CHAPTER 9

"I'll talk to Leo, see what I can get about your sister," Cam went on. "The one thing I can say about MSM is that he gave you good advice. You need to lay low. Ginger is Ginger and she's been headin' down a path that's leadin' her to big trouble and seems she found it." I listened to her take a big breath and I knew what that big breath meant. She had something to say she knew I wouldn't like. Camille was a straight-talker but that didn't mean she didn't have a kind soul. She did. The kindest there was. Therefore when she continued, she did it gently. "I know she's your sister, girl, but Ginger Kidd, she doesn't care who she brings down with her and she'll throw up anyone as a shield to protect her skinny, white ass.

She's in trouble and she gets a hint that she can use you, however she could use you, she's gonna do it, babe. No hesitation."

This was definitely true.

"I am, as of this moment, officially disowning her," I declared.

"Finally," Cam muttered.

"Call me after you talk to Leo," I told her.

"Sam?" she called.

"Yeah, babe," I replied.

"I'm also gonna talk to him about MSM."

Oh No. Hell no. Dad and Meredith didn't know about MM.

Troy didn't know about MSM. And Leonard Freeman didn't know about MSM. The only people who knew about MSM were Camille and Tracy and I'd sworn them to secrecy.

This said a lot about me and how I felt about MSM, namely that I was ashamed of what I was doing and also why I was doing it. It more than hinted at desperate and slut, two things no girl should be.

Ever. I loved Dad, Meredith, Troy and Leo. I did not want these people to think I was a desperate slut.

"Sam -" Cam started.

"No, Cam, no. Do not talk to Leo about The Great MSM," I stated firmly.

"Okay, girl, listen to me," she stated firmly back. "This guy can walk through doors. This guy has the means to investigate you and keep tabs. I know that now so now I know this guy has got to be on the grid and if he's on the grid, Leo can get a lock on him."

"Maybe so but I don't want Leo to get a lock on him."

"Why?" she asked, beginning to sound impatient. "He investigated you."

"That may be so too but as of today I am officially disowning my sister and officially ending my screwed up, non-relationship with The Great Mysterious Strange . It's over. Totally over."

Again, silence.

Then, "Seriously?"

"Seriously, Cam!" I cried. "I told you how he spoke to me. I told you what he said about our relationship. He investigated me.

He knows everything about me. He says only he gets to end things. He wouldn't tell me his name. That situation was totally whacked before in a way I didn't think it could get more whacked and now that it has, wake up call. It's over."

Again, silence then, "I hope so, girl. I said it before and I'll say it again. There are hot guys out there who are not motherfucking assholes. They do not use you to get off. There are men out there who know how to treat a woman right and you're gonna find one, babe, but the only way you can do that is to scrape off the one who doesn't treat you right."

There it was, Camille Antoine, straight-talker. And Camille Antoine, smart girl who had her head screwed on right.

"Well, today has been the day of epiphany. Ginger and The Great MSM are history," I declared grandly.

"Hallelujah," Cam replied.

Ten minutes later, we hung up. After that, I sat at my table, spooned up dough, ate it and stared at my phone, hoping that I could follow through with my grand statement.

Then I picked up the phone and called Tracy