Page 68 of Camilla & Dallas
It told her that Dallas didn’t have anything to lose. He was leaving. What was the point in trying to make things right if he planned on moving on?
Cheyenne? Now, she had something to lose from admitting to the truth.
Camilla pushed past the woman who had been her friend for the better part of a decade. She headed toward the trail, not bothering to see if Cheyenne followed. If she didn’t, then Camilla would cut her losses and consider Dallas’s request.
That erratic thumping in her chest made her want to do just that. Dallas held a part of her soul whether she wanted to admit it or not. He could have been her everything if the situation had been different.
Cheyenne’s hurried steps grew louder until she fell into place at Camilla’s side. “I don’t know what Dallas has told you, but?—”
“Save it.”
Her best friend stiffened, irritation coming off her in waves.
“I don’t care about what he said when I’m speaking to you right now. I want to know the truth. I want to hear you tell me the story and then I’ll compare.”
Cheyenne scoffed, and that was when Camilla stopped to face her.
“This isn’t a joke. This is my life, Cheyenne.”
“It’s my life too,” she snapped back.
They were glaring at each other now. Tension, thick and sour, curled around them like a poisonous gas. Despite telling Cheyenne that Camilla didn’t want to bring up Dallas’s side, she couldn’t take it anymore. She was weaker than she’d thought.
“Tell me, Cheyenne. Everything. About Dallas. About the letter. About… my other boyfriends.” Tears stung her eyes and threatened to rip free of the cage where she kept them. She didn’t want to cry in front of Cheyenne. She didn’t want to showhow much this betrayal hurt. They’d been so close. Best friends. She’d told Cheyenne things she hadn’t told anyone.
And to what end?
Her throat threatened to close up and her breathing grew faster, shallower.
“Just… tell me,” she whispered.
Cheyenne looked away. It was the first sign she’d given Camilla that she felt guilty over what had transpired. When she turned back, her cheeks were damp with tears. “You’re my best friend, Camilla.” Her voice broke. “You’re the one constant in my life.”
The instinct to pull Cheyenne close and comfort her tore through Camilla’s very being, but she held back. Her fingernails dug into her palms as she continued to wait for Cheyenne to spill everything.
“It’s true. All of it.”
“You’re going to have to elaborate,” Camilla said through gritted teeth, her own reality crumbling before her eyes. “I need to know if Dallas lied.”
Her friend shook her head. “He wouldn’t do that. Not Dallas.”
The confession was a punch to the gut. A kick when Camilla had already felt like she was down.
“Dallas is the most honest person I know,” Cheyenne continued.
Camilla had to scoff at that, which earned a sad smile from Cheyenne.
“Well, except when he withholds information. But anything he told you, it’s the truth. He wouldn’t lie to you.”
“The letter?” Camilla whispered.
Cheyenne nodded wordlessly.
“And the phone number?”
Another nod.
Camilla squeezed her eyes shut tight, hot, salty tears spilling down her cheeks. “What about my other boyfriends?”
