Page 79 of Love Off Course

“I should be there with my son.”

“You should,” I agree. “When will you be here?”

More silence.

“The tickets are ridiculously expensive and?—”

“I’ll book them,” I bark out, cutting her off. “Is Eduardo coming too? I think Camilo could use his support too.”

She starts to protest, but I already have my phone pulled up and am searching flights. It takes half an hour for me to pull out all the information I need from her to book the flights. When we’re done and hanging up, someone knocks on the door.

I rush over to it and fling it open. Carson stands there holding a bag and frowning.

“He okay?”

“Nope,” I say, my voice quivering.

He gives me a sad smile. “He will be.”

“I hope so.”

“I know it.”

Camilo groans from the kitchen.

“Let’s get this man fed and we’ll go from there,” Carson says, handing me the bag of food. “Thank you for being here for him.”

I don’t know that I want to be anywhere else.

This royally sucks, especially with Camilo being an asshole, but he needs me.

My heart thunders wildly in my chest.

Nowhere else I want to be except here with him.

Chapter 24

Camilo

My head throbs so bad I can barely keep my eyes open as the funeral director, Marsha, explains different types of caskets to me. I don’t fucking care. Dad is dead. It doesn’t matter what the box looks like. They’re all expensive as hell and ridiculously overpriced. I rub at my temples and nod, half listening to what she’s saying.

Thankfully, Sheridan is here.

She handles shit I have no business dealing with in this state of mind. She was right. Yesterday, I should have brought her with me to the nursing home. I needed her support. Instead, I was all alone and fucking lost it. Dragged my ass to the nearest bar and drank away my sorrows until I was shitfaced. It’s a miracle I managed to walk home and not pass out on the sidewalk.

Fuck, I’m a mess.

Every time I think about Dad dying alone while I was off fucking the girl of my dreams in another country, my stomach sours. I barely touched breakfast this morning. I’m in dire need of food before I start dry heaving.

Sheridan begins talking faster and in firm tones. She hands Marsha a black card and then Marsha leaves.

“You okay?” Sheridan asks. “You look like you’re about to puke.”

I shrug, squeezing my eyes shut. I’m not sure how much time passes, but I hear the sound of a soda being opened. Sheridan hands me a cold Sprite.

“Drink this. We’re almost done and then we’ll grab some food. You need to eat.”

My eyes lift as I chug down the soda. She looks every bit the boardroom princess in her fancy clothes and perfect hair. Gorgeous and intense. All business. Fuck, she’s so beautiful.

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