bmm; clear as this promise that we're making

bmm; clear as this promise that we're making by ssaarah

“Aunt Chloe!!!!” Gabe held out his hands for me and I scooped him up, letting Cami through the door and spinning him in my arms.

“There’s my favorite nephew!!!!” I said grinning at the little guy.

“I got a haircut!” he said pointing to his head. I made a face admiring it, even though it was the same one he’d had since he was born practically.

“No wonder you’re looking extra handsome today.” I said setting him down after pressing a kiss against his chubby cheek. He ran over to the little play area I always had set up for him and turned to my friend.

“Hey.” She looked back at me, looking tired, but happy. Honestly it was shocking that she looked so good, not that she wasn’t gorgeous, she always was. But if I was a working single mother? I’d need a whole hell of a lot more concealer under my eyes.

“What’s up?” I asked, walking over to the bar and handing her a glass of wine. She glared at me.

“Chloe I can’t drink while I'm watching Gabe.” I rolled my eyes.

“Oh please, most family get togethers everyone’s drunk. Besides, my glass is just juice.” I said seriously, winking at her. “I’ll do the mommy thing and you can do the Chloe thing.” I teased and Cami took the glass but started chuckling.

“I’d need more than a glass of moscato to “do the Chloe thing.” She admitted, watching Gabe twirl himself in circles. “You’re going to make yourself dizzy baby.” She warned.

“I like dizzy!” he called back, before falling over and looking at the ceiling making me chuckle. Kids were silly.

"You won't when you throw up your breakfast," she said seriously and he looked at his mother with a pout.

 "You sound like such a mom,"  I teased, laughing since it had been 5 years and it was still weird for me to realize that my best friend was so much more than that now.

"Well, yeah... I am," she replied simply.  

"What?"

"If we could go back in time to when we were 13 years old and you told me that you were going to marry my brother and have 4 kids with him?" I shook my head and let my grin widen.

"I never said four kids," she lied and I shook my head. Her and Ben? They had been in love. Crazy in love. I still wasn’t sure what went wrong because when you saw them together? You’d never think they weren’t a family. "Gabriel..." she trailed off, watching my nephew twirling in a chair and then launching off it it, skidding across the tiled floor on his little tummy.

"Maman, look!!"  Cami and I watched him and tried not to laugh, knowing it'd only encourage him more. He stood up and dusted off his jeans, making me realize how adorable he looked today.

"I like your outfit little man," I grinned.

"It's like papas," He said with a tiny shrug, walking over to the small table I had set up for him and deciding it was time to draw.

"He's going through that phase where he wants to be Ben," Cami whispered as she kept her eyes on him.

“Yes, he’s like a mini Ben, poor kid.” Cami let herself smirk slowly and then there was a knock at the door.

“Are you expecting company?” Cami asked and I leaned back and called out.

“Come in!!” I heard the key turn in the lock and my mother walked in, seeing Gabe and lighting up. I think she missed having kids around the house even if she’d never admit it.

“Grandmere!!!” Gabe squealed and shot himself into her arms.

“Oh my baby!!” she said, covering his face with tiny kisses and he winced.

“Eww stop that.” He said shaking his head.

“Hi sweetheart.” Mom said, leaning in to kiss her Cami, when she wasn’t being Mrs. BMM? She was sweet as can be. Plus Cami wasn’t a model so she never had to keep up appearances. “Hi baby.” She said, kissing my cheek too. “You girls ready to go?” Cami blinked and then turned to me.

“Go?” she asked, looking confused.

“Oh Chlo is trying to pull one on your maman!” Mom said to Gabe who didn’t look fazed at all.

“What?” he asked her making her giggle.

“Surprise!” I smirked. “I asked mom to come watch Gabe so we could go out.” I grinned. Cami looked a little ill. It was silly, we were such total opposites and yet we always worked, maybe because she grounded me and I helped her out of her shell, she’d always been shy and adorable, probably why my brother fell so hard for her. I just didn’t understand what changed.

“I'm not even dressed.” I was about to argue that she looked great but my mother was never one to lie about that kind of thing.

“Chlo has one million dresses and I think you know how to use a mascara wand. Get your mommy ass out and have some fun!!” she said winking. I grinned wickedly at my friend.

