicia took a sip with her drink and nodded. She turned to her friends, while watching people greet the couple out of the corner of her eye. "Okay. Obviously, we can't all go up there together. It'd be way too—"
"Dibs!" Dylan called before Kristen could finish. "I call first."
"Wait, you can't do that!" Alicia interjected instantly. "I didn't even know we were calling—"
"Can I finish?" Kristen hissed. Alicia and Dylan shut up. "I was trying to say, it'd be way too obvious. So, obviously, we have to work together. Two of us should distract Claire and get all the dirty details while the other gets time with Cam."
"Well, who gets alone time with Cam?" Dylan mused. They were both important jobs. She wanted Cam to fall in love with her, but Claire would need to go too. The question was, before or after?
The girls all turned to Massie, who groaned and rubbed her temples. "What was I thinking? This was a horrible idea. I think I'm getting a migraine," she muttered to herself under her breath.
"Come on, Massie," Kristen called, scooting her chair closer to Massie's. "You already got your billionaire fiancé." Her face pinched at remembering her mother's reaction at the news. She shook the image away. "The whole point of this was to help us get one of our own."
Dylan rolled her eyes. Kristen was an only child; at least she'd be getting all her parents money. Whatever that was left, that is. Dylan had two older sisters and a half-brother, she'd be splitting her inheritance four ways.
"Cam Fisher marrying a nobody would be the waste of the century," Alicia stated, slapping her hand down on their table in frustration.
"Do what you will," Massie said, rolling her eyes. "Just don't make me pick."
Alicia, Kristen, and Dylan all stared at each other with suddenly hard eyes. They all bolted from the table at the same time.
##
Instead of making a beeline towards Cam and Claire like Alicia and Dylan, Kristen turned at the last minute and headed over to the group of Briarwood alumni. She twirled her hair and smiled coyly. "You guys up for a game?" she asked, gesturing to the country club soccer field outside.
She was met with answering grins and nods.
She knew she had made the right decision in wearing her Nike sports outfit instead.
So when she finally headed over to Cam's table, she had a whole game's worth of time to woo him.
Dylan and Alicia scowled at her.
##
"So, Claire," Dylan smiled, dipping a piece of calamari into her basquaise sauce. "What do you do when you're not vacationing in New York with Cam?"
"Oh, I'm a photographer," Claire told them, wondering why these girls were suddenly inducting her into their little club and being so nice to her. "My roommate runs a gallery, and I help out there occasionally. She features my stuff sometimes."
"Oh," Alicia giggled. "How chic. Any charities?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, spearing a baby tomato from her salad.
"Are you a member of any charities?" Alicia asked. She slid her hair over her shoulder and grinned at Claire. "Like for example, I was inducted into the New York Foundation for the Arts committee just last week. I also participate in New Hope, March of Dimes, and CHA, Inc. whenever I have free time. And that's just this past month."
"Well, I'm not in any committees, but a portion of our proceeds do go to Woman Made," Claire answered with amusement. It seemed like everything that came out of Alicia's mouth was aimed at trying to one-up her.
"How nice, right, Dyl?" Alicia smirked. Dylan nodded absentmindedly. She was distracted eyeing Kristen and the guys playing a quick game of soccer in the distance. "Did you know that this country club is one of the most exclusive in Westchester?"
"No, I didn't," Claire replied, blinking and looking around at the club again.
"Well, I don't think a non-member has set foot in here in years," Alicia told her.
"Really? Why is that?" she asked, not really all that curious. She put her fork down and wiped her mouth on the cloth napkin. She wasn't totally clueless; she could sense a trap.
"Well, non-members don't really respect the territory, you know?" Alicia explained slowly. Beside her, Dylan took popped another piece of calamari into her mouth to avoid speaking. "They're newcomers, so they don't know how it's always been done. They don't know the proper etiquette or the club rules and regulations." Alicia looked up and met her eyes with that same sweet smile. "They waltz right in… and they think that they know everything, but they really don't. They do things differently, think differently, act differently… and they ruin things for everyone else."
"Why do I get the feeling you're talking about more than the Ridgeway," Claire remarked brazenly. It wasn't a question.
Dylan froze in the process of chewing.
"Of course, I'm talking about the Ridgeway, Claire." Alicia giggled. Her expression was sugar sweet. "Whatever else would I be talking about?"
"I don't know, Alicia," Claire replied dryly. "You tell me."
They stared at each other for what would have been a long time if Cam hadn't appeared behind Claire's chair.
"Hey," he greeted breathlessly, bending down and pressing a kiss to Claire's cheek. "Are you still eating? There's something I want to show you."
"Nope," Claire replied, tossing her napkin into her unfinished salad carelessly. She scooted her chair back loudly, the wooden legs grating against the freshly-waxed hardwood. Dylan winced at the sound, but Alicia's eyes stayed fixed on hers. "I think I'm done here."
She accepted Cam's open hand and forced herself to walk away without a second glance.
"Words of premonition," she heard Alicia mutter as they left.
##
As Cam led Claire away out a side entrance, the sounds of the chattering lunch party faded, to be replaced with the chirping of melodic birds and the rush of the blue lake. She allowed the soothing sounds to push away her confrontation with Alicia. She had never met anyone who looked so sweet and so mean at the same time. Claire could see distant golf poles and croquet wickets and knew that if the whole club wasn't closed just for this event, they wouldn't have been able to sneak away unnoticed.
