you can count on me like 1, 2, 3

you can count on me like 1, 2, 3 by ssaarah

 

"Hey!!" Cami sat down next to me on the bench and pushed her hair out of her eyes. "How's my baby?" I nodded towards Gabe, who was telling a girl a little younger than him how to properly swing on a swing.



"He's flirting." I smirked at how cute they both were, how big the girls eyes were when she looked at him. It reminded me of Cami and Ben as kids honestly.



"Just like his father that one." She laughed and I eyed her, but didn't say anything about my suspicions with her and my brother. Who still wasn't talking to me, the stubborn jerk.



"Let's hope not." I smirked back and shook my head and for a while we both just watched our favorite little guy playing. He was getting so big so fast. "He's perfect." I said finally, sighing as Cami nodded.



"I know right? He's so smart too."



"Super." I grinned and turned to my friend. "I miss you."



"I miss you too Chlo....I'm sorry I've been a little MIA lately." I shrugged.



"It wasn't just you." I assured her. "Life got busy. But let's not go this long without Cami/Chloe time for this long ever again." Cami laughed.



"Okay deal." she smirked. "So whats up? Tell me all about your crazy single girl life." I rose a brow.



"Aren't you a single girl?" I asked seriously. She bit down on her lip before starting to say something but I cut her off. "I know I know, you're a mom you think that makes it different...." I rolled my eyes.



"What?! It does make it different!" she exclaimed. "Try taking care of a kid bowlegged with a hangover." She smirked and this time I was laughing.



"Oh god Cami." sometimes she was too silly. Actually always she was, at least when she was with me. "I slept with Tristan." I added finally. I didn't get an immediate reaction. In fact it was like she was waiting for me to say "just kidding!" and when I didn't? She let out a breath and shook her head.



"Jesus Chloe," I made a face before looking away, feeling her eyes on me.



"Well aren't you going to ask how it was?"



"No, but I know that you'll still tell me," I could hear her silly grin and I tried not to grin back.



"That man..." I let out a breath and shook my head.



"Your brother isn't going to be very happy."



"Yeah well fuck him," I replied flatly. Ben was a touchy subject for me lately. I was the one trying to fix things and he was so damn stubborn he was stuck on one stupid thing I said that I didn't even mean the way he took it and the longer he wasn't forgiving me? The more pissed off I got. "Seriously. Why does he care?"



"Because he loves you," Cami said in her honest and sweet way. "You're his baby sister and he only wants the best for you... Tristan is probably not the best."



"Good in bed, huge dick, good career," I paused for a moment to pretend to think. "Did I mention huge dick? Yeah, he sounds awful." Cami laughed, though I knew what was coming next.



"And he also dated three girls at once," she pointed out and wrinkled her nose like her son always did. "Ben knows Tristan and he's just looking out for you." I rolled my eyes again. I wasn't in love with Tristan. Hell I didn't even want to date him, I knew better.



"Ben is so mad at me." I said softly, hating the pain in my chest.



"I know." Cami nodded.



"I bet you don't know at all. I'm sure he's protecting precious Cami from evil Chloe." I grumbled.



"You sound jealous." Cami laughed.



"I kind of am jealous!" I admitted. "All sex acts aside? He treats you amazing. Hell he treats everyone amazing. No one would even believe it was his fault at all because he's perfect to everyone." Except me. I added in my head, knowing I was probably being petty.



"He means the best..." Cami trailed off. "You should have seen him when you were off on your crazy Chloe adventure. He was always worried Chlo. Always." I nodded, feeling my chest hurt again for the pain I had caused my family when I was trying to punish myself for something that wasn't my fault.



"But I got over that. I havent touched any drugs, recreational or otherwise, and I only drink socially. I hadn't even had sex for months before I slept with Tristan. Ben acts like having a one night stand is the worst thing that ever happened."



"I'm sure he doesn't." Cami shook her head.



"Even you've had one night stands. You. Perfect Camille." Cami laughed.



"I'm far from perfect Chlo."



