It was weird to think that Cleo had gone weeks, no, months, without talking to Jamison on a daily basis. No fits of laughter caused by the other for the better part of two months, whilst the brunette was off travelling the world, and appearing on a well known reality TV show. It was a desperate bid to get out of her shell, and whilst she had initially applied for a bit of fun, she quickly realised that the experience itself was so much more. That she could easily walk away with a fiancee at the end of the showâs running, but unfortunately for her, that was not the case. Instead, her rejection would be plastered nationally across millions of peopleâs TV screens. So, of course, upon her return, the blue eyed male had been one of the first pit stops on her way home.
     Apparently the sales clerk was not a fan of fun, and laughter. There really should be a sign that said âno funâ, with the big red circle crossing through it, so they were aware, considering how easy it was to make light of any situation where the other was concerned. Hell, they couldâve been grocery shopping, the bane of Cleoâs existence, and she was positive Jami would make it far more entertaining. As he proceeded to remove the items from his being, Cleo witnessed the woman side-eyeing them intently, causing the brunette to purse her lips and pull an ever so âiâm guilty, but Iâm also sorryâ facial expression before smirking discretely at her friend.
     âI think weâre banned from here on out.â Cleo admitted, a laugh following almost instantaneously before she watched as the items were thrown into his basket, causing her to realise she was still sporting the blonde wig. Quickly, she removed it from atop her head, hanging it back up where it belonged before she shrugged towards Jamison on the matter, like two school kids told off for talking too much. âSheâs a year younger than me, of course itâs to impress a guy, Jami.â She was surprised he hadnât come to terms with her age as of yet, despite it was the very reason they had agreed to meet. âBut â beats me. I buy the same perfume over and over, you know that. I could Google it?â Was she any use? Probably not. Nonetheless, she was sure she was just here to keep him company.
    âYouâd think Iâd get more used to that,â he chuckles. Getting banned or kicked out from places was a pretty common thing for the two of them. In the sense that itâs happened a couple times. At a diner when they were drunk and decided to have their own little version of a cafeteria food fight. The customers in the booth next to them complained, orâtattled really and they were asked to leave. But, not before paying their bill. That would have made the experience too easy and too much fun. Then there was the time a couple of their friends decided to skip school and drive down to the beach. A lifeguard alerted authorities when one decided she wanted to go streaking in the middle of the day. Their parents were called and Jamison was grounded (In true, typical-Carter fashion which meant the silent treatment and lots of disdain rolling off his father. Which to be honest, Jamison would have preferred a normal grounding.)Â
    âThere will be no guys. Ever,â he nods, as if to punctuate his point. He stood firmly by that. Although, in the end he couldnât stop her. She was a legal adult (much to his dismay).Â
    âOh, I remember.â Cleo has smelled the same for years. In fact, when Jami missed her, he would look for that same scent and be reminded of all the fun times they shared together. He wondered, hoped, even though she wasnât chosen (big mistake) â that the guy she was rumored to be dating along with numerous other women on TV, appreciated her perfume and the smiles she never should have gave him because honestly he didnât deserve them. âGoogle, right. Why didnât I think of that?â Jami snapped his fingers and while he fished in his pocket for his phone, a young teenage girl snuck up between them in the gift shop.Â
    âYouâre Cleo, right?â she said. âI thought I recognized you. You were runner up on The Bachelor. Youâre even more pretty in person. Can I get you to sign this?â The girl reached into her purse to pull out a black pen and a piece of paper.Â
      Meanwhile, Jamison was supposed to be looking on his phone for the perfume his sister wanted but instead he was distracted and mesmerized by the attention Cleo was getting. It was strange having a best friend and an ex who was associated with starring on a reality TV show. Jami never would have said it out loud or to her face but, he never really saw the point. While everyone else thought it was fascinating and glamorous, he always just thought Cleo was better than that. That any guy would be lucky to have her and she didnât have to go on some stupid, dating show to prove it to herself. Alas, he was also a bit bitter and maybe underneath it all â a little bit jealous?Â