Chapter One
Katie
I smiled to myself as I close my computer down for the weekend, I glanced at the time and I couldn’t remember the last time I finish so early before, not that I’m complaining, I’m not! I love my job ...... Most of the time.
My last patient Tom was extra feisty today and gave us a bit of a fight before we managed to knock him out, but my hand was still stinging off the scratches and bites he gave me. Well, I suppose you will be a little feisty too if you were getting your manhood taken away! I swear they know what’s happening when they come in for the procedure, they could be the most loving and placid thing ever but when they come in for this operation it’s like a switch goes off and they turned feral!
Sorry, let me introduce myself I’m Katie, Katie Moore, and I’m a veterinarian working at the Animal Hospital here in Hermosa LA. I’m the youngest of us all. My twin brother and sister Dylan and Kristen are the eldest at 28, then there’s Marcus at 25, then me.
I grabbed my bag and double checked the medication cabinets were locked, I turned off the light and locked my office.
Heading to the reception area I looked to see if any emergency cases had come in, but it was empty.
“Hey Katie, it’s a lovely day to get finished early. “I looked over to see who it was to find Tara one of our receptionists smiling over to me.
Tara is stunning, she has the most beautiful olive skin, dark mocha hair that just falls below her shoulders and her eyes are so mesmerising, they are the lightest shade of brown I’ve ever seen.
“Hey Tara, I know right, I couldn’t believe it when the last two clients cancelled. Especially Mrs Melvin, she NEVER cancels! “. Tara laughs nodding her head
“I know, it shocked me when she rang, she said something about going out of town for the weekend.“ I shrugged my shoulders as I walked over to the reception desk.
Tara glanced at my hand “I see Tom put up a good fight, have you rinsed it with the antiseptic wash?”
“Yeah, he certainly did, yeah, I done it before and after the operation, the sting is starting to dull down now. So, Tara what’s your plans for the weekend?” She shrugged her shoulders and smirked at me.
“Katie, I never make plans, I always seem to have the best time when I don’t” she smiled with a wink. I shook my head and laughed. “Well see you Monday Tara.” “Bye Katie, have fun.”
Walking along the streets the sun was cracking the sidewalk, it really was a beautiful day. As I headed towards home, I decided to stop at a little beach front coffee shop, I ordered my latte and sat outside on the veranda that overlooked Hermosa Beach, I looked around at all the different groups on the beach, the families, groups of friends playing different sports and some couples walking along the shoreline and smiled. I loved it here. I loved living here, it was quite and safe.
Finishing my drink, I got up and made my way home, it was only around a seven-minute walk from the coffee shop. I live in one of the beach front houses and I love it! I didn’t buy it, I inherited from my Pops and Grams, my mother is parents.
They both passed away a year and a half ago after their car was rammed off the road by a drunk and high driver taken chase from the police, their traffic signals change to green and as they went to turn the car ploughed straight into the side of their car doing around 70 mph.
My grandparent’s car had flipped a couple of times before settling on the roof, they believe my Grams died instantly where Pops passed away two days later due to a major bleed on his brain that they just couldn’t stop.
The driver of the other vehicle died on impact, she might have survived if she had her seat belt on, but she didn’t, when the tox and blood work report came back she had quite a lot of cocaine in her system along with being five times over the alcohol limit.
My Mom was completely destroyed after the accident, and it took nearly a year of therapy three times a week to get her back .... well somewhat back anyways. She still not the same, but she’s getting there, it’s a slow process trying to move on after something like that.
I miss them terribly; we are a close-knit family and Pops and Grams were the glue that moulded us together. Yes, sure we have our issues as a family, but we could never stay mad at each other for long. If we did Grams would step in and make us sort it out, she was the heart of the family and Pops he was the brains so to speak. He always had the best advice, that’s why their hospitability business was such a success.
My Pops and Grams Edward and Marion Cahill owned a string of high-class hotels and were extremely wealthy, of course that got passed down to my mum and her brother uncle William.
