Page 110 of Heartless
Sienna
Camila was bent at the waist over the kitchen table with her back to me.“Good morning, Camila.”
After incredible morning sex, I’d fallen back to sleep and woken up alone.
Camila straightened with a smile, and her eyes widened, as she gave me a slow once over.“Jesus, Sia.Whatever happened has unleashed a lot, a lot of...”She made slow circles with her hand in a gesture meant to encompass the physical me.“Get ready fora lotof attention.”
Tipping my chin down to my old, misshaped sweater and ripped boyfriend jeans, I wasn’t sure what she saw.I was barefoot, and my hair was still damp.
“What do you mean?”
After our hug, she cupped my cheek.“You’re vibrating on a different wavelength.”The corners of her lips curved up.“A very, very attractive one.So prepare for the bees because you are pure honey.”
Heat crawled up my face, which made her chuckle.“What do you want for breakfast, today?”
“Coffee and something big.”
Camila started toward the stove.“I found some black pudding.Would you like an English brekkie?”
God.I loved this woman.My stomach growled its response before I did.“Oh yes, please.And thank you.”I joined her by the stove.“What can I do?”
“Get the juice and fruit.”
As I opened the fridge, she asked with a smile in her voice, “Why the big breakfast?”
I replied with my head in the fridge.“I have to pack to go home—”
A clattering sound preceded her gasp.“You’re leaving?”
Oh shoot.Jake hadn’t told her.After setting the apple juice, blueberries, and blackberries on the island, I returned to her side and interlaced our fingers.
“Nigel gave Jake his land back, so it’s time for me to leave.”
She tugged me to the kitchen table where she turned two chairs face to face.No coffee then.
We’d barely sat down when Camila grabbed both my hands.“What did Jake say?”
“He’s going to help my reinsertion into real life.”
My attempt at lightening up the heaviness hovering between us went flat, and tears brightened her eyes.
“Camila, I’ll be fine.Jake promised to do everything to keep me safe.”And he’d better since his little war with Nigel made me freaking homeless and jobless.
When her shoulders slumped, I leaned in.“What’s wrong?”
“What about us?I like you a lot.”Her lips pinched, and her head twitched.“Screw that.I love you, Sienna.If you go back, I’ll never see you again.”
I wasn’t sure she realized how much I valued the gift of her friendship.So, this time, tears burned behindmyeyes.
“I love you too.We’ll keep in touch.In fact, I promise you right now that I’ll text or call at least twice a week.I’ve got my cell back, and now that I know where we are, as soon as I get my car back, your address will be saved in my GPS.”
She frowned while her head jerked back.“You didn’t know before?”
It hadn’t mattered then.“Nope.The man I thought I’d fallen in love with took me to his house in the woods for a surprise weekend.So, I blindly followed and slept for three quarters of the trip.”Giggling, I added, “From now on, I’ll be more understanding of the female characters in horror movies.I’m proof that the promise of love makes you dumb.”
She wasn’t even smiling.“Sienna, I know you’ve been through a lot, but giving up on love is—”
“I’m not.”I squeezed her fingers.“I’m just a little more careful, and that’s a good thing.Camila, I won’t let any of you get out of my life, and I’m addicted to your cooking and to pistachio gelato.”