“Yes. Fun.” I did a little shimmy and my mother narrowed her eyes on me.

“Not too much fun Chloe.” She said, using my full name. “If your father see’s one more tabloid cover with you on it he might have a heart attack.” She shook her head.

“Yeah, like he wasn’t ever on tabloids.” I rolled my eyes. “Come on Cami! Lets get you out of those mommy clothes.” I winked, meaning it in more than one way and she groaned.

“I feel very ganged up on.” She replied, though her eyes had a familiar spark that I knew from before she had to age 20 years at only 19.

“Yes we’re awful.” I smirked, using my brothers’ word for me. Cami turned to look at Gabe as if to ask for reinforcements but he was already playing with mom and she sighed.

"Fine," she gave in, smirking at me.

"Do you want to dress up? Or go cas?" I asked, already in front of her and on the way to my bedroom as we headed in that direction.

"Are you planning on alerting the press beforehand to let them know where you'll be?" She asked, knowing I’d done it before. It seemed a little ridiculous, sure but no press was bad press in my opinion and it had started when I was required by a company I’d represented had asked me to alert them when I would be at this club, or that restaurant. Whatever.  

"We'll go with casual. Here," I thrust a skirt into my hands, the tags still on it. The perks of being famous? Free stuff. She pushed her sweats down and stepped into the leather skirt, something pre-baby Cami would have worn without even thinking.

"No top? The paparazzi will love me."

"Funny," I held a crop top up to her chest and eyed it before agreeing with myself. "This will look hot on you. You should show off those abs... Most girls would kill for your body and you hide it!"

"I have a kid..." she trailed off as if it explained everything which it didn’t. A body like hers even after a baby? Craziness. It wasn’t like I wanted her to strut around in a bikini but you could show a little stomach even when you had a kid. "You have great boobs too!" I reached out and grabbed her chest as she slipped her shirt off.

"Chloe!" she laughed, tossing her tee-shirt aside and pulling the white top over her head. She looked down at her chest, "Definitely a plus to having a baby. I went up two cup sizes and haven't lost it."

“No offense but if I ever want to go up two cup sizes I’ll just call a plastic surgeon.” I smirked and Cami turned towards me with a smirk.

“I wasn’t the only one who wanted to be a mom when we were older!” she replied, a slow glint in her eyes.

“I’ll stick to being an aunt.” I replied seriously. “Besides, Prince William is taken now.” she chuckled.

“And I'm not sure you’re his type.” She added, slipping into a pair of heels from my closet. I whistled.

“You’re a fuc.king knockout you know that?” I asked. Cami blushed and I shook my head. For someone to be so hot and adorable? It was a shame she was abstinent.

“Oh please.” She shook her head as she let her hair out of the bun it was in. “I guess I could use a little fun.” She smiled as I slipped into a floral print sundress. Cami looked back at me since it was much more subdued than usual.

“I told you. I'm doing the Cami thing and you’re being Chloe for the night.” I winked.

“I couldn’t do the Chloe thing if I tried.” she said seriously, walking back out into the living room with me as I grabbed my bag.

“Bye maman! Bye Chloe!” Gabe yelled, waving and blowing us a kiss.

“Most precious kid ever.” I said shaking my head as I grinned and Cami glowed.

“I know right?” she sighed and I hooked my arm in hers.

“We’ve got shopping first, then dinner and we’re meeting your brother at Le Cab after.”

“That sounds exhausting.” She said shaking her head but still grinning a little.

“Says the girl who runs after a 5 year old all day.”

"That's different," she pointed out and I just sighed, rolling my eyes. "And don't give me that look! Gabe's my life now."

"Your poor sex life," I said quietly as we walked out of the door and into the sunlight. It wasn’t like I felt sorry for her, because it was her own damn choice, but god didn’t she miss sex?!

 "Sex life? It's nonexistent," Cami admitted, sighing even though her face was turning red.

"Exactly!! I'm going to set you up with someone." I said that all the time, always setting her up with someone awful as an attempt to make her realize she and Ben belonged together but now I was thinking I should actually attempt at getting her a guy she’d at least sleep with if only so she wouldn’t re-virginize herself. 

"First my sister and now you?" she shook her head, "The last guy I got set up with was a gynecologist."

"Did you fuck him?" I asked as we slid into a cab, the driver grinning at us and leering as I rattled off our destination.

