No one's going to tell you when enough's enough.

No one's going to tell you when enough's enough. by pinklipstiiick featuring topshop

“Aunt Chloe!!!!” Gabe held out his hands for his aunt to scoop him up, spinning him in her arms as I passed the two of them and walked into the house.

“There’s my favorite nephew!!!!” She said grinning at my little guy who loved all the attention his family gave him. Honestly, I couldn't blame him. 

“I got a haircut!” He said, pointing to his head.
 

Chloe made a face admiring it, even though it was the same one he’d had since he was born practically. I was always weary with cutting his hair, it took a lot of convincing on Ben's part to finally talk me into it. “No wonder you’re looking extra handsome today," She told him, setting him back down after pressing a kiss against his chubby cheek.

He ran over to the little play area that was set up for him, Chloe turning to look at me with a smile still on her gorgeous face. “Hey," I said while smiling back at her, wishing I could look as effortlessly stunning as she always did. Hell, I'd even settle for half. Instead I was tired and probably had bags under my eyes... I was in a hurry this morning and nearly got dressed in the dark. My makeup? It wasn't much better.

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

I glared at her, “Chloe I can’t drink while I'm watching Gabe.”

She rolled her eyes, “Oh please, most family get togethers everyone’s drunk. Besides, my glass is just juice," She said seriously, winking at me. “I’ll do the mommy thing and you can do the Chloe thing.”

I took the glass but started chuckling, the idea of us switching places sounding so foreign to me. We were complete opposites, yet we'd been best friends since birth. “I’d need more than a glass of moscato to “do the Chloe thing," I admitted, watching Gabe twirl himself in circles. “You’re going to make yourself dizzy baby.”

“I like dizzy!” He called back, before falling over and looking at the ceiling making Chloe chuckle.

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

"You sound like such a mom," Chloe grinned at me and laughed, Gabe getting back on his feet and this time laying flat on the chair, spinning a little faster than earlier.

"Well, yeah... I am," I looked at my friend who looked like she was on the verge of laughing. "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?" She shook her head and let her grin widen.

"I never said four kids," I crossed my arms over my chest, knowing she was probably right. I couldn't remember the exact moment that I fell for her brother... but when I did? I fell hard. Sometimes I felt like I never even had a childhood, always trying to act older since he was a whopping two years older. "Gabriel..." I trailed off, taking a sip of my wine slowly since alcohol went straight to my head every single time. I had no tolerance for it. I'd be a cheap date... If I actually dated.

Gabe launched himself off the chair, skidding across the tile floor on his stomach, "Maman, look!!"

Me and Chloe watched him and tried not to laugh, knowing it'd only encourage him more. He stood up and dusted his designer jeans off, his button up shirt matching one that you might find in his fathers wardrobe only a different size. "I like your outfit little man," Chloe told him and he boasted.

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

"He's going through that phase where he wants to be Ben," I whispered to Chloe, keeping my eyes on my son.

“Yes, he’s like a mini Ben, poor kid.”

I let myself smirk slowly and then there was a knock at the door, “Are you expecting company?”

“Come in!!” Chloe yelled back and a second I heard the key turn in the lock and her mother walked in, seeing Gabe and lighting up.

“Grandmere!!!” Gabe squealed and shot himself into her arms, always one for attention since he had to be the most loved kid on earth.

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

“Eww stop that,” He said shaking his head, still against kisses despite the conversation we had the other day with my sister.

“Hi sweetheart," Ava said, leaning in to kiss me. When she wasn’t being Mrs. BMM? She was sweet as can be. “Hi baby,” She smiled at her daughter, kissing her cheek too. “You girls ready to go?”

I blinked and then turned to Chloe, “Go?”

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

“What?”

“Surprise!” Chloe smirked, “I asked mom to come watch Gabe so we could go out.”

I resisted the urge to groan, wishing I hadn't showed up at Chloe's house in what could pass as pajamas. I should have known better to go out in sweats... but still. Who was I trying to impress? The guy who bagged my groceries at the store? “I'm not even dressed," I said seriously.

"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!!” Ava said with a wink, not even bothering to lie about how truly awful I looked.

Chloe grinned wickedly at me, “Yes. Fun.” She did a little shimmy and her mother narrowed her eyes on her.

“Not too much fun Chloe,” She retorted, knowing just how wild her youngest child was. “If your father see’s one more tabloid cover with you on it he might have a heart attack.”

“Yeah, like he wasn’t ever on tabloids," She rolled her eyes. “Come on Cami! Lets get you out of those mommy clothes.”