"He's just being so stubborn. I tried for days to explain the things I said, to apologize for anything he took the wrong way, I even tried to get him to come to therapy with me and nothing. I got literally nothing. I tried so hard. It's his turn to try." I grumbled.



"He'll come around....he's your brother, he loves you."



"I really need to find a friend who isn't in love with my brother." I smirked and Cami laughed. "Speaking of which, are you still really still pretending that you're not together?" I questioned.



"So you slept with Tristan?" Cami changed the subject and I smirked.



"So bad at that. But yes. And it was fuc.king fantastic.....like oh my god." I added, flashing back for the millionth time.



"Was it a one time thing or...?" I shrugged and played idly with my hair. "I don't know, but he sent me this picture..."



"You guys are sexting now?!" she exclaimed, looking so shocked it was kind of funny.



"No! I don't know... but god, he is so hot." I guessed some of the things we were saying could constitute sexing....I'd definitely wanted to touch myself after some of them.....



"So you want to sleep with him again." Yes. God yes. I'd never come like that in my life. The amount of time and energy that man spent on his job? He was just as attentive in bed and that was sexy as hell.



"Is that a question or a statement?" I grinned. "Of course I want to! I don't know how you stay abstinent for so long... I feel like I'm dying here just thinking about the other night." Cami let her mouth open awkwardly and I knew I had caught her. "You're not! Who are you fucking? Are you still seeing Dante or..." I wondered how long she could keep this up. I wasn't stupid after all.



"Ben and I are together," She said finally before glancing at Gabe who was now pushing the little girl on the swing.



"Since the trip, right?" I asked her.



"Before the trip... but that's when we finally slept together."



"See how easy that was? Ben and I are together. Five words." I shook my head.



"Why do you seem angry?" I threw my hands in the air in utter frustration.



"I caught Ben naked in your apartment and he still pretended you weren't together. Actually he lied to me. He literally said he wasn't seeing anyone."



"Well we hadn't really decided if we were telling people and-" I held up a hand to stop her from continuing.



"Don't you make excuses just because he's making your girlie parts happy." Cami started laughing but I glared at her until she stopped, though she was still smiling like an idiot.



"You two better get married soon, I don't want to have to worry about getting you together again." Cami rolled her eyes.



"Yes because it was all you who got us back together this time." She shook her head.



"I'm glad you agree, now I won't have to do my I told you so dance." This time I was the one who was smirking. I was pissed at Ben. Super pissed. But I was still happy he'd made a big step towards making him happy. For good.



"Are you mad at me for not telling you?" I shook my head.



"Of course not. We haven't seen each other. That isn't something you send a quick text for."



"Speaking of texts, can I see the picture Tristan sent you?" Cami was trying not to laugh again and I lifted a brow.



"You think my brother would want you looking at naked pictures of his best friend?" Cami hit my arm as her mouth dropped open.



'He's sending you NAKED pictures?!?!" she asked, slapping her hand over her mouth when she'd realized how loud she'd been.



"Who's naked?" Gabe called out, making a disgusted face.



"People who take baths!" I shouted back. That seemed to be good enough for him since he went right back to playing. "And not all naked." I added softly to Cami. "Just enough that nothings really left up to the imagination." I was smirking so hard I thought my face might stick that way.



"Oh my god." She was giggling like a little school girl, which was adorable. I'm pretty sure if you looked the word adorable up in the dictonary there was just a picture of Cami.



"Oh please like you've never sent naked pictures to my brother." I rolled my eyes and she flushed a deep shade of pink.



"Did you send him pictures back?!" I threw her a sly grin.



"Not yet." I winked and we both started giggling at that. "So when will you have more babies?" I asked, grabbing her hand. "I want a niece this time please."



"Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's not quite how it works," she grinned at me and i just rolled my eyes, so happy to be with my friend I was feeling giddy.



"I've heard that certain positions help," I said seriously but then scrunched up my face. "I can't believe I'm talking about this with you... you and Ben... positions," I shuddered and then laughed.



"As long as you're not imagining it, it's not too weird," Cami shrugged and turned to look at Gabe. God he looked so much like Ben when he was a kid. That was a lot of how I remembered him. Teaching me to swing, protecting me from mean boys on the playground, always asking questions, teasing Cami because he loved her even then. It was so different now.