Pops and Grams had a lot of properties as well which were shared out between their grandchildren, I got the beach house, Marcus got his house in Beverly Wood, Kristen got the house in Santa Monica as that’s where her main beauty businesses are, and Dylan is at Silver Lake. I don’t remember where Tony and Abbie, Uncle Williams kids’ houses were.
The other houses like the one in Manhattan and Florida we kept as family homes for any of us to stay at when we needed or wanted a break or had a family vacation, which doesn’t really happen as often as we like due to Marcus’s timetable. Playing for the LA Rams as a wide receiver, it was hard to pin him down between games and practice, but we manage to get a week or two here and there.
I didn’t realise I was home already until I reached my front door. I always go into my own little bubble when I think about them.
Stepping inside I took my shoes off and placed my bag over the hanging rack. I looked at the time on my phone and it was 16.20. “Fuck it! It’s 8:00 PM somewhere in the world, right?!” I walked over to the fridge and took the half a bottle of wine out and grabbed a glass, I walked to the bathroom decided to have a nice hot bath with my wine and book.
Hey babe, how was your day? Xx
I smiled while sipping my wine and sent a message back.
Hey Cam, it was good, actually finished early! Xx
Wow! Go you! Suppose there’s a first time for everything! Xx
I laughed at his message, God, I missed him, I haven’t seen him in two weeks, he’s been busy renovating a small hotel in Tampa, so he’s been staying there till it was finished.
I miss you Cam xx
I miss you too Kat, sorry I got to go, speak soon. Love you! Xx
Oh, okay, speak later I suppose, love you xx
Kat don’t be like that, I need to get back to my meeting.
I’m not being like anything! Bye Cam.
I threw my phone on the bed and checked on the bath. I stripped off and climbed in, but I just couldn’t fucking relax. My mind was going in overdrive. We haven’t seen each other in two weeks and all I got was three fucking lousy texts. I normally ring him because if I didn’t, I wouldn’t hear from him!
“FUCK!” I shouted, then the images from last year started playing in my head and they just wouldn’t stop.
Flashback
I drove to his house to surprise him one weekend, I managed to swap my weekend off around as Cam seemed a little off with me for the last few weeks, so I decided to spend the weekend with him. I went to the store and grabbed some nice steaks, Cams favourite beer, wine for me and Cams favourite cakes.
I pulled up to his apartment and notice an unfamiliar car parked right outside. I didn’t pay any attention to it; I grabbed the bags and made my way to his. The door was unlocked so I went in, but as I opened the living room door, I just froze at the sight in front of me.
Cam was completely naked sat on the couch legs spread open and his head threw back while some red-haired bimbo was sucking his cock like she was in a hot dog eating competition.
Rage in pain pulsated throughout my body simultaneously until they blended together. “Fuck Leah take all of me babe .... FUCK…. I’M CLOSE. LEAAHH.”
That was it! I seen red in every fucking aspect of it. I marched over, grabbed her hair which caused her to bite down on his dick. He’s eyes shot open in pain but was quickly changed to guilt and fear as he looked at me. “Babe…….?” “What the fuck you crazy bitch?” The redhead I now know to be called Leah shouted. “I’m a bitch?! You’re the one eating MY boyfriend’s dick like it’s your last meal you fucking whore.” Her eyes widened at my revelation, and she turned to Cameron who was still nursing his dick. “You told me you broke up, you mother fucker!”
She looked at me with such sorrow and pity I knew right then she really didn’t know about me. She got up and collected her things she turned to Cameron and told him never to speak or contact her again, then she turned to me “I’m so sorry, I... I know h. How it feels.” With that she left.