"Chloe," she narrowed her eyes at me before shaking her head. "What do you think?"

"Honestly? I'm wondering how you and Ben conceived Gabe..." Cami jabbed me in the side,

"I wasn't always like this." I nodded.

"Trust me, I know." Cami shot me a blank glance. "Ben's room was right next to mine? For such a quiet thing, you're really loud in the sack..." Like. Epically loud. If it hadn’t been my brother doing whatever it was? I’d ask her for specifics. Oh god eww.

"Wow," Cami shook her head and hid her face in her palm. "Can we talk about your love life instead?"

“Ben is setting me up with his friend.” I said, humoring her. She let her face break into a slow grin.

“Tristan?!” I sighed.

“No. He is still strictly off limits. Probably because Ben wants to sleep with him.” Cami groaned.

“Dear god please don’t make me think of that, I'm hard up enough.” I broke into a laugh as the cabby looked like he might crash the car.

“Remind me to get you gay porn for your birthday.” I teased and Cami’s face turned totally red.

“Oh my god Chloe.” She shook her head and I decided to change the subject before her face stuck that color.

“He’s a different friend. Apparently a “good guy”” I said, using the air quotes and everything. “Hot though, so we’ll see.” Cami raised a brow and then looked out the window.

“You’ll get bored so fast.” She smirked as the cab pulled over near a row of shops.

“Probably.” I admitted. Good guys? Were never good for much at all actually. I paid the cabby and then stepped out of the cab, waiting for my best friend to follow me into the lingerie store.

“Chloe!!!” she exclaimed as she stopped near the door. I turned and rose a brow.

“What?” I asked, plastering on an innocent face I’d perfected, but had no real effect on the people who really knew me. Thank god it still worked on my parents….well it worked on my dad. Sometimes.

“I don’t need any lingerie.” She said seriously. I seriously doubted that was the case.

“Oh? Have you bought any since your boobs got so awesome?” I asked, but I didn’t wait for an answer. “It’s not for you anyways. I told you I have a date later this week.” I winked.

“You’re planning on sleeping with the boring guy?” she asked, following me into the store and fing.ering a strapless bustier slowly.

“I don’t know if he’s boring yet. He’s hot though.” I admitted, looking over an array of my favorite panty brand.

“You’re so silly.” She shook her head and I looked back at her.

“Says the girl who lost her virginity before I did!” I reminded her.

"That was different," She grabbed a pale purple bustier, and I smirked.

"Because you were in love? Look at where that got you." Love. Never did anyone any good as far as I knew. Except for my parents. But they were just lucky.  "Try the black one instead. It's sexier," I said in a softer tone since the purple was a little tacky.

"I'm going on a date next week," she said quietly  as I shoved a matching thong in her direction, immediately intrigued.

"Really? With who?" I asked, feeling my eyes widen. She laughed softly and shrugged,

"Blind date and unlike you? I'm actually hoping for a good guy." I shook my head,

"You need a bad one..."

"Because that would really last," she said sarcastically but right now? She didn’t need lasting.

"Prince Charming doesn't exist," she rolled her eyes. "You need Mr. Right now... and one with a huge-"

"I'm not going to sleep with him," she cut me off, but still grabbed the sluttiest little red set in the store. I smirked.

"So is that for you? Or your vibrator?"

"I don't have a vibrator," she lied, grabbing a cupless bra. Besides seducing a man, they really served no other purpose.... They served me no purpose. I lifted an eyebrow, glancing down at her interesting selections,

"I'm going to ignore that blatant lie... but really?"I grinned and fingered the bra, "Should we get you nipple tassels also?"

"Hilarious,"

“Do you really not have a vibrator?” I asked, looking up at her and making her laugh.

“That’s the first time I’ve actually seen pity for me on your face Chlo.” She shook her head. I shrugged.

“I’m just saying….if you don’t I know a place.” If anyone needed one? It was her. She turned red again as she walked into the dressing room.

“Stop talking.” She shook her head and I grinned since I was guessing she probably had 3 instead.

“You sound like Ben.” I sighed, sitting outside of the room waiting for her.

“Yeah well sometimes Ben is right!” she replied making me roll my eyes hard as she stepped out in the black bustier. Fu.ck.