“I feel very ganged up on," I replied, feeling like everyone wanted to change me. No wonder no one wanted to date me, there was something obviously wrong with the way I was.

“Yes we’re awful," Chlo smirked, using her brothers’ word for her.

I turned in Gabe's direction to ask if he minded, but he was already out of sight, somewhere in the living room with his grandmother. "Fine," I said with a sigh but grinned at Chloe who knew I wouldn't be able to talk myself out of this. I wasn't one for confrontation anyways.

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

"Are you planning on alerting the press beforehand to let them know where you'll be?" I asked in response and grinned a little wider, not really surprised if she did that... she wouldn't be the only model who has.

She shook her head, "We'll go with casual. Here," She thrust a skirt into my hands, the tags still on it. The perks of being famous? Free clothes. I wasn't even famous and I got makeup in the mail daily, everyone wanting me to use their products on my clients.

I pushed my sweats down and stepped into the skirt, "No top? The paparazzi will love me."

"Funny," She held a crop top up to my chest, the mesh making it so not much would be hidden. "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..." I trailed off as if it explained everything. Honestly? It did. I mean, I didn't dress like a nun, but I didn't dress like a street walker either.

"You have great boobs too!" She reached out and grabbed my chest as I slipped my shirt off.

"Chloe!" I laughed, tossing my tee-shirt aside and pulling the white top over my head. I looked down, "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 turned towards her with a smirk on my face, “I wasn’t the only one who wanted to be a mom when we were older!”

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

“And I'm not sure you’re his type," I added with a chuckle, slipping into a pair of heels from her closet.

She whistled, “You’re a fucking knockout you know that?”

I felt myself blush and she shook her head, always trying to boost my confidence. “Oh please," I shook my head as I let my hair out of the bun it was in. “I guess I could use a little fun," I smiled and adjusted the belt on my skirt as she slipped into a floral print sundress. I looked back at her 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," She winked.

“I couldn’t do the Chloe thing if I tried," I said seriously, walking back out into the living room with her as she grabbed one of her million bags.

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

“Most precious kid ever.”

I could feel myself glow as I smiled, “I know right?”

Chloe hooked her arm in mine, “We’ve got shopping first, then dinner and we’re meeting your brother at Le Cab after.”

“That sounds exhausting," I replied, shaking my head but still grinning a little.

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

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

"Your poor sex life," She said quietly as we walked out of the door and into the sunlight.

"Sex life? It's nonexistent," I said with too much honesty, I was positive that I was blushing again.

She shook her head and held her hand out to hail a cab, "Exactly!! I'm going to set you up with someone."

A small sound escaped me, a mix between a sigh and how I'd imagine sounding if someone were trying to choke me. "First my sister and now you?" I shook my head, "The last guy I got set up with was a gynecologist."

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

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

"Honestly? I'm wondering how you and Ben conceived Gabe..."

I jabbed her in the side, "I wasn't always like this."

She widened her eyes, "Trust me, I know."

I shot her a blank glance.

"Ben's room was right next to mine? For such a quiet thing, you're really loud in the sack..."

"Wow," I shook my head and hid my face in my palm, feeling the drivers eyes on us. "Can we talk about your love life instead?"

“Ben is setting me up with his friend.”

I let my face break into a slow grin, “Tristan?!”

She sighed,“No. He is still strictly off limits. Probably because Ben wants to sleep with him.”

I groaned, trying not to think of the two of them together because... well, they were both really seriously hot. “Dear god please don’t make me think of that, I'm hard up enough," I replied.

She broke into a laugh as the cabby looked like he might crash the car. “Remind me to get you gay porn for your birthday," She teased and my face went back to a shade of red.

“Oh my god Chloe," I shook my head, wishing we'd get off that subject.

“He’s a different friend. Apparently a “good guy,”” She said, using the air quotes and everything. “Hot though, so we’ll see.”

I raised an eyebrow and then looked out the window, watching the row of shops come into view as the cab pulled along the curb, “You’ll get bored so fast.”

“Probably," She admitted, not interested in good guys. Then again, did they even exist? She paid the cabby and then stepped out of the car, waiting for me to climb out before leading the way to the lingerie store.

“Chloe!!!” I exclaimed as we stopped near the door.

She turned and raised a brow, “What?”

I studied the fake innocent look on her face, knowing her better than that. “I don’t need any lingerie," I said seriously, my vibrator not needing any foreplay.

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

“You’re planning on sleeping with the boring guy?” I asked, following her into the store and fingering a strapless bustier slowly.

