3 chapters posted today. Chapters 23, 24, 25. You are reading chapter 25.

Kara

Cameron Jeremiah Saint Laurent strode in, eyes locked on me instantly.

My mind panicked for one single second before incredulity set in. Did he follow me here? To spy on me?

Suddenly my thoughts hurled me back to that day when I interrupted his date at the vegetarian restaurant. If Cameron decided to approach my table and tell Trip something equivalent to my can only get it up with drugs speech, I guessed that would be a kind of an eye for an eye type of shit.

Although I thought he was on a romantic date. Not that it was any of my business at the time since we were already broken up.

Coming here with Trip wasn't a date. Although the way Trip was looking at me, he looked like he was going to ask me out.

Would Cameron think the reason why I hadn't talked to him about us was because of Trip? Why did Cameron have to be here right now? I wished mist would magically come up from the walls and cloak me, teleport me. Something.

Bish, stop overthinking. Geez.

Cameron joined the line in the order station. He was only several feet away from our table where he can clearly overhear us, but even so, it was hard not to be aware of him. A gorgeous, tall, and muscular guy in construction gear.

Cameron was like an eagle in a solarium of butterflies. He walked with confidence and purpose. Everyone in the room knew he was at the top of the food chain. All eyes in the shop was turned to him, unable to ignore someone like him who exuded such an irresistible force. Some were visibly admiring, some weary or intimidated.

It hit me that he could have gotten anyone in this room if he wished. The thought of him with another girl irritated me. So, what did he want with me anyway?

"You asked why I wanted to come home to see you," Trip said.

I turned my attention back to Trip. The door jangled several times, distracting me again. The small coffee shop was filling up quickly. And it was Cameron's turn to order.

"It will take just a couple of minutes," the cashier sang. Her voice was definitely not that high and breathy when she took our order earlier. My eyes turned to catch her batting her eyelashes at Cameron. I gritted my teeth.

"There's a reason why, Kara," Trip continued.

Can you be any ruder? Trip is trying to talk to you. Pay attention! Ignore Bigfoot.

Feeling guilty and discourteous, I straightened and tried my best to concentrate on what Trip was saying.

"Why what?" I asked.

"Why I wanted to come home and see you," he repeated, looking at his coffee cup now.

My eyes widened in shock as Cameron sat at the table behind ours, so that he was facing me and Trip's back was to him. What the hell? The audacity! I narrowed my eyes at him. He leaned back against his seat, no trace of emotion on his face. His eyes moved from my face to my iced coffee, then back to my face.

"I meant what I said at the bonfire," Trip said. I turned my eyes back to Trip when he lifted his gaze.

"Wha-what's that?"

"I want to get to know you better. I was wondering if you would like to go out with me sometime."

"Order number seven!" the cashier crooned.

Cameron got up.

"I know it's been a minute since high school," Trip continued, "but I always wanted to get to know you better even back then. And more so now."

I froze when I felt him stand beside our table. I knew without looking it was Cameron. Without a word, he placed a wrapped sandwich in front of me. Then just like that, he walked away. I watched until he opened the door and disappeared from my sight.

I stared at the sandwich in front of me. My chest felt tight.

"I'm sorry, Trip. I..."

Trip had turned around to watch Cameron. When he turned back to me, he looked confused.

"That was Cameron, wasn't it? He was there at the bonfire too."

His eyes gradually glittered with understanding. I licked my lips that had gone dry. "Trip, I need to tell you something before I—"

"Before I fall in love with you?"

Caught off guard, I leaned away, plastering my back to my chair. I didn't know if he was joking or not, but talking about falling in love was a sore spot for me. I thought Trip would back down after figuring out something was going on between me and Cameron, but his eyes looked more determined. I knew right then I had to say something.

"I was going to ask if you wanted to buy extended warranty for your car," I joked, trying to lighten the mood that had turned awkward. "Seriously though, thanks for checking up on me. I appreciate it. But... listen."

I don't have a lot of experience turning down guys. Add my friendship with him to the mix, it made everything harder. I wasn't as close to Trip as I was with Damon so I wasn't sure how he would take it.

"You like someone else?" he asked.

"Like is not the right word to describe it."

"I see."

"It's deeper than that," I admitted.

He smiled a sad smile, but the kindness was there. And resignation. "I was too late, huh?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "A little over two years, I'd say."

I stayed longer than I intended. After clearing the air, Trip and I talked for a while about our families, about business, about our high school friends. Only half of me was present with Trip. The other half was thinking of Cameron.

The egg sandwich Cameron had gotten me was sitting half-eaten on my plate. I couldn't finish it. He knew it was one of my favourites.

It was getting dark when Trip walked me home. I turned to wave goodbye as his car eased out of the parking lot.