I turn to face this waste of skin and organs in front of me looking like a deer caught in headlights. If looks could kill this mother fucker would be burning in fucking hell right now! He had the nerve to reach for my arm, but I slapped him away. “Don’t you EVER touch me again you filthy bastard, I want nothing more to do with you, I fucking HATE you!” Then the dam opened, and I just couldn’t stop the tears that fell, but these tears were from anger. I fucking hate that I cry so much when I’m angry, a lot of people mistake it for weakness, when in reality I’m just trying really hard not to fucking kill you.
I marched over to the shopping bags and picked my wine up and left. I made it to my car when IT came running out with pants on. “Katie, Kat please, I’m sorry babe, please I’m so, so fucking sorry, I love you Katie, I’m, I’m so fucking sorry…...” I completely ignored him, got in my car, and drove away.
*****
Buzz buzz, the vibration of my phone snapped me out of my trance, and it was then I realised I was crying. “Come on Katie! He wouldn’t do it again……. would he?” I asked myself.
I only told my best friends and my sister what happened and that was only due to them knowing me so fucking well I couldn’t hide the pain from them. They all said I was crazy for taking him back and in the back of my mind I knew they were right. But I just didn’t want to be alone.
In reality he emotionally broke and wore me down, for three months he rang and texted me, he would show up at my house, ring my work and turn up there.
I received flowers, teddies, and chocolates once or twice a week. But one night after a very emotional day at work he turned up at my door.
I’d been crying as I had to put Reggie an old golden retriever to sleep, this was one of the things I hated most about my job. His owner Jim a lovely, elderly man in his late seventies had recently lost his wife of over 50 years and Reggie was the only thing he had left in the world and my heart broke for him.
“Kat, baby what’s wrong why you are crying?” Cameron asked stepping up to me, he placed his hands on my cheeks and wiped my tears away with his thumbs, I instinctively leaned into his touch, I didn’t care at that point I just needed human contact even if it was him.
I sighed and got out of the bath I dried off and put a pair of shorts and a tank top on. I sat on the end of my bed and picked up my phone to see and I had a few texts I opened them.
Kat what’s the problem?
Kat answer me
God damn it Katie
I rolled my eyes and went to the other persons texts.
Hey biatch! What you up too?? X
Hey Amber, nothing x
Hey are you okay? X
Yep, I’m fine x
I put my phone back down and went to grab my wine, just that my phone started to ring I sighed and made my way over, picking it up I seen Amber’s name across the screen, so I answered.
“Hi Amber.”
“Hi Katie, what’s wrong before you start don’t say nothing.”
“I …. urgh…. look honestly, I will be Okay, I’m just being stupid and dramatic! How are you?”
“Katie why have you been crying, what….”
“How do you know?!”
“I can tell by your voice, Jesus Katie we’ve been best friends for years, I know you, so what’s wrong??”
I sighed and told her what happened earlier with Cameron.
“Amber, do you think I’m overreacting I mean…. I……arghh, I don’t know what the fuck I mean!”
“Katie, what? NO! I don’t think you’re overreacting at all and given what that bastard done you, no one can blame you for not trusting him, Katie.”
“To be honest Amber I don’t think I could ever fully trust him again, I mean yeah, I love him, but it feels different now, it feels forced. You know?”
“Katie, I’m only going to say this because I love you so don’t get mad at me, Okay?”
“Okayyy?”
“It was a mistake you taking him back especially after three months, I don’t feel you give yourself anytime to heal, you know. Plus, after what he done I absolutely without a doubt despise that piece of shit, I’m sorry Katie but that’s what I fe….”
“I know Amber and you’re right; I didn’t take any time for me to actually sit and think about my worth and what I wanted, he emotionally wore me down and caught me at a low point. Amber?”
“Yeah?”
“I need to have a talk with him. If he can’t show me that I can fully trust him, then we need to end things and move on before we truly destroy one another.”
“Thank fuck for that!”
“Amb…”
“No, don’t you Amber me, it’s about time you got your head out of your arse and smell the roses girl, you’re always putting everyone and everything before you”
“Haha, yeah, yeah.”