“I don’t know if he’s boring yet. He’s hot though," She admitted, looking over an array of panties.

“You’re so silly," I shook my head and she looked back at me.

“Says the girl who lost her virginity before I did!” She reminded me, my life before Gabe not even feeling like my own.

"That was different," I grabbed a pale purple bustier, lacy and girly. If I had someone to wear it for? I'd buy it. It wouldn't hurt me to try it on at least.

She rolled her eyes, "Because you were in love? Look at where that got you." I parted my lips then shut them, not wanting to touch on it because honestly, I wasn't bitter. I fell for Ben at a young age and truly believed he was the one... We were in love with each other and had a baby together, no regrets. "Try the black one instead. It's sexier," She said in a softer tone though I always expected nothing but the truth from her. The thing was, I was so used to people pitying me when I was 100% fine with my life.

"I'm going on a date next week," I said quietly and the next thing I knew, a black thong that matched the bustier was being pushed into my arms.

"Really? With who?" She asked with wide and curious eyes.

I laughed softly and shrugged, "Blind date and unlike you? I'm actually hoping for a good guy."

She shook her head, "You need a bad one..."

"Because that would really last," I said sarcastically.

"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," I cut her off, knowing where this was going. But still, I found myself grabbing a deep red set, skimpy to say the least. Maybe no one would ever see me in it, but god was it sexy.

Chloe noticed it and smirked, "So is that for you? Or your vibrator?"

"I don't have a vibrator," I lied, grabbing a cupless bra. Besides seducing a man, they really served no other purpose.... They served me no purpose.

She lifted an eyebrow, glancing down at my selections, "I'm going to ignore that blatant lie... but really?" She grinned and fingered the bra, "Should we get you nipple tassels also?"

"Hilarious," I replied.

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

“That’s the first time I’ve actually seen pity for me on your face Chlo," I shook my head at her expression.

She shrugged, “I’m just saying….if you don’t I know a place.”

I turned red again as I walked into the dressing room, “Stop talking.”

“You sound like Ben," She sighed, sitting outside of the room waiting for me.

I slipped out of my top and tried the black bustier on, widening my eyes a little at my reflection. “Yeah well sometimes Ben is right!” I replied, stepping out of the dressing room.

“Not always," She said under her 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," I said, looking down. “I look like a burlesque dancer.”

She laughed, “I'm not sure why you think that’s a bad thing. Are you going to model the cupless one for me too?”

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

“I already got my stuff," She said, holding up a pair of plain cotton panties and a t-shirt bra. Okay, even I wore sexier lingerie than that.

I blinked at her, hoping it wasn't another joke. “Is that for me?” I asked slowly, deciding to go with the flow. “I think I already have it.”

She shook her head, “No it’s me. I told you I needed underwear for my date.” She grinned and leaned back in the plush chair outside the dressing room, “I don’t know how to tell you this, but I'm going good girl on us.”

"It'll take a little more than boring panties to be a good girl," I grinned at her and walked back into the dressing room, letting my fingers graze the silk on the red set.

"Says the girl who got knocked up at 17..."

I rolled my eyes to myself and changed into it, reaching behind me to clasp the bra. "I'm not claiming to be a good girl..." I trailed off, wondering what would be a better description for me. Sexually deprived?

"You're well on your way to becoming a nun," She said for me as I walked out, her eyes widening. "Remind me why don't you model again?"

"Because my self esteem is low enough as it is," I shook my head, setting my hands on my stomach. "I don't need the public to criticize me too... or casting directors."

She let out a deep sigh and narrowed her eyes, "Can I go one day without Tristan Williams being brought up?!"

I grinned at my friend, "Sore subject?"

"I hate it how he's Ben's biggest fan and thinks I'm a joke," She crossed her arms over her chest, looking adorable like Gabe when he pouts.

"In his defense, you two are very different people," I said and walked back into the dressing room before she could attack. "Not that I think you're a joke," I added loud enough for her to hear."

"Still!"

I grinned again and slipped out of the lingerie set to get dressed again, "Him and Ben are friends. It has nothing to do with Ben's career and everything with the kind of person he is." Ben was a hard man to dislike, I couldn't say I blamed Tristan.

"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!!"

I bit into my lip and ignored her comment, not wanting to touch on that subject since it got brought up so often with Chloe. Instead, I tossed the bra over the door and waited until I heard Chloe laughing. "I'd hate to tempt him," I joked, walking back out with my selections in my hand. "Ready?"