I stared at the shop for a moment. The crew had gone home. Trip was a nice guy, sweet, and funny. I should date him, give us both a chance. I should be thinking about him, but instead everything inside my heart was filled with Cameron. Was Doctor Frankenstein still practicing? It would be interesting if he could sew Trip's brain into Cameron's body and fuse them together.

Yeah, right. No one in this world is as interesting as Cameron. Not to me.

I let out a heavy sigh and started the trek back to my car behind the shop. I did the right thing by telling Trip there was no chance between us. It was hard to see the disappointment in his eyes, but I didn't want to give him any false hopes. It would've been cruel. Suddenly, my legs felt heavy. The distance felt so long and laborious. Sooner rather than later, I had to face all the pent-up emotions I kept pushing down. What Cameron really meant to me, what I wanted us to be to each other moving forward.

I kept asking him to let me go, but did I really mean it?

And if he decided to let me go, could I accept it and move on?

I was behind the shop when the sound registered in my brain. Male voices, the sound of a car door opening.

"Are you sure you don't need help?" Elijah asked. He was standing by his open truck door.

"I got it," Cameron said. He pulled open the tailgate of his truck, picked up a toolbox and threw it in the truck bed. "You should go."

"You should, too. You haven't had a break since this project started. I know this is Kara's deal, but you're gonna get sick at this rate."

"If I need chicken soup, I'll call your mother."

Elijah sighed loudly. "Fine. I'll see you tomorrow, boss."

Hidden from them, I watched as Elijah jumped in his truck and drove away.

There was something about watching Cameron work. He wasn't aware there were eyes on him, but he worked without stopping. I could see the exhaustion in his broad shoulders, on his face, but he just kept going. There was no hesitancy in his movements. His strength and competence was evident.

I should wait until he leaves before I get into my car so we didn't have to interact with each other. I couldn't risk being alone with him again, but something was pulling me toward him. I tried to fight it, listed all the reasons why this was a bad idea, but...

I stepped out from the dark and walked closer to him where there was light. "You're working late."

He froze.

Was he upset to see me with Trip earlier? So why was he still here helping my family, putting so much of his time and effort? My hand went up to clutch at my chest, trying to lighten the ache I felt at the sight of him.

"Why are you still here, Cam?"

Grabbing more tools, he threw them in the bed of his truck. "Had to finish some work for tomorrow so we're a little ahead of schedule. Never know what's gonna come up." He took off his tool belt from his hips, stored it in his passenger seat.

He stopped when I just stared at him, waiting.

"What is it, Kara?"

"Are you sure you're not here to stalk me?"

A small smile flitted on his mouth. "Just putting my tools away." He hauled another box to the back of his truck.

I knew when his voice got like this: low and gruff. He was tired to the point of exhaustion. He needed a shower, food, and sleep. In that order. How many times had I been there at his place waiting for him after work? To take care of him, serve him, love him. As he did to me every time in those days. Too many to count. The memories were hard to forget. Impossible.

"You just got home?" he asked.

"Yes."

He pulled a rag from the back pocket of his jeans (the same one he'd used to clean my feet this morning) and swiped at the mud on his hand. That was when I saw the long scratch on the back of his arm.

"You're bleeding!"

He gave it a cursory glance, shrugged it off. "I must've scratched it earlier. Why?" The teasing tone made me look up at him. "You still worry about me?" Then a small smile lifted one corner of his mouth. "That's nice."

I should go. I really should.

"Did you save me some of that egg sandwich?"

"I ate it all," I said, trying not to smile back. "Thanks."

"Good. I would've."

"I know."

And then thick, excruciating silence. We stood in front of each other, so many things we wanted to say but not knowing how.

"Well, I better go then before I pass out in your arms," he said, that small smile still on his mouth driving me crazy.

Suddenly I felt frustrated, combative. I didn't want him to go. I wanted, needed...

"Tell me why you followed me to the restaurant," I demanded.

He stilled. After a moment he wiped his palm across his mouth. The easygoing man was gone. Frustration was coming off him in waves.

"Why do you keep showing up?" I challenged. "Why can't you just... just..."

I wanted to scream, wanted to rail at the world, rail at him for what I was feeling. I had loved him with all my heart and...

Tears threatened to spill, but I held them back. I turned away from him, meaning to run to my car and forget about this day. Forget about him. Everything that happened in my life recently was too much for me to deal with.

"You wanna know the truth?"

His voice stopped me. I turned back to face him.

"I followed you there because I wanna fuck things up," he said hotly. "I want to throw the table across the fucking—" He stopped, tried to get a hold of himself, sank his fingers in his hair, held them there.

When he spoke again, his voice sounded rough. "It's not just because I know you're not gonna fucking eat, because that's another thing you're not going to do. I want to take the drink he bought you and push it down his throat. That's the fucking truth. Is that what you want to hear?"

