Page 168 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“Ditching you?” I echo. “I’m not…” Cammy’s hand trembles as she holds mine, and it causes me to gasp. “Cam, are you okay?”
She sniffs. “I wish you were still my friend.”
The statement causes dizziness to rush through my head. “I… I…”
Her eyes redden, making her mascara look heavy and too dark. “Do you hate me?”
My heart crushes against my ribs. “You think I hate you?”
“Why else would you be ignoring my texts and making excuses not to hang out?”
“I’ve just been busy studying.”
Cammy scoffs. “You’re just like Yvie. Ditching me for a stupid boy.”
“Hey,” Yvie protests again.
“Cammy, I don’t hate you,” I murmur.
I just wish I had the old Cammy back.
“Then why won’t you come back to my place?” Cammy says, sniffing again as her eyes grow glossy. “You always say no.”
Seeing her upset raises my anxiety, and I blurt, “Okay, let’s take you home.”
Yesterday, Camila was wound so tightly outside of the pizzeria. But then she spent the afternoon and into the evening with her dad. He obviously put a lot of effort in and it’s mellowed her out. There’s actually something really sweet about her today.
She misses me.
She wants to hang out.
I’ve told Kai about how good she used to be. My heart flutters. Could I be getting the old Cammy back?
When we get to Camila’s house, there’s a For Sale sign in the front yard.
“Cammy.” I gasp. “What’s going on?”
Cammy shrugs. “Mom’s just showing Dad she means business.”
“So, is it a legit sign or not?” Yvie asks.
“Yeah, the real estate agent put it up yesterday,” she replies. “Just in time for Dad to drop me home.”
“Whoa. Your mom ambushed him with it?” I ask.
“What was my mom meant to do?” Cammy asks, her eyes reddening against her dark eyeliner. “Dad took me to Logan’s Point, which reminds her of his new marriage. She had to make him see us again.”
I clutch her hand and softly say, “He sees you. He spent the afternoon with you.”
Her reddening eyes brighten, and her mood lifts with a smile. “Oh my gosh, Tabby, come with me. You gotta help me make this dress look even more killer.”
Cammy hurries me into the house by the hand, and Yvette trails behind, unsure how welcome she is.
Kai told me Camila has to get over her father’s new marriage. Accept it and move on. But I know Cammy. She idolizes her dad, and she’s a clone of her mom. Of course, their breakup tore her down. It destroyed her identity, and she’s clawing to put the pieces together by acting out for attention.
In her bedroom, I comb through her jewelry collection, pairing teardrop crystal earrings with a chunky pewter bangle. I then find a long chain necklace with a matching crystal pendant, and compare it against a chunkier necklace, wondering which would look more dynamic.
“Cammy, how low is the neckline again?” I ask, draping the necklaces against my palms.
