Chapter 17 17: Unsaintly In A Black Tank Top
"How was your therapy?" Cam asked, sitting beside Baby in a café.
Baby shrugged, "Annoying, although..." He placed Elena's card on the table.
"Um, what's that?" Cam questioned, sipping on his drink.
"Elena Ruiz, a woman after my own heart," Baby murmured, his eyes staring off at the far distance.
Cam nodded, "Sure. A night with her and your infatuation will be over." He stated.
Baby, you shook his head, "No. I feel it, it's like there's this connection between us, something I've never felt before. I think I might be in –"
"Cameron," Saint suddenly appeared behind Cam, his hand on his shoulder.
Baby paused, staring at the entrance that was right in front of him, and wondered when Saint walked in without his notice.
He had gone missing after the therapy session, and now he was appearing out of nowhere like Batman.
He didn't turn, didn't look, didn't speak.
"What do you want, Saint?" Cam asked, "And I go by Cam... not Cameron." He corrected.
"I need you to hand this to the coach down the street. It's from THC," Saint placed an envelope in front of Cam, straightening up.
Cam frowned, "Um, I'm sure you knew I would say no before you decided to walk over here. In case you didn't know, well, here I go, NO." he smiled as he gently folded his arms, raising a brow at Saint.
"It's an order from your captain. Unless you want to bench the next match," Saint casually said, lifting his wrist to check the time on his watch.
Cam widened his eyes, turning to Baby for help.
"Ugh! Fine," He said, stood, and grabbed the environment he saw that Baby was staring at the door in front of him.
"You better not cause problems while I'm gone," He pointed at Saint's face and marched out of the cafe.
The moment Cam left, Saint turned away from the table, walking away.
Baby frowned, snapping his head at Saint, "Hey, you!" He called, ignoring the looks people gave him.
But Saint simply ignored him and continued walking.
"Bastard," Baby stood and followed Saint.
"Excuse me, Sorry," He said as he almost collided with a lady who was carrying her tray of drinks.
"Sorry," He muttered and resumed his pursuit of Saint.
He needed to know what was in the envelope. Saint mentioned THC, which meant it might be something about them.
He suddenly paused his search when he realised that he had lost Saint.
"Fucking Bastard," he muttered and returned to his table.
He sat and slowly looked around the busy cafe, staring at every face that walked by yet none was the one he sought.
His phone rang, drawing his attention away from the crowd.
"Rode?" He answered.
"Sure, I'll be there tonight. Like Cam said, don't disappoint us," He chuckled and ended the call.
It was just two hours before Rode's party started and he couldn't wait to party the night away. With Saint around, he felt the need to always have a distraction, and a night party was just the best distraction he needed.
"Excuse me, someone asked me to give you this," S waiter gently placed a folded paper in front of Baby.
Baby was about to ask who it came from when he saw 'Saint' boldly written on the folded top.
"Thank you," He said, nodding at the girl.
He stared at the folded paper and wondered just what Saint might have written on it.
___
"Meet me at the library in ten minutes," Cam read from the folded paper and glanced at Baby who was currently behind the wheel driving to Rode's party.
Cam chuckled, "Well, it'd been an hour, do you think he might still be waiting?" He asked.
Baby shrugged, "Don't care." He grabbed the steering wheel tightly.
Cam sighed, "I don't know... I'm... never mind," He pursed his lips, narrowing his eyes at the paper.
"What?" Baby asked, glancing at his friend.
Cam shook his head, "Nothing, just a random thingy, I've forgotten what it was." He said, biting his lip.
Baby rolled his eyes, "I know you're lying, but I'll let it slide because we've arrived. Get your ass out and let's have some fun." He smiled as he pulled the car over in front of Rode's house.
Cam smiled at the building; he could already hear the sounds coming from it, and his mind forgot all about Saint and Baby's dynamics.
"Hell yeah! Let's go crazy tonight!" He laughed and got out of the car.
Baby was beside Came, walking toward the building. The music git louder as they approached and Baby couldn't wait to stand near the speaker with a drink in his hand, and probably a girl in his arms.
Baby pushed the door open and stepped into the large living room that had now been converted into a loud and colourful club.
"Yes! That's what om talking about!" Cam jumped in excitement as he saw the half-dressed girls walking around carrying drinks.
Baby nodded at his friend, "Hasta luego, mi amigo." He patted Cam's shoulder and disappeared into the crowd.
He weaved through the dance floor and headed for the bar. He needed something strong to kick-start his night.