His eyes burned, his jaw clenched. Suddenly the fire in his eyes mellowed, turned vulnerable.

"Kara, all my cards are on the table for you to see. I want to be with you. That's all of me. I followed you there because I was fucking jealous. I want you to be with me, not him. But you know what? I'm not jealous anymore."

He paused, taking his time to study my face. I don't know what he found because I was trying so hard not to show him how much his words were affecting me.

"Why not?"

"Because," he whispered, "you don't look at him the way you look at me."

I turned my eyes away, my pulse pounding. Were my feelings for him so obvious and clear for everyone to see? When I looked up, misery was in his eyes. He took a deep breath, looked at me a moment longer, then continued with his work.

I wanted to leave but couldn't make myself take a step. So, I leaned against the truck, watching him work.

I just wanted to be near him, just a little bit more before I leave. If someone asked me why, I wouldn't have been able to answer.

"So, Dylan can't drive by himself," he said, breaking the silence.

I hesitated for a moment, thinking of protecting Cameron, but decided to tell him the truth. "After the accident with your truck, he said he had trouble driving by himself. But you heard him," I rushed on. "He's gotten better. Thomas has been helping him."

It took a moment before he said softly, "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault, Cam."

I heard the guilt, the anguish in his voice. I touched his arm, curled my hands around him. His body jerked as if burned. His eyes, blazed with blue fire, glared at where I placed my hand on his arm. Then slowly, they lifted to meet mine.

"Is this fun for you?" he asked quietly, dangerously.

Feeling confused with his reaction, I removed my hand.

"Tell me, Kara, is this a game? You like playing with me, is that it?"

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"Can't say I don't like it," he said, slowly now, eyes turned into half mast as they watched me intensely. "I get close to you when you touch me after all. But you have to know it's torture for me." He tipped his head to the side. "You do know, don't you?"

He took a step closer, alarmingly closer. I stood my ground, fought the urge to step back.

"You know I'll wait for you. And if you want to have some fun with me, hurt me, I know I deserve it. But be very careful of this game you want to play."

He'd caught on. I said that I was trying to avoid him, and I was, but whenever chance offered itself today, I'd deliberately tested him, brushing against him, challenging him, maybe tempting him. I wanted to know if he felt the same way for me the way I felt for him. And he'd caught me.

He stopped in front of me so that we were toe to toe, so that I had to look up at him. Gently, as though he was holding something delicate and precious, he held my jaw in his hand, stared at my mouth. His eyes glittered with burning desire and challenge as his thumb caressed my bottom lip. "Be very careful because I might want to play it after all."

Then suddenly his eyes lost the challenge. His arms fell to his sides.

"Cameron..."

"If you touch me again, it stops being a game, and I get the same privileges. You put your hands on me again, I'm gonna put my hands all over you. So, just stay away from me tonight. I just want to stop thinking about you today." He swiped his face with his palm. "Fuck!"

I stood there, fighting with myself about so many things. What I needed to do was get in my car and drive home, far away from Cameron.

"Why do you keep fighting it?" he asked with heat.

Angry now because he could read me so easily, I dug my nails into my palms. "Because! Because..." Tears threatened to spill. There were so many reasons. I was overwhelmed just thinking about them. I kept shaking my head.

"When you look at me," he said when I didn't continue, "just like the way you're looking at me now, I see you fighting something inside. Whatever this thing you're fighting, it's kicking my ass. Because the more you fight it, the further you are to me.

He lowered his head, ran his fingers through his dark hair. "What am I doing here, Kara? I'm losing my fucking mind. I don't want to do this with anyone else. Just you. Always with you. There hasn't been and will never be anyone else but you."

I bit my lip hard. "Cam..."

I can't. I don't know why I can't take a step toward him. My heart wants to, desperately wants to, but...

"You're the best fighter I know. And if you keep fighting yourself, you'll never win." His tone was low, raspy. "I'm here. I'll wait for you no matter how long it takes. Think about it and let me know." He turned his back to me, lowered his head and after a moment he said, "Go home, Kara."

I stared at his rigid shoulders, my heart breaking, then I went home.

3 chapters posted today. Chapters 23, 24, 25. You are at the end of chapter 25.

A/N: Hi loves, how are you? I hope you're doing great. Forgive me for the late update. All is well. God is good. I hope you enjoyed the three chapters I posted for you today. If you've read all three chapters then you've read about 9k words! I'll see you next week for chapter 26. Love, Isabelle

P.S. If you haven't heard, Chasing Red is being adapted into a movie! Aaaah! Still screaming. It wouldn't be possible without you. Thank you for being here!

Also, if you haven't checked out the Chasing Red WEBTOON... (still screaming)

Download the WEBTOON app to start reading. See you next week!