CIX

CIX
"There is a problem." I turn to Mariana.
Something in my expression must have told her I was dead serious. She comes to me peering into my eyes.
"Somewhere private?"
I nod and lead her into the hallway at the back of the house.
"What's it?" I know her mind must be thinking about Greg again.
"It's not Kennedy. It's his best friend."
Her frown deepened.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, his best friend Cam? He hates me."
"What does that mean? Why does that affect you? You're in love with Kenny not him."
"Yeah well, that is the problem. He hates me because I'm in love with his best friend."
"He doesn't think you're good enough for Kennedy?"
"Cam is in love with Kenny."
Her eyes bulged in realization.
"Oh shit. This is bad."
"I know.."
"It's not your fault Kennedy is straight. Why should he hate you?"
I shrug.
"I confronted him last time, that was when I realized. He was being rude and passive aggressive because he was scared I was taking Kennedy away forever."
"You didn't take him away. You can't take him if he was never his."
"Yeah, but now there is tension between Cam and myself. We have this serious beef between us."
"Kennedy doesn't about this I take it?"
"He has no clue, he doesn't even know his best friend is gay."
"This is more messed up than one would think."
"I know I know. And I feel bad for any PDA we did in front of him before, and Kennedy is big on PDA. He is killing his best friend without even realizing it."
"Shit."
"What do I do?"
"For now, just try to be normal or Kennedy will notice. You don't want to force Cam out of the closet."
I nod.
"Lisa?" I hear Kennedy call for me.
"Over here." I call out back.
"There you are, others are waiting for you, you are the reason for the occasion remember?"
I smile and melt into him as he kissed my head.
"Oh you guys are so cute together." Mariana cooed.
Kennedy chuckled.
"It's time to go. Let's go meet everybody else."
Mariana and I lock eyes but we follow him anyway.
Kennedy did the introduction this time. Cam had already taken a sip of alcohol. I remember something Kennedy said about Cam getting drunk after taking a sip of alcohol.
Jonathan was at grill already, handling the meat.
"Congratulations. You made it past the resumé submission stage." He told me. I blush red.
"Kennedy didn't have to make it a big deal but he did. I wonder what will happen after I get the job."
He chuckled.
"The fact that you know you're getting the job tells me he knows too. And that's why we are having this barbecue. You can think of it as celebratory get together."
I smile at him gratefully as I take a sip of my orange juice. I was staying off alcohol for a while. I don't want to start confessing my feelings while drunk.
Kennedy was trying to get Cam to stop drinking while Sara, Quinn, James and Mariana surrounded Clarissa. Probably because of her protruding stomach. I was grateful I had this number of people come out to celebrate when I haven't even gotten the job yet. It only motivated me to become stronger, and do better. So I can ace the interview and test phase.
"Lisa." Kennedy whispered as he hugged me from behind.
I giggle.
"Wow, you sound tired."
"I am. Trying to catch Cam is no joke, even after being jacked with this much muscles." He whined.
"Do you need to lay down?"
"No, the only thing I need is right here. I'm quite comfortable where I am."
I was comfortable too. It was a very comfortable position. I liked it. I made a toast to mom as she helped me from where she was n heaven. If only I could listen to her.
"The food is ready everyone." Jonathan called out.
"It is unfortunate we have to untangle ourselves right?" Kennedy whispered in my ear.
"It is quite."
He left my body and held my hand instead. The man knew how to make me blush.
"Here." He took a plate for me.
The food smelled delicious. Everything Jonathan made smelled really good.
"I didn't know you could cook Jonathan."
"There are a lot of layers you have to peel off the Russell brothers. You can't get everything all at once. Can you?" He asked with a smile.
I laugh a little. It was true. I really couldn't.
"I would like to make a toast to the reason for this occasion. Lisa Porter. For being fierce, strong, compassionate, hard working, talented. I love you so much Lisa."
It was like the whole world stopped moving after he said those words. Everyone paused waiting for something. I don't know what. Me? I was waiting for my heart to stop beating like it wanted to run out of my chest.
All of a sudden Cam throws a bottle, by his side actually. Bringing everyone's attention to him.
"No. No. No. Kennedy you are supposed to love me. Just me. Not her." He was staggering towards Kennedy now.
Kennedy thinks he is being his usual Cam self he sighs.
"Buddy, I'm trying to be serious here. Please stop. I told you not to drink."
"Why do you think I'm joking? I'm serious here. I'm in love with you, you can't fall in love with someone else. Just me. Only me. Kennedy.. I was always here for you.."
"Cam please, I'm trying to be serious here. Don't be annoying. This is a really serious moment for me."
It was like the rest of us were holding our breaths, we knew Cam was serious, Kennedy didn't know.
"Kennedy Russell right from the time I set my eyes on you in that play ground, you have been all I ever wanted. Every time you smiled it made me happy. So I did everything I could to make you smile. Even if it meant making a fool out of myself. So how can you not see that I'm in love with you? Huh? Everyone else saw it. How could you not see? Even your little whore knows, so how can't you know?"
"Don't call her a whore."
Cam laughed. A dry, bitter laugh.
"That's all you got from everything I said? Everything has to be about her doesn't it? Lisa this, Lisa that. I'm sick of it. Why can't you look at me?"
My mind is still reeling from the fact that he was in love with me.
"This won't do. At all." He says before claiming Kennedy's lips in a kiss.