Page 28 of Finally Found You

Camilla

Kenzy’s eyes sparkle with excitement as she strides into the penthouse, her voice full of enthusiasm. “You should’ve come with us,” she states, the hint of a smile playing on her lips.

I glance up from the formal table, my shoulders tense, a knot forming in my stomach. “Did something happen?”

Her brow furrows, and she tilts her head, confusion etched on her face. “Like what?” she inquires, genuinely perplexed.

I blink several times, feeling my cheeks warm, and shrug nonchalantly. “I don’t know. Maybe he was rude or—”

“Lysander is cool,” she interrupts me with a dismissive wave of her hand, then rolls her eyes dramatically. “You would’ve loved the park. They have plants and all that stuff you’re crazy about.”

“Oh,” I murmur, exhaling a sigh of relief. My heart slows, my shoulders loosening ever so slightly.

Kenzy looks at the table curiously as she approaches, a teasing lilt in her voice. “What did you do all day? Another puzzle?”

I bristle at her tone. “It’s the best way to fight anxiety and jet lag and also to ponder my next move,” I retort defensively, my grip tightening around a puzzle piece.

She throws her hands up, exasperated. “What is there to think about when there’s so much to explore?”

She doesn’t need to know about my current situation. I focus on my puzzle and hope she tells me more about her day.

“Lysander and I are planning a road trip for next weekend. You have to come with us,” she insists, her expression hopeful.

I hesitate, swallowing the lump in my throat. “You have to bond with him. I don’t want to get in the middle of that.” I try to mask the anxiety gripping me. That sounds like a good enough reason not to join them, right?

It wouldn’t be wise to say, “Well, your father and I have some weird magnetic pull. It’ll be wise not to be close to him, or my lips might find his again.”

Kenzy pouts, sinking into the chair beside me and scanning the scattered puzzle pieces. “You’re going to leave me, aren’t you?”

My heart aches for her, and I force a reassuring smile. “As I told you before, I won’t leave unless you ask me to do it.”

Her eyes search mine, uncertainty flickering in their depths. “What if I want to leave?”

“Then we leave,” I reply, my voice steady. I pause, shifting the conversation. “Where is your father?”

Her expression brightens. “He had some emergency at the vineyard or something like that. He said he’d be back before my bedtime.”

And tonight, I should escape somewhere so I don’t see him. I focus on the puzzle, willing my thoughts to quiet, and ask, “Now tell me, did you guys find any camps?”

* * *

As the evening unfolds, we immerse ourselves in conversations about the camps, hiking, and plans for visiting various towns next weekend. Kenzy’s eyes light up at the idea of traveling to Canada, but she mentions Lysander remains skeptical, believing it’s not quite the right time. As dinnertime approaches, we opt for convenience and order sushi instead of cooking.

When Lysander finally arrives, I hastily retreat, masking my apprehension with the excuse that it’s time for my evening walk. He offers to accompany me, but I remind him that Kenzy has already had a full day of activity and deserves some rest. To my relief, neither of them protests.

True to my word, I walk around the neighborhood, but instead of returning home, I find myself drawn to the rooftop. I stand there, admiring the mesmerizing expansive view, while the gentle night breeze teases the loose strands of my hair. My thoughts whirl as I try to figure out how to maintain my distance from Lysander for the next month or two, maybe even longer.

Securing a job could provide the necessary distraction, but can I find one by tomorrow? Doubtful.

The hiring process might take a couple of weeks at the very least. Feeling frustrated, I take out my phone to see if Ronan has replied to my message. If he doesn’t want to sell the house, he could at least buy me out. That money would be useful for taking care of the overdue mortgage on Nonna’s house and paying off my credit card debt.

“You’re avoiding me.” Lysander’s deep, resonant timbre reaches my ears before his tall figure appears beside me.

His shadow stretches across the illuminated rooftop, and I’m acutely aware of his presence. It’s both comforting and unnerving as the magnetic pull between us intensifies with each passing moment, threatening to sweep me away. My heart races, my breath catching in my throat. I struggle to maintain my composure, acutely aware of the delicate balance between desire and self-preservation.

Desperate to deflect his observation, I have to think fast on my feet. He can’t know I’m affected. Obviously, I can’t run away, but staying… What are my options?

“How did things go with Kenzy today?” I ask, attempting to ignore his comment and start a normal adult conversation, despite the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

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