Cam ducked under two birch trees that almost served as archways. They formed a canopy of shade that protected them from the harsh summer heat. Claire looked around in wonder, marveling at the nature that surrounded them. It was like they weren't even in the country club anymore. Brushing past drifting willow wines, Cam led her off path over to a secluded area right by the lake shrouded by a giant willow tree… and Claire knew instantly what this was.
"Welcome to my old hideout," Cam whispered to her as if it was hallowed ground.
Claire couldn't help but giggle. She turned and looked out over the lake. It seemed to go on for miles, the water barely lapping at the edge near their feet. It was much more romantic than she imagined, but then again maybe Cam had always been romantic.
"I'm impressed," she told him as he flopped down on the dry grass a bit further away from the lake, paying no mind to his clothes. "It's much classier than I pictured."
"Ha ha," Cam deadpanned, reaching and pulling her to him by her waist. Claire landed on his lap with a small squeal. She shifted, trying to make sure that her white sundress didn't touch the grass. He tilted her head up to meet his eyes and raised his eyebrows at her. "Back in middle and high school, I used bring all my girlfriends here."
"Wow," Claire joked, swatting him on the arm. "Way to make a girl feel special."
"You are," Cam told her happily. "You're the only one I've ever told. Before, I just allowed the view to do all my work for me."
Claire followed her boyfriend's eyes and looked back over the lake. "It is a nice lake," Claire admitted with a small sigh, leaning her head back against his chest. She marveled at her boyfriend actually showing her the place they had only ever joked about. She couldn't believe that she was actually here, witnessing first hand real little snippets of his past. This was the most peaceful Cam looked since they arrived and Claire felt his happy mood siphoning all the stress away from her too. She looked up at him innocently. "And you know, I think you're right. It must have been the lake; it sure couldn't have been you, player that you were."
He pretended to look offended, but Claire turned on his lap to face him with a smirk. "Is this where you lost your virginity?"
Cam nodded slowly with a raised brow. "My lip virginity too."
And though, Claire knew from the way he was looking at her, his blue and green eyes burning with heated intensity, that while this place might have held significance for him before, he wasn't thinking about his past at all.
All he saw was her. Claire kissed him.
She brushed her lips over his, savoring in the feel of his lips on hers. She tasted the tart they had both nibbled on just moments earlier and lost herself in the smell of his familiar, but no less intoxicating Dakkair Noir and sweat from the game and the feel of the warm summer wind barely gusting over them in the secluded shade. She hummed her enjoyment and Cam's hand tipped her face up, his hand trailing from her cheek to the back of her neck, pulling her closer.
Claire followed, her hands fisting in his hair as his tongue stroked hers. His arms trailed up her sides, ghosting over her ribs. The caress was feather light, but they still managed to send a tremble through her.
She was just tugging his shirt loose from his pants as he hiked her dress up over her hips when they heard soft footsteps on grass and the rustle of the branches and leaves shielding them, signaling newcomers. They pulled apart quickly. Claire stood up, the better to pull her dress down to keep from exposing herself.
In addition to Best Dressed People, Westchester County, New York was looking to be the winner for the Most Beautiful Inhabitants award too.
The girl standing at the edge of their hideout in front of her didn't even look real. Her buttery blonde hair, smooth tan skin, and pale blue eyes shimming from the glare of the lake made her look like some sort of ethereal fairy. She was easily one of the most beautiful girls Claire had ever seen. The guy stepping out behind her was good looking too, though he looked about forty.
"Liv!" Cam called in astonishment. He stood up as well.
"Cammy!" The girl named Liv replied brightly. Claire noticed that she was wearing a beautiful pale cream dress with hand painted flowers.
"What are you doing here?" he gasped, still wide eyed.
"I'm here for lunch at the club. You remember how we're forced to go to these things every month whenever we're in town?"
"Right. Yeah." Cam licked his lips, running his hand through the back of his hair, and turned to Claire. "Yeah… Uh, Olivia, this is my girlfriend, Claire. Claire, this is Olivia Ryan."
"Nice to meet you," Claire responded softly, wondering if she had meant it. Cam was nervous and it was setting of all kinds of alarms ringing in her head. She wondered who exactly this girl was, that kept calling her boyfriend Cammy.
"Likewise." Olivia's smile was blinding bright. "And this is Ben. I came up here to show Ben the place where I received my first kiss and would you believe it? The guy who kissed me is standing right here!"
Claire turned to look at Cam. His cheeks were bright red.
"What? No way! You're kidding! Did you guys plan this?" Ben cackled, slapping this thigh.
"Swear to god, I didn't," Olivia said, practically dancing on her toes. "This is such a coincidence!"
Cam dropped his hand back down awkwardly. "Yeah, I thought you were dead set on skipping the wedding," he said.
"Well, I changed my mind at the last minute. It is the wedding of the decade, how could I possibly miss that?"
Claire shifted on her feet nervously, trying not to allow the nagging, insecure thoughts slowing filling her mind to show on her face.
"Well… we should probably head back, Benny," Olivia said, slowly in the awkward silence. "We haven't eaten yet, so I'm starving and the food always takes ages here."
"Yeah," Cam muttered. "We should probably head back too."
He turned to Claire and held out his hand. She took it and followed after the three of them slowly, but right before they parted from the hideout's shade of the willow tree, Olivia stopped abruptly. "Oh look, Cammy. I can't believe it—it's still here..." She giggled in awe, tracing her fingers over the bark of the tree.
Curious, Claire peeked over her boyfriend's shoulder at the tree and blinked. The names Cam and Liv were carved into the bark, joined together by an infinity symbol.
##
Author's Note: wow that was long, sorry. the next chapter will be shorter.
Review if you like?