Page 169 of We Shouldn't Be Together
Cammy pulls the red dress from its dress bag and drapes it in front of her. “Devastatingly plunging, darling,” she says with a giddy laugh.
I laugh with her and then hang the necklaces against the dress. “Hmm. Maybe the chunkier necklace?”
Cammy nods approvingly. “I trust you.”
I smile at her, noticing the redness reducing in her eyes. The glossiness is still there, so the threat of her tearing up is still a real possibility. She’s enough to handle when she’s plain angry. I remember the nights her dad was packing his stuff. She’d wail so hard she couldn’t speak for days, and she’d hurl perfume bottles at the walls.
It’s best to avoid her crying at all costs.
“I still can’t believe Dad made Mrs. Fisher invite that skank and her mousy daughter to the society events committee,” Camila says with distaste. “He even said to me, he thought it’d be a way for me and Mom to bond with them. Girls, I almost vomited in my mouth.”
“So, they didn’t replace you and your mom?” I ask tentatively.
Cammy rolls her eyes and picks up Cinnamon after she runs into the room. “Mrs. Fisher told Mom, she thought it’d be best if we excused ourselves, as not to attract a scene.”
“That’s basically kicking you out,” I reply, “but putting it all on you.”
“Yeah, but she couldn’t directly do it,” Cammy says, cuddling her poodle in her arms. “Daddy and her husband work closely together. Couldn’t rock the boat too much.”
Yvie snorts. “I didn’t think anyone cared about exes. Like, old news. The husbands only care about the new, shiny wives.”
I suck in a rapid breath.Yvie, you idiot.
“I’m important,” Cammy snaps at her, dropping Cinnamon to the ground with a thud. “I’m my dad’s number one priority. If they make me upset, my dad will destroy all progress on the Logan’s Point redevelopment plan.”
“Okay, okay,” Yvie squeaks, raising her hands in defense. Cinnamon whimpers and darts out of the bedroom. “Sorry. It’s just, me and my mom still go to the country club. We hear things. You and your mom haven’t had membership since…”
“The divorce!” Cammy yells. “I know, Yvette!”
“Cammy,” I whisper, stroking her arm. “Why don’t you tell us about what you did with your dad yesterday? Did you have a good time?”
Camila looks down and captures my wrist, her fingers tracing the gold charm bracelet she bought me. “Glad to see this is still on your wrist, where it belongs.”
I can’t help eyeing Yvie, whose eyes are darting for any chance to make amends with Cammy.
Camila steps away from us, smoothing down her dark, silky hair as she takes a settling breath. “Hmm, what happened yesterday? Well, of course, Daddy spoiled me, as he should. Then he took me to Logan’s Point.”
“Whoa, you actually went?” I ask, sitting on the floor and leaning against the bed with Yvie. “I thought you said you’d never step foot in that place.”
She shrugs, checking her reflection in her vanity mirror. “Daddy wanted to show me where the redevelopment is happening. I couldn’t disappoint him.”
“Is there anything to do in Logan’s Point?” Yvie asks, nose wrinkling at the edges. “I feel like I’d need to get a tetanus shot if I stood in that town for over thirty-seconds.”
“Oh my gosh, girls.” Cammy's mouth falls open, and she plants her hands on her belly like she’s about to laugh. “How did I forget about this?”
I sit on my knees. “What is it, Cammy?”
“Oh, this is too good,” Cammy says, pulling a folded yet crumpled poster from between her perfumes and makeup brushes. “Girls, you will not believe what I found.”
Yvie bounces in place. “What is it?”
“Remember what you told us about Jamie West’s mother?” Cammy asks Yvie.
Jamie? Are you serious? Geez, can’t we have one nice day?
Behind a cupped hand, Yvie sniggers while her shoulders jiggle. “Oh my gosh. You mean, the stripper?”
Cammy’s eyes light up. “Exactly.”