"Are you two going to tell him?"



"We have," Cami said it slowly,like she was processing her answer. I wasn't that patient.



"And?"



"He got really mad at Ben... I don't know how he's handling it. I think he's confused." She sighed and I blinked back as I took my turn to process this time. Mad at Ben?



"Huh," I made a face, "I would've guessed he'd be thrilled!"



"That makes three of us," She sat back on the bench as I stared at my nephew. He was way smarter than I was at his age, even smarter than Ben and Cami when they were little and that was saying something. I wondered what was in his head.



"So what's next?"



"We're looking at places."



"Wow," I widened my eyes, pushing away the hurt I felt from my brothers lies. "I'm happy for you guys," I added, since it was what I had always wanted for them.



"What's next for you and Tristan?"



"There isn't a me and Tristan." I laughed. "We're not dating."



"But you want to." She replied making me shake my head.



"No! I'm not a harem girl. Although I probably have a costume somewhere." I smirked and Cami started laughing.



"Good god Chloe."



"I want to fuck him, I don't want to date him." I replied. "He doesn't date anyways."



"You already slept with him Chlo....the fact that the challenge is over and you still want more? Says something." I groaned.



"I'm not a child, I'm didn't only want him because he kept saying no....that might have been part of it, but not all of it."



"So then you like him."



"Sexually. Yes. Personally? Yes, more when he's naked. Professionally he's still an asshole."



"I think professionally he turns you on, and if you keep sleeping with him ou're going to fall for him." She grinned a knowing grin and I just rolled my eyes.



"Trust me, I'm not falling for him."



"So why keep it up with Tristan if you know it wont be long term?" I shrugged.



"Why deny myself awesome sex for no reason? Literally....awesome. Like he inspires me to have dirtier fantasies than I've ever-" Cami held up her hand.



"I'm going to have a hard enough time seeing him again now without thinking about how dirty you two could get." She shook her head and I bit my lip because on that subject? I had quite a few ideas.



"So either it was a one night stand, which is fine, or I keep getting laid while I look for prince charming." I smirked.



"No one is prince charming." She laughed. "You're such a princess."



"This is why you need a daughter. I'm stuck playing boy games with that one, and I need a valid exuse to wear a damn tiara!" I teased her.



"Well I did get laid yesterday, maybe you'll get lucky." Cami winked at me and I groaned.



"How you manage to make me jealous and disgusted is a talent only you have." I admitted.



"I'll make sure to add it to my resume." She teased and I tossed a leaf at her. "So touchy." she smirked.



"Love makes you fiesty." I retorted. "I'm not sure how to deal with it again."



"At least this time you wont share a wall with Ben." she shrugged and I groaned again.



"Too true." Cami grinned, her eyes glazing over. I knew that look too well unfortunately.



"If you're thinking dirty thoughts about my brother right now? I'm leaving and taking Gabe with me."



"Your mom told him that she wants more grandbabies... I'm just brainstorming ideas on how to make her happy." I groaned but I was still smiling.



"Only you can make sex sound so innocent. I swear."



"My thoughts are far from innocent, I'll tell you that," She laughed and bit down on her lip. Cami with Ben? Was always the happiest I'd ever seen either of them. But god did it ruin girl talk.



"This conversation will be acceptable when he makes an honest woman out of you and you're finally my sister." I replied seriously.



"You just want me to be your sister."



"Of course I do! Then I'll have an excuse to raid your closet," I winked.



"You already do that," Cami retorted, which was true. Nice thing about having a friend the same size as you is you practically had two wardrobes. Speaking of wardrobes....



"We need to go lingerie shopping soon..." I trailed off, imagining what Tristan would do if I just showed up in his office with something inspiring on under my dress.



"Because we didn't buy enough last time?!"



"Last time I bought cotton things... now I'm thinking more lace. Maybe something crotchless." When I mentioned Tristan inspiring dirtier fantasies? I had meant it.



"Yeah, your brother would definitely love me in something crotchless." .....and fantasy over.