“Not always.” I said under my breath. “My god Cami how on earth are you not getting laid? I’d sleep with you….you know if you hadn’t had a baby with my brother.”

“That is a really creepy compliment, but I’ll take it.” She said looking down. “I look like a burlesque dancer.” She winced and I laughed.

“I'm not sure why you think that’s a bad thing. Are you going to model the cupless one for me too?” I tried not to burst into giggles as I thought of Cami in that, but couldn’t help it.

“This was a terrible idea. Why aren’t you trying anything on?” she asked, playing with the straps that were supposed to be for a garter.

“I already got my stuff.” I said, holding up a pair of plain cotton panties and a t-shirt bra. Cami blinked at me.

“Is that for me?” she asked slowly. “I think I already have it.” I shook my head, trying not to pity her again for that last statement.

“No it’s me. I told you I needed underwear for my date.” I grinned and leaned back in the plush chair outside the dressing room. “I don’t know how to tell you this.” I started, putting on an over dramatic show. “But I'm going good girl on us.”

"It'll take a little more than boring panties to be a good girl," she grinned and walked back into the dressing room.

"Says the girl who got knocked up at 17..." I reminded her as I heard her changing again.

 "I'm not claiming to be a good girl..." she trailed off though she pretty much was. Now at least.

"You're well on your way to becoming a nun," I said as she walked out in the red number. Holy shit. My best friend was stunning.  

"Remind me why don't you model again?"

"Because my self esteem is low enough as it is," she shook her head, setting her hands on her flat stomach. "I don't need the public to criticize me too... or casting directors." I let out a deep sigh and narrowed my eyes on my friend,

"Can I go one day without Tristan Williams being brought up?!" Cami grinned.

"Sore subject?"

"I hate it how he's Ben's biggest fan and thinks I'm a joke," I crossed my arms over my chest, it wasn’t even that. He didn’t like me as a person. I’d never met anyone who didn’t like me as a person. Or at least no one who admitted it to my face. It was a little unnerving.

"In his defense, you two are very different people," Cami pointed out and walked back into the dressing room. "Not that I think you're a joke," she added loud enough for me to hear.

"Still!"

"Him and Ben are friends. It has nothing to do with Ben's career and everything with the kind of person he is."  I grumbled under my breath.

"Why don't you come back out here in that little red outfit and let me take a picture to send to my brother since you are still so obviously hung up on him!!" Come to think of it I was pissed that I hadn’t thought to do that when she was out here. 

"I'd hate to tempt him," Cami joked, walking back out with my selections in hand back in the clothes I’d leant her. "Ready?"

“Are you actually buying those?” I grinned from ear to ear and she shrugged.

“I'm being Chloe remember.” I smirked.

“Touche.” She nudged me with her hip and I smiled to myself. We didn’t get a whole lot of alone time anymore, hell I couldn’t remember the last time we went shopping together. It was nice.

“Next is clothes. What do good girls wear?” I asked as Cami paid for her purchases, completely oblivious to the poor cashier who was obviously drooling over her. She never noticed things like that.

“Underwear.” She said simply and I groaned.

“My god why does everyone think I don’t wear underwear?!” I exclaimed making Cami laugh.

“Do you?” I rolled my eyes.

“Do you think I'm a joke?” I asked her seriously. She shook her head.

“No.” she ran her hand through her hair and sighed.

“I care about my job.” She nodded.

“I know you do.” She stopped and I turned towards her. “But come on….you have to know your reputation. Why do you do it if you want to be taken seriously?” I swallowed thickly and turned away from my friend.

“I like having fun.”

“Sure….but remember before Gabe? When Ben threatened to never let you see him if you kept it up.” I nodded.

“That was different.”

“Yeah it was way fu.cking different. You were out of control.” I blinked back at Cami.

“How you manage to curse and sound like a mom at the same time? Is beyond me.” But she was right. I had been. Partying morning till night, not caring about anything, hell I’d even shot up a few times. But that was different. I was running away.

“Don’t get me wrong, you’ve cleaned yourself up a lot….and I don’t want you to stop being Chloe….but if you want people to treat you like an adult….” She trailed off and put her hands up. “I know I sound like a mommy. Can’t help it.” I chuckled.

“Too bad I didn’t get knocked up.” I grinned and Cami nodded as she hooked her arm in mine.

