Brianna sighed and picked up the notebook next to her plate. Since Camila was having trouble understanding what was going on and she didn’t want to be rude, she wrote out what she wanted.
No, I want to go by myself to the library and spend the day out doing what I want, reading, maybe have lunch, and then come home this afternoon. I want to be more independent. I’m practically an adult. I should be able to do this.
She handed the notebook to Camila who read it and passed it to Samuel.
“I think it’s a great idea, Brianna.” Camila reached a hand out to her and Brianna took it with a smile.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Samuel asked, still concerned.
Brianna nodded enthusiastically. With Adrien gone, she wanted nothing more than to break free of her own prison. She wanted to be free. Well, freer than she had been. She’d greatly enjoyed her trips out with Camila and Samuel, but she couldn’t continue to be the third wheel on their dates. They needed alone time and she needed to prove, even if it was just to herself that she could do this.
“Alright, I’ll have the car brought around for you. Take this,” he said, handing her a wad of cash.
She looked at him and frowned.
“For lunch and whatever else you find.” He smiled.
Grinning, Brianna took it and then hugged him.
A part of her was still worried. She had only started coming out to the world recently, and she felt like a novice surrounded by strangers. It was even worse, because she was doing this on her own. But she wanted to do this. Not only for herself, but also for Samuel who had always stuck by her. Even after he enlisted to the army, he made sure to send her several letters, no matter where he was. When their parents passed away, she was the one to send him the letter, and he was back weeks later to look after her, which made her happy, because the last thing she wanted was to be left alone at home with Adrien.
Brianna felt determined to get better now that her brother had found someone and the two of them seemed happy. Having Samuel and Camila be there for her had been great, but she didn’t want to be a burden to them, either. She wouldn’t always be able to depend on them, so she needed to learn how to stand on her own two feet.
* * *
Camila
“Well, that was unexpected,” Samuel said as they stood on the front porch and waved as Brianna was driven away in the black Mercedes.
Camila wrapped her arm around Samuel’s waist, tucking herself under his arm and smiled. “Scared?” she asked.
Samuel chuckled. “Terrified.”
Camila laughed too. “I bet.” Together they started back into the house. “So, what are we going to do today?”
“I don’t know…” He looked down at her and she could see the lust in his eyes. “Do you have work to finish?”
“Well, technically, yes, but…” she bit her lip and looked at him flirtatiously, “it can wait.”
“Good,” Samuel said, bending to kiss her. He scooped her up in his arms and carried her up the stairs to his suite.
They spent a lazy afternoon relaxing together in bed after spending several hours making love and cuddling. The two of them didn’t even move from Samuel’s bedroom until it was late enough for dinner.
“I’m hungry,” Camila murmured as she lay against his chest.
“We should go down to dinner.”
“Think Brianna’s home yet?” Camila asked, sitting up.
“I heard the car a while ago. I imagine Bri has been back for ages. I suspect the staff warned her we were occupied.” He chuckled.
Camila blushed, ducking her head as she picked up her clothes and began to dress. Before she put her top back on, Samuel pulled her to him and he kissed her stomach.
“Keep that up and we’ll be skipping dinner,” Camila said, laughing lightly.
Samuel rested his head against her middle and nodded. Squeezing her ass, he stood up and kissed her softly on the lips, and then strode into the bathroom. When he returned a few minutes later, he was dressed.
Food had been made already, and as soon as they sat down, they were served. Brianna joined them a few minutes later, a huge smile on her face.