“Hey, how about tomorrow night we have a girl’s night out? Invite Addison and Louise and paint the city red! What do you say? It would be good for you to get out and enjoy yourself.”
I sit for a little thinking then a smile appears on my face.
“I say bring it the fuck on! I’ve not been out in forever and I need to let loose.”
“That’s my girl, well we will talk more tomorrow and work out where we are going. Or my God Katie, I’m so excited! “
“Haha yeah, no problem, me too Amber. I love you bye”
“Bye Katie love you too.”
I chucked my phone on the bed and smiled, no matter how down I was I could always count on Amber to brighten me up. We had been best friends since the beginning of high school, Amber had just moved to the area and knew no one.
She sat next to me in our first class and we’ve been inseparable since, she got on great with my other best friend Louise which was a relief as Louise didn’t really take to new people well but she did with Amber, since then the three of us were always together, we were always at each other’s houses and we treat each other’s parents as if they were our own. We would always spend time together at the beach or mall, no matter where we were, we were always together.
I sighed and picked my phone back up and shot a message to our group chat.
Our group also had another best friend Addison, I met Addison at UCLA, she was perfect in every sense and a great friend, She fit in really well with our little group.
Hey guys, Amber and I were wondering if you fancy a night out tomorrow? Xx
Louise: Fuck yeah! Let me know what time and where xx
Addison: Hell yeah, I’m down, not been out in forever!
Alright fab! I will message you all tomorrow to work out the details. Speak later, love you all xx
I went to put my phone on charge but decided to text Cam first.
I’m tired and going to bed, speak in the morning
Katie are we okay? Xx
Yeah
Okay?? I love you xx
I love you too xx
It was true, I did love him, but was I in love with him?
I wasn’t really all that tired, I just needed to say something to pacify him so he would stop blowing my phone up.
I went downstairs and grabbed another bottle of wine, I had nothing to get up early for so in my mind ‘why the fuck not.’
I put a portion of lasagne in the oven to heat up, I set the timer and poured a glass of wine, I turned Netflix on and decided it was a thriller type of night, flicking through I settled for The Hills Have Eyes. I snuggled under my big thick throw and hit play on the remote.
30 minutes later the timer went off let me know food was done, as I settled back down to watch the rest of the film my mind went back to Cam and when we first met.
Flashback
I was in the library at college looking for a certain textbook. I looked up and groaned that the book I needed was just out of my reach ‘perfect.’ I looked around making sure no one was watching me and stepped up onto the base of the bookcase to give me those extra couple of inches I needed to grab it.
As I pulled it out, I lost my footing and fell backwards. I fell into something hard that groaned? As I crashed onto the floor, I looked to see what or who broke my fall, I was met with a pair of amazing brown eyes, eyes that were attached to a very, very good-looking guy.
He sent me a lopsided smile and a cheeky wink and what did I do? Yep, I blushed that much you could use my face to light an airstrip on its own.
“If I knew things like this happened at the library, I would have come every day.”
Blushing even more (if that’s fucking possible) I snapped out of my daze and quickly jumped up, “I’m so sorry, I…. I lost my footing and I, I’m sorry.” I stuttered out looking at the floor. “Hey, its fine! It’s not every day a beautiful girl knocks me off my feet, literally” I groaned and squeezed my eyes shut praying that the ground would just swallow me whole, a low chuckle came from Mr brown eyes and I snapped mine open to look at him “My names Cameron” he said while holding his hand out for me to shake, “Hi I’m Katie” I smiled while taking his hand.
He smiled at me, and I swear my heart missed a beat. “Can I take you for a coffee? I mean it’s the least you can do for knocking me off my feet” he sent a flirty wink. ‘Holy Fuck’ a strong pulsating between my legs made me grip my thighs together. ‘Snap out of it Katie and answer him, he’s going to be thinking you’re an idiot!’ “Haha, um, yeah sure I would like that, but I’m buying, as an apology.” With a light laugh and a nod of his head “Great, let’s check these out and get going.”
