She walks back to the couch and takes a seat beside my aunt. Camila’s also that ex that’s really close with your family. Aunt Mel especially liked her. But I hate that she’s going so far as to try and sabotage what I’ve got going on with Christine.
Which, at this point, almost feels like nothing. She’s right. I want nothing more than to be with her, but for some reason, anytime I try to voice that, I freeze. I really am terrible at communicating. Growing up, I wasn’t the kid that talked to his parents about how he was feeling. I would rather read a book and get lost in a different world than talk to someone. It’s my default setting, and I’m not sure how to change it.
“Your aunt called and said you were home. I guess my invitation to Matt’s wedding got lost in the mail,” she says with a raised eyebrow.
“Take that up with him,” I state, gesturing at my brother, who gives her an apologetic smile.
“I’m sorry, Cami. I’ll make it up to you,” Matthew assures her.
Camila shrugs. “It’s alright. I’ve been so busy with work, I probably wouldn’t have been able to make it, anyway.”
My mom starts talking to her about the company, so I turn to my aunt. “Can I talk to you outside?” I ask her.
She stands and follows me out of the room. “Before you get angry, just let me talk,” she begins.
“I’m already angry. What are you trying to do, Aunt Mel?”
“I know you think I called Camila here for nefarious reasons, but I promise I didn’t. She called me, asking about you, and I told her you were home. When she heard everyone was gathered here, she decided to come for a visit.”
I don’t even know what to say to her right now. I can’t tell if she’s being honest or if she really did do this just to fuck me and Christine over.
“Camila’s your friend, Mikey. She came to see you because she missed you,” Mel says, rubbing a hand on my shoulder.
I nod once and she smiles before walking back into the living room. I debate calling Christine. I do want to talk to her and open up, and I was just about to when my aunt’s call came in. Hearing Camila was around was a shock. The only thing I could think of doing was getting here and finding out what she wanted.
“Hey.”
Think of the devil.
I turn around to face Camila. The truth is, she doesn’t deserve any hostility from me. Camila’s honestly one of the most genuinely sweet people I know. She’s kind and honest. Just not the woman for me.
“You seem mad that I’m here. I’m pretty sure we left our relationship in a good place the last time we met up,” she states, biting her bottom lip.
The last time we met up, I fucked her brains out in a hotel room. Christine can absolutely not find that out.
Fuck.
“No, it’s not that, Cami. I’m just going through a lot of shit right now,” I tell her.
“I heard. So you’re a father. Noah’s a cute kid.”
I raise an eyebrow in question.
“Oh, Sam showed me pictures. She’s been talking my ears off about her grandson since I arrived. I’m happy for you,” she says sincerely. “Not happy about how you found out, though.”
“That’s all in the past,” I say with a shrug.
“Yes, but just know I’m here for you,” Camila says, moving even closer and encroaching on my personal space. “I’m always on your side, Mikey.”
Fuck me.
In the past, all she had to do was bat those perfect eyelashes at me and I was a slave to her whims. But I can’t afford to fall for that now. I have Christine to think about. She should be the only one I’m thinking about.
I take a step back. “Camila, listen. You and me, it’s never going to happen again.”
Her face falls. “What does that mean?”
“It means I know you. You’re here because you miss me. Because for some reason, every year, you always seek me out, but I can’t do that anymore. I can’t keep stringing you along like that.”