Page 262 of We Shouldn't Be Together
Tears sting my eyes, and it takes too many blinks to clear my vision. “You mean about how she’s been treating you at school?”
“Doesn’t exactly make me sympathetic toward her.”
“I wanted to talk to you about this when I brought up your mother’s picture.” I swallow hard, resisting the urge to retch. “Oh my gosh, I truly am sorry Camila brought it into school. She’s just so broken these days. I’m never able to reason with her.”
Jamie scrutinizes me, weighing up whether she should accept my apology.
I motion at Mrs. Garcia and her daughter over at the table. “That’s Cammy’s new step-mom and step-sister. She was absolutely crushed by her parents’ divorce. It has made her so angry and bitter. She’s always looking for someone to lash out at.”
“And I’m the easy target,” Jamie mutters.
“Mm-hmm.” I nod in agreement. “Camila’s dad took her to a rundown building in Logan’s Point that he’s redeveloping. That’s where she found the flyer with your mom’s picture.”
Jamie’s knuckles crack and her jaw clenches. “She can be angry at her dad all she likes, but she didn’t need to drag my mom into it. She’s not even around anymore to defend herself.”
“Believe me, I’ve tried to reason with her,” my voice trembles, “but it turns me into the target. Gosh, I’m so grateful for Kai. He knows what’s really going on, and he protects me. Like at school, when he lets me sit at your lunch table.”
Skepticism is written all over her face. “That was protection for you? All you did was say snooty comments to me.”
My bottom lip quivers. “You thought I was snooty?”
“Yes. All those digs about me letting my grades slip and not putting in any effort.”
“I didn’t mean to sound harsh.” My hands clasp over the space above my heart. “Sometimes things come out of my mouth in a tone. I don’t even register it anymore.”
Jamie stands taller, her arms crossed. “You should listen to yourself more often.”
“I will. And I want you to know Camila doesn’t have your mom’s picture anymore.”
Jamie’s confidence shatters, expecting worse news to follow.
“I mean, she has the crummy picture on her phone,” I say, wishing I’d found a way to delete it. “But it didn’t spread because she didn’t have the original.”
“Where is it?”
“I took it.” My sigh hurts on the way out. “I was meeting up with Kai on his birthday, and he always raves about you. I just couldn’t let Camila taunt you with the image. So, I took it before I left for the skatepark.”
Her mouth hangs open, and she blinks, letting the words set in. “You did that?”
“I knew the photo on her phone wouldn’t blow up because it was low quality. She expected to take another photo with better lighting. I’m sure she suspects I took it, but I’ve played dumb.”
“She must be completely hating on you.”
“She’s not exactly happy I keep ditching them.” I shrug it off, sinking into the relief Camila might be out of my life for good. “Trust me, you don’t have to worry about her anymore. Gosh, I just hope I can stop talking like her. It’s automatic, and my parents always complain about it. They’ll tell me I’m acting like a brat, and half the time, I don’t even remember what I've said.”
Jamie smirks. “My aunt calls me a brat, too.”
I glance at the computer screen. “It was too bad we lost the video link with her. Do you think you can get her back?”
“Hopefully. The storm is messing with the internet. But maybe I’ll ask Milo to take a look. Just in case it’s something else.”
“Or I could ask Kai,” I suggest with pride. “He’s handy with computers.”
Jamie grins slyly. “He is, but if it’s too slow or doesn’t do what he wants, there’s a good chance his fist will hit the keys or the screen.”
Jamie marches over to the twins’ booth, where they’ve demolished most of their burgers. I’m barely away from the counter, but I can hear them talk.
“Milo, I keep losing the signal with Maddy. Can you take a look?”
