Page 6 of Camilla & Dallas
Or at least she’d thought he was.
Her skin felt tight and stretched thin after hours of crying. What kind of monster disappears after the months they’d spent together? Apparently, Dallas would.
A soft knock on the door did nothing to rouse her from where she remained tucked under the covers. Whoever it was would either leave or let themselves in. She didn’t care if she looked pathetic. She was broken. She’d opened her heart to someone, given it to him fully, only for him to steal it away and take his own back as well.
“Camilla?” Cheyenne asked quietly, the door creaking open. “You okay?”
No words came. Camilla couldn’t speak. Even if she wanted to, her voice was probably hoarse and unintelligible.
Padding footsteps entered the room until the bed dipped at Camilla’s back. “Sophia said you were in here. She said you might need me.”
Camilla squeezed her eyes shut, letting the tears spill. Had Cheyenne known? That question was the only reason why Camilla hadn’t immediately called her best friend. If Cheyenne was aware of Dallas’s plans and kept it to herself, then she was as much a betrayer as Dallas had been.
A hand touched Camilla’s back and she flinched. Without turning to look at her friend, she rasped, “Did you know?”
The air seemed to be sucked from the room in the moments it took Cheyenne to answer. Then she said quietly, “No. I knew he was considering his options, but I didn’t know he’d made a decision. I thought he’d told you.”
Just like that, the fissure in her heart cracked wide open. So, Dallas had been keeping secrets not only from her but from his twin, too. They’d never really had a close relationship from what she could tell. They were always at each other’s throats one way or another. Dallas liked to tease Cheyenne, and she was easy to poke at.
Slowly, Camilla turned over and peered at her friend.
Cheyenne’s smile was sad and full of sympathy. “I wish I could tell you that this isn’t who he normally is, but…” She sighed. “Dallas has always been impulsive. He flies by the seat of his pants and does things without planning—without thinking about who it might hurt.”
A fresh wave of tears filled Camilla’s eyes. Cheyenne made a choked sound as she reclined to pull Camilla into a hug.
“Oh, honey. I’m so sorry. I know how much you loved him.”
“He just didn’t love me as much as I thought he did.”
Cheyenne didn’t respond. She lay there, listening. Hours could have passed. Or it could have been mere minutes before Cheyenne’s quiet voice filtered through the room. “I probably shouldn’t say this because he’s my brother… but…”
Camilla stilled, waiting with bated breath for Cheyenne to go on.
“You deserve so much better.” She turned so they were both on their sides facing each other. Using the pad of her thumb, she wiped away Camilla’s tears. “No one is ever going to be worthy of your love, Camilla. You’re that amazing. And my brother was an idiot for not seeing that.”
A small smile tugged at Camilla’s lips—one that probably resembled a grimace more than anything else. “Thanks, Cheyenne.”
“Anytime,” she assured her. “You’re my best friend. I’ll always be here for you.”
Over the next several years,Camilla hated the dating scene. Not for others—but for herself.
Everyone she met, she immediately compared to Dallas and how he’d made her feel like anything was possible.
Not a single guy who took her out on a date could stir those feelings. The handful of guys she thought had potential inevitably left her high and dry, just like Dallas had. Either they moved on with another girl or another career. No one had more bad luck when it came to falling in love.
But that didn’t stop Camilla from playing matchmaker. Her heart might have been broken, but she still believed love could conquer all. Just because she’d lost out on one of the best love stories in history didn’t mean she wouldn’t help others find their own.
4
Present Day: Seven years later
“No!” Camilla snapped, her blood boiling. Her hands clenched and flexed at her sides as she stared daggers at Mateo.
“You don’t have to see him. I’m sure he won’t hang around long.”
“No!” Camilla repeated, her arms folded. “I don’t want him anywhere near our home.” If Mateo thought that he could invite Dallas to stay on their property and Camilla would be okay with it, then he had another thing coming.
“Camilla.” Mateo sighed, pressing his temples. “It’s not like?—”
