“You, Cameron, are a flirt,” she teases.
“You love it Ree.” What the hell? How does Cameron know these two so well? I had no idea; maybe I should be nervous. Did he bring them here to judge me? Why in god’s name was I so late? I might kill Abbie later for that one. I don’t know what to talk about so I decide to go and help Abbie and Bridget who are supposedly hard at work helping in the kitchen…as if. I walk in the door to find Bridget lying on the bench and Abbie lying on the lounge and Adrian sitting at the bench eating a carrot.
“So why is this a problem?” Adrian asks.
Abbie rolls her eyes. “I told you he’s in the army.”
He frowns. “What does he do in the army?”
“Special forces,” she says deadpan.
Adrian fans his face. “Mmm that’s hot. What is it about Special Forces that gets the imagination going?”
“I still don’t get it, what’s wrong with that?” Bridget asks.
“There is no way in hell I am going to be a war widow Bridget. Even if he doesn’t get killed he will be away most of the time. I need a man in my bed not on my mind.” We all nod.
“This is true,” Adrian says. “However, imagine how hot the homecomings would be.”
Cameron walks into the kitchen looking like death warmed up. “I’m so fucked. I’m sneaking off to bed. Don’t tell Josh, he’s on entertaining crack or something. He’s killing me.”
We all laugh; it’s true Josh is on entertaining crack and we are his crack whores. Ben walks into the kitchen.
“Josh wants you all to go out and socialise.” Everybody groans and I smile. It is becoming increasingly apparent that Josh bosses everybody around like he does me. Even Cameron does what he says.
Sean and I are sitting by the pool. The girls have been having a ball this afternoon. Tash has had the music on and they have been having dancing competitions which Adrian and Cameron have been forced into judging. I look at Cameron and laugh—he really does look like shit. It must have been a total bender for him to be this bad. He usually is ok the next day. And to think I am making him help me entertain. I smile. I’m evil. Then I look at Natasha who is now piggybacking Francesca around and pretending to gallop like a horse. With a few wines under her belt she has loosened up and is finally being herself.
“She’s beautiful, Josh.”
I nod. “You have no idea.”
“What is going to happen when you move home?” he asks.
“She’s coming.” I take a drink of my beer. He nods as he listens.
“This is the girl you have loved all along—right?” I nod and I smile at him. Apart from Cameron and Adrian, Sean is my closest friend. We never go out together drinking or anything like that. We play polo and train in the gym together but if I see him it’s usually with his wife and kids. We have a no
rmal friendship. The kind of friendship I don’t get from my party friends. He tells me the truth and doesn’t want anything from me in return. He’s had money all of his life and is not seduced by its trappings or impressed by easy women. He’s had his time doing that and it holds no interest for him at all anymore. I respect his opinion most out of everybody because he says it like it is—nothing is sugar – coated with Sean. And when you have most people sucking up your ass constantly it’s very refreshing, although sometimes a little harsh. His parents, wife and I all get on very well and we do spend a lot of time together. They all breed horses as well. He’s a good husband and father, the kind of husband I want to be—devoted. I don’t know why any of my other friends even bother getting married as they sleep around all the time.
“Forgive me for intruding but isn’t she your cousin?” I rub my hand through my hair. Fuck, when did I tell him that? He must sense my horror. “You told me one night when you were drunk.” I nod, feeling more than stupid. I told him that when I didn’t think they would ever meet and now they have. God, how must this look from an outside perspective?
“Do me a favour and keep that on the down low will you?” I ask.
He smiles and nods. “Of course, you have my word.”
“This is a fucked–up situation isn’t it?” I sigh, he nods and stays silent.
He looks at me as he takes a drink. “Tell me Josh. How is this going to go? Have you thought about this? I mean really thought what this will mean for her.” I take a swig of my beer as my eyes wander to Natasha who is dancing with Francesca by the pool and I smile.
“Yes, I am fully aware she will have to move to America to be with me, but she wants to. She offered first.” He narrows his eyes as he listens.
“How much do you love her?” he asks as he takes another drink.
I break into a full smile as I shake my head. “Man, the sun sets with her. I’m done. This is all I want, all I’ll ever want. The last seven years have told me that.” He listens and I can see him thinking as he watches her dancing with his daughter. I raise my eyebrows, waiting for him to speak and when he doesn’t I ask the question. “Spit it out. What do you want to say?”
“I just don’t think.”He stays silent. I frown as I try to work out what he is saying. “I just think I love Maria too much. I couldn’t let her sacrifice so much to be with me.”
I frown as I try to work out his meaning. “What do you mean?” I ask.