“Yes it does age you a little.” I set my head on her shoulder as we walked.

“You were always there for me. Even when I almost lost it. Thank you.” I whispered the last part. I knew I had been a fuc.k up, but I didn’t like talking about it, or admitting it, but Cami? She’d always been there for me. She chastised me…but in a non-judgmental way. Unlike Ben who was nothing but judgemental. Brothers.

"No one's perfect Chlo... I got pregnant when I was 17," I nodded slowly,

"Hmm, I think I remember that..."

"We make one fucked up pair, but you're one hell of a friend." She replied.

"Do you kiss your son with that mouth?" I asked with a serious face before grinning.

"Still on the good girl act, are you?" Cami smirked and bit into her lip, shifting her bags by pushing them up higher on her arm.

"So who are you planning on wearing those for?" I eyed the bag then looked back at her, wiggling my eyebrows at my friend.

"Honestly? Probably no one," she admitted and I let out a sigh.

"Maybe when Gabe gets older, you'll be one of those moms who seduce their sons friends...." Not that they’d probably complain. My guess is that she was going to be the milf of Gabes high school for sure. I chuckled to myself at that thought.

"Maybe I'll end up alone with 20 cats instead," she retorted.

“Orrrr….” I started off, not finishing the sentence because Cami held her hand up.

“Or what Chloe? I know you think it would be so easy for Ben and I to fall back together but it’s not. It wouldn’t be fair to Gabe to try when we’d already failed.” I sighed, holding it in as I usually did. They thought I was annoying about it already? Just wait until I finally burst and told them both what I actually thought. That would not be a good day.

“Whatever.” I shook my head. “Why do all my friends want to sleep with my family members anyways?” I asked, smirking and shaking my head at the same time. “You know Charlotte is dating Ames?” Cami grinned, liking the gossip since she probably didn’t get it much.

“Well I don’t really blame her.” She smirked. “Ames is gorgeous.” I shook my head.

“My god Cami our whole group needs to start dating outside of itself! It’s getting weird.” Cami giggled and I grinned since I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually seen her giggle. “And? Stop letting your family members set you up, no wonder you had a date with a gyno, they don’t know what you like.” Cami rose a brow.

“Oh? What do I like?” I groaned.

“Unfortunately I know the answer to that question WAY too well thanks to the shared wall with my brother.” Cami’s face turned red and I tilted my head to the side. “I wish you would have slept with the gyno though, I’d be interested to know if his profession made him worse or better.” I tried to keep a straight face but we both broke into laughs instead.

"You're awful," Cami shook her head, still laughing.

"Look at that! Another thing you and my brother have in common..." she kept laughing when I rolled her eyes,

"Besides Gabe, what else is there?" My god it was like they were intentionally dim.

"Don't even," I said, going serious again. “You guys work great together and you know it."

"Gabe makes that part easy," Cami smiled at me and I thought about mentioning how much easier it would be for Gabe if they were together for real…they seemed to think it would be worse.

 "Do you still have the gynos number?" I asked, changing the subject.

"Need a checkup?" I smirked back at my friend.

"No... Not a checkup per se..."

"Chloe! No," Cami shook her head but laughed a little. She was so cute. I swear she was the sister I never had but always wanted, there was something about how I was when I was with her. Maybe it was because I never judged her, but she was always there for me. Even though I was too crazy for her. Some day she’d probably realize she was better off joining a mommy and me group with people who understood her and I’d have to find friends who didn’t really like me but just liked my title. But for now? I held on to every precious moment I had with her.

"Curiosity always wins," I said simply and shrugged nonchalantly. Cami bit down on her lip to keep from laughing again,

"What happened to the whole good girl thing? The new and improved Chloe?"

"I never said anything about a new and improved me!" I replied with a scandalized face. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

"Nothing!" Cami said in defense and forced a wide smile, "You know I love you the way you are."

"Well I am pretty fabulous," I said casually, flipping my hair over my shoulder.

"And cocky," Cami added.

"Cocky seems to be your type... It runs in the family apparently."

"Are we back on that again? Already?" she asked, but she had to know I never would. Even if Ben ever did settle down I’d probably come up with ways to ruin it.

"We will always be back on this subject," I grinned. "After 23 years, you'd think you know me by now."