“We’ll find out for sure in a second,” I said as I found Cam in my contacts. I hit the green phone button, then hit the speakerphone option. I put my phone in my lap and listened as it rang.
Cam didn’t keep me waiting. He answered after the second ring. “Hey baby,” he purred over the line. “I would think after yesterday you would need a little of a break, but if I’m wrong, just say the word because I’ve been thinking about it all day.”
I coughed. I hadn’t expected him to open like that. “Still a little sore,” I said, glancing at Shay. “I was hoping we could talk. Do you have a minute?”
“I’m on my way home from work. Shit went a little long today, but I have no problem chatting with you. Did you need a ride home?” he asked, going from one thing to another pretty quickly. “I can swing by the car lot.”
“Oh no, I’m home already.”
“Boy,” Shay spoke up. “We don’t have time to entertain your flirting. I got questions and you better have some fucking answers or me and you are gonna have problems.” She leaned in close as she bit out the last bit of threat.
“What? Wait, huh?” He sounded confused. “Shay? Is everything okay?”
“Everything is fine,” Shay answered for me. “Or it will be if you answer my questions, boy. Don’t make me repeat myself either.”
“Please,” I interjected, hoping that she wouldn’t scare him into clamming up.
“Um, sure, do you want me to come over? I can do that?” he offered.
“That’s fine,” Shay said as she pulled out her phone. “I can order a pizza. But just so we’re clear, if you don’t give me any information I demand, I am not sharing pizza with you.” She huffed, “Pizza is for good little informants.”
“That sounds like it’s taking it too far,” I said as I watched her.
“You have fears. This is where we find out whether there’s a good reason for you to be afraid,” she answered dismissively. “How long before you get here, Cameron?”
“Twenty minutes?” He didn’t sound so sure though. “What are you afraid of, Grace?”
“I talked to Kyle today, and he put the thought in my head that the three of you are using the turn in our situation to get revenge,” I admitted quietly. I could feel the sinking feeling in my gut. I didn’t like that she was making me admit this.
It left me feeling vulnerable, and while Cam couldn’t see me, I felt the weight of Shay’s scrutiny.
“No,” Cam said readily. “Fuck Kyle for putting that thought in your head.”
Shay gave me a look. “You sound super sure of yourself there,” she said as she eyed me. “How do I know I can believe you?”
“Because you came to me and asked me to keep her from leaving,” Cam said slowly. “Because I wouldn’t have done that if I wasn’t invested in her.” He took an audible breath. “I haven’t thought about trying to get back at her for all of this. There was a hot second where I was on board with spanking you, but that went out the door when you looked scared.”
“Good boy,” Shay whispered.
“Can you say the same thing for Adam and Darius?” I asked.
“My gut says no,” he said immediately. “Give me a sec.” There was a moment where I heard the growl of his car’s engine. “I’m almost there. Do you want to keep giving me this interrogation over the phone?”
“Oh no,” Shay answered for me. “Let me get some hot wax ready for when you actually get here. That way, I’m sure we will get all the answers I want.”
“Hot wax?” Cam echoed, a bit of a quake in his voice.
“I’ll see you when you get here, Cameron,” Shay said as she reached over me to hit the red phone button on my phone’sscreen. She sat back and just looked at me. “I don’t want to know about what the four of you did last night. He just gave me more information about your sex life than I’m ready to know.” She took a breath and released it. “But he sounds genuine.”
“He does,” I agreed. “But I don’t know if he would be in on it or not.”
“Look, I’m more than willing to hold hot coals to each of their feet to find out, but . . . ” She paused and shrugged. “I’ll be honest, he’s the reason all this started. Adam and Darius might not have told him anything.” She raised a hand and looked at me. “But really, it could be something that’s just in your head. Your brother picked something you were anxious about and just made it worse.”
“That sounds about right,” I said with a sigh. “But it’s just him pointing out something I deserve.”
“You’re right,” Shay said as she got up. “But this is one step to figure out whether you’re gonna get what you deserve or if you’ve made amends for it.” She picked up her purse and shoes. “Though I don’t know what you’ve done to make things better for the three of them. That’s something you need to reflect on.” She didn’t wait for my response, she just walked back to her bedroom.
“How did you make amends with my brother?” I asked.