“Are you actually buying those?” She grinned from ear to ear while I just shrugged.

“I'm being Chloe remember?”

She smirked, “Touche.” I nudged her with my hip and 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 and needed. My life had become so predictable, such a routine that throwing me off track every now and then felt good. “Next is clothes. What do good girls wear?” She asked as I paid for my purchases.

“Underwear," I said simply and she groaned.

“My god why does everyone think I don’t wear underwear?!”

I laughed, “Do you?”

She rolled her eyes, “Do you think I'm a joke?”

I shook my head, wondering where that came from. “No," I ran a hand through my hair and sighed.

“I care about my job.”

I nodded, “I know you do.” We stopped walking and she turned towards me, “But come on….you have to know your reputation. Why do you do it if you want to be taken seriously?”

She swallowed thickly and turned away from me, “I like having fun.”

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

She nodded, “That was different.”

“Yeah it was way fucking different. You were out of control.”

She blinked back at me, “How you manage to curse and sound like a mom at the same time? Is beyond me.”

“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….” I trailed off and put my hands up, thinking about the girl she was five years ago. She'd surpassed the whole party girl persona, staying out all morning and not coming home until the next. It wasn't just that though, there were drugs and guys... a lot of guys. “I know I sound like a mommy. Can’t help it.”

She chuckled, “Too bad I didn’t get knocked up.”

I nodded as I hooked my arm in hers, “Yes it does age you a little.”

She set her head on my shoulder as we walked, “You were always there for me. Even when I almost lost it. Thank you," She whispered the last part, letting me know she really meant it.

"No one's perfect Chlo... I got pregnant when I was 17," I glanced at her from the corner of my eye, wondering how we got here. When we were younger, we dreamed of traveling all over the world. But now? I was in bed by 9 pm on most nights and when I did travel, it was for work. I couldn't even remember the last vacation I took.

She pulled her head back to smirk at me, nodding slowly, "Hmm, I think I remember that..."

I laughed quietly, "We make one fucked up pair, but you're one hell of a friend."

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

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

"So who are you planning on wearing those for?" She eyed the bag then looked back at me, wiggling her eyebrows and making me want to groan.

"Honestly? Probably no one," I admitted. Much like my last vacation, I couldn't remember my last date. Okay, I remembered it, but wished I could forget it. I got set up with real duds... but my last boyfriend was a male model and looked like walking sex, so when the new guys got compared to Ben? They really stood no chance. My expectations were far too high, but within reason.

She let out a sigh, "Maybe when Gabe gets older, you'll be one of those moms who seduce their sons friends...."

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

“Orrrr….” She started off, not finishing the sentence because I held my 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 said in one breath, knowing that it was the truth.

She sighed, “Whatever.” I half expected her to say something else, but she shook her head instead, “Why do all my friends want to sleep with my family members anyways? You know Charlotte is dating Ames?”

I grinned, “Well I don’t really blame her. Ames is gorgeous.”

She shook her head, “My god Cami our whole group needs to start dating outside of itself! It’s getting weird.” I giggled, actually giggled. A big grin appeared on my friends face, “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.”

I raised an eyebrow, “Oh? What do I like?”

She groaned, “Unfortunately I know the answer to that question WAY too well thanks to the shared wall with my brother.” My face turned red as she tilted her 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," I shook my head, still laughing.

"Look at that! Another thing you and my brother have in common..."

I kept laughing when she rolled her eyes, "Besides Gabe, what else is there?" That was a lie. We had plenty in common, but it was never enough to keep us together.

"Don't even," She shook her head and stopped laughing, the look on her face serious instead. "You guys work great together and you know it."

"Gabe makes that part easy," I smiled at her, grinning when she sighed.

"Do you still have the gynos number?"

I lifted an eyebrow, "Need a checkup?"

She stared at me with one of her infamous mischievous smirks on her gorgeous face, "No... Not a checkup per se..."

"Chloe! No," I shook my head but laughed. The fact that we were complete opposites? I think it was what made us such good friends. She could entertain me for hours with stories about late nights and hook ups... and me? I wasn't sure what was in it for her, but maybe I was a good listener.

"Curiosity always wins," She said simply and shrugged nonchalantly.

I bit down on my 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!" She widened her eyes. "What's that supposed to mean?!"

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

"Well I am pretty fabulous," She flipped her hair over her shoulder.

"And cocky," I added.

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

This time? I sighed. "Are we back on that again? Already?" I asked, knowing she'd never drop it... until Ben settled down with someone the opposite of me and Chloe finally got the sister she always wanted.

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