Page 54 of Camilla & Dallas
Slowly, she lifted her head and dredged up the courage to tell her all of this. She could even point out that they might be sisters one day. But then she caught sight of Cheyenne sending out a text, her expression darker than death itself.
“Are you okay?”
Cheyenne’s face went from red to white as her head snapped up. Then she flushed again and let out a strangled laugh. “Of course I’m okay. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“You look like you’re ready to strangle your phone or whoever is on the receiving end of those text messages.”
Cheyenne laughed again. “It’s nothing.”
Camilla eyed the phone for a long moment, then lifted her eyes to meet Cheyenne’s. “Are you sure?”
“Just some last-minute stuff I have to deal with since I came back early. You know the drill.”
“Anything I can help with?”
“No, of course not.” Cheyenne leaned forward, her expression softening as she placed a hand on Camilla’s. “You know I love you, right?”
“Of course.”
Her smile turned more saccharine than before. “Good. Just remember that. I’m always going to be here for you no matter how hard things get.”
“Why would they get hard?” Alarm bells rang in Camilla’s head. She didn’t like the sound of this at all. What was Cheyenne alluding to? Had she spoken to Dallas? That was the only reasonable explanation for the shift in demeanor.
“Oh, I’m not saying it’s going to get hard. But honestly, can you think of a time in your life when good things are a constant? How many times are we knocked on our backsides when we least expect it?” Her eyes bore into Camilla’s, making her more antsy than before.
She had a point. There was a reason people pointed out that everyone needed to enjoy the highs because the lows were around the corner. And those highs were all the more enjoyable when one had rock bottom to compare it to.
Her stomach twisted uncomfortably.
“You know what I think we should do today?”
“What?” Camilla asked weakly.
“Shopping spree. Let’s get some fun clothes, then go back to your place and do a fashion show. Just like old times?” Her tone was pleading. She really wanted this.
And who was Camilla to deny her best friend?
They spent about two hours going to and from the boutiques that were around Copper Creek before they finally headed back to Camilla’s house.
It had been almost too easy to want to forget that there was a storm cloud hanging over their heads, but the second Camilla pulled up to the house, there was no denying it.
Dallas rose from where he sat perched on the steps leading to her front door. He looked utterly haggard, but what did sheexpect? When she’d called him this morning, he’d sounded off. The things he’d said had scared her.
Carefully, she climbed out of the truck. She stood beside the open door as if she could use it as a shield against whatever Dallas planned on saying. She had no reason to be on edge, and yet she was.
“It’s not dinnertime yet.”
Cheyenne had rounded the truck and stood at her side. The heat of her fury came off her body in waves. Camilla could practically taste the poison in the air between the twins. She glanced from one to the other and her stomach soured further.
Cheyenne knew.
Of course she did.
“I couldn’t wait until dinner,” Dallas said, striding toward them. His narrowed gaze remained locked on his sister. “I knew if I didn’t come talk to you now, that…”
Camilla gripped the truck door tighter until her fingertips turned white. “That what, Dallas?”
He shoved his hand into his pocket like he needed to retrieve something, but Cheyenne’s jerking movements seemed to distract them all. She faced Camilla, her cheeks red. “He’s leaving. Again. Like last time, Camilla. He’s going to choose his job over you. I heard him talking on the phone to his boss. He’ll never prioritize you.”
