Eternal Flame (Eternal Flame #1) Read Online Free PDF Page A

that’s enough of the joking you two.” She looked over at the bewildered strangers around them and jokingly shook her head. “They’re just playing. They’re not serious. Weren’t you ladies?”
    Joy rolled her eyes at her mother and went to stand between the two Foster brothers, while her mother twisted her neck at her and gave her the finger. Cameron looked on in horror at the crazy scene playing out before her, while the guys just uncomfortably laughed and looked everywhere but at Ms. Austin. What kind of shit…?
    “Where is Roman anyway?” Beau inquired, deciding for now to drop his macho rumble with his brother.  “Wasn’t he supposed to be here to greet the winners of the contest?”
    Cameron nervously wet her lips and glanced at the women, silently hoping and praying they wouldn’t say anything. “Uh… He uh…”
    “Is he coming back anytime soon?” Nick asked with feigned concern. “I’d hate for him to miss the opportunity to spend as much time as he can with this beautiful, sexy young lady.”
    “Sure you would,” Diego smirked. Kristen blushed and tried to avoid looking into Diego’s penetrating brown eyes.
    “I think he had to run to the store or something,” Cameron said. “He should be back soon.”
    “Has he been gone long?” Damian asked. “Maybe you should call him.”
    “Maybe she should give him time to come back on his own,” Nick told him, trying to throw a hint that went unnoticed.
    “You know,” Cameron began, taking her phone out of her bra, “I was just getting ready to call him to make sure he didn’t forget they were coming.”
    “Why would he forget?” Alex inquired. “You guys have been planning activities with Idol all week.”
    “Maybe he wanted to forget,” Damian reasoned. “You know, with everything going on-“
    “Damian,” Cameron protested, shaking her head.
    “Man, some people are just stuck on stupid,” he continued, ignoring Cameron and digging dirt out of his nails. “Stuck on stupid and drama. Lucky for me, I’ve gotten past that point.”
    “Accept when it comes to pursuing women who obviously don’t want you,” Beau nitpicked.
    Damian stepped to him and Joy moved forward to block him while at the same time Ms. Austin said, “He probably still would be here but him and his sister got into it and he left.”
    Everyone ceased moving and talking and looked at her.
    Ms. Austin blanched and covered her mouth, closing her eyes. “Oh shit. I’m so sorry. Subtlety has never been my strong point.”
    “I think they’ve picked up on that by now Ma,” Joy dryly replied.
    “I’m so sorry Cameron,” Ms. Austin said with as much sincerity as she could muster.
    “Don’t worry about it,” Cameron said, cutting her eyes at her. She turned her back and shook her head, walking towards the house as she dialed Roman’s number.
    “Yo Cameron, I told you to let that go,” Damian called after her. “Just leave him be. He doesn’t need all that shit in his head right now. He’s got enough to deal with.”
    Cameron stopped suddenly and turned to Damian. She walked towards him with her finger pointed. “You worry about your family Damian, and I’ll worry about mine.”
    “He is my family,” Damian softly replied, taking her hand. “And I’m just as worried about him as you are. I didn’t mean any harm or fowl. I just hate to see what this is doing to you guys. To us. To everyone. But especially to him.”
    Her face softened and she silently looked at him for a few seconds. “I know. Me too. I’m sorry.”
    “Everyone just needs to calm down,” Alex soothingly replied with his hands up. “We’re not making ourselves look very sane in front of these beautiful ladies.”
    Everyone lightly laughed at Alex’s attempt at a joke, Damian and Cameron hugged, and all was momentarily fine again.
    “I am going to try to call him though,” Cameron said. “I’ll be back. Will you ladies be okay? Do you need anything?”
    “No, we’re