"Baby, you came," Rode tapped his shoulder as he was grabbing a drink from a girl's tray.
Baby drank it in a gulp and shut his eyes tightly as it burned his throat. "Oh, yes, that kicks right!" He breathed out as he faced Rode, smirking.
"I've got more. You in," Rode asked, placing his hand on Baby's back.
"Are you kidding, I'm all in," Baby chuckled, "Lead the way, friend." He patted Rode's back, glancing around at the women as he tried to find at least one that caught his attention.
"Come on," Rode held Baby's hand and led him away from the crowd.
They walked over to the corner where sofas were arranged like a private booth.
People were already sitting there, a few guys with their female companions, but one stood out in Baby's eyes.
The guy with blonde hair just like his, but what caught his attention was the tattoos on his arms and neck. He looked so handsome that Baby felt like he had no chance with girls tonight due to his presence.
"Guys, meet Baby. My captain. Baby, meet my friends. And that's Oliver, he's the one throwing this amazing party tonight." He pointed to the blonde guy with tattoos.
"Welcome to the party, Baby! I'm Stella and I love your name. I feel like we're already dating," A busy girl stood from Oliver's side and hugged Baby, pressing herself firmly on his front.
"Whoa, easy with the boobs, love, are they real?" Baby grinned, staring into her eyes with mischief.
"No." Stella's voice dropped, deeper than Baby's.
Laughter erupted from the booth, the girls widening their eyes in shock. They never knew Stella wasn't a real woman.
"You look pretty by the way," Baby winked at her.
Stella immediately brought her charm back, "Thank you, handsome. It's botox," she kissed Baby's cheek and returned to her seat.
Baby chuckled, "Interesting," He smiled.
"Wanna seat?" Oliver asked, gesturing to the sofa by his side, his green eyes fixed intently on Baby's face.
"I don't see any drinks here, Mr. Oliver," Baby said as he walked over to sit beside Oliver, "Don't make me regret the party." He narrowed his eyes at Oliver.
Oliver chuckled, "Trust me, you won't" he winked at Baby and nodded at a girl in another seat.
The girl immediately stood and faced Baby, "What's your poison?" She questioned.
"You don't need to ask, Angel. Bring me all your options, your strongest," Baby replied, nodding at the girl.
The girl nodded and left.
"I'll be right back, Baby. I just need to find Cam. You good?" Rode asked, his eyes looking a little troubled as he stared at Oliver's face.
He knew that look in his best friend, but he was hoping he was wrong because he had already told him what he wanted. He wanted to believe that his friend wouldn't betray him.
"Sure, Rode. My name might be Baby, but I'm no Baby," he replied, waving Rode away.
Rode nodded and left.
"Baby," Oliver suddenly murmured beside Baby, his body slightly leaning in.
"Yeah, that's my name. Cool right?" Baby chuckled.
He was used to people having an opinion about his name and he was eager to know what Oliver's was.
"I love it... It suits you," Oliver said simply.
The girl with the drinks arrived and they cheered, grabbing the cups and bottles off the tray.
"Bottoms up!" Oliver shouted.
His friends cheered and everyone tilted their heads backwards, gulping the alcohol down their throats.
"Fuck... that's fucking strong," Baby shook his head, taking deep breaths to soothe his burning throat.
"Does that mean you're quitting?" Oliver asked with a smirk.
Baby scoffed and grabbed another cup, "I never quit." He raised the cup to Oliver's face, "Bottoms up?" He asked.
Oliver grabbed another cup, "Bottoms up." Together, they tilted their heads back and poured the drink in like it was iced water.
"Damn... shit us really strong," Oliver chuckled.
"Tell me about it," Baby coughed slightly, bidding his head.
"Drunk yet?" Oliver asked.
"Really? After three cups? Hell no. The night is still young," Baby replied and grabbed two cups of alcohol, handing one to Oliver.
"Keep up," He said and was about to gulp it down like the rest when his eyes caught a glimpse of the person on the other end of the room.
Rode was walking toward them.
Not alone.
No.
No way.
Baby's pulse spiked.
"Hell no…" he whispered.
Because there he was.
Saint.
In a black tank top.
Jaw clenched.
Eyes locked directly on Baby.
And Baby didn't know whether Saint looked furious…
…or jealous.
Before Baby could move, Oliver leaned in and murmured against his ear:
"What's wrong, Baby? Having second thoughts?"
Saint's expression darkened—dangerously.
Baby felt it.
Heat. Possession. Fury.
And then—
Saint started walking straight toward him.